Running Turtle

Idle detective Pil-seong secretly takes ₩300,000 from his wife's emergency fund and asks a friend to place it on the bull Gomi. Gomi wins, and Pil-seong's friends celebrate that victory later that night while waiting for him to arrive. The mood is light, unaware of the trouble that will soon unfold.

An escaped prisoner, Song Gi-tae, crashes the celebration and steals Pil-seong's money. Pil-seong attempts to intervene but Gi-tae slips away before the authorities can act. The theft marks the start of Pil-seong's personal vendetta.

Pil-seong confronts Gi-tae after the theft but suffers a humiliating defeat in the encounter. His credibility is dented as colleagues and bosses dismiss his claims about the criminal. The humiliation becomes the catalyst for his later self-improvement.

Pil-seong reports his encounter with Gi-tae to his colleagues and boss, only to be dismissed for believing such a convict could be found. He resolves to prove himself and capture Gi-tae despite the skepticism. The failure reinforces his sense of inadequacy.

To recapture Gi-tae, Pil-seong recruits his beaten-up friends and crafts a plan to corner him inside a house with his girlfriend Kyeong-joo. He instructs them to stand by at the outside window while he sneaks in with pepper spray. Gi-tae anticipates the move and escapes before the police arrive.

Before leaving, Gi-tae stabs Pil-seong's right hand with a knife and warns that he will kill him next time if captured. The wound deepens Pil-seong's resolve and fuels his desire for revenge. The attack marks a turning point that pushes him toward serious self-defense.

Suffering humiliation, Pil-seong begins training to fight Gi-tae. He learns during taekwondo lessons that the upper rib cage is a vulnerable target, and he buys a handgun for personal defense.

In the next encounter, Pil-seong surrounds Gi-tae by keeping Kyeong-joo hostage, but his friends intervene and Gi-tae escapes again. The pursuit grows more personal as Pil-seong refuses to give up.

Pil-seong captures Gi-tae's accomplice Pyo Jae-seok, confiscates his phone, and orders him to return the stolen money. He learns Gi-tae is hiding in a fishing village and uses a bullhorn to lure him out. The sting tightens as evidence piles up and the net closes.

Gi-tae calls Pil-seong from the manhwa shop area, holding a gasoline tank and giving him one hour to bring the money or he'll destroy the shop with Pil-seong's family inside. The clock tightens as Pil-seong scrambles to mount a counter-plan and protect his loved ones. He coordinates with colleagues and police to be ready.

Pil-seong follows the deadline, buries the money in a small fenced area, and confronts Gi-tae. He non-fatally shoots Gi-tae in the stomach, takes Gi-tae's knife, and demands a fair fight. The stage is set for a decisive showdown.

In a brutal hand-to-hand clash, Pil-seong and Gi-tae exchange blows as the fight moves through the fenced area. Gi-tae corners Pil-seong, demands the money and, after locating it, walks off. Pil-seong regains consciousness and lands a precise upper-rib-cage strike that defeats him.

Pil-seong is found asleep with Gi-tae handcuffed in the cell by his colleagues. The team had recaptured Gi-tae and kept him contained, bringing a tense chapter to a close.

A few days after the events, Pil-seong and his colleagues are promoted and awarded higher positions. They lead a ceremonial parade to Pil-seong's daughter's school, celebrating their victory and renewed status in the force.