“If you can’t tell the fake from the real, is it really fake?” – Sarah Kim
This provocative line from Netflix’s 8-episode mystery thriller “The Art of Sarah” does more than linger — it defines the entire series. Released on February 13, the drama opens with a gruesome body discovered in a Cheongdam-dong luxury district sewer. Yet instead of focusing solely on identifying the killer, the story reverses the lens and asks a more unsettling question: Who exactly is Sarah Kim?
At the center of this psychological puzzle stands Shin Hye Sun — and she is nothing short of extraordinary.
Previously praised as the “diction queen” for her crystal-clear delivery in “Stranger,” Shin Hye Sun surpasses even her own technical excellence in “The Art of Sarah.” Here, she does not merely act — she dissects identity.
She seamlessly embodies nearly five versions of one woman: Mok Ga Hee, a desperate figure trying to escape rock bottom; Kim Eun Jae, who disarms others with calculated softness; and Sarah Kim, the Asia branch director of ultra-exclusive luxury brand “Boudoir,” catering to the top 0.1%. Each layer is meticulously constructed, forming a character who feels both terrifyingly artificial and painfully human.
To visually convince viewers of these drastic transformations, Shin Hye Sun committed fully to the role. Despite usually avoiding towering heels due to height and foot pain, she wore killer heels throughout filming to project elite confidence. She experimented with an array of wigs, bold makeup styles, and extravagant accessories, once joking that it felt like she had tried “every makeup look possible in a lifetime.”
The psychological burden, however, ran deeper. Sarah Kim is intentionally ambiguous — a character without easy emotional clarity. For an actress known for building solid narrative backstories, this ambiguity presented a significant challenge. Shin reportedly coped with the pressure by constantly snacking on set, even worrying about facial swelling. Yet thanks to careful coordination with the makeup team, Sarah Kim’s poised elegance never faltered onscreen.
The brilliance of “The Art of Sarah” lies in its critique of manufactured luxury. Sarah Kim meticulously launders her identity over several years, selling imitation handbags — produced at roughly 200,000 KRW — for tens of millions, even up to 100 million KRW. The inflated price is not about craftsmanship. It is about collective delusion.
Elite clients suspect the bags might be counterfeit, yet willingly suspend disbelief for the intoxicating thrill of belonging to a coveted world. The series frames this as a grotesque “collaboration of desire” — a mutual agreement between seller and buyer to protect illusion over truth.
Shin Hye Sun captures this disturbing psychology with chilling precision. At times, she radiates icy sophistication; at others, she reveals raw aggression beneath the polished façade. Even as viewers recognize Sarah Kim’s criminality, they feel an unsettling empathy toward her. She becomes, in the drama’s own words, a “beautiful fake.”
Within three days of release, “The Art of Sarah” recorded 3.8 million global views and entered the Top 10 rankings in 38 countries. While some critics pointed out narrative gaps and the comparatively flat portrayal of detective Park Moo Kyung, Shin Hye Sun’s commanding performance consistently anchors the series.
By the finale, even after the full truth is revealed, the illusion Sarah Kim constructed does not collapse easily. The upper-class clients, aware of the deception, choose silence to preserve status and reputation. The aftertaste is cold and bitter — a reflection of a society that values appearance over authenticity.
Through “The Art of Sarah,” Shin Hye Sun proves she has no ceiling. She evolves beyond being merely a technically skilled actress into a performer capable of engineering identity itself. She dissects human desire, vanity, and emptiness with unsettling depth.
And as she leaves viewers with the haunting question — What is truly real? — one thing becomes certain: Shin Hye Sun’s performance is the only undeniable original in a world obsessed with replicas.
Sources: MHN Sports,Netflix