🎥 "Mercy for None": Introduction
🎥 "Mercy for None": Short Video
🎯 Key
Takeaways
🎥 Grammatical Analysis of the Dialogue
📎 Appendix. Drama Overview & the Characters
🎥 "Mercy for None": Introduction
“Gwang-jang (Mercy for None)” is one of the hottest Korean dramas currently streaming on Netflix.
It’s based on a wildly popular webtoon, which has sparked divided opinions and a great deal of buzz in Korea.
I meant to introduce it earlier, but it took some time to find a short clip without graphic violence.
One more reason I was excited to share this drama—So Ji-sub, who plays the lead character Gi-jun, happens to be one of my all-time favorite actors.
If you enjoy dark, noir-style dramas or films, this is one you shouldn’t miss.
A Practical Learning Guide
- You can get a glimpse of Korean gangster
culture, particularly how they demonstrate respect.
- You can briefly observe the atmosphere of
a Korean funeral hall.
- You’ll hear entertaining slang
expressions from the narrator, such as “인사를 박다 (slam a
greeting)” and “ㅈ됨을 감지하다 (sense that you're screwed).”
- You can observe both casual speech used by seniors toward juniors and respectful language used by juniors toward seniors, so pay close attention to the contrast.
🎥 "Mercy for None": Short Video
Gi-jun visits his younger brother’s funeral and questions an old associate about the cause of his brother’s death.
When he doesn’t get a clear answer, he turns to his former gang elders for the truth.
But even they fail to give him what he wants to hear.
Referring to a promise they made in the past, Gi-jun implicitly warns them that a storm of violence is about to begin.
Dialogue
남기준: “성철아!”
Nam
Gi-jun: "Seong-cheol!"
해설(유투버): “동생의 장례식에 모습을
드러낸 기준.”
Narration
(YouTuber): "Gi-jun shows up at his younger brother’s funeral."
최성철: “남전무 친형님이시다. 인사드려.”
Choi
Seong-cheol: "This is Director Nam’s older brother. Greet him."
해설(유투버): “기준을 향해 깍뜻하게
인사를 박는 조폭 형님들.”
Narration
(YouTuber): "The gangsters bow respectfully to Gi-jun."
🐾 The phrases “조폭 형님들” and “깍듯하게 인사를 박는” are part of the narrator’s playful and colorful commentary in the
video.
남기준: “어디 있냐?”
Nam
Gi-jun: "Where is he?"
해설(유투버): “싸늘한 기석의 시신을
바라보던 기준은…”
Narration
(YouTuber): "Gi-jun stares at Gi-seok’s cold body…"
남기준: “누가 이런 거냐?”
Nam
Gi-jun: "Who did this?"
최성철: “말씀 드렸다시피 가출한 어린 애들하고 엮여서.”
Choi
Seong-cheol: "As I said, he got mixed up with runaway kids."
남기준: “성철아 진짜 그게 다라고?”
Nam
Gi-jun: "Seong-cheol, is that really all?"
해설(유투버): “이 상황을 도저히 믿지
못하는데요.”
Narration
(YouTuber): "He can’t believe what he’s hearing."
해설(유투버): “결국, 기준은 조폭 회장님들을 찾아가죠.”
Narration
(YouTuber): "In the end, Gi-jun goes to see the gang bosses."
이주은: “어, 기준아!”
Lee
Joo-eun: "Oh, Gi-jun!"
남기준: “죽은 듯 살라 하셨는데 오늘만큼은 그러지 못할 것 같습니다.”
Nam
Gi-jun: "You told me to live like I was dead, but just for today, I can’t
do that."
구봉산: “오늘은 이해해야지.”
Goo
Bong-san: "Today, I understand."
이주은: “동생 장례식에 형이 당연히 있어야지.”
Lee
Joo-eun: "Of course, a brother should be at his sibling’s funeral."
남기준: “11년 전 약속. 기억하십니까?”
Nam
Gi-jun: "The promise from 11 years ago. Do you remember it?"
구봉산: “물론 기억하지.”
Goo
Bong-san: "Of course I do."
해설(유투버): “다신 회장님들 앞에 얼굴을
비추지 않기로 했다는데.”
Narration
(YouTuber): "He had vowed never to show his face in front of the bosses
again."
남기준: “그거 말고 하나가 더 있었죠.”
Nam
Gi-jun: "There was one more thing besides that."
이주은: “내 기석이한텐 아무 일 없을 거라고 했었지.”
