To My Beloved Thief

To My Beloved Thief
Promotional poster
Hangul
은애하는 도적님아
Lit.Dear Bandit
RREunaehaneun dojeongnima
MRŬnaehanŭn tojŏngnima
Genre
Written byLee Sun[2]
Directed byHam Young-geol
Starring
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes16
Production
Executive producersYoon Jae-hyuk (CP)
Jang Kyung-ik
Yoo Sang-won
Jo Ah-ra
ProducersKim Chang-min
Baek Ji-hyun
Ryu Won-sang
Production companyStudio Dragon
Original release
NetworkKBS2
ReleaseJanuary 3 (2026-01-03) –
February 22, 2026 (2026-02-22)

To My Beloved Thief (Korean: 은애하는 도적님아) is a 2026 South Korean television series written by Lee Sun, directed by Ham Young-geol, and starring Nam Ji-hyun, Moon Sang-min, Hong Min-gi, and Han So-eun. The series depicts the story of an uinyeo who secretly becomes a righteous thief, chased by a grand prince who loves solving crimes. It aired on KBS2 from January 3, to February 22, 2026, every Saturday and Sunday at 21:20 (KST).[3]

Synopsis

Set in Joseon, the series follows Hong Eun-jo, a commoner hiding her secret life as the righteous thief Hong Gil-dong, who steals from the rich to help the poor. She attracts the attention of Yi Yeol, a grand prince tasked with capturing her. One night, the souls of the two individuals are swapped, triggered by a mysterious bracelet given to them by a young monk, forcing them to navigate each other's worlds amidst the complexities of duty, identity, and forbidden love.

Cast

Main

Born to a yangban father and a commoner mother, she was legally considered a commoner due to her maternal lineage. When her family's fortunes declined and her father fell ill, she became the family's main support. She is a female physician (uinyeo) and thief, known as Hong Gil-dong in the shadows, leading a double life. A skilled healer by day at Hyeminseo, she treats the sick. A thief by night, she steals the granaries and other goods from corrupt officials to help her people.
A grand prince. He lives a seemingly quiet royal life in the shadow of his brother, the King of Joseon, but he's actually resourceful and often sneaks into investigations at the Bureau of Research and Statistics, racking up successes. Then he meets Eun-jo and falls for her without realizing she's the thief he's been chasing.
Yi Yeol's rival. He has lived under his father's strict control, suppressing his own desires and following his father's plans. He has consistently prioritized his father's expectations, pursuing education and career paths dictated by his father, leaving his personal life and aspirations unfulfilled. The arrival of Eun-jo at his family's mansion marks a turning point, as he experiences unfamiliar emotions and desires, gradually becoming aware of his suppressed emotions.
Born into a noble family, she's Jae-yi's fiancée and the queen's niece. Their engagement was a strategic family arrangement, not a reflection of their personal desires.

Supporting

Jae-yi's father.
Yi Yeol's bodyguard.
Eun-jo's older brother.

Production

Development

Ham Young-geol, who previously helmed KBS Drama Special: The True Love of Madam (2023), was attached to direct. Lee Sun, who won the Excellence Award at Studio Dragon's 2nd Drama Script Contest for the series in 2020[2], wrote the screenplay. The production is handled by Studio Dragon. Additionally, the series, written by Lee, began serialization on Naver Webtoon on December 27, 2025.[8][1][3]

Casting

In October 2024, Nam Ji-hyun and Moon Sang-min were cast to star.[9]

Ha Seok-jin, Choi Won-young and Hong Min-gi were reportedly set to join the cast in April 2025.[1][5] On September 10, Han So-eun was reportedly cast.[10]

Filming

Principal photography began in March 2025, and was concluded in October 2025.[11][12] Filming for the series took place in Gyeongnam Province over a period of eight months. The main filming locations included the House of Choi Champan in Hadong-gun, Ildu House in Hamyang-gun, Sam-eunjeong in Miryang, and Hwangmaesan mountain in Hapcheon.[13]

Original soundtrack

Part 1

Released on January 4, 2026 (2026-01-04)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Loving You"
  • Kim Tae-young
  • December 32nd
Kim Tae-youngHa Sung-woon3:13
2."Loving You" (Inst.) Kim Tae-young 3:13
Total length:6:26

