The Chaser

Eom Joong-ho, a former detective turned pimp, finds himself in a precarious financial situation. Two of his girls have gone missing, causing him immense stress as their disappearance affects his livelihood.

Joong-ho sends Mi-Jin, one of his remaining girls, to meet a customer. Unknown to him, this customer is connected to the missing girls, heightening his concern for her safety as he begins to feel something is amiss.

Mi-Jin wakes up in a dingy bathroom, tied up by her customer, Je Yeong-min. He reveals his brutal intentions, threatening her with deadly tools while reminiscing about a previous victim, showcasing his violent tendencies.

Just as Yeong-min is about to finish off Mi-Jin, an elderly couple from a local church arrives at the house inquiring about its owner. Yeong-min, under pressure, kills them both in a frenzied effort to cover his crimes.

Desperate to find Mi-Jin, Joong-ho reaches out to his old police task force for assistance. However, they are tied up responding to a media crisis after the Mayor of Seoul was humiliated during a public appearance.

While searching for clues in the area, Joong-ho accidentally collides with Yeong-min's car. Sensing something suspicious, he questions Yeong-min, leading to a confrontation where he eventually beats the man in frustration.

At the police station, Yeong-min brags about killing multiple victims. Despite his confession, the lack of physical evidence means he cannot be detained longer than twelve hours, leaving Joong-ho frustrated.

Joong-ho visits Mi-Jin's apartment to collect DNA samples and finds her daughter, Eun-ji, alone at home. Reluctantly, he decides to take her with him in search of clues connected to Yeong-min.

While Joong-ho is away pursuing leads, Eun-ji wanders off and is tragically struck by a delivery moped in a hit-and-run. Panic sets in for Joong-ho as he frantically searches for her in the surrounding area.

Despite the police's efforts, the prosecutor orders Yeong-min's release due to insufficient evidence. The political ramifications of the recent mayoral incident weigh heavily on the police force, leaving them feeling defeated.

After being arrested as a scapegoat for the police's failure, Joong-ho manages to escape from a police van. His determination to find Mi-Jin grows stronger as he evades capture once more.

Unknown to everyone, Mi-Jin has managed to free herself and seeks help at a local corner shop. However, tragedy strikes as Yeong-min arrives, kills the shopkeeper, and ends Mi-Jin's life before help arrives.

Joong-ho arrives at the corner store to a scene of horrific bloodshed. The authorities are once again put to shame, prompting them to throw every resource into the search for Yeong-min to redeem their reputation.

Reeling from Mi-Jin's death, Joong-ho follows a hunch and visits a local church. He discovers a link between the church and Yeong-min, unraveling clues that may lead him back to the killer.

In a climactic showdown, Joong-ho confronts Yeong-min just as he is about to escape. A brutal fight ensues, but Joong-ho is thwarted by the police's arrival, facing the harsh reality of justice slipping away yet again.