If you enjoy costume dramas with a playful twist, this show hits a sweet spot. Many international viewers search for To My Beloved Thief Kdrama cast details before pressing play, and the story’s tone makes it easy to recommend as a Korean historical fantasy rom-com that balances humor with real stakes.
1. Series Overview
| Network | KBS2 |
|---|---|
| Premiere | January 3, 2026 (currently airing) |
| Schedule | Sat–Sun, 9:20 PM (KST) |
| Genres | Fusion historical, fantasy, romance, comedy |
| Planned episodes | 16 |
| Directors | Ham Young-geol, Lee Ga-ram |
| Writer | Lee Sun |
2. Summary Plot
The story follows Hong Eun-jo, a healer by day and a “thief” by night who steals grain from the powerful to feed the hungry. Her path collides with Prince Lee Yeol, a sharp observer who hides his intelligence behind a carefree persona. After a fate-driven incident flips their lives upside down, the show uses identity, class, and trust to keep the momentum moving – exactly the kind of emotional engine that makes a Korean historical fantasy rom-com bingeable.
3. To My Beloved Thief Kdrama cast: Main Cast
Viewers often start with the leads, so here’s the core To My Beloved Thief Kdrama cast lineup in plain terms:
(1) Hong Eun-jo(played by Nam Ji-hyun)
- Born between two worlds – an aristocratic father and a low-status mother – Eun-jo grows up loved by her father but later faces hardship as the family falls.
- She becomes a medical practitioner to survive, and while caring for patients, she witnesses how unfair the world can be. To help the hungry, she starts stealing from wealthy households.
- People begin calling her “Gil-dong”, short for “a companion on the road,” a name that turns into a legend.
(2) Lee Yeol(played by Moon Sang-min)
- Prince Yeol looks refined and effortlessly charming, yet he deliberately plays the fool – earning a reputation as a lazy playboy.
- The truth is darker: as a child, he hid his intelligence to protect his mother and avoid becoming a political target.
- Behind the jokes is a brilliant strategist who works with investigators, studies cases, and quietly reads people.
(3) Im Jae-yi(played by Hong Min-gi)
- The second son of Chief Secretary Im Sa-hyeong, Jae-yi has lived a life of obedience – studying and chasing exams because he was told to, not because he chose to.
- When Eun-jo enters his household space, he feels something for the first time that belongs only to him. He doesn’t even realize it’s love yet – he only knows his world is shaking.
(4) Shin Hae-rim(played by Han So-eun)
- A noblewoman and Jae-yi’s fiancée, Hae-rim once hoped their political engagement could turn into real affection.
- But when she sees a side of Jae-yi that clashes with her expectations, her fantasy breaks.
- After losing her parents young, she learned to suppress emotion.
- Meeting Eun-jo and Yeol gradually awakens the passion and sincerity she kept buried.
4. People Around Lee Yeol
(1) King Lee Gyu(played by Ha Seok-jin)
- Born to a disgraced royal mother, the king appears apathetic and slow – another man who learned to hide his true self.
- Once on the throne, he unleashes suppressed desire and tightens control through violence and fear, dragging Joseon toward chaos.
(2) Dae-chu(played by Lee Seung-woo)
- From a military family, Dae-chu is warm and blunt – until a sword is in his hand.
- He speaks honestly even when Yeol insults him, which is exactly why Yeol trusts him. He senses Yeol’s past but refuses to pry.
(3) Queen Dowager(played by Kim Jung-nan)
- Strongly maternal, she worries over Yeol and understands how cruel palace rules can be.
- Her feelings toward the king are complicated: pity and hostility at the same time. Above all, she wants to keep Yeol alive.
(4) Geum-nok(played by Song Ji-woo)
- Once a gisaeng, Geum-nok is playful, bold, and allergic to seriousness.
- She reads the king’s moods and survives by flattering him – so well that she earns a high court title.
- She enjoys the privileges of power, but fears meeting her first love again.
(5) Kang Yoon-bok(played by Moon Tae-yu)
- A rough-looking but sentimental investigator-type who tends to handle cases emotionally and gets scolded for it.
- He’s a “hard worker” more than a “natural genius,” carrying old heartbreak connected to Geum-nok.
(6) Park Gun-gwan(played by Park Chan-woo)
- A constable under Kang Yoon-bok.
5. People Around Hong Eun-jo
(1) Hong Min-jik(played by Kim Seok-hoon)
- A principled scholar-official who once spoke truth to power and paid the price – losing office and wealth.
- He later raises Eun-jo with care, hoping she can live as a respected woman.
- In time, he becomes a voice for ordinary people again by refusing unjust royal demands.
(2) Chun-seom(played by Seo Young-hee)
- For Chun-seom, family comes first.
- Patient and enduring, she becomes Min-jik’s concubine after serving as a household maid and gives birth to Eun-jo.
- She also raises Dae-il with deep devotion.
(3) Hong Dae-il(played by Song Ji-ho)
- Immature and playful, Dae-il feels inferior to Eun-jo and resents her for “stealing” affection.
- Still, he’s difficult to truly hate – when it counts, he tries to protect the family.
