Toxic Parents ~ Do Parents Really NOT Understand?

By cmoneyspinner - January 19, 2026

“Toxic Parents” is a 2023 Korean movie, categorized as Police Procedural, High School, Teen, Youth, Suspense, Crime, Mystery, and Thriller, and streaming on Viki.

Memorable Quote: “Sometimes the love we think protects us is the very thing that breaks us.”

SUMMARY: My daughter is a happy, well-adjusted model student. Most importantly, she’s loved. Why would she commit suicide? After her daughter’s shocking death at a campsite, a devoted mother refuses to accept the suicide ruling and decides to investigate.

♦ What is a TP?

In “Toxic Parents”, the line between devotion and denial blurs.

Hye Young is a fiercely devoted single mother, and her life revolves around her teenage daughter, Yoo Ri. If you ask the students and teachers, they’ll say Yoo Ri is perfect in every way. A “model student”: gifted, well-mannered, and surely, she must be loved AT HOME. Her private life has to be perfect too. Right? So why is she secretly taking medication for depression? Wait!

Why doesn’t her mother KNOW Yoo Ri is taking medication for depression?
Why doesn’t her mother KNOW that beneath the surface of pride and perfection, her daughter is suffering?

The day was like all other days. Hye Young dropped her daughter, Yoo Ri, at school. She was going to be taking a mock test and promised her mom she would ace it! Yoo Ri waved goodbye. Everything seemed normal. Her mom drove away, and as soon as the car had disappeared down the street, Yoo Ri walked away. She walked away from the school and down the street, in the opposite direction. WHAT? A model student playing hooky from school?

♦ My Daughter Was Murdered

Later that day, her mother called her to ask how she did on the test. Yoo Ri spoke calmly, saying she may have gotten a few questions wrong but that overall the test went fine. Her mom hung up, no doubt expecting to see her daughter when they both got home. Only later that day, Hye Young received a call from the police.

Yoo Ri was found dead at a lakeside campsite, alongside two other young people. The police believed it was a group suicide. The mother needed to come to the morgue and identify the body. Hye Young’s entire world fell apart. Suicide??? Not her daughter, Yoo Ri. That’s impossible! Her daughter went to school and took a test. Her daughter had talked to her on the phone saying everything was fine. What do you mean she took her own life?? The police are WRONG!! It’s murder! It has to be!

Detective Oh begin their investigation with procedural diligence, uncovering a series of cryptic messages, strained friendships, and hidden social circles connected to Yoo Ri’s final days. All of the evidence and information pointed to an intentional suicide. However, Hye Young refused to believe her precious perfect Yoo Ri wanted to die. WHY? Instead, she launches her own investigation because she is certain that her daughter was murdered. She knows her child. Her child would never commit suicide. NEVER!

Main Characters:

Hye Young (played by Jang Seo Hee, “Game of Witches”)
Yoo Ri (played by Kang An Na, “Cashero”, “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty”, “Frankly Speaking”, “Start-Up”, “Designated Survivor: 60 Days”, “Familiar Wife”, “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo” )
Detective Oh (played by Oh Tae-Kyung, “Heung-Boo: The Revolutionist”, “The Swindlers”, “Cadaver”)

Where to Watch

Viewership and Rating:

IMDb: 6.3 out of 10 stars
My Drama List: 7.1 out of 10 stars
Viki viewers rated this series 8.5 out of stars
Letterboxd: 3.3 out of 5 stars

My personal rating is the same as the Viki viewers.

Toxic Parents managed to slip under my radar. This Korean movie is about a family. But it is definitely NOT a Family movie. I tried so hard not to be angry. The ending was totally unexpected.