For those of us still nursing our Start-Up heartbreak and stubbornly rooting for Seo Dal-mi and Han Ji-pyeong to end up together instead of Nam Do-san, Delusion might just be the redemption arc we’ve been waiting for.

This upcoming K-drama is a reunion project for Bae Suzy and Kim Seon-ho, reigniting the chemistry that had fans swooning (and crying) during their time in Start-Up. But this time, the setting is darker, the stakes are stranger, and the hope is that love—or something far more twisted—might finally blossom between their characters.

Main Casts:

  • Bae Suzy as Song Jeong-hwa, the mysterious owner of Nammun Hotel who seems untouched by time.
  • Kim Seon-ho as Yoon Yi-ho, a struggling painter pulled into her web of secrets.
  • Choi Hyun-wook – in a currently undisclosed role.
  • Huh Joon-ho – supporting role.

Director:
Han Jae-rim (The Face Reader, Emergency Declaration)

Writer:
Han Jae-rim, based on the webtoon Hyunhok by Hongjacga

Number of Episodes:
10

Date of Release:
2026

Network/Streamer:
Disney+

Genre:
Historical Horror, Fantasy, Romance, Mystery

Synopsis:

Set in 1935 Gyeongseong (colonial-era Seoul), Delusion follows Yoon Yi-ho, a struggling artist who is hired to paint the portrait of Song Jeong-hwa, the enigmatic and elegant owner of the secluded Nammun Hotel. Though she is rumored to be an elderly woman, she appears mysteriously youthful and insists on being painted as if she were in her seventies.

Yi-ho soon learns that this is no ordinary commission. Bound by contract, he is forbidden from leaving the hotel until the portrait is complete. As he works on the painting, he begins to uncover chilling secrets about Jeong-hwa, the hotel, and perhaps something darker lurking beneath their polished surfaces.

A blend of historical fantasy, horror, and psychological mystery, Delusion promises a rich, atmospheric drama with suspense and emotional depth.

Trivia:

  • Adapted from the webtoon Hyunhok (현혹) by Hongjacga, which was serialized from 2019 to 2020 on Naver.

  • The production is backed by a massive ₩45 billion budget, ensuring top-tier visuals and storytelling.

  • Originally, Han So-hee and Ryu Jun-yeol were in talks for the leads but later withdrew from the project.

  • This marks the second on-screen collaboration between Bae Suzy and Kim Seon-ho, after their beloved but bittersweet dynamic in Start-Up.

  • The story spans timelines, including 19th-century Shanghai, adding layers to its historical mystery.

Whether it ends in romance, tragedy, or something far more enigmatic, one thing is for sure: for fans still haunted by Start-Up’s second lead syndrome, Delusion might finally offer the closure—or the emotional chaos—we crave.

Will Suzy and Seonho’s characters finally get the ending we wanted? We’ll be watching.