"The Defects," a new ENA drama based on the Kakao Webtoon of the same name, which has already recorded over 51 million views, is an action thriller depicting the desperate survival and revenge of children who were abandoned by their adoptive parents and barely survived at the brink of death.

The dark and gripping new Korean drama that tackles a modern-day illegal adoption ring started airing on Tuesday (July 21) on Tonton.

Starring talented actors such as Yum Jung-ah, Won Jina, Choi Young Jun and Kim Jin Young (DEX), this series promises a storyline full of drama, conflict, and questions that challenge human instincts.

The drama’s premise, an illegal adoption cartel where adoptive parents can buy children and even request refunds if not satisfied, already sparked buzz for its provocative subject matter.

For the record, more than 140,000 children had been sent overseas by Seoul following the devastating 1950-53 Korean War. The drama also comes in for fans when the South Korean government announced recently that the country is set to end the decades-old practice of outsourcing adoptions to private agencies, after a damaging investigation concluded the country’s government-endorsed foreign adoption programme violated the fundamental human rights of adoptees.

South Korea will now introduce a “newly restructured public adoption system, under which the state and local governments take full responsibility for the entire adoption process”, South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare said.

As for "The Defects", the series is an action thriller drama that tells the story of a group of children who are illegally purchased by their adoptive parents, and then trapped in the dark world of human trafficking.

Behind this world, there is Kim Se-Hee (played by Yum Jung-ah), a renowned doctor and high-profile hospital director who also heads an illegal adoption syndicate run by Jung Hyeon (played by Kim Jin Young).

The organisation offers a "guaranteed return," a cruel system that can eliminate these children simply because they do not meet the expectations of their adoptive parents.

Then comes Kim A-Hyeon (played by Won Jina), one of the survivors who managed to escape. Now, she rises to lead other children to reclaim their persecuted future and avenge the betrayal of the past that continues to haunt them.

This brave story is lifted from a popular webtoon that once sparked a phenomenon, with the original work receiving international recognition through the "Best Creative Award" in the Webtoon category at the International Content Market SPP 2017, an achievement that proves the strength of the narrative and the message it carries.

"The Defects" also marks Kim Jin Young, better known as DEX's return to acting, and this time in a suspenseful thriller full of dark secrets. The actor, who is also a former special forces soldier and reality show star, DEX continues to expand his artistic talents, and his appearance this time is certainly highly anticipated.

In a recent interview in Seoul, DEX said: "I like to focus intensely when I work, and the appealing part about acting is being able to deeply explore and lead a character," he said. "I approached it with a sense of guilt, wondering if I would be a flaw [among the cast]. I pulled out everything I could to work on this project."

"The Defect" is an eight-episode show and for more information on the show, fans can follow Tonton on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram di @tontonmy.