Kdrama Delightfully Deceitful Plot Summary Ending Review & Cast Location

The Korean drama “Delightfully Deceitful(이로운 사기)” depicts the process of Han Moo-young, a lawyer with extraordinary sensitivity, joining forces to plan revenge against huge evil and realize justice, as opposed to the benefits of a cool-headed fraud who has no empathy. The drama tightly intertwines the complex structure of crime and revenge, cooperation and human relations, and intensely conveys the conflicting personalities between the protagonists and the chemistry they create to the viewers.

The work is about Lee In-hye, the heroine who was raised as a gifted child by the special foundation “Red Tree” and became a tool for crime, who was falsely accused of being imprisoned, returned to society and took revenge against a group that set her up. At the same time, Han Moo-young, a lawyer who feels the pain of others well enough, shows a paradoxical obsession to understand and protect the victims and forms a special cooperation. It faithfully showed the typicality of a tragic yet tense development, multi-layered character and relationship, and a fraudulent drama with tricks, inducing viewers to immerse themselves.

Delightfully Deceitful is a creative drama that was selected as a masterpiece in the Studio Dragon playwriting contest through a 133:1 competition ratio, and has been praised for its non-mainstream material and plural noir drama that reflects the sentiment of the times. Chun Woo-hee as the main character Lee Yi-rim and Kim Dong-wook as Han Moo-young were also expected to be famous only by their names, Seok alone, while the villain and the sub-character of the helper were also well received by viewers for their solid acting and detail. It has drawn attention as the most innovative fraudulent concept drama of its time in that it contains wounds, healing, trust, solidarity, and social messages, not just revenge on the villain.

Korean drama Delightfully Deceitful 2023

Korea: 이로운 사기 (麗詐) | English: Delightfully Deceitful | Japanese: 有益な詐欺
Genres: Crime, noir, revenge, fraud, capers, black comedy, courtroom drama
A few episodes, a total of 16 episodes, complete
First release date: May 29, 2023
Day and time of the week: Every Monday and Tuesday at 8:50 p.m
Ratings: Aged 15 and up
network: Domestic and foreign OTT services such as TVING, Netflix, Hisense, etc., Japan U-NEXT (配 Trust)
Producers: Studio Dragon, Next Scene
Directed by: Soohyun Lee | Written by: Han Woo-ju | Adapted by: Studio Dragon Team
CP: Park Eun-kyung | PD: Kim Yugyeom
Director: Kang Min-ho | Music Director: Kim Jun-seok | Martial Arts: Kim Dong-hyun Cooperation with the President of the Association
cast : un Woohee, Kim Dongwook, and more

Kdrama Delightfully Deceitful plot summary ending Review & cast location

Kdrana Delightfully Deceitful Cast

Lee Ro-um (played by Chun Woo-hee):
A genius memorization girl who was recognized as gifted but serves a prison sentence on suspicion of murdering her parents. After going to prison, Chun Woo-hee’s character eventually overpowers not only prison guards but also fellow inmates. With a goal of revenge, Ro-um prepares a morale that is of historic level.

Han Moo-young (played by Kim Dong-wook):
A lawyer who ultimately empathizes even with prisoner Ro-um’s heart. Naturally, his law practice does not go smoothly. Eventually, he starts psychiatric treatment and becomes known as the “Vampire Lawyer,” but he empathizes with Ro-um’s pain and finally joins her quest for revenge.

Go Yo-han (played by Yoon Park):
A mysterious probation officer who interferes persistently, constantly trailing for 24-hour benefits! The former offenders under Yo-han’s supervision even come to refuse probation. Despite this, he becomes Ro-um’s probation officer, a young man who murdered his parents at 19. Yo-han has pursued rehabilitation through excessive supervision but finds this client notably formidable…

Jae-in Mo (played by Park So-jin):
A psychiatric specialist who has been treating Han Moo-young, who suffers from hyper-empathy syndrome, for three years. She transformed Moo-young into a cold vampire but ends up unconsciously sympathizing with Moo-young, whose career she feels is ruined.

Chun Da-jeong (played by Lee Young):
Owner of Da-jeong Comic Cafe but actually a hacker with 20 years of experience. A friend of Ro-um and one of the Jeokmok Kids.

Na-sa (played by Yoo Hee-jae):
An engineer running the Nasa Center, joining as an engineer right after Ro-um’s release. Also one of the Jeokmok Kids.

Lingo (played by Hong Seung-beom):
Runs the TO DO handy service. Lingo, who survived thanks to Ro-um, is willing to devote his life to her. Also one of the Jeokmok Kids.

