According to Koreaherald, "The Art of Sarah" has become one of the interesting phenomena of the Korean TV drama wave in early 2026.
This detective - thriller film not only attracts a high number of viewers thanks to its tight investigative script and quality acting, but also attracts attention because of its fashion and beauty elements, with the main actress Shin Hye Sun being the focus of discussion.
Korean online platforms are flooded with posts analyzing dresses, accessories and cosmetics used by female fraudster Sarah Kim - a "transformed" character played by Shin Hye Sun.
The discussion was so lively that the makeup artist of the film had to announce the detailed list of cosmetics - a rare thing in Korean dramas.
When asked about the audience's interest in the styling style in the movie, Shin Hye Sun said that it was a worthy reward for the wholehearted dedication of the backstage crew.
In addition to the attractive appearance, the meticulous fashion and beauty construction also directly serve the story.
Shin Hye Sun analyzed: "The meaning of changing makeup and style lies in the subtle difference between each personality.
Those details help the audience distinguish visual identities, and at the same time allow the character's story to be expressed through appearance. As an actor, it is a great support for me to define my acting style.
Although praised for its leading aesthetics, Shin Hye Sun's acting and the mystery surrounding Sarah Kim's true identity are the highlights of the film. For Shin Hye Sun - who carries most of the time - getting a role is not easy at all.
“This is a project that made me think: “I should really challenge myself with it”. Usually when reading the script, you can quickly grasp the character, nuances and emotional logic of the character. But with “The Art of Sarah”, nothing is clear.
So it is very difficult to build a specific plan for how to portray the character. However, the story is too captivating, so in the end I decided to accept," the actress revealed the reason for participating in the film.
To portray a character that is always difficult to define, Shin Hye Sun chose a single metaphor - swans.
Sarah's image reminds me of a swan. Outwardly elegant and graceful, but underwater is frantically struggling," she analyzed.
Even to the end of the film, Sarah is still a mysterious character.
I don't know her real name. Maybe it never appeared in the movie, not even in the script, and I'm not curious either. Because it doesn't matter. I like the ending for that reason. If her real name is revealed, maybe it will reduce some of the weight," the actress added.
Sarah's Art of Deception" continues Shin Hye Sun's series of roles about women with fractured or carefully built identities.
Previously, she played a female announcer who suffered from multiple personality disorder in "Dear Hyeri", and an influencer living a fake life in the sensational movie "Following".
When asked if she was attracted to this type of role, Shin Hye Sun admitted that she rarely recognized the stereotypes in her career until others pointed them out.
Looking back, perhaps that's just my personal taste. I often choose projects that make me think "This role will be very interesting to play". I want to accumulate experience through characters with space to experiment - roles that are not traditional or easy.
Especially after taking on the main role, I became even more eager to challenge myself. And perhaps that naturally shaped my career path," she said.
