Introduction
Confidence Queen centers on a trio of con artists who target corrupt and greedy villains, like ruthless corporations and mafia bosses. Instead of focusing on violence or romance, the show emphasizes the intellectual challenge of outsmarting the bad guys through elaborate schemes. Their intricacy is the star of the show.
The drama not only shows engaging individual story arcs, each with its creative heists. It also incorporates deeper themes. It uses its “scam of the week” format to comment on social issues and economic disparity in modern Korean society.
I have never watched the Japanese drama from which this Korean version is remade. When I watched the trailer, I was soon drawn to the performance aspect of deception, which showcases characters transforming into various personas to achieve their mission goals.
Regarding the article title, I will explain it in the Review section.
Drama Info
Drama title: Confidence Queen (Native title: 컨피던스 맨 KR )
Alternative titles: Keonpideonseu Maen KR , The Confidence Man KR
Genres: Comedy, Crime
Aired: 6 Sep, 2025 - 12 Oct, 2025
Episodes: 12 | Duration: 60 min.
Director: Nam Ki Hoon ( 남기훈 )
Screenwriter: Hong Seung Hyun ( 홍승현 )
Korean remake of the Japanese drama Confidence Man JP ( コンフィデンスマンJP )
Where to watch: Prime Video
Trailer
Original Soundtracks
“Got Me Good” by Ahn Shin Ae
“Light, Camera, Action” by Hui
“Not Turning Back” by Geon Hee ( 건희 ) from ONEUS
Synopsis
In a world full of sly villains and silent victims, three con artists fight greed with style. They take only from the wicked and never seek revenge. What if crime becomes a game and justice a clever trick? Welcome to the world of Confidence Queen. Meet Yi Rang, the charming leader, James, the seasoned pro, and just Gu Ho. But remember: never trust what you see and never fall for a con artist. (Source: Prime Video)
Main Characters
Park Min Young ( 박민영 ) as Yun Yi Rang
The leader of the con artist team. A genius in the top 1% of South Korea with an IQ of 165.
She secretly established “Human laundromats” that target those who have made money thru dirty means and wash it clean, turning it white.
Yi Rang possesses a free-spirited and unpredictable charm! With her unique, four-dimensional way of thinking, she’s a reliable boss who plans all the operations.
Park Hee Soon ( 박희순 ) as James
The spiritual pillar of the team. The master in disguise.
He has a gentle and soft smile, but within it lies a strong and resilient charisma. His bold passion for fearlessly taking on new challenges with a flexible perspective in everything he does is absolutely unmatched by Yi Rang.
James, who has a free-spirited way of thinking for his age, has completely transformed into characters who would jump into the fiery pits for money!
Joo Jong Hyuk ( 주종혁 ) as Myung Gu Ho
The youngest member of Team Confidence Man, and the team’s official ‘sucker’ who alternates between being a bit of an airhead and a klutz.
Gu Ho possesses both a pure and upright character and a handsome appearance. He is a man with excessive empathy, crying with those who cry, and an overzealous passion fueled by a sense of mission.
Unlike Yi Rang and James, whose very existence is based on deceiving others, Gu Ho is surprisingly idealistic. How did he become a con artist?
My Rating
My rating for this drama was based on MyDramaList’s scoring system, which is from 0.0 to 10.0. For any drama/movie/show I completed, I gave a minimum rating of 6.0 to appreciate the hard work of the production team, and to adjust to MyDramaList’s overall score base. From 6.0, this drama has additional scores of:
1.0 for the schemes, with plot twists.
1.0 for the variety of disguises and characters
0.5 for the eccentric character Yun Yi Rang and Park Min Young acting it.
My final rating was 8.5/10
I detailed my explanation as to why I gave such additional scores in the Review Section below.
How do they disguise themselves as being in Joseon time?
Review
Story: Never Trust What You See
“Never trust what you see” is a fitting summary of the show’s theme of deception and cunning. I don’t want to spoil more about this phrase. Yi Rang, James, and Gu Ho orchestrate elaborate scams to take down corrupt and greedy individuals, so elaborate that I can only caution viewers not to believe everything at face value.
The fact that the schemes are so incredibly complex and unlikely, it requires viewers to have a “total suspension of disbelief” attitude to enjoy the drama.
In Confidence Queen, slapstick and illogic are used as central comedic devices within the framework of elaborate confidence schemes. This tonal blend comes from its source material, the Japanese drama The Confidence Man JP.
The fact that the con-artists perform a surgery is unbelievable!
Yun Yi Rang: The Crazy Genius
Yun Yi Rang is the mastermind of the con-artist trio with her unorthodox plans. She sometimes argues that plans are best when they go wrong. Things are more fun the more complicated they get.