Yoo Il-hun (played by Woo Ji-han):
The skilled elder brother of Yoo Il, who are fraternal twins and employees at the TO DO handy service.

Yoo Il (played by Kim Myung-chan):
The younger fraternal twin brother.

Jang Kyung-ja (played by Lee Tae-ran):
Current CEO of Nabis Wedding, known in the social scene thanks to her beauty pageant background, and leads the Jeokmok Scholarship Foundation. Uses her common-law partner Jay as a shadow operative.

Chairman (actor unknown):
The demonic mentor who raised Ro-um and the Jeokmok Kids into monsters.

Jay (played by Kim Tae-hoon):
Chief of security for Jang Kyung-ja and the oldest Jeokmok Kid.

Ryu Jae-hyun (played by Choi Young-joon):
A lifestyle-type prosecutor and friend-like colleague of Moo-young.

Woo Byung-gi (played by Yoon Byung-hee):
A reporter for Peony Daily who helps Moo-young and dives into tracking the Jeokmok Gate.

Seo Gye-suk (played by Jang Young-nam):
Mother of Myung-hoon, who gave her son up for adoption to a friend due to debt and now protests alone in front of the courthouse after her son’s death.

Delightfully Deceitful filming locations

Seoul Central Court in Seocho-dong
Lium Museum of Art

Address and location: 60-16 Itaewon-ro 55-gil, Yongsan-gu

The area around Samsong Station in Goyang
Seven Luck Casino COEX

Address and location: It is located in the annex of the Samseong-dong Convention Center.

Cheonggyecheon Stream Promenade
Iksan Prison Set, Jeollabuk-do

Address and location Hamnang-ro, Catholic church-myeon, Iksan-si, Jeollabuk-do

It is the only prison set in Korea, where most of the filming takes place inside movies and dramas. Outside shooting is also done a lot elsewhere.

Downdare, Heyri Village, Paju

Address: 55-34, Heyri Village-gil, Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju-si

Jongno Ace Precious Metals Shopping Center (Hangyul Suribang)

Tteokbokki place 9. Seodaemun-gu Mom’s Hand Tteokbokki

Location: 324-46, Namgajwa-dong, Seodaemun-gu

Delightfully Deceitful Plot Summary

Episode 1
On a dark night, a young girl named Lee Ro-um sets her house on fire. She grows up and becomes a woman in prison uniform. Lawyer Han Moo-young, a skilled attorney in Seocho-dong nicknamed “Vampire,” once collapsed during a trial due to hyper-empathy syndrome and now receives psychiatric treatment. As an adult, Ro-um receives a call in prison urging her to check the news. While a new inmate bullies her, Ro-um quietly endures. The real criminal, Yae Choong-sik, is arrested for illegal arms possession and confesses to killing Ro-um’s parents.

Her parents were found dead from gunshot wounds amid the fire, with evidence pointing to Ro-um’s arson tools at the scene. Moo-young releases a recording of the real killer’s confession to the media, improving public opinion of Ro-um, and her additional sentence is suspended. On her release day, Moo-young greets Ro-um with new clothes, suspecting she might be a sociopath or psychopath and begins his investigation.

Ro-um has a history of attacking a prison guard and is highly adept at finding and exploiting people’s weaknesses. Probation officer Go Yo-han unilaterally sets an appointment with her, but Ro-um, disguising herself as a detective, seizes stolen luxury goods at a second-hand shop and wins big at a casino through card counting. When Yo-han tries to inspect her bag of cash, Moo-young intervenes. Moo-young reveals he met her at a quiz show as a child.

Episode 2
Moo-young recalls meeting child prodigy Ro-um on a quiz show; she had memorized the information of 100 people but froze on Moo-young’s turn. He grows suspicious from her bag of cash and kiosk use, suspecting foul play. He investigates the 2012 Geumseong-si abandoned campsite case (her parents’ murder and arson). Ro-um confessed, but questions remain over the gunshot wounds and missing weapon.

Ro-um was gifted but only completed an alternative junior high program. Moo-young finds Yae Choong-sik, though homeless, has plenty of prison funds. Ro-um asks hacker Da-jeong to track Yo-han’s location and find his weaknesses. Prosecutor Jae-hyuk reveals Ro-um was once a “Jeokmok Kid.” Moo-young questions Yae over possible accomplices, but Ro-um stays silent about her parents’ death. She infiltrates a hospice as a consultant, seeking old Jeokmok executive Shin Ki-ho’s phone. She tries to kill Shin but Moo-young stops her. Ro-um claims Jeokmok didn’t mold her—she’s always been this way. She implicates Moo-young as an accomplice, while Yo-han threatens her but she remains undeterred. Moo-young urges the court to postpone Ro-um’s trial, but she escapes and Moo-young persuades her to learn empathy. Ro-um is shaken by a “Welcome back” message.

