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100 Days of Deception (2026) and Whale Star: The Gyeongseong Mermaid (2019–2021) share several striking similarities, particularly in their historical settings, female protagonists, romantic relationships, and exploration of Korea’s independence movement during Japanese colonial rule. Although 100 Days of Deception is a historical espionage romance and Whale Star is a historical romance webtoon inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid, both stories explore how ordinary young Korean women become entangled in the struggle for their country’s liberation. Their journeys reflect the emotional and personal consequences of living under colonial oppression, where love, loyalty, survival, and sacrifice become closely intertwined.
One of their most significant similarities is their historical background. 100 Days of Deception takes place in the 1930s, primarily in Gyeongseong, modern-day Seoul, while Whale Star begins in 1926, initially following events in Gunsan before the story expands to Gyeongseong. Both works portray Korea during Japanese occupation, a period marked by political repression, inequality, and the activities of underground independence organizations. The protagonists live in a society where ordinary Korean citizens have limited freedom, and those who resist Japanese authority risk imprisonment, torture, or death. This historical environment provides the foundation for both narratives, influencing the decisions, relationships, and personal struggles of their characters.
Another important similarity is that both female protagonists come from relatively disadvantaged backgrounds and initially have little involvement in political resistance. In 100 Days of Deception, Lee Ga-kyung, portrayed by Kim You-jung, is a talented pickpocket who dreams of escaping her difficult circumstances and eventually moving to America. Her priorities initially revolve around survival and the possibility of building a better life outside Korea. However, her circumstances change when she becomes involved with the independence organization Gugukdan and is recruited to undertake a dangerous undercover mission. Similarly, in Whale Star, Heo Su-a is a seventeen-year-old handmaiden working for a wealthy household in Gunsan. Her life changes dramatically when she discovers an injured independence activist named Kang Uihyeon and secretly cares for him. What begins as a compassionate act gradually introduces her to the dangerous world of Korean resistance fighters. Neither woman originally intends to become involved in the independence movement, yet both eventually find themselves participating in struggles much greater than their personal ambitions.
Romance also plays an important role in both narratives, particularly through the heroines’ relationships with men whose backgrounds are complicated by Japanese colonial authority. In 100 Days of Deception, Ga-kyung encounters Kim Tae-woong, also known as Sato Hideo, an elite interpreter working within the Japanese colonial administration. His position as the adopted son of an influential Japanese official complicates his identity and relationships. In Whale Star, Su-a develops feelings for Kang Uihyeon, an independence activist whose family background is complicated by his father’s pro-Japanese affiliations. Although the two male characters occupy different positions within their respective stories, both introduce conflicts involving family, political loyalty, and personal identity. Their relationships with the heroines demonstrate how romantic attachments can become inseparable from the political tensions of colonial Korea.
Furthermore, both stories examine the conflict between personal happiness and patriotic responsibility. As Ga-kyung becomes increasingly involved in espionage, she must navigate a dangerous environment where trust is uncertain and maintaining her secret identity is essential to survival. Her developing relationship with Tae-woong becomes complicated by the political circumstances surrounding them. Likewise, Su-a’s feelings for Uihyeon gradually become connected to her understanding of Korea’s struggle for independence. Her experiences expose her to the sacrifices made by resistance fighters and force her to confront difficult questions concerning love, loyalty, and national liberation. In both narratives, romance is not simply a separate element of the plot but an important part of the protagonists’ emotional and ideological transformations.
The theme of sacrifice is another significant connection between the two works. In Whale Star, Su-a loses her ability to speak following a violent incident involving Song Haesu, another independence activist. This tragedy establishes a direct connection to The Little Mermaid, whose heroine sacrifices her voice, and also symbolizes the experiences of those who are silenced under oppression. Su-a’s suffering becomes central to her personal development as she struggles to understand the independence movement and her place within it. Meanwhile, in 100 Days of Deception, Ga-kyung must sacrifice her personal security and conceal her true identity while operating undercover within the colonial administration. Her mission requires considerable courage because a single mistake could expose her involvement with the resistance. Although the circumstances of their sacrifices differ, both heroines experience the loss of personal freedom as they become increasingly involved in the fight for Korea’s independence.
