September is a historic month for K-Drama fans because two of Korea’s most legendary actresses — Lee Young Ae and Ko Hyun Jung — are back on our screens! Both actresses have been in the industry for years and are loved for their flawless filmography, powerful range, and award-winning performances.
They are known for their choice in dramas, so seeing them together in the same month is really a huge thing! Ko Hyun Jung is currently starring as a notorious serial killer in “Queen Mantis,” while Lee Young Ae is taking on the role of a devoted mother who unexpectedly discovers a bag of drugs in her new drama!
Ko Hyun Jung in “Queen Mantis”
“Queen Mantis” is shaping up to be one of the most interesting K-Dramas of the year. After all, how often do we see a K-Drama where the main character is a serial killer? The story centers on Jung Yi Shin, a notorious murderer nicknamed “The Mantis” who killed five men 20 years ago and has been imprisoned ever since. But when a new killer surfaces, copying her exact methods, the police are forced to turn to her for help.
With four episodes already out, “Queen Mantis” is delivering intense chills thanks to Ko Hyun Jung’s spectacular performance. She makes us feel as if she truly is an imprisoned serial killer — unsettling yet fascinating. What’s even more intriguing is that her character is also a mother. Her estranged son, played by Jang Dong Yoon, is now a detective assigned to work on the case, adding another layer of emotional tension to the story.
More Dramas from Ko Hyun Jung
If you can’t get enough of Ko Hyun Jung and want to see more of her past works, you’re in luck — KOCOWA+ has plenty of her dramas ready to stream! In the 2005 melodrama “Spring Day”, she played a woman who endured a trauma so severe that she lost the will to speak, forming a complicated love triangle with two brothers, portrayed by Jo In Sung and Ji Jin Hee. This drama highlighted Ko Hyun Jung’s softer and more emotional side as she captured the struggles of love, loyalty, and healing from past pain.
Of course, no discussion of Ko Hyun Jung is complete without mentioning “The Great Queen Seondeok” — one of the most successful historical K-Dramas of all time. In this hit series, she portrayed Lady Mishil, a beautiful yet ruthless royal concubine who schemes to become queen. Her iconic performance as Mishil made her one of the most memorable K-Drama villains ever, perfectly balancing elegance, intelligence, and ambition.
Another memorable dramas from Ko Hyun Jung are the suspense thriller “Return” and the action legal drama “My Lawyer, Mr. Joe 2: Crime and Punishment!” In “Return,” she played a fierce and determined lawyer turned TV host who unravels the truth behind a shocking murder case involving the rich and powerful. Meanwhile, in “My Lawyer, Mr. Joe 2: Crime and Punishment,” she took on the role of a mysterious, powerful woman who becomes entangled in the world of corruption, politics, and the legal system.
Lee Young Ae in “Walking on Thin Ice“
Mark your calendars for September 20 because Lee Young Ae is returning to K-Dramas in a suspenseful action thriller alongside Kim Young Kwang! In “Walking on Thin Ice,” she plays Kang Eun Soo, a devoted mother who once lived a quiet, ordinary life — until everything changes overnight when her husband’s pancreatic cancer worsens and their family falls into financial crisis. Things take an even darker turn when she discovers a mysterious bag of drugs in her home, leading her into a dangerous partnership with her daughter’s art teacher.
More Dramas from Lee Young Ae
Lee Young Ae has long been considered one of Korea’s most iconic actresses, thanks to her graceful screen presence and her ability to bring depth to every role. One of her most legendary works is “Jewel in the Palace,” where she played the titular character Jang Geum, an orphaned kitchen girl who rises through the palace ranks to become the first female royal physician in the Joseon dynasty. This historical masterpiece not only helped Lee Young Ae’s status as a household name in Korea but also sparked the Hallyu wave!
She also left a mark on Korean cinema with her role in Park Chan Wook’s “Joint Security Area,” one of the most famous Korean films of all time. In this tense mystery thriller about an incident in the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea, Lee Young Ae played Major Sophie E. Jean, a Swiss-Korean military officer tasked with investigating the case.
And if you think you’ve seen all of Lee Young Ae’s work, here’s a fun fact: her voice is so iconic that she served as the narrator for episodes of “Taxi Driver.” This revenge-action series follows a secret taxi service that helps victims get justice, and her calm yet impactful narration added another layer of intensity to the show.
Ko Hyun Jung and Lee Young Ae are truly the queens of K-Dramas — both actresses are known for their selective scripts and consistently powerful performances. Don’t forget: “Queen Mantis” is now streaming on KOCOWA+, and “Walking on Thin Ice” will be available in just a few days with multiple subtitles, so fans everywhere can tune in!
