A Dirty Carnival

A Dirty Carnival

Year: 2006

Runtime: 141 mins

Language: Korean

Director: Yoo Ha

ActionCrimeDrama

A world without trust and mercy. A small-time thug who collects debts for the local triad is torn between his criminal aspirations and his devotion to family.

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Timeline – A Dirty Carnival (2006)

Trace every key event in A Dirty Carnival (2006) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Byung-doo takes a dangerous job to save his family

Under pressure to save his family from eviction, Byung-doo secretly subverts his boss and accepts a job from President Hwang to kill Attorney Park. He completes the hit and, beyond the money, gains respect and a seat at Hwang's side.

City's underworld
2

Secret pact with power

With the hit done, Byung-doo earns President Hwang's trust and a place close to power. They vow to keep the act secret to protect the organization from exposure.

Hwang's office
3

Reunion with Min-ho and the search for realism

Byung-doo reconnects with his elementary school friend Min-ho, who is now a filmmaker. Min-ho wants to interview him to inject authenticity into his gangster project, and he also reconnects with Hyun-joo, Byung-doo's former love.

Min-ho's film set
4

Min-ho's film project faces censorship

Min-ho's project keeps getting shut down by higher-ups who deem it fake. The interview with Byung-doo becomes a crucial source of realism, while Hyun-joo's reappearance adds fragile tenderness to Byung-doo's life.

Min-ho's film set
5

Old ties strain the violent life

The renewed connection with Hyun-joo creates emotional tension as Byung-doo wrestles with his violent life. Min-ho tries to anchor him with friendship and honesty.

6

Sang-chul senses threat and strikes back

Sang-chul senses his grip on power slipping and schemes a counterstrike against Byung-doo. The plan is meant to destabilize him and protect the gang’s hierarchy.

Gang's HQ
7

Byung-doo preempts the counterstrike

Byung-doo learns of the counterstrike and acts first, stabbing Sang-chul to death. The murder helps safeguard his position and the fragile balance within the organization.

Gang's HQ
8

Guilt, isolation, and romance in danger

The killings wear on Byung-doo emotionally, and his brutality begins to alienate Hyun-joo. Min-ho's steady friendship tries to offer some anchor amid the violence.

City apartment
9

Min-ho becomes a dangerous witness; the net tightens

Min-ho becomes a dangerous witness, and Byung-doo confronts the truth of his past. He confesses the Park hit and Sang-chul murder, triggering the mob’s tightening grip as police interest grows.

Police station
10

Escape becomes the only option

An attempt to arrest Byung-doo ends in failure, and he resolves that the only escape is to silence Min-ho and flee the country. The director's rising fame makes an exit seem possible.

Airport
11

Ambush at the director's after-party

The plan to kill Min-ho accelerates at the director's after-party. Min-ho narrowly escapes outside, but Byung-doo's underlings trap him; Jong-soo betrays the group, intensifying the ambush.

Director's after-party
12

A tense convergence of power

The action shifts to a tense meeting between President Hwang and Min-ho, where Hwang emphasizes that fiction should remain fiction. Jong-soo joins the gathering, signaling a continuation of the power struggle.

Hwang's office
13

Farewell and the loop of loyalty

On the film set, Byung-doo offers a final word of guidance to Min-ho, encouraging him to make something with a real gangster spirit. The closing image emphasizes the cycle of loyalty, violence, and ambition that binds these lives.

Min-ho's film set

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 16:44

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