The Price of Confession

Started good and got even better

This is a drama that starts off pretty strong only to get better as each episode passes by... While some of the twists are more predictable than others the build up is doen really well. For each twist revealed another question is risen. Why, who, how, wait what, how, who.... As well as anger oh so much anger towards so many people it is almost ridiculous. ANd While I admit most of the story was really great there are som parts towards the end that fell a bit flat, taking away a star from. the total score.

There are a few things that I do want to focus a bit extra on, but since I fear it might spoil it for you Ill put it as a comment.

The acting is great, the characters are interesting (mostly) there are a few plot wholes here and there (or at least things that do not make sense to me) and while there are a few annoying characters their screen time is limited enough for me not to be bothered by them.

For those of you who read my reviews and know I some times watch dramas with my husband, I started this on my own but decided to take a break to let him catch up so we could watch it together. once that was done we finished the last 8 episodes between between Friday evening to lunchtime on Saturday. So it is highly bingeable.

Hubby says it started off goof and only got better an 8,5 from him (a really high score).

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Binged the series because I couldn't stop watching - there was no place to take a break

The series is compelling from the very beginning and so well paced that just when I thought I had a handle on the plot it twisted again - not the kind of contrived twists that make you want to throw a book at your TV, but the jaw dropping "Wow, I did not see that coming!" kind. If you can stand your heart being ripped out in ways you did not anticipate, this series will not disappoint.

The two leads are extraordinary. I'm a relative newcomer to K-drama and this is only the second time I've seen Jeon Do Yeon. I loved absolutely everything about her character performance in Kill Boksoon. I was blown away by her portrayal of a much different character in this series - one that initially appears weak and fragile, but keeps digging deeper and stands strong until the explosive end. I don't know what to say about Kim Go Eun that hasn't already been said at one time or another. There aren't enough words of praise for the performance tour de force she she gave in The Price of Confession. IMO, Kim Go Eun is one of the most versatile and powerful actors of her generation, maybe any generation. Given how young she is and the varied and impressive body of work she's already catalogued, I think my assessment will stand the test of time.

Kudos, too, to the Director who did one of the best jobs of non linear story telling I've seen; to the Art Director's choice of a color palette and scene/set creation that built a mood of gritty realism that hit all the right notes; to the Scriptwriter for creating a story that is heartbreaking in all the right ways and who birthed a lot of key characters and managed to infuse each of them with humanity and purpose; to the entire cast, because there was no dead weight here - everyone was playing at the top of their game (special shout out to the #1 prison guard for the touching humanity of her portrayal); and, finally, to whoever put together the soundtrack because it uplifted every scene it touched.

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A must watch brilliant piece.

OMG what a brilliant actress is kim go eun, no wonder all the directors wants to work with her. In one drama she played a bubbly girl with sweet nature and here a physcopath with bang on reaction. Her eyes speaks when she act, all the projects she choose till now is a masterpiece drama. The price of confession is same as the title suggest, story revolves around two people who make a deal for their own desire. But the plot and twist is so good, till the end I was hooked. How a simple person turns into a psychopath for her revenge and guilt towards her family and in the other hand how a person nature opposing all the bad thing and try to find out what actually happened. It's also suggest don't make assumptions on people without any proof. I also thought she killed her husband because the way she is behaving at the police station. We people really fast to judge other without knowing anything and everything. I am suggesting you to watch it to enjoy the thriller trip. A must watch drama people who likes combination of thriller and suspense.

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Perception vs. Reality: A Mind-Bending Crime Mystery That Hooks You From Start to Finish

This gripping drama follows An Yun Su, an art teacher whose peaceful life collapses when she is accused of her husband’s murder and sent to prison. There, she forms a tense and dangerous alliance with Mo Eun, a mysterious inmate rumored to see into people’s minds. As their hidden secrets begin to surface, principled prosecutor Baek Dong Hun investigates the case, testing his morals and sense of justice, while Yun Su’s tenacious lawyer, Jang Jeong Gu, fights relentlessly to uncover the truth and prove her innocence. The Price of Confession is a flawlessly crafted crime mystery drama that challenges our perceptions of others while exposing the prejudices and assumptions held by those in authority.

