To My Beloved Thief Episode 1 Review (2026): Ham Young-geol’s directed romance comedy fantasy series ‘To My Beloved Thief‘ has been released, and it opened with an ambitious premise that is rooted in Korean folklore. Episode 1 provides the balance of palace politics, romance, and rebellion. The drama has Nam Ji-hyun and Moon Sang-min as the key stars, and it premiered on January 3, 2026. In this To My Beloved Thief episode 1 review, we will see how Episode 1 laid the groundwork for an intriguing dual-identity narrative.
Baapofmovies.com Rating: 3/5
- Premiere Date: 3rd January, 2026
- Premiere on: KBS2
- Genre: Historical, Romance, Comedy, Fantasy
- Director: Ham Young-geol
- Writer: Lee Sun
- Stars: Nam Ji-hyun, Moon Sang-min, Hong Min-gi, and Han So-eun
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Episode 1 Plot Overview
The first episode starts with an animated legend of Gil Dong, a mythical thief who steals from the rich to feed the poor. Gil Dong is not one person, but he is presented as an enduring symbol of resistance. This myth quietly connects to Eun-jo (played by Nam Ji-hyun), who is a skilled female physician living as a servant due to her mixed parentage.
The narrative shifts toward palace politics, which introduces Crown Prince Yi Yeol (played by Moon Sang-min), and he becomes obsessively determined to capture Gil Dong. His rigid sense of justice and control sets him up as a hunter and a potential romantic foil. As episode 1 progresses, we are bombarded with political scheming, royal tensions, and uncomfortable marriage arrangements that at times become confusing.
Eun-jo’s personal struggle adds a much-needed emotional weight to the show. As she is forced into a marriage with a much older nobleman to protect her father’s position, she negotiates her fate with Minister Sa-hyeong. Her chance encounter with Yi Yeol, who is disguised as a beggar, leads to a fleeting and impactful moment of connection.
The episode ends with its strongest reveal: Eun-jo is Gil Dong herself, who is secretly stealing from the wealthy at night. This twist finally injects intrigue and sets up a promising cat-and-mouse dynamic that will come in the future episodes.
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Cast Performances
Nam Ji-hyun has done a great job, as she delivered a very well-balanced performance as Eun-jo. Moon Sang-min could have been better, as it tries to bring intensity to Crown Prince Yi Yeol. His character feels more conceptual than emotional in the premiere.
Supporting actors in the form of Choi Won-young, Ha Seok-jin, and Hong Min-ki didn’t add much value because they were given limited room to shine, largely due to rushed introductions.
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Positive and Negative Aspects
Positive Sides
- The folklore-inspired premise of Gil Dong is one of the major highlights, and it hints at symbolic potential for the future episodes.
- Eun-jo’s double life, especially the revelation of her being Gil Dong, adds intrigue and thematic depth.
- There are many moments like the cherry blossom scene that are visually striking.
- The final reveal successfully recontextualises earlier events.
Negative Sides
- To My Beloved Thief feels very dragged because of the slow pacing across a lengthy 75-minute runtime.
- Episode 1 looks messed up due to the overcrowded character introductions.
- Excessive exposition weakens narrative momentum.
- Palace politics is so stretched that it ultimately overshadows the central mystery for too long.
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Direction and VFX
Ham Young-geol’s direction has done a decent job, as the show focuses more on atmosphere over urgency. The period setting is visually polished, but the lack of narrative focus makes the episode feel heavier than necessary. The VFX used in the animated folklore sequence and night-time thief scenes are very well balanced, and it is equally effective.
Release Schedule
‘To My Beloved Thief’ has a total of 16 episodes that will be aired every Saturday and Sunday at 21:20 KST from January 3, 2026, to February 22, 2026.
Final Verdict
Finally, Episode 1 of ‘To My Beloved Thief’ is a confusing mix, as it is unable to balance world-building with engagement. The folklore roots and central twist promise a compelling journey ahead, but the premiere leans too heavily on setup. However, we hope that the show will be back on track from the next episode.
Watch To My Beloved Thief Trailer
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