“The Defects” isn’t a typical drama. It’s darker. It’s sharper. And it tells a story that’s hard to look away from. The story follows Kim Se-hui, a well-known doctor and hospital chief who also runs a charity. People trust her. They admire her. But she hides something terrifying behind her polished smile.
While K-dramas often explore societal issues, The Defects ventures into disturbingly visceral territory rarely depicted on screen. Based on the controversial webtoon Child Shopping, this ENA thriller (premiering July 21, 2025) transcends entertainment, serving as a grim exploration of power, corruption, and human resilience. Its relevance lies in confronting uncomfortable truths about exploitation systems hiding in plain sight – a chilling mirror to real-world trafficking and abuse scandals that surface globally. For viewers seeking substance over fluff, this is essential viewing.
She secretly leads an illegal adoption ring. It’s not just shady — it’s deadly. The group targets children and matches them with parents, but there’s a catch. If the kids don’t turn out the way the parents hoped, there’s a refund policy. No questions asked. No paper trail. The “defective” kids get sent back. And when they do, they’re not rehomed. They’re erased. Killed to keep the crime hidden.
This ‘refund policy’ horror isn’t mere fiction shock value. It chillingly echoes documented cases where vulnerable children in illegal adoption pipelines face abandonment or worse when deemed ‘inconvenient.’ By grounding its nightmare in plausible systemic cruelty, The Defects forces viewers to confront how bureaucracy and privilege can mask atrocity, aligning with real investigations into adoption fraud. This layer elevates it from thriller to essential social commentary.
Plot
It sounds unthinkable, but in the drama, it’s treated like business as usual. The one who helps run this whole operation is Jung Hyeon, raised by Se Hui, trained by her, and now fully loyal to her. He’s not just her assistant. He’s more like a weapon. He does what she asks, no matter how cruel. Jung Hyeon doesn’t understand love. He only follows her commands.
But this system breaks when one child doesn’t die. Kim A Hyeon, a returned child, survives. And she remembers everything. Now grown, she leads other survivors. She wants justice. She wants revenge. And she’s not afraid to go up against the woman who almost killed her.
That’s the heart of The Defects — a long-buried fight coming to the surface. On one side is power, cold strategy, and control. On the other are pain, memory, and the will to fight back. It’s not a clean-cut war. It’s messy, personal, and brutal.
A Dark Relationship Fuels the Plot
The connection between Kim Se-hui and Jung Hyeon is hard to explain. It’s not romantic. It’s not family & it’s more twisted than that. She saved him once, but only to turn him into something useful. He protects her, follows her every word, but deep down, something feels off.
In the new stills from ENA, you can see it clearly. Se Hui looks calm and polite, but her eyes are cold. Jung Hyeon stands behind her, quiet and focused. Their bond is tense, almost like a machine and its maker. It’s one of the main reasons the drama feels so heavy. It forces you to ask: What happens to someone who never learned what love is?
The writer Ahn So-jung said the Se Hui–Jung Hyeon relationship is key. She wanted viewers to feel how controlling Se Hui is, and how empty Jung Hyeon has become. He gives everything, asks for nothing, and doesn’t even know what he’s missing.
This makes the drama feel real. It’s not about clear heroes or villains. Everyone’s damaged. Everyone’s doing what they think is right — or what they have to do to survive. It creates a feeling that’s hard to shake. The supporting cast also adds weight. Kim Ji An plays Se Hui’s daughter, adding more family tension. DEX plays Jung Hyeon with a quiet intensity. Won Jin A, as Kim A Hyeon, gives a grounded performance — she’s fierce, but not cold. Her mission is clear, but her trauma is always there.
The drama is based on a webtoon called “Child Shopping.” Even the title feels uncomfortable, and that’s the point. This isn’t feel-good TV. It’s sharp, direct, and filled with uncomfortable truths.
Also Read: Catch These Must-Watch Korean Dramas in July 2025
Where to Watch “The Defects”?
TV Channel/Platform: ENA
Total Episodes: 8
Airing Schedule: Mondays & Tuesdays (July 21 – August 12, 2025)
-
Episode 1 – Monday, July 21, 2025
-
Episode 2 – Tuesday, July 22, 2025
-
Episode 3 – Monday, July 28, 2025
-
Episode 4 – Tuesday, July 29, 2025
-
Episode 5 – Monday, August 4, 2025
-
Episode 6 – Tuesday, August 5, 2025
-
Episode 7 – Monday, August 11, 2025
-
Episode 8 – Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Schedule Timings
The episode is going to be released at 10 PM KST according to its respective date. Below are the timings of different zones; you can match them with your location:
- Indian Standard Time – 06:30 PM (same day)
- Eastern Standard Time – 09:00 AM (same day)
- Greenwich Mean Time – 01:00 PM (same day)
- Pacific Daylight Time – 06:00 AM (same day)
Final Thoughts: Not Your Usual Drama
“The Defects” doesn’t ask for easy sympathy. It asks questions. It shows broken people trying to fix what they can, or destroy what they must. The drama deals with abuse, manipulation, and survival, but it also shows what happens when people push back. With only 8 episodes, the pacing is tight. There’s no filler. Each episode pushes the story forward. Each scene builds on the last. The violence isn’t just for shock. It’s a part of the world these characters live in. And the tension never fully goes away.
If you’re looking for something light, this may not be it. But if you’re curious about human behavior — how power works, how trauma shapes people — The Defects offers something rare. It’s unsettling. And that’s what makes it worth watching. It’s restricted to adult viewers, mainly due to its violent themes. But it’s not violence for the sake of it. It’s part of a bigger, scarier story.
For fans of Squid Game‘s social critique or Mouse‘s psychological depth, this offers a darker, more intimate exploration of similar themes. What makes the Se Hui/Jung Hyeon dynamic so unsettling? Can survivors like A Hyeon truly achieve justice, or is survival the victory? Share your thoughts below.
Kavita Mishra is a dynamic writer and passionate Korean entertainment enthusiast, combining her love for K-pop and K-drama with a flair for storytelling. With a keen eye for the latest trends, Kavita crafts articles that capture the pulse of K-pop idols, chart-topping hits, and the most buzz-worthy dramas taking over screens worldwide.
How Does this Article Make You Feel?
