Netflix has just brought back Kim Soon-ok’s iconic revenge melodrama Temptation of an Angel, and viewers are reliving one of the most shocking stories in K-drama history.
Originally aired on SBS from October 12 to December 22, 2009, the drama captivated audiences with its tragic psychological intensity, earning nationwide ratings over 22% and solidifying its place as a masterpiece of the “makjang” (over-the-top melodrama) genre.
According to Nielsen Korea, the series started strong with a 10% nationwide rating and continued to climb rapidly:
- Episode 13: 20.4%
- Episode 17: 22.6%
- Final Episode: 22.9%
That steady growth turned Temptation of an Angel into one of 2009’s most talked-about dramas, praised for its bold themes and psychological depth.
Written by Kim Soon-ok, the creator behind The Penthouse and Jang Bo-ri Is Here!, this drama was the second installment in her “Temptation” series, following the explosive success of Temptation of a Wife. While the earlier series focused on the thrill of revenge, Temptation of an Angel delved deeper — showing how revenge consumes and destroys its seeker.
The story centers on a woman who marries into the family responsible for her parents’ death. Her marriage isn’t born from love but vengeance. Using lies and seduction as her weapons, she plots to destroy her enemies, only to find that her husband her intended target truly loves her.
The result is a tragic spiral of betrayal, obsession, and guilt, marking Kim Soon-ok’s transition from shocking twists to philosophical exploration of morality and self-destruction.
Before its first episode even aired, Temptation of an Angel was already making headlines for its provocative promotional posters.
Actor Bae Soo-bin appeared shirtless with angel wings, lying over Lee So-yeon, who was dressed in lingerie an image that was considered too explicit for public broadcast promotion at the time.
Another version showed Lee So-yeon half-submerged in a bathtub, sparking fierce debates about the boundaries of terrestrial television marketing in Korea.
While some criticized it as “excessive sexual marketing,” others saw it as a visual metaphor for moral corruption and temptation, aligning perfectly with the show’s central themes.
The production team later revealed that the angel wings used in the shoot were custom-made at a cost of ₩2.5 million (approx. $1,800) symbolizing the fragile boundary between good and evil.
Both leads, Bae Soo-bin and Lee So-yeon, delivered career-defining performances. Bae Soo-bin portrayed a man torn between pure love and obsessive revenge, earning praise for his emotional precision. Lee So-yeon shattered her previous “innocent image” to embody a cold, calculating woman who weaponizes affection as a means of vengeance.
Their chemistry both painful and passionate remains one of the most memorable in K-drama history.
Temptation of an Angel didn’t just succeed in ratings it laid the foundation for Kim Soon-ok’s later hits like Jang Bo-ri Is Here and The Penthouse.
The recurring motifs of revenge cycles, gray morality, and extreme emotional conflict all originated in this drama. Critics now regard it as her most psychologically complete and artistically dark work, transforming what was once dismissed as “makjang” into a legitimate exploration of human downfall.
Sources: Wikitree,SBS,Nielsen Korea,Netflix
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