Episode 3
Ro-um, volunteering for the Ministry of Justice, discovers a serial spycam criminal and steals his phone in the women’s restroom. Moo-young, scolded at his law firm for losing a big case and the retainer, helps Ro-um at the police station after Go Yo-han’s call. Ro-um proposes hacking the offender’s phone, but Moo-young insists on a legal solution.

Moo-young reports the crimes while Da-jeong deletes the filmed material. Ro-um finds a locker containing photos of the decade-old case and the message “Welcome back.” Moo-young helps victim Seo Gye-suk in the death of her adopted son Myung-hoon, which is ruled an accident. Ro-um deduces the death was insurance fraud and, posing as a child counselor, tricks the foster parents and gets ₩430 million in insurance money. Seo Gye-suk, devastated by her son’s death, attempts suicide and Moo-young collapses from hyper-empathy. Go Yo-han brings Moo-young home, where Ro-um awaits with the insurance money.

Episode 4
Ro-um shows up with the insurance payout; Yo-han bursts in. After heavy drinking, Yo-han warns Moo-young not to get too close to Ro-um. Lingo, who sold an account to gangsters, is in trouble after high schoolers abscond with their money. Ro-um explains her con process as “HAPPY” (Hunt, Appointment, Prepare, Propose, Yield) and details her scam on the foster parents. Moo-young implores Ro-um to return the money, but she hands him a phone in exchange.

When Lingo is kidnapped by thugs, Da-jeong seeks Moo-young’s help. Ro-um considers turning the students over to the thugs, but Moo-young rescues them and insists on recovering the stolen money. Ro-um runs a counter-scam on the gang, saves Lingo, and recovers footage of Myung-hoon’s dying plea for help. Moo-young hands this to Jae-hyuk and reporter Woo Young-gi and brings closure to Seo Gye-suk. Ro-um realizes Moo-young didn’t report her, and he proposes they partner for a con.

Episode 5
Ro-um initially rejects Moo-young’s offer but accepts, knowing she’ll need him. Moo-young undergoes disciplinary review while Lingo reveals Jeokmok was an organization training children for crime under the guise of gifted education. At Shin Ki-ho’s funeral, Ro-um searches for an envelope but fails. She sets up a scam to swindle Park Jong-gu, CEO of Worae Environmental Development, using a staged “house.” The team plans a card game scam using the insurance money.

Yo-han reminisces at his friend Ahn Yoon-sik’s columbarium and asks Moo-young why he became a lawyer. Moo-young reveals his motivation stems from his father’s factory bankruptcy and help from a lawyer. Ro-um, pretending to be a food company heiress, lures Park. Yae admits to killing Ro-um’s parents on Jeokmok’s orders. Jeokmok’s chairman is Jang Kyung-ja (Nabis Wellbeing CEO), and former chairman An Chae-hong died in a staged suicide. Police raid the house, Ro-um escapes, and Moo-young tells her to surrender.

Episode 6
Ro-um offers Park’s wife a deal to keep him in jail longer. Police and Yo-han raid the house, but Moo-young diverts them to another location. Park loses his money to Moo-young’s accomplice. Ro-um says lawyers don’t belong in her world, and Yae is killed in prison. Initially accused of instigating the murder, Ro-um is soon cleared. She believes An Chae-hong was killed for discovering the chairman’s identity. Her parents tried to reclaim her from Jeokmok but were rejected. Moo-young delivers Ro-um’s bag and a note to Lingo; the note contains instructions about a revolver in a golf bag. Na-sa, Da-jeong, and Lingo all betrayed Ro-um ten years ago. Ro-um explains her real target was the statute-barred evidence (the revolver). Moo-young learns he was also hurt by Jeokmok and persuades Ro-um to join forces.

Episode 7
Moo-young is suspended for three months and asks Jae-hyuk to deliver insurance money to Seo Gye-suk. Da-jeong opposes Moo-young’s involvement in cons, while Ro-um warns him Jeokmok Kids brought him suffering. Ro-um says her parents were killed trying to negotiate with the chairman. An Chae-hong’s secret ledger is the “red notebook,” kept in Hye-myeong Hotel’s safe. Ro-um, posing as a civil servant, plans to rob the safe.

