SBS’s gripping new Friday-Saturday drama Queen Mantis is set to premiere on September 5, and it’s already generating buzz thanks to a jaw-dropping transformation by acclaimed actress Go Hyun Jung—as a convicted serial killer.
This high-stakes psychological thriller centers on a twisted reunion between a detective and his estranged mother, who also happens to be the infamous “Mantis”—a cold-blooded killer who terrorized the nation two decades earlier. When a new string of copycat murders rocks the city, the reluctant son and his mother find themselves forced into an uneasy alliance to stop the carnage from spiraling further.
In Queen Mantis, the actress portrays Jung Yi-shin, the notorious “Mantis” who brutally murdered five men before being captured and sentenced to death. In a role that shatters every expectation, Go Hyun Jung sheds her signature elegance to embody this eerie, enigmatic figure. The actress, known for her commanding screen presence, promises a performance that’s raw, unpredictable, and deeply unsettling.
Recently released stills show Go Hyun Jung inside a stark prison cell, draped in a blue inmate uniform marked with a red death row number. Her hands are shackled, her face drained of warmth. Yet within the coldness lies a chilling intensity—her emotionless stare and eerie composure suggest a woman who may have surrendered to her fate, but whose presence still sends a shiver down your spine.
Even in silence, Go Hyun-jung’s transformation speaks volumes.
What makes Queen Mantis more than just a crime drama is its twisted emotional core. The detective leading the new investigation is Jung Yi-shin’s son—a man who has spent his life resenting her. Yet, as the past resurfaces in the form of brutal new killings, he’s forced into an unimaginable situation: working with the very woman who destroyed his world.
Can justice be found when your closest ally is a killer? Can redemption exist for someone who once reveled in bloodshed? These questions simmer at the center of the drama’s intense narrative.
According to the production team, Go Hyun-jung didn’t just act the part—she pushed herself to the edge to become it. “This role required everything—emotional depth, physical endurance, and a willingness to break away from every image the public associates with her,” they revealed. “Go Hyun-jung poured every ounce of herself into this character, and the result is something unforgettable.”
They added, “This isn’t just a performance—it’s a reinvention. Viewers will witness a side of Go Hyun-jung they’ve never seen before.”
Featuring razor-sharp tension, complex family dynamics, and the shocking reinvention of one of Korea’s most iconic actresses, Queen Mantis is poised to become one of the season’s most talked-about dramas. Don’t miss its premiere on September 5 on SBS.
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