Revenge has rarely looked this elegant or this devastating. The Glory, Netflix’s mesmerizing Korean drama starring Song Hye-kyo, transforms a story of high-school cruelty into a haunting exploration of justice, trauma, and rebirth. Created by Kim Eun-sook (Descendants of the Sun) and directed by Ahn Gil-ho, the series grips you from its very first scene and never lets go.
What begins as a quiet tale of survival unfolds into a meticulously plotted journey of vengeance, led by one of Korea’s most powerful performances in years. Critics have called it “beautifully brutal,” while audiences around the world can’t stop talking about its emotional depth and moral complexity. Here’s everything you need to know about The Glory – from the plot and cast to reviews and where to stream it now on Netflix. The trailer is at the bottom of the article.
All the key details about The Glory
- Title: The Glory
- Format: Series
- Runtime: 2 parts, 16 episodes total
- Genre: Psychological drama, thriller, revenge
- Country of production: South Korea
- Original language: Korean
- Year of release: 2022–2023
- Creator: Kim Eun-sook
- Director: Ahn Gil-ho
- Main cast: Song Hye-kyo, Lee Do-hyun, Lim Ji-yeon, Park Sung-hoon
- Produced by: Hwa&Dam Pictures / Studio Dragon for Netflix
What happens in The Glory?
At its core, The Glory is the story of Moon Dong-eun (Song Hye-kyo), a woman whose teenage years were destroyed by brutal bullying. Years later, she has rebuilt herself with one purpose: revenge. Every choice she’s made — her education, her career, even her friendships — has been calculated to bring her tormentors to justice.
The series unfolds like a tragic chess game, with Dong-eun carefully dismantling the lives of those who once humiliated her. But as her plan grows darker, so does her own reflection — raising a chilling question: when you dedicate your life to vengeance, is there any “glory” left to claim?
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Who’s in the cast of The Glory?
Song Hye-kyo delivers a masterful, restrained performance as Moon Dong-eun, transforming pain into quiet fury. Lee Do-hyun (Sweet Home) plays Joo Yeo-jung, a kind-hearted doctor with his own hidden scars, while Lim Ji-yeon shines as the cruel yet complex bully Park Yeon-jin. Park Sung-hoon, Yeom Hye-ran, and Jung Sung-il complete the ensemble, bringing tension and depth to a story where no one is entirely innocent.
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Is The Glory based on a true story?
While The Glory is not directly based on a true story, it draws inspiration from real-life cases of school violence that have haunted South Korea for years. Writer Kim Eun-sook has spoken about wanting to expose the emotional aftermath of such abuse — not just for victims, but for an entire society that often looks away.
What are the reviews on The Glory?
Critics and viewers worldwide have hailed The Glory as one of Netflix’s finest K-dramas. Rotten Tomatoes lists it among the platform’s top-rated non-English shows, and IMDb users rate it 8.1/10. Song Hye-kyo’s comeback performance was called “career-defining” by Variety, while The Guardian praised its “beautifully structured slow-burn of moral reckoning.” Fans highlight the script’s precision — every scene building toward a cathartic, devastating conclusion.
Where was The Glory filmed?
Filming took place in and around Seoul and Incheon, South Korea. Several school and residential settings were purpose-built to enhance the show’s eerie, realistic tone, blending urban modernity with emotional decay. Many exterior scenes were shot in real neighborhoods, giving the story a raw, lived-in texture that mirrors its emotional depth. Cinematographer Lee Seong-jae used muted colors and natural light to heighten the sense of quiet menace — a visual language that perfectly matches the series’ slow-burning tension.
The Glory: Behind the scenes and fun facts
Writer Kim Eun-sook reportedly conceived the story after her own daughter asked what she would do if someone bullied her — a question that haunted the acclaimed screenwriter. The series was so popular that it ranked in Netflix’s Global Top 10 for weeks after both Part 1 and Part 2 releases. Song Hye-kyo won Best Actress at the 59th Baeksang Arts Awards for her performance, and the show itself took home Best Drama.
What’s The Glory like?
If you enjoyed My Name, Revenge, or The World of the Married, The Glory is essential viewing — a dark, psychological exploration of trauma and retribution that simmers with quiet rage and moral ambiguity. It’s stylish, slow-burning, and deeply human.
When is The Glory coming out on streaming?
Available now. The Glory is streaming exclusively on Netflix USA, where it remains one of the most talked-about K-dramas of the past decade. Release date: December 30, 2022 (Part 1) and March 10, 2023 (Part 2). Watch on Netflix.
Watch the trailer
In the meantime, here’s the trailer.
