Cold Eyes

Ha Yoon-joo joins a police division led by Hwang, a unit that avoids traditional arrests. The team prioritizes shadowing suspects to gather information rather than immediate confrontation. Ha adapts to the unorthodox methods and begins her early assignments within the division.

A bank is robbed and seven criminals are involved, though only one is captured on camera. The footage pushes Hwang's team to start tracking people who match the suspect's physical description. The division launches a city-wide pursuit based on this limited lead.

Over several weeks, Hwang, Ha, and six other officers wander the city streets, tailing those who fit the criminal's look. They gather observations and build profiles by following suspects rather than making arrests. The persistent surveillance gradually narrows the field toward the target.

They finally locate the robber and set up cameras outside his apartment to monitor movements. The shift from reactive policing to proactive surveillance marks a turning point in the case. The team watches for telltale patterns to confirm the suspect's hideout.

James, the leader of the criminals, reveals a wish to quit his life of crime. His elderly mentor responds by sending a killer to silence him, forcing James to defend himself against the attacker. The confrontation heightens the stakes for both the criminals and the police.

James's subordinates convene to discuss the next mission, unaware that Hwang's team is closing in. The officers track their movements and call in a SWAT team to subdue the group. The operation ends with the criminals in custody and the immediate threat neutralized.

Frustrated by the mentor's critique, James attacks the mentor's hide-out, killing the mentor and his bodyguards. He then secures a fake Thai passport and prepares to flee South Korea. The murderous turn accelerates his bid to escape the net closing around him.

Ha feels sorrow over the death of a colleague and recalls James from her police interview, when he briefly walked past her in a subway car carrying a grocery store brochure. She rushes to the grocery store, spots James again, and immediately notifies Hwang's team while keeping him in sight. The memory becomes the key to re-engaging the chase.

James enters a tunnel and Hwang takes over the pursuit, determined to close the gap. James recognizes Hwang and stabs him, though the wound is not fatal. Ha continues the chase into the subway tunnels but is recognized and held hostage by James.

As the SWAT team arrives, James lets go of Ha and runs deeper into the tunnels. Ha remains in danger as she is still at risk of being harmed by James. The pursuit shifts from a close-quarters chase to a standoff within the tunnel system.

James is cornered between an advancing SWAT line and the tunnel mouth guarded by Hwang, who has taken a longer route around. Facing the threat of a passing train, Hwang stands his ground and fires. The train moves away from the path just as James is struck and killed by Hwang's revolver.

With James dead, Hwang withdraws his resignation and reconciles with Ha. The pair resolves to continue their mission against crime, including pursuing international terrorists. The city gains a renewed commitment to high-stakes, persistent pursuit over quick arrests.