Lee
Joo-eun: "I said nothing would ever happen to Gi-seok."
남기준: “저는 약속을 지켰는데, 회장님들은
그러지 못하셨네요.”
Nam
Gi-jun: "I kept my promise. But you didn’t."
이주은: “기준아.”
Lee
Joo-eun: "Gi-jun."
해설(유투버): “ㅈ됨을 감지한 회장은
기준을 붙잡으러 나가는데.”
Narration
(YouTuber): "Sensing things are about to go south, the boss rushes out to
stop Gi-jun."
이주은: “기준아.”
Lee
Joo-eun: "Gi-jun."
🎯 Key Takeaways
📢 Explanations of basic dictionary definitions have been omitted.
1. "모습을 드러내다"
- "모습": appearance, figure
- "-을": object particle
- "드러내다": to reveal, to show oneself
🐾 This expression is used when someone you haven't seen in a long time suddenly appears. Gijun, who was once highly skilled, left the gangster world 11 years ago, but reappears after his younger brother's death. The narrator describes this moment as “모습을 드러낸 기준 (Gijun revealed himself).”
This phrase is also commonly used when an animal that’s rarely seen shows up.
📌
Example Usage
오랜만에 "모습을
드러낸" 그에게 모두가 놀랐다.
"Everyone
was surprised by his appearance after such a long time."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"나타나다" – "to appear"
📌
Example Usage
갑자기 "나타난" 그녀는 모두의 시선을 끌었다.
"Her
sudden appearance drew everyone’s attention."
2. "전무"
- "전무" refers to a company executive, typically an
"executive director" or "senior managing director."
🐾 This is one of the executive titles used in Korean companies. Although many companies today are simplifying their hierarchical structures, in the past, there were multiple executive ranks such as “이사 (Director),” “상무이사 (Managing Director),” “전무이사 (Executive Director),” “부사장 (Vice President),” “사장 (President),” “부회장 (Vice Chairman),” and “회장 (Chairman).”
📌
Example Usage
"전무는
이번 프로젝트의 총책임자다."
"The
executive director is in charge of this project."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"임원" – "executive"
📌
Example Usage
회사의 "임원 회의가 곧 시작된다."
"The
company’s executive meeting will begin soon."
3. "친형님"
- "친형님": respectful term for one's own older brother, especially in
formal or gang contexts
🐾 “형” and “형님” are common forms of address used among Korean men. In this context, Sangcheol, who is Gijun’s junior, refers to Giseok as “친형님 (biological older brother)” because Gijun is Giseok’s older brother by blood, making it an appropriate title to use.
📌
Example Usage
그는 자신의 "친형님을
매우 존경했다.
"He
deeply respected his older brother."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"형" – "older brother (casual)"
📌
Example Usage
"형이랑
같이 영화 보러 갔어."
"I went to see a movie with my older brother."
4. "깍듯하게"
- "깍듯하게" means "politely," "respectfully,"
often with exaggerated formality
🐾 In the strictly hierarchical world of gangsters, greetings are never taken lightly. Junior gang members bow at nearly a 90-degree angle to their seniors, showing deep respect—this is referred to as “깍듯하게 인사드린다 (giving a very polite, formal greeting).”
📌
Example Usage
그는 선생님께 "깍듯하게 인사했다."
"He
greeted the teacher with utmost respect."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"공손하게" – "politely"
📌
Example Usage
"공손하게 말해야 한다."
"You
should speak politely."
5. "조폭 형님들"
- "조폭": abbreviation of "조직폭력배" –
gangsters
- "형님들": respectful plural for "older brothers" – used in
gangster culture
🐾 While they could simply be called “gangsters,” the narrator adds a humorous twist by calling them “형님들 (respected big brothers).” The reason she says “형님들” in the plural form rather than just “형님” is that gangsters are almost always seen moving around in groups.
📌
Example Usage
그는 "조폭
형님들 앞에서도 당당했다.
"He
stood confidently even in front of the gangster elders."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"건달" – "hoodlum"
📌
Example Usage
그는 예전엔 "건달 생활을 했다."
"He used to live the life of a gangster."
6. "싸늘한 시신"
- "싸늘한": "cold" or "chilly" – often metaphorical
for emotional distance or death
- "시신" means "corpse" or "dead body." It refers to the physical body of someone who has passed away.
