The Price of Confession: When Korea's Two Greatest Actresses Finally Meet
Kdrama
The Price of Confession: When Korea's Two Greatest Actresses Finally Meet
Introduction
In December 2025, Netflix's The Price of Confession hit #1 in Korea just two days after release. It entered the Top 10 in 33 countries.
What makes this drama special isn't just that it's a thriller. It's because Jeon Do-yeon and Kim Go-eun—two of Korea's greatest actresses from different generations—reunited after 11 years. And behind them stands Lee Jung-hyo, the director who made the world cry with Crash Landing on You.
Jeon Do-yeon: The Actress Cannes Recognized
If you don't know Jeon Do-yeon, you don't know Korean cinema.
Cannes Film Festival Best Actress
In 2007, Jeon Do-yeon won Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival for the film Secret Sunshine. She was the first Korean actor ever to receive this honor.
To understand how significant this is—Cannes is often considered more prestigious than the Oscars in the film world. She was only the second Asian actress to win this award, after Hong Kong's Maggie Cheung in 2004.
In 2014, she was invited to serve as a Cannes jury member—again, a first for any Korean actor.
Domestic Awards Record
- Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Actress: 4 times
- Grand Bell Awards Best Actress: 3 times
- Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actress: 2+ times
Almost no Korean actor has this many wins. Jeon Do-yeon is called "the god of acting" in Korea.
Notable Works
- Secret Sunshine (2007) - Cannes Best Actress
- The Housemaid (2010)
- The Shameless (2015)
- The Good Wife (2016) - Drama, directed by Lee Jung-hyo
- Stranger (2017) - Drama
Kim Go-eun: The Actress Millennials Love
Kim Go-eun became Korea's representative actress in a different way than Jeon Do-yeon.
Star of Global Hit Dramas
In 2016, Kim Go-eun starred alongside Gong Yoo in Goblin (Guardian: The Lonely and Great God). This drama recorded the 7th highest ratings in Korean cable TV history and became a phenomenon across Asia. The term "Goblin syndrome" was coined because of its impact.
In 2020, she appeared in The King: Eternal Monarch with Lee Min-ho, building a global fanbase through Netflix.
2024: Exhuma's Massive Success
The 2024 film Exhuma drew 12 million viewers in Korea, making it the year's biggest hit. Kim Go-eun won Best Actress at both the Baeksang Arts Awards and Blue Dragon Film Awards for this role.
Unexpected Background
Kim Go-eun moved to Beijing, China at age 3 and lived there for 10 years. She's fluent in Mandarin. Originally dreaming of becoming a film director, she switched to acting and swept all the rookie awards with her 2012 debut film Eungyo.
Director Lee Jung-hyo: From Romance to Thriller
The director of Crash Landing on You made a dark, brutal thriller?
His filmography explains everything.
Major Works
- I Need Romance 2012 (2012) - Romantic comedy
- The Good Wife (2016) - Legal drama ← Starring Jeon Do-yeon
- Life on Mars (2018) - Mystery detective series
- Romance is a Bonus Book (2019) - Romance
- Crash Landing on You (2019) - Romance + North Korea setting
- Doona! (2023) - Netflix, Romance
- The Price of Confession (2025) - Netflix, Thriller
Romance, legal drama, detective series, thriller—he doesn't limit himself to genres. And importantly: he already worked with Jeon Do-yeon on The Good Wife. That chemistry is reconnecting after 9 years.
The Price of Confession: What Makes It Special
Plot (No Spoilers)
Yoon-su (Jeon Do-yeon) is an ordinary art teacher. One day her husband is murdered, and she becomes the prime suspect.
In prison, she meets Mo-eun (Kim Go-eun), a mysterious woman known as "the witch." Mo-eun proposes a deal:
"I'll confess for you. In return, bring me someone's life."
Casting Behind the Scenes
Originally, this drama was planned with Song Hye-kyo and Han So-hee, directed by Lee Eung-bok (the Goblin director). It was first announced in 2022.
But in 2023, Lee Eung-bok left the project, and Song Hye-kyo and Han So-hee's casting fell through. Then Lee Jung-hyo came aboard, approached Jeon Do-yeon, and Kim Go-eun joined.
The result? Perhaps an even better combination.
Reunion After 11 Years
Jeon Do-yeon and Kim Go-eun first met in the 2015 film Memories of the Sword. Back then, Kim Go-eun was a newcomer, while Jeon Do-yeon was already the Queen of Cannes.
Ten years later, Kim Go-eun is no longer a newcomer. She's become one of Korea's representative actresses, having drawn 12 million viewers with Exhuma.
Two actresses meeting as equals, in an adversarial relationship—this alone is an event for Korean film fans.
Why Korean Thrillers Work
There's a reason Korean thrillers do particularly well on Netflix.
Characteristics of Korean Thrillers
- Moral Ambiguity: Good and evil aren't clear-cut. Protagonists do bad things, and villains have their reasons.
- Social Critique: They're not just crime stories—they contain Korean social issues. Inequality, corruption, power.
- Emotional Depth: Behind the action and suspense lies sadness and anger. That's why they linger.
The Price of Confession follows this formula. It doesn't just ask "who's the killer?" but "how far would you go?"
Key Facts
- Jeon Do-yeon won Best Actress at Cannes 2007—first Korean actor ever
- Kim Go-eun drew 12 million viewers with Exhuma (2024), won Baeksang/Blue Dragon
- Director Lee Jung-hyo made Crash Landing on You
- Jeon and Kim reunite after 11 years (since 2015's Memories of the Sword)
- Originally planned as Song Hye-kyo + Han So-hee before casting changed
- Hit #1 in Korea in just 2 days, Top 10 in 33 countries
FAQ
Q: Where can I watch The Price of Confession?
A: It's a Netflix exclusive. All 12 episodes were released simultaneously on December 5, 2025.
Q: It's rated 19+. How intense is it?
A: It contains murder, violence, and mature themes. If you want something light, this isn't it.
Q: What other Jeon Do-yeon works should I watch?
A: For film, Secret Sunshine (her Cannes winner). For drama, Stranger. Both are available on Netflix.
Q: What other Kim Go-eun works should I watch?
A: Goblin (fantasy romance) and Exhuma (horror/mystery). You can see her range across completely different genres.
Q: Can the Crash Landing on You director really do thrillers?
A: Before Crash Landing, Lee Jung-hyo made Life on Mars (mystery detective) and The Good Wife (legal drama). He's fully capable of handling thrillers.
Conclusion
The Price of Confession isn't just a thriller.
It's a work with multiple layers: Korea's two greatest actresses meeting, a director of global hits trying a new genre, and an original casting change that created an even more powerful combination.
If you love Korean dramas, don't miss this one.
Related Topics
- Understanding Korean Age: Why Koreans Are "Older"
- Why Korean Dramas Are Different: The 16-Episode Formula
- Korean Honorifics Explained: From -ssi to -nim
This article is part of our Korean Culture Guide series for international readers.
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