This drama takes you on a journey to uncover the truth, where everything is connected and every detail matters. From the very beginning, you may find yourself forming your own judgment of one of the main characters, An Yun Su. The way she responds to her husband’s death, how she behaves at the crime scene, and how she dresses and reacts during questioning all shape your perception of her, much like they shape Jang Jeong Gu’s view as well. It was also interesting to see the scene at the end of the first episode, which serves as a visualization of what Jang Jeong Gu, and perhaps the audience, believes happened during An Yun Su’s husband’s murder. I initially tried not to form any biased judgments about her, but after seeing that scene, it almost convinced me that it might reflect the truth of what happened.

Then come Mo Eun’s crime and interrogation scenes. At first, they made me perceive her as a sadistic, cold-blooded, psychopathic killer. Yet her decision to surrender made me question her true motives, and I found myself genuinely curious about her. On top of that, her attempt to approach and communicate with An Yun Su in prison completely caught me off guard—everything seemed so well planned, it was surprising! Moreover, the way the show repeatedly focuses on that particular scene during Mo Eun's flashbacks suggests that she didn’t start as a psychopath but became one as a result of a very traumatic past.

I found Jin Yeong In's role to be quite suspicious from his very first appearance. That’s because he seemed too good to be true. Compared to Jang Jeong Gu, a nameless lawyer with a clear reason to defend An Yun Su, Jin Yeong In’s background and motives for defending Mo Eun felt almost unreal in today’s world. That’s why I wasn’t too surprised by how the story progressed. I was, however, surprised by his motive. I had been expecting a huge conspiracy or cover-up, but it turned out to be something so trivial—so trivial that many of us might have experienced it, yet never taken it to such an extreme. I was honestly mindblown by the ending; it really shows what can happen when a mental illness is enabled. That said, this well-written, complicated story wouldn’t have achieved its success without the well-developed characters and the excellent performances of the actors portraying them.

Jeon Do Yeon as An Yun Su
As a renowned actress who has portrayed diverse roles, I couldn’t imagine a better choice to play the quirky and eccentric An Yun Su. Beyond her overall appearance, which suits the artistic An Yun Su perfectly, Jeon Do Yeon delivered an excellent performance in bringing out her emotions. Her grief, the way she tries to stay strong for her daughter, her fear and confusion upon entering prison, her desperation to prove her innocence, her anxiety—everything was perfectly conveyed through Jeon Do Yeon's facial expressions and body movements.

There is one question I still have about her character—maybe it was unanswered, or maybe I missed it.

[Spoiler]

Baek Dong Hun said that when An Yun Su was a child, she intentionally pushed her friend, causing injuries, simply because she didn’t like how her friend smiled so brightly in a photo for milk packaging. Is that story true? Was it just an impulsive mistake that children sometimes make, or does it suggest something darker wired within her?

Not to mention the scene where An Yun Su is looking at paintings made by her students. One painting, in particular, stood out: it showed her as if she were about to devour smaller humans. That scene made me suspicious of An Yun Su. However, I realized I might have brushed it off if I didn’t already know she was a convicted killer. As an artist, it’s perfectly normal to pause and take in a painting—but in this case, my knowledge of her past made me form a biased judgment.

[Spoiler Ends]

Despite her well-written character, she wasn’t without flaws. As someone who watches a lot of CSI, I found that her attempts to investigate and go unnoticed were sloppy at times. She wears an electronic ankle tag and knows its purpose, yet she doesn’t even manage to cover her tracks, making it seem like she’s just revealing her alliance with Mo Eun to the police. Also, burying evidence in her own backyard was a questionable choice. Maybe it’s sloppy writing, or maybe it’s the writer showing us that despite An Yun Su being an avid CSI watcher, she’s just a careless woman and mother who wouldn’t hurt a single fly.

I do give credit to the hair and costume stylist. Her long, curly hairstyle and eccentric look really bring An Yun Su's personality to life! Additionally, the large tattoo of her husband on her back was such a nice and artistic touch.

Kim Go Eun as Mo Eun
Wow! For such a complex character, Kim Go Eun delivered an outstanding performance. Beyond her appearance, which somehow complements Jeon Do Yeon's look, her facial expressions were top-tier. She perfectly portrayed a good and selfless girl who develops a deep grudge and a strong motive for vengeance against those who wronged her family. I particularly applaud the scene when she is lying down, seemingly helpless, yet her heart is raging with fury—you’ll know what I mean when you see it. I honestly felt like aiding her.