🐾 A “시신 (corpse)” has no warmth. That’s why it’s commonly described with adjectives like “싸늘한 (cold)” or “차가운 (chilly)” when referring to it.
📌
Example Usage
그의 표정은 "싸늘했다."
"His
expression was icy."
"시신은 병원으로 옮겨졌다."
"The body was moved to the hospital."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"차가운" – "cold"
📌
Example Usage
"차가운 눈빛으로 그녀를 바라봤다."
"He looked at her with cold eyes."
7. "어린 애들"
- "어린": young
- "애들": kids (colloquial form of "아이들")
🐾 Regardless of their actual age, people who are younger than the
speaker or the listener are commonly referred to as “어린 애들” (literally, “young kids”) in everyday Korean.
📌
Example Usage
요즘 "어린
애들은 스마트폰을 너무 잘 다뤄.
"Kids
these days are so good with smartphones."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"꼬마들" – "little kids"
📌
Example Usage
"꼬마들이
뛰어놀고 있었다."
"The
little kids were running around."
8. "엮이다"
- "엮이다" means "to be entangled" or "to be
involved," often unwillingly or by force. It is the passive form of "엮다 (to tie, to weave)."
🐾 The expression “엮이다” is mainly used when someone gets involved in a negative incident or situation. It’s a commonly used phrase in everyday Korean.
📌
Example Usage
그 사건에 "엮이고 싶지 않다.
"I
don’t want to get involved in that incident."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"말려들다" – "to get dragged into"
📌
Example Usage
괜히 싸움에 "말려들었다."
"I
got dragged into a fight for no reason."
9. "죽은 듯이 살다"
- "죽은
듯이": "as if dead"
- "살다": to live
- "죽은
듯이 살다": to live like a dead person; emotionally numb or
lifeless life
🐾 People who have committed a serious crime or mistake and are remorseful often say, “앞으로는 죽은 듯이 살겠다,” which means “I’ll live as if I’m dead from now on.” In this drama, Gijun also uses this expression when he leaves the gangster world after making a grave mistake 11 years ago, telling his seniors that he would “live like a dead man.”
It can also be used when someone goes through a significant trauma or dangerous experience and chooses to live a quiet, withdrawn life as a result.
📌
Example Usage
그녀는 몇 년 동안 "죽은 듯이 살았다."
"She
lived like a dead person for years."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"무기력하게
살다" – "to live lifelessly"
📌
Example Usage
그는 오랫동안 "무기력하게 살았다."
"He
lived in lethargy for a long time."
10. "얼굴을 비추다"
- "얼굴": face
- "-을": object particle
- "비추다": to shine, to show (one's face), to appear
🐾 This expression is similar to “모습을 드러내다” described in point 1 above, but it's more casual and commonly used in everyday situations.
📌
Example Usage
그는 모임에 "얼굴을
비췄다."
"He
showed up at the gathering."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"모습을
드러내다" – "to appear"
📌
Example Usage
그녀는 드디어 대중 앞에 "모습을 드러냈다."
"She
finally appeared in public."
11. "아무 일 없을 것이다"
- "아무
일": nothing, no incident
- "없을
것이다": future form of "없다"
meaning "there will be none"
🐾 This is a common phrase used to comfort a colleague, friend, or family member who is worried about something. It’s a way of saying, “Don’t worry, nothing bad will happen,” offering them reassurance and peace of mind.
📌
Example Usage
걱정 마, "아무
일 없을 거야."
"Don’t
worry, nothing will happen."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"문제없을
것이다" – "there won’t be any problem"
📌
Example Usage
이번 일은 "문제없을
거야."
"This
won’t be a problem."
12. "약속을 지키다"
- "약속": promise
- "-을": object particle
- "지키다": to keep, to fulfill
🐾 This is an idiomatic expression commonly used in everyday life.
📌
Example Usage
나는 반드시 "약속을
지킬게."
"I’ll
definitely keep my promise."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"맹세를
지키다" – "to keep a vow"
📌
Example Usage
그는 평생 "맹세를
지켰다."
"He
kept his vow for life."
🎥 Grammatical Analysis of the Dialogue
📢 The parts that are difficult for foreign learners to grasp are consistently addressed, even if they are repeated multiple times. Please keep that in mind.
남기준: "성철아!"
🔍
Analysis
- "성철아": "성철" is a proper noun (a
person’s name). "-아" is a vocative
ending, attached to names ending in a vowel to call someone informally and
warmly. This form is often used between friends, family, or by a superior
toward a younger person.