Despite these similarities, the two stories differ in their narrative approaches and overall atmosphere. Whale Star places greater emphasis on emotional tragedy, literary symbolism, and the devastating consequences of love and political struggle. Its reinterpretation of The Little Mermaid allows the story to explore themes of silence, longing, sacrifice, and the painful realities of the independence movement. By contrast, 100 Days of Deception adopts a more espionage-oriented narrative, focusing on undercover operations, political intrigue, hidden identities, and dangerous relationships. Ga-kyung’s one-hundred-day mission provides a central structure for the story, whereas Su-a’s journey develops through a succession of personal tragedies and encounters that transform her understanding of the world.
Ultimately, the strongest similarity between 100 Days of Deception and Whale Star: The Gyeongseong Mermaid lies in their portrayals of ordinary women whose lives are transformed by extraordinary historical circumstances. Both Lee Ga-kyung and Heo Su-a begin as young women primarily concerned with their own survival, yet their encounters with Korean independence activists gradually draw them into the political struggle against Japanese colonial rule. Through their experiences, both works emphasize that the fight for independence was not limited to prominent political leaders or trained resistance fighters, but also involved ordinary individuals who found themselves making difficult and courageous decisions. While Whale Star approaches these themes through tragedy and symbolism, 100 Days of Deception explores them through espionage and romantic suspense. Both narratives ultimately connect the personal struggles of their heroines to the broader pursuit of freedom, demonstrating how love, identity, sacrifice, and patriotism can become deeply intertwined during periods of national oppression.
One of their most significant similarities is their historical background. 100 Days of Deception takes place in the 1930s, primarily in Gyeongseong, modern-day Seoul, while Whale Star begins in 1926, initially following events in Gunsan before the story expands to Gyeongseong. Both works portray Korea during Japanese occupation, a period marked by political repression, inequality, and the activities of underground independence organizations. The protagonists live in a society where ordinary Korean citizens have limited freedom, and those who resist Japanese authority risk imprisonment, torture, or death. This historical environment provides the foundation for both narratives, influencing the decisions, relationships, and personal struggles of their characters.
Another important similarity is that both female protagonists come from relatively disadvantaged backgrounds and initially have little involvement in political resistance. In 100 Days of Deception, Lee Ga-kyung, portrayed by Kim You-jung, is a talented pickpocket who dreams of escaping her difficult circumstances and eventually moving to America. Her priorities initially revolve around survival and the possibility of building a better life outside Korea. However, her circumstances change when she becomes involved with the independence organization Gugukdan and is recruited to undertake a dangerous undercover mission. Similarly, in Whale Star, Heo Su-a is a seventeen-year-old handmaiden working for a wealthy household in Gunsan. Her life changes dramatically when she discovers an injured independence activist named Kang Uihyeon and secretly cares for him. What begins as a compassionate act gradually introduces her to the dangerous world of Korean resistance fighters. Neither woman originally intends to become involved in the independence movement, yet both eventually find themselves participating in struggles much greater than their personal ambitions.
Romance also plays an important role in both narratives, particularly through the heroines’ relationships with men whose backgrounds are complicated by Japanese colonial authority. In 100 Days of Deception, Ga-kyung encounters Kim Tae-woong, also known as Sato Hideo, an elite interpreter working within the Japanese colonial administration. His position as the adopted son of an influential Japanese official complicates his identity and relationships. In Whale Star, Su-a develops feelings for Kang Uihyeon, an independence activist whose family background is complicated by his father’s pro-Japanese affiliations. Although the two male characters occupy different positions within their respective stories, both introduce conflicts involving family, political loyalty, and personal identity. Their relationships with the heroines demonstrate how romantic attachments can become inseparable from the political tensions of colonial Korea.
Furthermore, both stories examine the conflict between personal happiness and patriotic responsibility. As Ga-kyung becomes increasingly involved in espionage, she must navigate a dangerous environment where trust is uncertain and maintaining her secret identity is essential to survival. Her developing relationship with Tae-woong becomes complicated by the political circumstances surrounding them. Likewise, Su-a’s feelings for Uihyeon gradually become connected to her understanding of Korea’s struggle for independence. Her experiences expose her to the sacrifices made by resistance fighters and force her to confront difficult questions concerning love, loyalty, and national liberation. In both narratives, romance is not simply a separate element of the plot but an important part of the protagonists’ emotional and ideological transformations.
