The SBS thriller Queen Mantis gripped audiences with its dark storyline, layered characters, and shocking twists. While much of the season focused on I-Shin and her traumatic past, one of the most chilling turns came with the reveal of the copycat killer—Seo A-Ra, also known as Kang Yeon Jung. Her identity, motives, and obsession added a new level of complexity to the story and raised an important question: why did she become a killer in the first place?
The Truth About Seo A-Ra’s Identity
From the start, A-Ra appeared to be an ordinary figure in the background, even building a friendship with Jung-Yeon through a workshop. But by the finale, her façade crumbled, and it became clear she was behind the string of brutal copycat murders. She wasn’t just imitating the original “Queen Mantis”—she was consumed by a twisted need to become her.
Obsession with I-Shin
A-Ra’s fascination with I-Shin went beyond admiration. She idolized her in a dangerous way, seeing I-Shin as a figure of strength, revenge, and freedom from trauma. In her eyes, I-Shin was more than a criminal—she was a survivor who had rewritten her own narrative through violence. A-Ra wanted to embody that same power and began replicating her crimes in hopes of stepping into her shadow.
This unhealthy obsession reached its peak when she kidnapped Jung-Yeon. Rather than seeking recognition for herself, A-Ra’s actions suggested she wanted I-Shin’s approval, as if proving she was the only one who truly understood her.
The Fatal Confrontation
A-Ra’s obsession ultimately became her downfall. In her final confrontation with Su-Yeol and Na-Hee, she lashed out violently, injuring Na-Hee before being fatally shot. Her death symbolized the collapse of her delusion—she wanted to live as I-Shin’s shadow, but in the end, she remained only a tragic imitator who lost herself completely.
