Detective K: Secret of Virtuous Widow

1782 marks the year when King Jeongjo's reign sees a wave of murders that may mask tributary payments and political scheming. Detective K is given a secret charge to uncover the truth behind the killings, launching a dangerous pursuit. After a misread scene leads to his arrest, he is imprisoned and later demoted to Jeokseong as part of a ruse that brings him into the heart of the Wolfsbane case.

Set in late 18th-century Joseon Korea, the story unfolds mainly in the Jeokseong region and the royal political sphere. The setting shows a society where governors, merchants, and officials maneuver for power, often tied to tributary payments. A key clue—the Wolfsbane bloom near the murder weapon—ties the investigation to the landscape around Jeokseong.

🔎 Investigation

The narrative centers on Detective K's secret charge to unravel a layered conspiracy of murders and financial manipulation. Clues like the Wolfsbane near the murder weapon anchor the investigation in a web of political intrigue. The pursuit forces him to navigate traps, misdirections, and fragile alliances in order to uncover the truth.

💰 Corruption

A core thread suggests siphoning of taxes to grease political wheels, implicating powerful figures in the Noron faction. Han Gaek-joo and Minister Im are positioned as central players within this financial-and-political knot. The story uses these power plays to question where integrity ends and corruption begins.

🤝 Alliances

Unlikely partnerships emerge as Detective K teams with Seo-pil, trading risk for escape and information. The investigators' progress depends on trust, even as relationships with Han Gaek-joo and Minister Im blur lines between ally and foe. As the two investigations converge, cooperation becomes essential to reach the truth.