Moo-young distracts Jang Kyung-ja, mentioning the chairman, and hacks her phone. Jang reveals she’s investigated Moo-young’s condition and is close to Park Gyu. Moo-young warns Park Gyu to avoid Jang. Ro-um realizes Moo-young hid the revolver and persuades him law is the only answer. Ro-um finds the revolver. Yo-han discovers Da-jeong, Soo-ho, and Ro-um are all Jeokmok scholars and monitors them. Moo-young captures Yo-han. The team begins the hotel heist.

Episode 8
Moo-young tells Yo-han that Ahn Yoon-sik became a probation officer because of him. Yoon-sik, raised in poverty, died in an insurance scam. Yo-han learns his mother Shin Seo-ra selected Jeokmok Kids and is enraged. The heist hacking Jang’s phone and cutting off alarms fails when Na-sa’s greed gets Ro-um caught by Jang. However, Ro-um blackmails Jang to escape.

Moo-young discovers Jeokmok sabotaged his father’s factory; Da-jeong reveals Ro-um knew of his loss. Jang brings Ro-um to the murder scene and burns the notebook, but Moo-young rescues her.

Episode 9
Ro-um doesn’t understand why Moo-young saved her; he apologizes for failing her when she was fourteen. Yo-han apologizes for his mother’s role and gives Ro-um a train ticket, urging her to return. Na-sa seeks work from Jay, who declines. Yo-han confides in Mo Jae-in about his mother. Moo-young, Jae-hyuk, and Young-gi investigate Nabis Wellbeing, finding a victim-advocate blog. Ro-um returns to Moo-young’s place; Da-jeong admits to shooting Na-sa and handling her parents’ funeral. Jae-in discovers Ro-um was a case study at university. Moo-young decides to investigate Ma Kang-soo, and Ro-um starts a con exploiting a rift within Jeokmok.

Episode 10
Moo-young asks Ro-um to jot down An Chae-hong’s notebook and map Jeokmok and Nabis Wellbeing. The chairman keeps ties with politicians via multi-level marketing, and Nabis Wellbeing is in the “final stage.” Ma Kang-soo orchestrates stock manipulation. The team recruits informant Yeon Tae-hoon (Ho-jung’s father). Moo-young hears from lawyer Kang Kyung-ho that his father wants to see him.

Yeon, an alcoholic, refuses to cooperate. Ro-um reveals Moo-young’s abusive father and her own poor childhood. Jang suspects Jay and she may be close; Jay confides in her about An Chae-hong’s murder. Jae-in apologizes to Ro-um and suggests counseling. Yeon, in disguise, infiltrates Ma Kang-soo’s team. Na-sa panics, fights Ro-um, and returns to Jeokmok. Jay joins the team, but Ro-um and Moo-young remain wary.

Episode 11
Na-sa tells Ma Kang-soo the notebook reveals the chairman’s identity. Ro-um breaks her promise with Moo-young and recruits Jay. Moo-young mistrusts Jay, but they work together to get the revolver. Ma Kang-soo seeks investor Min Kang-yun (Min Chae-pyo’s daughter). Yeon tries hacking business plans but fails after Na-sa retrieves them. Ro-um persuades Na-sa to cooperate.

Moo-young obtains a party invite for Min Kang-yun through Professor Shin. Kang Kyung-ho asks Park Gyu to keep Moo-young away from Ro-um and receives money and a note from someone. At the party, Ro-um seduces Min Kang-yun; Moo-young approaches Ma Kang-soo. Jang plans to end Nabis Wellbeing with mass voucher sales. Ma Kang-soo assaults Na-sa and Jay offers to hand over the revolver for Jang’s safety. Ro-um admits to Min Kang-yun that she’s a swindler and seeks help.

Episode 12
Ro-um realizes Moo-young is the boy (#25) who rescued her on the quiz show. The team sows discord between Min Kang-yun and Ma Kang-soo, sabotaging their plan. Moo-young and Ro-um spread rumors about a Nabis executive’s criminal record. Jay finds Jang’s spycam and senses danger.

At the party, Yo-han and Jae-in handle Ma Kang-soo, Lingo handles Min Kang-yun. Ma recognizes Yo-han but is diverted by Professor Shin. Ro-um leaves when Jang Kyung-ja appears. Jang accelerates Nabis’ closure with Min’s capital. Suspicious, Ma assaults Na-sa. Ro-um persuades Min Kang-yun to fund a rescue. At a business seminar, the con team exposes Ma for stock manipulation and publicizes jarring comments from Jang—a recording sent to Ma. Ma retaliates, falls off a car, and the chairman sends Ro-um the quiz show video as a declaration of war.