She seems like a high-functioning sociopath addicted to dopamine, but don’t be mistaken, her personality was formed by her obsession with entertaining scams.
At first glance, Yi Rang seems like the ultimate improviser, but she possesses a meticulousness that calculates all the variables of what will happen and then launches into action. Perhaps Yi Rang is a born con artist.
I commended the leading actress, Park Min Young, for her range in portraying different personas.
The Chaotic Chemistry
In Confidence Queen, the character dynamics are driven by the unusual bonds of its three main con artists, who form a chaotic but effective found family. In my opinion, the chemistry between the three main leads is the strong point of the drama.
Yi Rang and Gu Ho have known each other since childhood, which adds a foundation of genuine care beneath their bickering. Gu Ho’s sympathetic nature, which leads him to empathize with victims, often clashes with Yi Rang’s “genius sociopath” tendencies, yet their loyalty to one another holds the group together.
As the older, more experienced member, James acts as a mentor figure to the other two, particularly Yi Rang. While Yi Rang is the mastermind, James provides the grounded presence and wit needed to execute their most elaborate scams. Their playful banter and professional respect are central to their working relationship.
FYI, there is no romance in this drama. The plot is driven by the group’s cons and heists, not romance.
The Veteran Villains and the Charming Cameos
The acting of the villains in Confidence Queen is a critical component of the show’s thriller and theme, as the drama focuses on the exploits of its main characters. The actions of the villain characters are a mix of cunning, intimidation, and greed, as they are typically the targets of our protagonist. The show focuses on episodic villains who represent various social ills, from ruthless loan sharks and predatory “healers” to art fraudsters and corrupt CEOs.
There are several actors and actresses played villains in this drama, some of them are even ‘veteran villains’. You can see them yourself in the drama. For example, Park Min Young’s reunion with Lee Yi Kyung, her co-star in Marry My Husband ( 내 남편과 결혼해줘 ) brings nostalgia to the viewers of the latter drama. The actor again plays a villain, a scammer in the art world. They were able to maintain great chemistry and fun while filming it. Below is a clip where Yi Rang seduces Yoo Myeong Han, the actor’s character in Confidence Queen.
Other actors and actresses also made cameo appearances in Confidence Queen. Actor Rowoon made an appearance as the manager/personal assistant of a famous singer. He is mistaken as the singer because he’s handsome, lol! The actors worked under the same director, Nam Ki Hoon, in Destined With You ( 이 연애는 불가항력 ).
Veteran actor Kim Bo Sung and film director Kang Yoon Sung, who collaborated with Director Nam Ki Hoon in the past, also made cameo appearances as themselves in a scheme where a villain wants to fulfill his dream of becoming a filmmaker.
The Colorful Disguises
The trio of con artists uses a wide array of creative and often outrageous disguises to scam corrupt individuals. The disguises are central to the series’ comedic tone and plot.
The con artist leader, Yi Rang, is a master of transformation, using dozens of different personas in her elaborate schemes, ranging from a legendary “ghost surgeon” to a Chinese movie star.
The veteran con artist James also has a wide range of personas, sometimes in comedic contrast to his usual quiet demeanor. From a third-generation Korean-Mexican with a bold persona inspired by Bruno Mars to an oil tycoon from Dubai. Some of James’ disguises are very convincing.
The lovable youngest member of the team, Gu Ho, often takes on hilarious and unexpected disguises. His disguise as the famous beauty influencer “Mask Girl,” wearing a wig, makeup, and a dress. This transformation took two and a half hours to complete.
Critique: The Average Last Case
My only critique of this drama is how the drama tackles the last case. Without spoiling [too much], the momentum of the last case has been built since the first episode, but when they finally address the last case, the outcome is anticlimactic, in my opinion. I will not elaborate more; you can peek at the spoiler of the Ending Spoiler section if you’re curious.
Conclusion
Corruption is everywhere, but it can be outsmarted. Trio con artists Yi Rang, James, and Gu Ho prove that even the most powerful villains are not invincible to a clever scheme. While their actions are morally questionable, their goal—restitution for victims and justice for the powerful—is a worthy one that provides a sense of satisfying closure.
Ending Spoiler
What is the ending of the drama?
Happy ending, the last villain’s crimes are exposed. However, the villain gets away. He ends up crashing his car into a bridge and falls into the water. The police are unable to find his body and suspend their search after a month. While Yi Rang and her team celebrate their victory, it’s not a closure of the past. This villain will be for Season 2, perhaps? She already says “Confidence Queen will be back” in the ending credits.
