Introduction
It’s been two years since I watched Ji Chang Wook’s drama, the last being the 2023 The Worst of Evil (최악의 악), and his acting in action and thriller genres is always versatile and exceptional. The last time I watched D.O. (Doh Kyung Soo) in a drama was even longer, in 2022 with Bad Prosecutor (진검승부). I have enjoyed both actors’ performances in the past. In addition, action and thriller dramas always provide a visceral thrill through suspenseful, high-stakes, and action-packed scenarios. This time, high-tech monitoring and digital manipulation are added to the action, all for the fun of a deranged villain, and us, the audience.
Drama Info
Drama title: The Manipulated (Native title: 조각도시 )
Alternative titles: Jogakdosi, Fabricated City, Sculptured City
Genres: Action, Thriller, Crime, Drama
Aired: 5 Nov, 2025 - 3 Dec, 2025
Episodes: 12 | Duration: 50 min.
Directors: Park Shin Woo (박신우) and Kim Chang Ju (김창주)
Screenwriter: Oh Sang Ho (오상호)
Content Rating: 18+ Restricted (violence & profanity)
Remake of the 2017 movie Fabricated City
Where to watch: Disney+ and Hulu
Note: Oddly, the OST songs for this drama are still missing at the time this article is published. I couldn’t find any info or link on Namu as well as on YouTube or Spotify.
Trigger Warning
Besides violence and profanity, which makes the content rating 18+, the drama also contains potentially distressing material spoiled below.
In Episode 2, when the protagonist Park Tae Jung was imprisoned, he suffered from bullying, including (off-screen) rape. Moreover, he tried to commit suicide multiple times after he found out that his brother had committed suicide (Spoiler: the brother was murdered).
Trailer
Synopsis
Mild-mannered Tae Jung is wrongfully imprisoned for a heinous crime. He soon discovers that a mysterious figure named Yo Han orchestrated his downfall. Fueled by vengeance, Tae Jung sets out to make Yo Han pay. (Source: MyDramaList)
Main Characters
There is no info about the supporting characters, so I only put the main characters.
Ji Chang Wook (지창욱) as Park Tae Jung
Born March 5, 1989. A man who lived an ordinary life but had his life torn apart overnight and was falsely accused. He spent five years in prison and acquired various skills and certifications. He trained himself in prison and became stronger. His combat power is above average.
Doh Kyung Soo/D.O. (도경수) as An Yo Han
A wealthy and sadistic sculptor who acts as the mastermind behind a vast conspiracy. He manipulates evidence and “sculpts” the lives of innocent people, framing them for heinous crimes for his own amusement and for the benefit of his wealthy clients.
Kim Jong Soo (김종수) as No Yong Sik
A fellow inmate whom Tae Jung meets in prison. A figure of quiet determination who has found some peace as the church’s altar server. He takes a peculiar empathy toward the downtrodden Tae Jung, offers him comfort and advice on how to survive prison life, and encourages him to stay busy and build strength.
Jo Yoon Soo (조윤수) as No Eun Bi
A “prickly ally” and the daughter of No Yong Sik. Having lost her mother and grown up alone after her father’s imprisonment, Eun Bi is a tough, resilient woman shaped by hardship. Though she appears cold and guarded on the outside, she hides a soft, vulnerable side beneath her sharp exterior.
Lee Kwang Soo (이광수) as Baek Do Gyeong
Born August 28, 1991, he played the role of Assemblyman Baek’s son. An Yo Han’s VIP customer and the main culprit who framed Tai Jung.
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:
+0.5 for the fast-paced plot, thrills, and high-stakes adrenaline rush.
+1.0 for the characterization and acting (Ji Chang Wook and D.O.)
+1.0 for the dark cinematography and top-notch fighting scenes choreography.
My final rating is 8.5/10.
Review
Story and Plot
Story
The Manipulated explores themes of vengeance, social injustice, and digital crime, centered on how an ordinary individual’s life can be utterly destroyed by powerful, anonymous forces.
In my opinion, the drama serves as a social commentary on the potential for individuals to become pawns in larger, unseen manipulations, highlighting a dark side of society. It explores modern societal anxieties about privacy and the power of digital fabrication.
The protagonist, Park Tae Jung, seeks bloody revenge after being framed for a heinous crime he didn’t commit. The show portrays his gritty quest to find the truth and deliver justice outside the conventional legal system when that system has failed him. The drama suggests that powerful individuals can manipulate the system with exemption from punishment until challenged by the victims themselves.
Amidst the dark action and revenge, the drama also highlights the importance of friends, who help Tae Jung uncover the truth and support his journey, adding a layer of genuine friendship and loyalty.
I have some critiques about the story, which I will put after this section before I conclude my article. They will have spoiler tags, so you can just skip the section safely.
Plot
The plot is complex and suspenseful, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. It’s dark and gritty because of social issues like class disparity between the powerful and the vulnerable, and also healthcare corruption, even at the government level.