Episode 13
Jay once taught Ro-um to shoot as an act of empathy. The chairman hacks and sends Ro-um her quiz show video. Ma Kang-soo’s death is announced, and Da-jeong suggests Ro-um relocate their base after her data stash is compromised. Lingo reveals Jang scanned her secret notebook into a lighter. Moo-young prepares a class-action suit against Nabis Wellbeing. Yeon Tae-hoon exposes Nabis on Ho-jung’s blog.

Jang warns her members of imminent losses and orders destruction of evidence. Da-jeong finds funds funneled to Jeokmok founder Ji Seung-don, who is in a vegetative state at Hyesung Hospital. Jay, Ji’s long-term foster child, is revealed as the chairman. Jay shoots Lingo and confronts Ro-um at gunpoint.

Episode 14
An Chae-hong, investigating Ji Seung-don, realizes Jay is the chairman. Jay lets him escape for 24 hours. Jang concealed Jay’s identity as chairman. Jay shoots Lingo, but Lingo had already sent the scanned notebook files to Da-jeong. Kang Kyung-ho reveals Moo-young’s father, Han Jae-seok, participated in Ro-um’s parents’ murder. Jay tries to kill Jae-seok, but Ro-um saves him. Jay summons Ro-um to Hyesung Hospital, displaying his obsession and instructing her to kill Jang.

Jae-seok turns himself in and Ro-um says she has forgiven him. Moo-young learns Jay is the chairman and wrongly believes Ro-um is targeting Jang. Ro-um confronts Jang, who admits hiding Jay’s secret out of love and gives Ro-um access to her vault. Ro-um retrieves evidence on Jay, who kills Jang with drugs. Ro-um escapes mid-interrogation, and Da-jeong and Soo-ho are arrested. Moo-young tracks Ro-um via GPS.

Delightfully Deceitful Ending Spoiler

Episode 15

Ro-um is interrogated for Jang’s murder but there is no evidence. Prosecutor Jae-hyuk demands Moo-young produce proof of Ro-um’s innocence. A reporter threatens to expose Han Jae-seok as Moo-young’s father. Park Gyu rejects Moo-young’s resignation and supports him. Jay seeks to eliminate the Jeokmok Kids; Moo-young moves to protect Na-sa and Da-jeong. Yo-han exposes his mother Shin Seo-ra’s involvement with the Jeokmok Kids.

Ro-um reveals she did not kill Jang, who concealed Jay out of love. Ro-um escapes the prosecutor’s office using a key and pass. Jay kills Jang with drugs; Ro-um gives Da-jeong the money-laundering evidence. Ro-um tells Jay she’s coming back, and Moo-young pursues her.

Episode 16

Jay welcomes Ro-um’s return. Da-jeong hands over Jay’s money-laundering evidence to the prosecution despite a raid. Ro-um meets Jay at the docks and hacks his accounts. Jay is obsessed with Ro-um, believing only he was important to her. Moo-young shoots Jay as police arrest him. Jay is prosecuted and imprisoned. Moo-young defends Ro-um, Da-jeong, and Soo-ho, and Ro-um admits her guilt and remorse as both a victim and a wrongdoer.

All three are sent to prison; Yo-han encourages Jae-in. Woo Young-gi sets up an independent news outlet. Ro-um receives ₩1 billion in state compensation, and Jay’s assets are returned to the victims. Ro-um is paroled as a model prisoner, begins a new life with Na-sa, Da-jeong, and Lingo at their new base, and Moo-young casually joins her at home.

Delightfully Deceitful Review

The tvN drama “Beneficial Fraud” was broadcast in 2023 and received high praise for its delicate portrayal of crime, revenge, and human inner psychology. Red-eyed Kid and lawyer Han Moo-young (Kim Dong-wook) were intensively depicted struggling to put the chairman of the Red-eyed Foundation, Lee Jay (Kim Tae-hoon), on the stand of the law.

Lee Ro-eum (Jung Woo-hee) successfully avenged his long-standing frustration and completed a happy ending with love and trust. Lee Eui-eum and Han Moo-young have hinted at the beginning of a new relationship between lawyers and clients, leaving a lingering impression that more interesting developments are expected if produced, although the possibility of Season 2 is low.

Ji Yeeun height and weight & Bio husband Filmography running man