Part 2

Released on January 11, 2026 (2026-01-11)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Something Feels Wrong" (뭔가 잘못된 것 같아)
  • Yoske
  • Daymoon
  • Kim Young-hoo
  • Lee Jung-hyun
  • Kim Ji-hee
  • Yoske
  • Park Ye-rin
  • Choi Soo-hwan
KickFlip2:51
2."Something Feels Wrong" (뭔가 잘못된 것 같아; Inst.) 
  • Yoske
  • Park Ye-rin
  • Choi Soo-hwan
 2:51
Total length:5:42

Part 3

Released on January 18, 2026 (2026-01-18)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Again"Petra
  • Petra
  • Hyun
  • Kang Butter
Kassy4:10
2."Again" (Inst.) 
  • Petra
  • Hyun
  • Kang Butter
 4:10
Total length:8:20

Part 4

Released on January 25, 2026 (2026-01-25)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Seen the Scene"MonoTreeMonoTreeHa Hyun-sang3:17
2."Seen the Scene" (Inst.) MonoTree 3:17
Total length:6:34

Part 5

Released on February 1, 2026 (2026-02-01)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Words I Never Said" (사랑한다 말할 수 있을까)
  • Kim Tae-young
  • December 32nd
  • Kim Tae-young
  • Seong Hyeon-taek
Jung Seung-hwan3:58
2."Words I Never Said" (Inst.) 
  • Kim Tae-young
  • Seong Hyeon-taek
 3:58
Total length:7:56