📌
Example Usage
"지훈아, 잠깐만 나와 봐."
"Jihoon,
come out for a second."
☀️ Meaning
Gijun
calls out to Seongcheol using an informal and familiar tone.
최성철: "남전무 친형님이시다. 인사드려."
🔍
Analysis
- "남전무": "남" is a surname, and
"전무" is short for "전무이사", meaning executive director. Used as a respectful job
title.
- "친형님이시다": "친형님" is a polite form of
"older brother (by blood)"; "친-" (biological),
"형님" (honorific for elder brother). "-이시다" is the honorific copula verb, indicating
respect.
- "인사드려": "인사" means
"greeting", and "드리다" is the humble
form of "to give", used when giving something (here, greetings)
to a superior. Imperative form.
📌
Example Usage
"이분은
우리 부장님이셔. 인사드려."
"This
is our department head. Say hello."
☀️ Meaning
This
is Executive Director Nam’s older brother. Greet him properly.
해설(유투버): "기준을 향해
깍뜻하게 인사를 박는 조폭 형님들."
🔍
Analysis
- "기준을
향해": "기준" is the object
(person being addressed), "-을" is
the object particle, and "향해" means
"towards".
- "깍듯하게": Adverb form of "깍듯하다",
meaning "courteously", "respectfully".
- "인사를
박는": "인사" (greeting) +
object particle “-를” + "박다"
(slang meaning "to throw with force or emphasis"); "-는" is the adnominal ending, modifying "조폭 형님들".
- "조폭
형님들": "조폭" means
"gangster"; "형님들" is a respectful
way to refer to older male figures or superiors in the gangster hierarchy.
Plural form.
🐾 Here,
the narrator (YouTuber) uses expressions like “형님들” and
“인사를 박는” to add a playful and entertaining touch to the
commentary.
🐾 This is an inverted sentence where the subject is placed at the very end. Usually, it would be expressed as something like, “조폭들이 기준을 향해 깍뜻하게 인사한다. (The gangsters politely greet Gijun.)”
📌
Example Usage
"후배들이
선배에게 깍듯하게 인사를 박았다."
"The
juniors bowed respectfully to their senior."
☀️ Meaning
The
gangster seniors bow deeply and respectfully toward Gijun.
최성철: "말씀 드렸다시피 가출한 어린 애들하고 엮여서."
🔍
Analysis
- "말씀 드렸다시피": "말씀" is the honorific noun for "speech" or "words"; "드렸다" is the humble past form of "드리다" (to give, say respectfully); "-시피" is a dependent ending meaning "as [was] said".
- "가출한": From "가출하다" (to run away
from home); "-한" is the adnominal
form describing the noun that follows.
- "어린
애들하고": "어린" (young) +
"애들" (kids, informal plural of
"child") + "-하고" (colloquial
particle for "with").
- "엮여서": From "엮이다" (to be
entangled, involved with); "-어서" is
a connective ending indicating cause or background situation.
📌
Example Usage
"이미
말씀드렸다시피 저는 그 사건과 아무 관련이 없습니다."
"As
I already said, I have nothing to do with that incident."
☀️ Meaning
As I
told you, he got involved with runaway kids.
남기준: "성철아 진짜 그게 다라고?"
🔍
Analysis
- "성철아": Vocative use of the name "Seongcheol" with "-아", a casual and emotional address.
- "진짜": Adverb meaning "really", often used to express
disbelief or emphasis.
✂️ "그게": Contracted form of "그것이" – "that thing" + subject particle.
- "다라고?": From "다라고 하다" – "to
say that’s all" → rhetorical question form, challenging or doubting what
was said.
📌
Example Usage
"너
진짜 그게 다라고 생각해?"
"Do
you really think that’s all there is?"
☀️ Meaning
Seongcheol,
is that really all? You’re not hiding something?
해설(유투버): "이 상황을 도저히
믿지 못하는데요."
🔍
Analysis
- "이
상황을": "이" (this) +
"상황" (situation) + "-을" (object particle).
- "도저히": Adverb meaning "absolutely" or "utterly"
in negative contexts.
- "믿지
못하는데요": "믿다" (to
believe) + "-지 못하다" (cannot)
+ "-는데요" (ending that adds
background explanation, often expressing contrast or indirect assertion).
📌
Example Usage
"그
얘기는 도저히 믿지 못하겠어요."
"I
just can’t believe that story."
