The Glory: The Ultimate K-Drama Revenge Thriller You Need to Watch

Alright, if you haven’t watched The Glory yet, let me put you on. This K-drama is a revenge story, but not the quick, in-your-face kind. Nope, this one takes its sweet time setting up all the drama before dropping bombs on you, and trust me, it’s so worth it.

The Setup: Part 1 (Episodes 1-8)

We meet Moon Dong-eun (played by Song Hye-kyo). Back in high school, she got bullied in the most brutal ways possible. And I’m not talking about mean comments or passive-aggressive texts; her classmates, led by Park Yeon-jin, literally burned and beat her. Yeah, it’s messed up. Fast forward years later, and Dong-eun is back, not to forget the past but to get revenge on every single one of them. She’s gone from being the victim to playing mind games with the people who ruined her life, and she’s good at it. Like, scarily good. She’s now a teacher at the school where Yeon-jin’s daughter goes. Savage, right?

In Part 1 (episodes 1-8), the show sets the stage for Dong-eun’s comeback. She’s plotting hard but staying low-key about it. Meanwhile, Yeon-jin is living her best fake life as a weather presenter with a rich husband, Ha Do-young, and a daughter. But little does she know, Dong-eun is out here quietly planting the seeds to blow everything up. Every episode leaves you with that “Is she gonna do it?!” feeling. Oh, and then there’s Joo Yeo-jeong, played by Lee Do-hyun. He’s a surgeon who’s got his own tragic backstory, and he kinda becomes Dong-eun’s partner in crime...and maybe something more?

Characters You Should Care About

Moon Dong-eun: The quiet protagonist who has spent years meticulously planning her revenge. She’s the definition of “patience is a virtue.”
Park Yeon-jin: the central villain. She was a nightmare in high school and is now a smug, rich adult who thinks she’s untouchable. Spoiler: She’s not.
Joo Yeo-jeong: Surgeon by day, revenge buddy by night. He’s got issues of his own, but he’s drawn to Dong-eun.
Ha Do-young: Yeon-jin’s unsuspecting husband, who gradually gets pulled into Dong-eun’s elaborate web.

Highlights of Part 1:

Dong-eun’s journey from a bullied teen to a cold, calculated avenger.
Yeon-jin’s perfect life starts to crumble as Dong-eun pulls the strings.
Enter Joo Yeo-jeong: love interest, maybe partner-in-crime?

By the end of Part 1, we’re left hanging. Dong-eun’s revenge is just heating up, and it’s about to get even messier!

Part 2: All The Drama Unfolds

If Part 1 is the setup, Part 2 (episodes 9-16) is where Dong-eun starts pulling the strings. She gets deeper into Yeon-jin’s world, and the whole situation goes from “slow burn” to “full-on inferno.”

Each bully gets their comeuppance, but not in some simple, quick way. Oh no, Dong-eun knows exactly where to hit them, and she goes for it. Yeon-jin’s perfect life starts to crumble, and watching her lose control is chef’s kiss. Dong-eun’s revenge isn’t just about physically hurting these people—it’s about ruining their lives from the inside out. Meanwhile, Yeo-jeong’s storyline takes a turn, and we see why he’s so invested in revenge himself. There’s also Ha Do-young, who begins to question who his wife really is, and things get super complicated for him.

By the end, Dong-eun’s plans come to fruition, but here’s the kicker: Even after she’s won, she’s not magically healed. The show makes it clear that while revenge can feel good in the moment, it doesn’t fix all the pain from the past. Real deep stuff, right?

Why You Should Watch It

Slow-burn intensity: If you love a show that takes its time building tension, this is for you. You’ll be sitting there like, “When is she gonna drop the hammer?!” and when it happens, it’s so satisfying.
Layers on layers: This isn’t a simple revenge drama. The show digs deep into trauma, power dynamics, and how messed up people can be when they think they’re untouchable.
Character depth: Dong-eun is such a complex character. She’s not your typical “hero,” and the show doesn’t shy away from the emotional toll her revenge takes on her.

Standout Moments

Dong-eun’s first face-off with Yeon-jin: You can feel the tension. Yeon-jin has no clue what’s coming for her, but we do, and it’s glorious.
The moment Dong-eun starts revealing her plan to each of the bullies—it’s like watching dominoes fall, one by one.
Joo Yeo-jeong’s backstory: He’s not just a cute sidekick. He’s got some real darkness, and seeing his own revenge plans unfold is a wild ride.

The Takeaway

The Glory is the kind of show that sticks with you. It’s not just about revenge; it’s about the long-term effects of trauma, how it shapes people, and whether or not payback can ever truly heal those wounds. The performances are top-tier (Song Hye-kyo kills it as Dong-eun), and the story will keep you guessing until the very end.

If you haven’t binged it yet, what are you even doing? Both parts are out on Netflix, so grab some snacks, get comfy, and enjoy watching people get what’s coming to them.

The Glory Recap and Thoughts