Queen Mantis (사마귀) K-Drama: A Mother and Son in a Twisted Crime Thriller
Key Details
- Original Korean Title: 사마귀 (sa-ma-gwi)
- Premiere Date: September 5, 2025 (Fri)
- Broadcast Time: Fridays & Saturdays at 9:50 PM (KST) on SBS
- Global Streaming: Exclusively on Netflix
- Genre: Crime, Thriller, Mystery, Suspense (8 episodes)
Plot Summary
After 20 years in prison, infamous serial killer **"Queen Mantis"**, Jung I-shin (**Go Hyun-jung**), is forced to confront her past. A new series of murders, eerily similar to her own crimes, has begun. The police must turn to the one person who knows her best: her son, Detective Cha Soo-yeol (**Jang Dong-yoon**). As a detective, Soo-yeol must reluctantly team up with his own mother to catch the copycat killer. Can a mother and son, on opposite sides of the law, solve a deadly mystery while facing painful family truths?
Based on a French Series
**_Queen Mantis_** is a highly anticipated Korean adaptation of the acclaimed French psychological thriller series **"La Mante."** Directed by **Byun Young-joo** (known for her works like **_Helpless_**), this K-drama takes the original's tension and psychological depth and adds a new layer with a distinct Korean social and family context. The story is a chilling look at a copycat killer who emerges after a notorious serial killer, Jung I-shin, has been in prison for 20 years. Her son, now a detective, is forced to work with his own mother to solve the case.
Main Cast & Characters
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Go Hyun-jung | Jung I-shin – The original serial killer, "Queen Mantis" |
| Jang Dong-yoon | Cha Soo-yeol – A detective and Jung I-shin's son |
| Jo Sung-ha | Choi Joong-ho – The team leader who arrested Jung I-shin |
| Lee El | Kim Na-hee – A veteran detective and Soo-yeol's partner |
| Kim Bo-ra | Lee Jung-yeon – Cha Soo-yeol's wife |
Complex Character Dynamics
At the core of this drama is the intense mother-son relationship between **Jung I-shin** and **Cha Soo-yeol**, who are forced to stand on opposite sides of the law. Adding to the tension is **Choi Joong-ho**, the team leader who first arrested Jung I-shin and later became a mentor to her son. As Soo-yeol's wife **Lee Jung-yeon** and his junior partner **Kim Na-hee** offer support, they also create new layers of conflict. These complex relationships turn a typical crime thriller into a deeply human drama about family, trust, and the past.
Production and Broadcast
Production Team
Director: Byun Young-joo, Screenwriter: Lee Young-jong, Production: Studio S · Megamonster