☀️ Meaning
He
absolutely cannot believe what’s happening right now.
해설(유투버): "결국, 기준은 조폭 회장님들을 찾아가죠."
🔍
Analysis
- "결국": Adverb meaning "eventually", "in the
end".
- "기준은": "기준" (subject) + "-은" (topic particle).
- "조폭
회장님들을": "조폭" (gangster)
+ "회장님들" (honorific plural form of
"bosses") + "-을" (object
particle).
- "찾아가죠": From "찾아가다" (to go and see
someone, to visit); "-죠" is a sentence
ending implying "as you know" or soft assertion.
📌
Example Usage
"결국
그는 회사를 직접 찾아갔다."
"In
the end, he went to the company himself."
☀️ Meaning
In the end, Gijun goes to confront the gangster bosses.
남기준: "죽은 듯 살라 하셨는데 오늘만큼은 그러지 못할 것 같습니다."
🔍
Analysis
- "죽은
듯": "죽다" (to die)
+ attributive “-은” + "-듯" (as if) → "as if dead".
- "살라": Imperative form of "살다"
(to live); "-라" is an old or informal
imperative ending.
- "하셨는데": "하다" (to say, to command)
+ honorific "-시-" + past
tense "-었" + "-는데" (connector expressing contrast or background).
- "오늘만큼은": "오늘" (today) + "-만큼은" (especially today, emphasizing contrast).
- "그러지
못할 것 같습니다": "그러다" (to
do so) + "-지 못하다" (cannot) + attributive
“-ㄹ” (future tense) + "것 같다" (seems like) + "-습니다" (formal
ending).
📌
Example Usage
"쉬라
하셨지만 오늘만큼은 그렇게 못할 것 같아요."
"You
told me to rest, but today I don’t think I can."
☀️ Meaning
You
told me to live as if dead, but at least for today, I don’t think I can do
that.
구봉산: "오늘은 이해해야지."
🔍
Analysis
- "오늘은": "오늘" (today) + "-은" (topic particle).
- "이해해야지": "이해하다" (to understand)
+ "-아야 하다" (must) + "-지" (soft statement or confirmation tone).
➡️✂️ “이해하다” → “이해해야 하다” →
“이해해야 하지” → “이해해야지”
📌
Example Usage
"오늘만큼은
이해해줘야지."
"You’ve
got to understand, just for today."
☀️ Meaning
You
should understand—just for today.
해설(유투버): "다신 회장님들
앞에 얼굴을 비추지 않기로 했다는데."
🔍
Analysis
✂️ "다신": Contracted form of "다시는", meaning "never again" or "not again".
- "회장님들
앞에": "회장님들" (chairmen,
bosses, honorific plural) + "앞" (front)
+ "-에" (locative particle: before,
in front of).
- "얼굴을
비추지 않기로 했다": "얼굴"
(face) + "-을" (object particle) +
"비추다" (to show, to appear) + "-지
않기로 하다" (decide not to do) + "했다" (past tense).
- "-는데": "-는데" is a background
connector, often indicating a contrast or lead-in to more context.
➡️ “비추다” → “비추지 않다” → “비추지 않기로 하다” → “비추지 않기로 했다” → “비추지 않기로 했는데”
📌
Example Usage
"다시는
그 사람 앞에 얼굴을 비추지 않기로 했다."
"I
decided never to show my face in front of that person again."
☀️ Meaning
They
say he had promised never to show his face before the bosses again.
남기준: "그거 말고 하나가 더 있었죠."
🔍
Analysis
- "그거
말고": "그거" (that thing)
+ "말고" (not that but...) – used to mean
"besides that" or "other than that".
✂️ “그것 말고” → “그거 말고”
(contraction, colloquial)
- "하나가": "하나" (one thing) + "-가" (subject particle).
- "더
있었죠": "더" (more) +
"있다" (to exist, to be) + "-었" (past tense) + "-죠" (sentence-ending
expressing light emphasis or shared knowledge).
📌
Example Usage
"그
얘기 말고 하나 더 있었잖아."
"There
was one more thing besides that, wasn’t there?"
☀️ Meaning
There
was one more thing besides that, wasn’t there?
이주은: "내 기석이한텐 아무 일 없을 거라고 했었지."
🔍
Analysis
- "내": "I" + "-의" (possessive
particle), often shortened to "내" meaning
"my".
🐾 In this sentence, the subject particle “-가”
from “내가 (I)” has been omitted.
