100 Days of Deception review: Gripping tale of spies, forbidden romance and resistance unfolds during Japan’s occupation of Korea in new K-drama

100 Days of Deception is a currently airing Korean drama about three people pulled into a dangerous struggle during Japan’s occupation of Korea. Set in 1930s Gyeongseong, the series combines espionage, romance and the independence movement.

Three lives collide in occupied Gyeongseong

The story brings together a pickpocket who dreams of starting over in America, a Korean interpreter employed by the Japanese administration and a resistance fighter carrying the weight of her past. Their different positions place them on opposing sides of a volatile political landscape, while their personal lives become increasingly connected.

At the center of the drama is a young woman who is drawn into the independence movement. She accepts a dangerous undercover mission, placing her life at risk as she works within the structures of the occupying administration.

Espionage, forbidden romance and resistance

The series uses its historical setting to frame a story of deception and divided loyalties. The characters must navigate secrecy, personal conflict and the consequences of challenging Japanese rule. The drama’s forbidden romance adds another emotional layer to a plot shaped by spies and resistance.

By linking the lives of a hopeful pickpocket, an interpreter and a haunted fighter, 100 Days of Deception presents its occupation-era setting through characters with contrasting motivations. Its central undercover mission gives the ongoing series a high-risk narrative focused on survival, identity and the fight for independence.