(4) Dong-ju’s Wife(played by Lee Jin-hee)
- Widowed and louder than ever to hide her fear, she confides in Eun-jo and treats her like a younger friend – and sometimes like a teacher.
- She’s raising an infant after losing her husband in war.
(5) Jeom-baek(played by Oh Jung-taek)
- A cranky jack-of-all-trades at the medical office who loves giving unsolicited advice.
- He’s close with Eun-jo like an uncle figure and mistakenly believes Dong-ju’s wife is in love with him.
(6) Seok-sam(played by Hong Woo-jin)
- A gossip-loving market “information broker,” half of whose words are exaggeration.
- After a political downfall, he becomes enslaved to Im Sa-hyeong’s household – where he later helps Eun-jo.
- He quietly likes Dong-ju’s wife.
6. People Around Shin Hae-rim
(1) Shin Jin-won(played by Lee Gyu-han)
- Hae-rim’s strict guardian figure – rational, rule-focused, and controlling because he fears she might “go astray.”
- He strongly dislikes women being active outside the home, yet he makes an exception for Eun-jo because Eun-jo works with sincere effort.
(2) Queen Shin(played by Kim Ji-soo)
- Gentle but firm, she longs for the king to return to the wise man he once seemed to be.
- She confronts him when ministers only flatter, which pushes the king to distance himself from her – creating space for Geum-nok.
- She openly opposes Im Sa-hyeong’s grip on the court.
7. People Around Im Jae-yi
(1) Im Sa-hyeong(played by Choi Won-young)
- Chief Secretary and leader of the old-guard power faction.
- He calls flattery “loyalty” and survives political purges to become the king’s shadow power.
- His feelings toward Hong Min-jik are twisted – both envy and attachment – so he delays eliminating him for strategic reasons.
(2) Im Seung-jae(played by Do Sang-woo)
- He ranks everyone by “value.” Cruel to those below him, polite only when it benefits him.
(3) Kim Seung-baek(played by Baek Jae-woo)
- Arrogant, praise-hungry, obsessed with aristocratic privilege.
- He envies Jae-yi and looks down on Dae-il.
8. Other Notable Characters
(1) Han Seung-rok(played by Choi Kwang-il)
- A high official who survives between a tyrant king and corrupt power brokers.
- He bows and smiles with a “knife in the heart,” driven by a dangerous private ambition.
(2) Kkot-sim(played by Park Eun-jung)
- Hae-rim’s maid since childhood – so attentive she can read Hae-rim’s mood by her breathing.
- More like an older sister than a servant.
(3) No-eul(played by Yoo Su-yeon)
- Direct and emotionally honest.
- After her family collapses, she becomes a court slave and is later sold into a gisaeng house.
- She originally came from an interpreter-family background and never cared for men – life only hardens that resolve.
- Later, she suffers in the palace and receives help from “Gil-dong.”
(4) Heuk-geom(played by Kang Yong)
- A silent assassin who follows Im Sa-hyeong like a shadow and appears whenever his master is threatened.
9. Viewing Tips & What Makes It Addictive
① The soul-swap hook (from Episode 5) : Once Eun-jo and Yeol switch souls, the show becomes a perfect blend of physical comedy + emotional truth. Watching two strong personalities trapped in the wrong life is half hilarious, half heartbreaking.
② Romance collides with politics : This isn’t romance “only.” Palace power, social hierarchy, and the cost of justice keep raising the stakes, so the love story feels earned – not fluffy.
③ Character psychology actually evolves : Eun-jo, Yeol, Jae-yi, and Hae-rim don’t stay the same. Their choices make sense because their wounds – and their growth – are shown in detail.
④ Modernized Joseon aesthetics : Sets, costumes, and music reinterpret the era with a contemporary touch – stylish without losing the historical vibe.
10. Naver Webtoon vs. Drama: What’s Different?
| Aspect | Naver Webtoon | KBS2 Drama |
|---|---|---|
| Tone | Often punchier and more comedic in shorter scenes. | Balances comedy with stronger emotional and political tension. |
| Pacing | Faster beats, quicker turnarounds between moments. | Longer build-up for bigger payoffs and character growth. |
| World-building | Focuses on core premise and character-driven momentum. | Expands palace stakes and the wider social structure. |
| Supporting roles | May keep side characters lighter and more episodic. | Often expands court/investigation characters for added tension. |
| Romance focus | Leans into chemistry and quick emotional beats. | Romance is shaped by consequences, status, and political pressure. |
| Visual style | Stylized art and expressive panel pacing. | Costumes, sets, and music create a modernized Joseon vibe. |
※ Looking for Another Addictive K-Drama? The Judge Returns Guide
11. Final Takeaway
To My Beloved Thief stands out for its strong performances, tightly built characters, and an irresistible mix of romance, comedy, and high-stakes palace tension. If you’re wondering how long the ride is, it’s planned as a 16-episode series.
If you like stories where two people chase each other – then slowly begin to understand each other in the most impossible way – this one is made to pull you in.
※ Watch on Netflix: To My Beloved Thief