I do wonder about the reasoning behind her hairstyle, though. Okay, the short hair I get—maybe she cuts it to mark the next (and final) chapter in her life: revenge. But I don’t understand why she approaches the Ko family with her original long hairstyle. Then again, this doesn’t really affect my experience; it’s just a curiosity.

An Yun Su and Mo Eun's chemistry is something to anticipate! I even find An Yun Su's chemistry with Mo Eun stronger than her chemistry with other characters, including her husband. That’s not to say romantically—just chemistry in general. An Yun Su’s grief over the loss of her husband felt somewhat casual to me; she seemed to bounce back quickly, treating it as if he were just out on a trip. Yet with Mo Eun, there’s more than just loss—there’s regret, sympathy, and even a sense of holding onto Mo Eun in her memories as she moves on with her life in the end.

Park Hae Soo as Baek Dong Hun
Park Hae Soo delivered a great performance as Baek Dong Hun. Baek Dong Hun is an upright and persistent character who only believes what he sees. Throughout the series, Park Hae Soo did an excellent job bringing out the annoying side of Baek Dong Hun—almost making me want to smack him on the head to get a grip and put the puzzle pieces together. Honestly, at first, the romance-lover in me thought he might develop romantic curiosity toward An Yun Su, but I was proven wrong. He was just curious about her as a person. However, I admit that if I were in his shoes, I would also relentlessly pursue An Yun Su, perceiving her as the killer because all the evidence and my observations point to her.

Jin Seon Kyu as Jang Jeong Gyu
Jin Seon Kyu was perfect as Jang Jeong Gyu. He brought the character's persistence and upright personality to life. Honestly, if it weren’t for Jang Jeong Gyu, An Yun Su's life would have been much harder. Unlike others, Jang Jeong Gyu consistently gives An Yun Su the benefit of the doubt despite evidence pointing toward her. He is like her loyal sidekick who always has her back. Jin Seon Kyu's expressions and overall presence were perfect for this role.

Baek Dong Hun and Jang Jeong Gyu are like polar opposites in their opinions and behavior toward An Yun Su. While Baek Dong Hun always believes she’s a killer, Jang Jeong Gyu believes she is innocent and wronged. Baek Dong Hun is persistent in proving himself right, while Jang Jeong Gyu is persistent in proving An Yun Su’s innocence. Their chemistry is interesting, to the point that it occasionally comes off as humorous.

The Price of Confession is a series that will keep you hooked. You become fully involved in the characters’ pursuit of the truth. This is a well-written work with twists and turns that leave you genuinely mindblown. It is not a light watch, as it will keep you thinking and questioning throughout. Highly recommended if you want a gripping crime-mystery drama!

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Crazy Good!

I don’t usually watch these types of dramas, but it’s Kim Go Eun, so I had to. And what a feast both she and Jeon Do Yeon delivered, damn. Such good acting from the entire cast, but the female leads definitely delivered stellar performances and I hope they get a ton of awards for the show! The reveal of the murderer may seem out of place, and the motive a little weak, but I think I am happy with how they concluded the affair… Some people just think so highly of themselves that they become delusional and crazy. It fit the characters lowkey…! I do think that Yun Su’s plotting was a little sloppy at times, when she wasn’t actively trying to be seen, she was still … so painfully visible lol. Also, she went through the incredible trouble of burning any proof of her supposed murder, only to bury some of the proof in her own garden? That is so … messy and dumb!! Anyway, this had me hooked; every episode managed to make me crave more as it always ended on a cliffhanger. It always made me anticipate the next part of the story, so I ended up watching the show pretty quickly for my own standards. Great!

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a viciously well-acted thriller

First things first: the actors deserve all the praise here, Jeon Do Yeon and Kim Go Eun were absolutely brilliant. I could go on about them, honestly, but I feel that there would be too many spoilers so I'll just say that I think that they're two of the most talented actors working in Korea right now. No slouches in the supporting cast either - there were plenty of great performances but I'll highlight scene stealer Kim Sun Young, who played my favorite supporting character.

