K-Dramas Like "The Art of Sarah" That Explore Power, Desire, and Deception
- Disha Paul
- 16 minutes ago
- 4 min read
K-dramas are increasingly moving beyond simple romance, diving into stories where ambition, identity, and moral compromise take center stage. The Art of Sarah is one such drama that captivated viewers with its layered storytelling, seductive atmosphere, and emotionally complex characters.
If you were drawn to its themes of power play, desire, and carefully constructed lies, these K-dramas offer similarly intense and thought-provoking narratives.
Here’s a curated list of K-dramas that explore the darker sides of human desire, social ambition, and deception.
The Art of Sarah (2026)
The Art of Sarah tells the story of Sarah Kim (Shin Hae-sun), a woman who dreams of embodying luxury, even if it means living a life built on lies. Known as the head of a prestigious high-end brand’s Asia branch, Sarah is a name everyone recognises, yet no one truly knows. Her carefully constructed world collapses when she suddenly becomes the victim of an unidentified murder case.
The investigation is led by Park Mu-gyeong (Lee Jun-hyuk), a sharp and relentless detective from the violent crimes unit. As he digs deeper, Mu-gyeong uncovers unsettling inconsistencies in Sarah’s identity, including multiple names, ages, professions, and personal histories.
With every revelation, the line between truth and illusion blurs, exposing a woman whose desire for luxury and reinvention may have cost her everything.
Aired: Feb 13, 2026
No. of Episodes: 8
Cast: Shin Hae-sun, Lee Jun-hyuk
Streaming Platform: Netflix
2. Anna (2022)
Lee Yoo-mi (Bae Suzy) lives a quiet life filled with unfulfilled dreams until a small lie snowballs into a complete reinvention of her identity. Taking on the name “Anna", she enters a world of wealth and prestige she was never meant to access.
As Yoo-mi climbs higher, every relationship becomes transactional, and every success carries the threat of exposure. Anna is a haunting portrait of how desire for a better life can slowly erase one’s sense of self.
Aired: Jun 24, 2022 - Jul 8, 2022
No. of Episodes: 6
Cast: Bae Suzy, Jung Eun-chae
Streaming Platform: Prime Video
3. Dear X (2025)
Dear X centers on Baek Ah-jin (Kim Yoo-jung), a top celebrity who views relationships as stepping stones rather than emotional bonds. To maintain her position, she strategically targets influential men she calls her “X", using their weaknesses to elevate her career.
Her carefully controlled world begins to crack when genuine emotions surface, exposing the emptiness behind her success. The drama explores how ambition, emotional manipulation, and survival intersect in the entertainment industry.
Aired: Nov 6, 2025 - Dec 4, 2025
No. of Episodes: 12
Cast: Kim Yoo-jung, Kim Young-dae, Hwang In-yeop
Streaming Platform: Viki, HBO Max
Celebrity (2023)
Seo A-ri (Park Gyu-young) rises from obscurity to become a powerful social media influencer, gaining fame through carefully curated images and calculated alliances. But behind the glamorous posts lies a brutal competition driven by jealousy, greed, and betrayal.
As secrets unravel, Celebrity exposes the illusion of online success and the price paid for public admiration.
Aired: Jun 30, 2023
No. of Episodes: 12
Cast: Park Gyu-young, Kang Min-hyuk
Streaming Platform: Netflix
The Price of Confession (2025)
When a woman is accused of killing her husband, her quiet life collapses overnight. In prison, she meets another mysterious inmate who offers help at an unspoken cost. The Price of Confession is a psychological drama about guilt, moral compromise, and how far someone will go to protect the truth they choose to believe.
Aired: Dec 5, 2025
No. of Episodes: 12
Cast: Jeon Do-yeon, Kim Go-eun
Streaming Platform: Netflix
Little Women (2022)
Three sisters from a poor background become entangled with Korea’s wealthiest family after stumbling upon a massive sum of money. Each sister reacts differently, revealing conflicting values shaped by desperation and loyalty.
Little Women examines how power corrupts, how money reshapes morality, and how survival often demands painful choices.
Aired: Sep 3, 2022 - Oct 9, 2022
No. of Episodes: 12
Cast: Kim Go-eun, Nam Ji-hyun, Park Ji-hu
Streaming Platform: Netflix
Mask Girl (2023)
Kim Mo-mi lives two lives: an insecure office worker by day and a masked internet personality by night. When a series of violent incidents unfolds, her hidden identity triggers irreversible consequences.
Dark, unsettling, and brutally honest, Mask Girl explores obsession, anonymity, and the violence born from unchecked desire.
Aired: Aug 18, 2023
No. of Episodes: 7
Cast: Go Hyun-jung, Nana, Lee Han-byeol
Streaming Platform: Netflix
Shadow Beauty (2021)
Koo Ae-jin is bullied for her appearance but secretly lives a glamorous life online under a fake identity. As her virtual persona gains fame, the divide between reality and illusion becomes increasingly dangerous.
Shadow Beauty is a sharp commentary on beauty standards, social validation, and the cost of living behind a mask.
Aired: Nov 20, 2021 - Dec 29, 2021
No. of Episodes: 13
Cast: Shim Dal-gi, Lee Jin-sol
Streaming Platform: Viki
Final Thoughts
From high-society manipulation to digital facades and morally grey ambition, these K-dramas reveal how desire often comes at a cost.
If The Art of Sarah pulled you in with its seductive tension and psychological depth, these titles will keep you hooked with stories that challenge the idea of success, identity, and power.
Which of these dramas explores desire and deception the most convincingly for you? Let us know in the comments.
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