Viewership

To My Beloved Thief : South Korea viewers per episode (thousands)
SeasonEpisode numberAverage
12345678910111213141516
1786912101612021340126712081279101313671282140013131262148314611224
Source: Audience measurement performed nationwide by Nielsen Korea.[14]
Average TV viewership ratings
Ep. Original broadcast date Average audience share
(Nielsen Korea)[14]
Nationwide Seoul
1 January 3, 2026 4.3% (14th) 4.2% (13th)
2 January 4, 2026 4.5% (9th) 4.1% (12th)
3 January 10, 2026 5.3% (7th) 5.3% (6th)
4 January 11, 2026 6.3% (5th) 6.2% (3rd)
5 January 17, 2026 7.0% (3rd) 6.8% (3rd)
6 January 18, 2026 6.9% (4th) 6.1% (6th)
7 January 24, 2026 6.6% (3rd) 6.2% (3rd)
8 January 25, 2026 7.1% (4th) 6.6% (4th)
9 January 31, 2026 5.5% (3rd) 5.0% (5th)
10 February 1, 2026 7.0% (4th) 6.6% (5th)
11 February 7, 2026 6.8% (3rd) 6.8% (3rd)
12 February 8, 2026 7.3% (4th) 7.4% (3rd)
13 February 14, 2026 6.9% (3rd) 6.6% (3rd)
14 February 15, 2026 6.4% (3rd) 6.2% (3rd)
15 February 21, 2026 7.7% (2nd) 7.8% (2nd)
16 February 22, 2026 7.6% (4th) 6.8% (5th)
Average 6.5% 6.2%
  • In the table above, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Yoo, Soo-kyung (March 24, 2025). [단독] 최원영·홍민기, 부자(父子) 된다... '은애하는 도적님아' 출연 [[Exclusive] Choi Won-young and Hong Min-gi to become father and son... Appearing on "Dear Bandit"]. Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 13, 2025. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  2. ^ a b 운영자 (January 16, 2020). "[제2회 스튜디오드래곤 공모전] 수상작 발표" [[2nd Studio Dragon [Scriptwriting] Contest] Announcement of Winners]. Studio Dragon (in Korean). Retrieved March 1, 2026.
  3. ^ a b c d Kim, Ji-hye (October 15, 2025). '사극 불패' 남지현X문상민, '은애하는 도적님아' 캐스팅... 내년 1월 첫방 [Nam Ji-hyun and Moon Sang-min cast in 'Dear Bandit'... First broadcast in January next year]. Herald Pop (in Korean). Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  4. ^ Ahn, Byeong-gil (November 25, 2025). ‘은애하는 도적님아’ 은애 부르는 배우 출두요!. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Retrieved December 1, 2025.
  5. ^ a b Lee, Kyung-ho (April 2, 2025). [단독] "내가 조선의 왕"...하석진, '은애하는 도적님아'로 안방 컴백 [[Exclusive] "I am the King of Joseon"... Ha Seok-jin makes a small screen comeback with "Dear Bandit"]. IZE (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 20, 2025. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  6. ^ Son, Bong-seok (December 10, 2025). "이승우, '은애하는 도적님아' 문상민 호위 무사 대추 역 출연". 스포츠경향 (in Korean). Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  7. ^ Geum, Bit-na (December 1, 2025). 송지호, 드라마 ‘은애하는 도적님아’ 캐스팅...남지현 철부지 오빠되다 [Song Ji-ho cast in drama 'Dear Bandit'... Becoming Nam Ji-hyun's sassy older brother]. MK Sports (in Korean). Retrieved December 1, 2025.
  8. ^ Kang, Il-gu (December 16, 2025). KBS 2TV 토일 미니시리즈 《은애하는 도적님아》 웹툰 서비스 오픈 [KBS 2TV's Saturday-Sunday miniseries 'Dear Bandit' now offers webtoon service]. Sisa Journal (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 27, 2025. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
  9. ^ Lee, Seung-hoon (October 24, 2024). [단독]남지현·문상민, 영혼 바뀐다..'은애하는 도적님아' 주인공 [[Exclusive] Nam Ji-hyun and Moon Sang-min swap souls... The main characters of "Dear Bandit"]. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 13, 2025. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  10. ^ Jeong, Se-yeon (September 10, 2025). [단독] 한소은, ♥김지훈과 핑크빛 이어 기쁜 소식 전했다...'은애하는 도적님아' 캐스팅 [[Exclusive] Han So-eun shares good news with ♥ Kim Ji-hoon, following a pink-colored relationship... cast in "Dear Bandit"]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  11. ^ Kim, Yang-soo (March 24, 2025). 남지현x문상민 '은애하는 도적님아', 촬영 시작...KBS 구원투수 될까 [Nam Ji-hyun and Moon Sang-min began filming for "Dear Bandit"]. Joy News 24 (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 13, 2025. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  12. ^ Lee, Mi-ji (October 17, 2025). 남지현, 사극퀸 귀환 임박 “촬영 무사히 끝났다니 믿기지 않아”(전문) [Nam Ji-hyun's return as historical drama queen imminent: "I can't believe filming has ended safely" (Full text)]. Herald Pop (in Korean). Retrieved October 20, 2025.
  13. ^ Lee, Jeong-hoon (December 29, 2025). 경남에서 촬영한 '은애하는 도적님아' 새해 초 방영 ['Dear Bandit' filmed in Gyeongnam, will air early in 2026]. Yonhap News (in Korean). Retrieved December 29, 2025.
  14. ^ a b Nielsen Korea ratings:
    • "Ep. 1". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). January 3, 2026. Archived from the original on January 4, 2026. Retrieved January 4, 2026.
    • "Ep. 2". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). January 4, 2026. Archived from the original on January 4, 2026. Retrieved January 5, 2026.
    • "Ep. 3". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). January 10, 2026. Archived from the original on January 10, 2026. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
    • "Ep. 4". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). January 11, 2026. Archived from the original on January 11, 2026. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
    • "Ep. 5". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). January 17, 2026. Archived from the original on January 17, 2026. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
    • "Ep. 6". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). January 18, 2026. Archived from the original on January 18, 2026. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
    • "Ep. 7". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). January 24, 2026. Archived from the original on January 24, 2026. Retrieved January 25, 2026.
    • "Ep. 8". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). January 25, 2026. Archived from the original on January 25, 2026. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
    • "Ep. 9". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). January 31, 2026. Archived from the original on January 31, 2026. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
    • "Ep. 10". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). February 1, 2026. Archived from the original on February 1, 2026. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
    • "Ep. 11". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). February 7, 2026. Archived from the original on February 8, 2026. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
    • "Ep. 12". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). February 8, 2026. Archived from the original on February 8, 2026. Retrieved February 9, 2026.
    • "Ep. 13". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). February 14, 2026. Archived from the original on February 14, 2026. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
    • "Ep. 14". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). February 15, 2026. Archived from the original on February 15, 2026. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
    • "Ep. 15". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). February 21, 2026. Archived from the original on February 21, 2026. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
    • "Ep. 16". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). February 22, 2026. Archived from the original on February 22, 2026. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
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