Illang: The Wolf Brigade

Illang: The Wolf Brigade

Year: 2018

Runtime: 138 mins

Language: Korean

Director: Kim Jee-woon

Science FictionThrillerActionDramaHigh speed and special ops

In a future where North and South Korea have united after seven years of preparation, a fragile peace is threatened by political unrest. As tensions rise and opposing factions clash, a special police unit is formed to maintain order and investigate a series of escalating incidents. The unit must navigate a complex web of loyalties and conspiracies to uncover the forces trying to destabilize the newly formed government and prevent further conflict.

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Timeline – Illang: The Wolf Brigade (2018)

Trace every key event in Illang: The Wolf Brigade (2018) 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

2024: Regional tensions spark a new East Asia dynamic

In 2024, disputes among China, Japan, and South Korea heighten regional tensions. Japan remilitarizes, and the United States and Russia move to secure their interests in East Asia. Fearing war, North and South Korea agree to reunify within five years as a survival strategy.

2024 East Asia
2

South Korea forms the Special Unit to counter the Sect

The South Korean government establishes the Special Unit to counter the rising anti-reunification movement and the Sect. The unit is equipped with futuristic powered exoskeletons and distinctive gas masks with glowing red lenses. Its mission is to crush the Sect and restore domestic stability.

2024 Seoul, South Korea
3

Bloody Friday

A year after its formation, the Special Unit conducts a raid that misidentifies young schoolgirls as Sect terrorists. Fifteen girls are killed, triggering massive backlash and calls for reform. The incident casts a long shadow over the unit and its methods.

2025 Seoul
4

Mask policy and reputation crisis

In the wake of public outrage, authorities require Special Unit soldiers to wear gas masks on deployments to protect their identities. The policy deepens a sense of secrecy around the unit and fuels ongoing criticism. The unit's legitimacy remains hotly contested.

2025 Seoul
5

Illang formed to protect the Special Unit

The Public Security Department pushes to dissolve the Special Unit, prompting the creation of an internal deep-cover group named Illang. Illang operates from within to safeguard the unit and advance its interests. Lim Joong-kyung becomes a key figure within this hidden network.

2025 Seoul
6

Gwanghwamun Plaza protest and Sect attack

In 2029, an anti-reunification protest at Gwanghwamun Plaza in Seoul erupts into violence as Sect terrorists attack riot lines. Several officers and protesters die in the crossfire. The Special Unit is deployed to defeat the terrorists and prevent further chaos.

2029 Gwanghwamun Plaza, Seoul
7

Seoul storm sewer raid

The Special Unit raids the Sect hideout in the storm sewers beneath Seoul. The terrorists refuse to surrender, leading to a fatal confrontation and the elimination of most of the terrorists. The operation showcases the unit's heavy firepower and urban warfare tactics.

2029 Storm sewers, Seoul
8

Lim confronts Jae-hee during the raid

During the raid, Lim Joong-kyung faces Lee Jae-hee, a young Sect courier. Jae-hee detonates a satchel charge instead of surrendering, killing herself and dealing a blow to the Special Unit. The moment leaves Lim shaken and more determined.

2029 Sect hideout
9

Lim reassessed and sent to training

The fallout from the raid damages Lim's standing, and he is pulled from active duties for reevaluation. He is sent back to training under drill instructor Jang Jin-tae. The setback forces him to confront his role within the unit and his future path.

2029 Seoul
10

Han Sang-woo reveals Yun-hee's identity

Public Security head Han Sang-woo informs Lim that the deceased courier has a sister, Yun-hee. Lim begins to piece together a web of personal and political entanglements that complicate his mission. The revelation deepens the shadowy game surrounding the Sect and the State.

2029 Public Security Headquarters
11

Namsan Tower meeting with Yun-hee

Lim meets Yun-hee at Namsan Tower and learns she does not hold him responsible for her sister's death. They form a cautious, fragile bond as they navigate a dangerous landscape. Unbeknownst to them, Yun-hee is drawn into larger covert operations.

2029 Namsan Tower, Seoul
12

Yun-hee captured and interrogated by Illang

An Illang operative captures Yun-hee and interrogates her. She reveals that the Sect is funded by Public Security and that she was coerced into killing for them. The information reinforces Illang's resolve to protect Lim and the Special Unit.

2029 Illang custody
13

Yun-hee's trap and tracking device

Yun-hee is released to reach a trap set by Public Security at Namsan Tower, carrying a tracking device for undercover agents to arrest Lim. Lim senses the trap and moves quickly to protect Yun-hee as the plan unfolds. Tensions escalate as both sides maneuver.

2029 Namsan Tower vicinity
14

Illang rescues Yun-hee and arms Lim

Illang arrives to secure Yun-hee, who is revealed to be Kim Seo-hee, former commander of the Sect's women's unit. They equip Lim with a Special Unit exoskeleton and a machine gun to stand with them. The group takes Yun-hee to safety as a major clash with Public Security ensues.

2029 Namsan Tower and vicinity
15

Final showdown and Seo-hee's departure

Lim defeats the Public Security squads and Han in a lengthy shootout. He refuses Jang Jin-tae's order to execute Seo-hee and chooses to walk away from the conflict. Seo-hee and her brother board a train to leave Seoul, and Lim watches the train depart, signaling a tenuous ending.

2029 Seoul and train

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 13:03

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