With thrilling chases and sleek action sequences, the plot is fast-paced from the very first episode. Every scene feels important and is designed to hook the viewer immediately. However, in the later episodes, the pacing slows down with some draggy scenes, but overall, the plot is still engaging.
Generally, smooth transitions from one subplot to another. However, there are some minor plot holes. For example, while helping Tae Jung run away from the police, the father-daughter No clearly do outlaw things, and the police are aware but never arrest them, lol.
Characterization and Acting
I will focus on Park Tae Jung, An Yo Han, and Baek Do Gyeong because of their characterizations.
Park Tae Jung/Ji Chang Wook
Before his life is turned upside down, Park Tae Jung is an ordinary man. He is a gentle and loving man who works diligently as a delivery driver to support his younger brother and set up a cafe with his girlfriend. After he was wrongly accused, sentenced for a crime he didn’t commit, and experienced a brutal life in prison, his character shifted to a man fueled by rage and a relentless quest for vengeance.
The draw of the audience is Ji Chang Wook’s performance, which emphasizes the raw emotion, rage, and quiet pain of a man pushed to his limits.
An Yo Han/D.O.
An Yo Han is not a typical villain. He rarely leaves his home, since he stages crimes and controls events and people’s lives remotely. He manipulates people to exploit their vulnerabilities, kills without blinking, and disregards human life.
D.O.’s portrayal as the master villain with a kind face but a deeply twisted mind manages to leave a strong impact on the viewers. This is his first role as an antagonist.
Baek Do Gyeong/Lee Kwang Soo
Baek Do Gyeong is a rich and spoiled character with a drug addiction who committed the crime for which the protagonist, Park Tae Jong, was wrongfully framed.
Lee Kwang Soo, a comedian, portrays a deeply unsettling, unrepentant, and morally despicable character. He successfully embodies the villainy with a cunning smile and piercing glances, adding significant tension to the plot. This is also Lee’s first antagonist role in a drama.
Visualization
The Manipulated is definitely a high-quality production, including crisp and realistic visual effects that blend seamlessly with live action.
The cinematography effectively uses neon lighting to emphasize the show’s dark and sombre tone, contributing significantly to the overall atmospheric aesthetic.
Because this is an action-oriented drama, The Manipulated features intense and well-executed action scenes, including car races, fight sequences, and stunts, which are captured with dynamic camera work to keep viewers engaged.
The racecar is damaged? A bike will do!
Specific visual choices were made to enhance the leading character’s portrayals. The protagonist, Park Tae Jong, is often seen in visually appealing leather jacket and pants, which adds to his character’s image as a revenge executor. The antagonist, An Yo Han, had his hair repeatedly dyed and permed to achieve a damaged, unsettling look that amplified his evil presence.
Critiques on the Story
What’s up with the Squid-Game-like subplot?
In Episodes 5 and 6, Yo Han implemented a Squid-Game-like race in which the inmates had to corner and eventually kill Tae Jung. How he had such high power to do that is not clearly explained. Since I don’t like the Squid Game franchise, I don’t understand why the writer went this route to release Tae Jung from prison, if Tae Jung already made a meticulous plan for his prison break. The writer could just come up with another escape idea, an original one, preferably. Moreover, after Tae Jung’s escape during the race, no prison authority looked for the fugitive but Yo Han and his gang. It’s clearly illogical.
About the ending…
I don’t mind an ending that leads to a teaser for Season 2. It’s a happy ending for Tae Jung, as I spoiled it at the end of the article. However, the possibility that Yo Han is still alive, or his nanny/mother, or a person above him, and the mysterious person is seen watching the monitors, makes me think that poor Tae Jung wouldn’t get a break to get back and live a peaceful and normal life. His life is already messed up completely by An Yo Han and Baek Do Gyeong, making him return to fight for his life in Season 2 is too cruel, in my opinion. If they want to keep the villain(s) from Season 1 alive, let they create another protagonist/victim character and cast another top actor with good acting in the action genre.
Conclusion
The Manipulated shows us that even the most secure lives can be targets of malicious manipulation. A fierce and unyielding fight is necessary to reclaim one’s identity and life in the face of overwhelming and orchestrated injustice.
YOU’VE BEEN WATCHED!
Spoilers
What is the ending?
Happy ending but not conclusive.
How is the ending?
Park Tae Jung confronted An Yo Han and stabbed him. The latter’s house was on fire, and An Yo Han supposedly died in the fire. But we should never believe the news, since there is no dead body. The other villain, Baek Do Gyeong, was in jail. The Noh father and daughter didn’t die. Park Tae Jung is found not guilty and released. He opens a cafe (or a nursery) and has a party with his friends. However, while he celebrated his victory and release, somewhere, someone watches the hundred screens again. Either An Yo Han didn’t really die, his nanny/mother, or someone above An Yo Han. A usual set up for Season 2.