The theme of sacrifice is another significant connection between the two works. In Whale Star, Su-a loses her ability to speak following a violent incident involving Song Haesu, another independence activist. This tragedy establishes a direct connection to The Little Mermaid, whose heroine sacrifices her voice, and also symbolizes the experiences of those who are silenced under oppression. Su-a’s suffering becomes central to her personal development as she struggles to understand the independence movement and her place within it. Meanwhile, in 100 Days of Deception, Ga-kyung must sacrifice her personal security and conceal her true identity while operating undercover within the colonial administration. Her mission requires considerable courage because a single mistake could expose her involvement with the resistance. Although the circumstances of their sacrifices differ, both heroines experience the loss of personal freedom as they become increasingly involved in the fight for Korea’s independence.
Despite these similarities, the two stories differ in their narrative approaches and overall atmosphere. Whale Star places greater emphasis on emotional tragedy, literary symbolism, and the devastating consequences of love and political struggle. Its reinterpretation of The Little Mermaid allows the story to explore themes of silence, longing, sacrifice, and the painful realities of the independence movement. By contrast, 100 Days of Deception adopts a more espionage-oriented narrative, focusing on undercover operations, political intrigue, hidden identities, and dangerous relationships. Ga-kyung’s one-hundred-day mission provides a central structure for the story, whereas Su-a’s journey develops through a succession of personal tragedies and encounters that transform her understanding of the world.
Ultimately, the strongest similarity between 100 Days of Deception and Whale Star: The Gyeongseong Mermaid lies in their portrayals of ordinary women whose lives are transformed by extraordinary historical circumstances. Both Lee Ga-kyung and Heo Su-a begin as young women primarily concerned with their own survival, yet their encounters with Korean independence activists gradually draw them into the political struggle against Japanese colonial rule. Through their experiences, both works emphasize that the fight for independence was not limited to prominent political leaders or trained resistance fighters, but also involved ordinary individuals who found themselves making difficult and courageous decisions. While Whale Star approaches these themes through tragedy and symbolism, 100 Days of Deception explores them through espionage and romantic suspense. Both narratives ultimately connect the personal struggles of their heroines to the broader pursuit of freedom, demonstrating how love, identity, sacrifice, and patriotism can become deeply intertwined during periods of national oppression.
Similarities between 100 Days of Deception and The Lament of Autumn:
- Japanese occupation era: Both dramas are set against the backdrop of the Japanese occupation, with characters navigating a turbulent and dangerous period in history.
- Patriotism and resistance: Both explore loyalty to one's country and the struggle against a hostile occupying force.
- Love amid conflict: Romance develops amid political tension, where personal feelings clash with duty and national loyalty.
- Espionage and hidden identities: Secrets, deception, and dangerous allegiances add suspense to the characters' lives.
- Personal sacrifice: The characters face difficult choices that may require them to put their feelings aside for the sake of their country.
- Historical romance with suspense: Both combine romantic tension with the dangers and uncertainties of life under Japanese occupation.
- Japanese occupation era: Both dramas are set against the backdrop of the Japanese occupation, with characters navigating a turbulent and dangerous period in history.
- Patriotism and resistance: Both explore loyalty to one's country and the struggle against a hostile occupying force.
- Love amid conflict: Romance develops amid political tension, where personal feelings clash with duty and national loyalty.
- Espionage and hidden identities: Secrets, deception, and dangerous allegiances add suspense to the characters' lives.
- Personal sacrifice: The characters face difficult choices that may require them to put their feelings aside for the sake of their country.
- Historical romance with suspense: Both combine romantic tension with the dangers and uncertainties of life under Japanese occupation.
Cheng Feng is the son of a disgraced official who assumes a fabricated identity and takes the place of an undercover agent within the Jinyiwei. He becomes entangled in the power struggle between the Noble Consort and the Crown Prince’s factions. Relying on his exceptional “confiscation” skills, he investigates and raids corrupt officials and powerful elites along the way
Both dramas are periodic and have same timeline in late Joseon era. Both dramas shows that Joeson is colonized by foreign countries and there are scenes included for the korean independent movement. Both Male leads are related with the colonized country . Female leads in both the dramas have a hidden identity.
