Jo Pil-ho: The Dawning Rage

Ansan-based detective Jo Pil-ho and his informant Gi-chul hatch a plan to rob a police warehouse to salvage funds tied up in a suspect real estate deal. The plan highlights Jo's desperation and willingness to cross lines. They prepare to exploit the warehouse's security to get the money.

Jo and Gi-chul break in; the warehouse explodes, killing Gi-chul and leaving Jo unconscious. The blast marks a brutal turning point, throwing Jo's plan into chaos. The scene sets off a chain of investigations and cover-ups.

A fireman at the scene steals Gi-chul's phone and hands it to an unknown party for forensic recovery. The phone later contains footage of Kwon Tae-Ju breaking into the warehouse before the explosion. The stolen data becomes a key thread in the conspiracy.

The warehouse owner's body is found the next day, ruled a suicide. The fireman who took Gi-chul's phone is killed in a restroom. These seemingly separate events hint at broader machinations behind the disaster.

The explosion destroys most evidence implicating Taesung Group's CEO in the multi-million-dollar scandal. Gi-chul's phone remains the potential link with footage of Kwon Tae-Ju breaking into the warehouse. The case begins to hide behind corporate power.

Waking in the hospital, Jo is questioned by officers and denied involvement. He learns Gi-chul was murdered before the explosion and reviews CCTV footage that shows Mi-na involved. The hospital marks the start of his personal crusade.

Jo visits Gi-chul's apartment and finds the missing money stash; CCTV footage points to Mi-na, Gi-chul's girlfriend. He begins tracking her to uncover her connection to the case. The investigation tightens around Mi-na's circle.

Jo learns about Mi-na's world by visiting her workplace, where she interacts with the father of Song Ji-won, a female officer who died in the Sewol ferry incident. The revelation deepens the emotional stakes of the investigation.

Jo trails Mi-na to a motel and captures her and So-hee, handcuffing them to his car and driving to Mina's address. Mi-na tazes Jo, causing a crash, and So-hee escapes.

Back at the station, Nam reveals Gi-chul had sent the footage to Mina's phone before his death. Jo locates Mi-na's phone in his car and goes to her address, where he runs into Kwon, who knocks him out. Mi-na returns home as Kwon prepares to kill her, but Kwon retreats.

Nam pushes Jo to exchange the remaining footage for a promotion. Jo pays for So-hee's abortion at an illegal clinic; the abortionist pays Jo for a night with Mi-na, which Jo uses to beat him cruelly.

Jo escorts Mi-na to a scheduled witness rendezvous; Nam is on Taesung's payroll and tortures Jo while threatening Mi-na. Jo lies to spare Mi-na and himself, and Kwon releases Mi-na, who then jumps off a building.

Jo is taken to meet Jung Yi-Hyang, the Taesung Group CEO, who offers money in exchange for the video. She hints at mounting leverage over Jo in exchange for cooperation.

On the day Taesung hosts a scholarship event, Jo executes his plan to kill Jung Yi-Hyang. He is discovered, fights guards, and retrieves his weapon. He fatally shoots Kwon and then shoots Jung Yi-Hyang onstage; Kim shoots Jo.

An employee testifies Taesung's involvement and Nam's role in the cover-up. Jo survives his wounds but is charged with murder; Hee-sook adopts So-hee. On the way to trial, Jo hallucinates Mi-na smiling among friends.