- "기석이한텐": "기석이" (Giseok, with
affectionate suffix "-이") + "-한테는" ("to" someone, with topic emphasis).
✂️ “기석이한테는” → “기석이한텐”
(contraction)
- "아무
일 없을 거라고": "아무 일"
(nothing, no incident) + "없다" (not to be)
+ "-을 거라고 하다" (said it would not
happen).
- "했었지": Past perfect of "하다",
with "-었었-" (double past nuance),
and "-지" (familiar tone).
➡️ “하다” → “했다” → “했었다” → “했었지”
📌
Example Usage
"너
내 동생한텐 아무 일 없을 거라고 했었잖아."
"You
said nothing would happen to my brother."
☀️ Meaning
You
said nothing would happen to my Giseok.
남기준: "저는 약속을 지켰는데, 회장님들은
그러지 못하셨네요."
🔍
Analysis
- "저는": Humble form of "I" + topic particle "-는".
- "약속을
지켰는데": "약속" (promise)
+ "-을" (object particle) + "지키다" (to keep) + "-었는데" (past
background connector: I did keep it, but...).
- "회장님들은": "회장님들" (honorific bosses)
+ "-은" (topic particle).
- "그러지
못하셨네요": "그러다" (to do
so) + "-지 못하다" (couldn’t) +
honorific "-셨" +
sentence-ending "-네요" (soft factual
discovery).
📌
Example Usage
"나는
내 약속을 지켰는데, 넌 왜 그러지 못했니?"
"I
kept my promise. Why couldn’t you?"
☀️ Meaning
I kept
my promise, but you, bosses, couldn’t do the same.
해설(유투버): "ㅈ됨을 감지한
회장은 기준을 붙잡으러 나가는데."
🔍
Analysis
- "ㅈ됨을": Slang abbreviation for "좆됨",
meaning “you’re f***ed” or “seriously screwed”. Here is used to express a sense
of grave danger.
- "감지한": From "감지하다" (to detect, to
sense) + "-한" (adnominal modifier).
- "회장은": "회장" (chairman, boss)
+ "-은" (topic particle).
- "기준을
붙잡으러": "기준" (Gijun)
+ "-을" (object particle) + "붙잡다" (to grab, seize) + "-으러" (purpose
ending: in order to).
- "나가는데": "나가다" (to go out) + "-는데" (connector, background or contrast).
📌
Example Usage
"상황이
심상치 않음을 감지한 그는 도망친 아이를 붙잡으러 나갔다."
"Sensing
things were getting serious, he went out to catch the runaway kid."
☀️ Meaning
Sensing
the danger, the boss runs out to stop Gijun.
📎 Appendix.
Drama Overview & Characters
- Drama Overview
"Mercy for None" (Korean title: 광장, Gwang-jang) is a gritty, seven-episode action‑noir series released on Netflix on June 6, 2025. Based on the webtoon Plaza Wars: Mercy for None by Oh Se‑hyung and Kim Gyun‑tae, it’s written by Yoo Ki‑seong and directed by Choi Sung‑eun. The story follows Nam Gi‑jun. This former gangster left the underworld a decade earlier by severing his Achilles tendon. When his younger brother, Nam Gi‑seok, is brutally murdered, Gi‑jun returns to Seoul's criminal underbelly to uncover the truth and exact vengeance.
Critics describe the series as emotionally raw and visually stark, filled with intense fight sequences and a noir atmosphere. Some reviews note a lack of early exposition, but many praise its compelling mood and promise in the revenge arc.
- Nam Gi‑jun (So Ji‑sub)
A former top enforcer who cut his Achilles tendon to escape crime. He lives in exile until his brother’s death pulls him back for revenge.
- Nam Gi‑seok (Lee Jun‑hyuk)
Gi‑jun’s younger brother and second‑in‑command of the Juwoon Group. His murder triggers the series’ revenge plot.
- Lee Ju‑woon (Huh Joon‑ho)
Chairman of the Juwoon Group, one of Seoul’s dominant gangs. He made a pact with Gi‑jun 11 years ago.
- Gu Bong‑san (Ahn Kil‑kang)
Leader of the rival Bongsan Group and a former ally-turned-rival of Ju‑Woon.
- Choi Seong‑cheol (Jo Han‑cheul)
A senior lieutenant in Juwoon attempts to deflect blame for Gi‑Seok’s death onto others in the funeral scene.
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