In terms of the story, it's a gripping psychological thriller that builds tension very effectively and unravels in a satisfying way. The first half of the show is maybe more successful than the second half in that respect - the reveal of the biggest mystery was perhaps not as impactful as earlier ones but it fit kind of nicely with the overall themes so I didn't dislike it. There are plenty of other merits. Most significantly, it's a show that is blisteringly furious about well, a whole lot: the catastrophic, compounding failures of the justice system, the myriad of ways our society fails to protect victims of sexual violence, the dehumanization of prisoners, unethical journalism & the public's rabid thirst for salacious headlines over the truth - all that and more. But still there are moments of compassion, big and small: Lawyer Jung's trust, kindness & empathy shown by the prison warden and others that work within the system, loyalty & camaraderie even among the prisoners, Mo Eun (despite everything), Yun Su (despite everything), and that final scene.

Overall, probably one of my favourite shows this year and one I will definitely want to revisit!

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Kim Go Eun gives a commendable performance

This drama keeps you hooked from the very first episode till the last, with it's strong storyline and multiple twists. The plot is dark as well as emotional at times.

The story moves in a good pace and keeps us guessing who's the real culprit behind everything. While some twists were predictable, the build-up was still pretty well done. And while I admit most of the story was really great the final 2 episodes were loaded with too much subplots, that even though the ending was satisfactory, it was not totally brilliant.

The acting of both the leads were amazing, especially Kim Go Eun. Her eyes itself expressed every grief and trauma she went through in her past, yet she stands fearless and emotionless. Her versatile acting catalogue is already stacked with some brilliant performances.

The writing was sharp and the characters were well-written, although you might observe few loopholes in the first half of the drama. The BGM fits well with the atmosphere and genre of the drama.

Nonetheless, The Price Of Confession is a strong mystery thriller drama that is worth a watch, especially for the fans of crime thrillers.


My Rating : 8.5/10

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Dark Plot with outstanding actresses

This is K-drama with a storyline that keeps you curious from the first episode to the last. The plot is dark, emotional, and full of twists, but still easy to follow. Every episode makes you want to watch the next one.

The two female lead actresses give incredible performances. Their chemistry feels real, and the way they show fear, love, anger, and sadness is very strong. They carry the whole drama with their acting. You can feel their pain and their courage in every scene.

The OST is beautiful and fits the mood perfectly. The songs are emotional, calming, and add more depth to the story. Some tracks stay in your head long after you finish the episode.

Overall, The Price of Confession is a well-made drama with a strong story, powerful acting, and amazing music. It’s definitely worth watching.

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Tragic and painful

one of the best thrillers drama if not the best already in my opinion.., This is an S tier show
Story wise, characters ,cast and acting, direction
All take 10 rates for me , It’s a complex and smart story with a great sense of thriller and tension throughout the drama
and its psychological part is so well written

It will hook you from the first episodes until you wish you don’t finish it because you will miss it but guess what? you still can’t stop watching it until the end
it leaves you curious every single episode

Most thriller dramas.., don’t focus on the psychological aspects and doesn’t makes you attached to the characters .., mostly cares about the storyline only

this is not the case with this drama because it’s tragedy drama to begin with, told through thriller lens and I think too little watchers will notice that

“Kim go eun is the goat”

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a powerhouse duo in the thriller of the year

the writing thrives on unpredictability. what starts as a standard murder mystery quickly evolves into a complex web of deception. the "twist after twist" structure isn't just for shock value; it forces the audience to constantly re-evaluate every character's motives. if you enjoy stories that keep you guessing until the final frame, this is a must-watch.

the heart of the drama lies in the unexpected alliance between the leads:
doyeon (an yunsu), provides a grounded perspective that anchors the show's chaos.
goeun (mo-eun), delivers a standout performance. she subverts the "psycho killer" trope by revealing a deeply layered, tragic backstory that shifts the audience's perspective from fear to empathy.
their chemistry and eventual teamwork to catch the true killer provide the emotional satisfaction needed to balance the dark themes.

beyond the thrills, the drama explores the heavy toll of grief. the subplot involving yunsu—and her struggle to survive and find justice after the death of her husband—adds a layer of "human" pain to the high-stakes mystery. it reminds the viewer that behind every "twist," there are lives being ruined.

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