The Bad Guys: Reign of Chaos

The Bad Guys: Reign of Chaos

Year: 2019

Runtime: 114 mins

Language: Korean

Director: Son Yong-ho

Echo Score: 52
CrimeAction

A village head tries to shield his son from the dangers of rural politics, hoping to protect him from a life of violence. However, circumstances force the young man to return home and confront the very forces he was meant to avoid, ultimately requiring him to embrace a traditional weapon and defend his family and community.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – The Bad Guys: Reign of Chaos (2019)

Trace every key event in The Bad Guys: Reign of Chaos (2019) 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

Inmate transport hits by assassins

During an inmate transport, assassins attack and kill several policemen. The chaos allows the former gangster No Sang-sik to be freed. This shock event prompts the head officer to urge Oh Goo-tak to reassemble his Crime Unit and begin pursuing the escapees.

Prison transport convoy
2

Oh Goo-tak is tasked to reassemble the Crime Unit

The head officer informs Oh that Sang-sik was about to testify against the yakuza leader Yoshihara. He orders Oh to reassemble his unit and capture the prisoners on the run. Oh hires Woong-Cheol and Yoo-Sung, offering reduced sentences if they succeed.

Headquarters
3

Jessika joins the team after capture

Shortly after recruitment, the team captures Kwak No-soon, also known as Jessica. Jessica provides valuable information that helps corner another escapee, Kim Chang-min. She then joins the unit to assist in the mission.

Prison
4

Choi arrests Kim Chang-min, blocking the pursuit

As the operation progresses, Detective Choi arrests Kim Chang-min at the police station, inadvertently hindering the unit's plans. The arrest creates a setback that the team must overcome. The pursuit continues despite the interference.

Police station
5

Woong-Cheol joins the mission driven by revenge

Woong-Cheol explains his reason for taking part: he wants to settle a score with Yoshihara, the boss implicated in his best friend's death. The mission becomes as personal as it is strategic. He fights alongside Oh's team to bring Yoshihara down.

Prison/City
6

Oh Goo-tak is hospitalized with liver cancer

Oh is admitted to the hospital with liver cancer, forcing a temporary pause in the operation. The rest of the team carries on with the plan while he recovers. This setback raises the stakes for everyone involved.

Hospital
7

The team retrieves Kim and other prisoners, including Sang-sik

The unit manages to retrieve Kim from the police station, along with other prisoners including Sang-sik. This extraction strengthens their position and sets up the subsequent interrogation. The group consolidates their efforts against Yoshihara's network.

Police station vicinity
8

Interrogation reveals Yoshihara as the real leader

During interrogation, Sang-sik reveals that Yoshihara is the real leader behind the gang's drug operations. He explains Yoshihara killed Nam Myeong-seok for protesting the drug trade. The revelation confirms the hierarchy and motive driving the escapees.

Interrogation room
9

Sang-sik killed; diary stolen by mole head officer; unit barely escapes fire

The head officer, revealed as Yoshihara's mole, retrieves Sang-sik's diary and kills Sang-sik to prevent testimony. He leaves the unit to die in a fire, attempting to erase the truth. However, the team manages to escape the blaze and regroup.

Interrogation area and fire scene
10

Factory confrontation to locate Yoshihara

Choi helps trace Yoshihara's location to a factory. With Woong-Cheol's friend providing support, the unit attacks the basement and eliminates Yoshihara's goons. They close in on the boss amid the industrial surroundings.

Factory basement
11

Final clash with Yoshihara and arrest

Woong-Cheol confronts Yoshihara and brutalizes him in retaliation for Myeong-seok's death. Yoshihara and his guards are finally arrested along with the head officer. The operation culminates in the seizure of Yoshihara's operation.

Factory basement / hideout
12

Oh recovers and endorses new life of the unit; arrests reduce sentence

Oh recovers from cancer and is urged to return to duty by Woong-Cheol. The unit's actions lead to reduced prison sentences for the team members. Oh also begins arresting Yoshihara's associates as the network crumbles.

Hospital to unit base
13

Woong-Cheol gets another mission

With Yoshihara's operation dismantled, Woong-Cheol is hired for another mission, signaling that the Crime Unit remains active. The team continues its work against organized crime under new assignments.

Agency / Unit base

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 13:06

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Bad Guys: Reign of Chaos

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