The Exclusive: Beat the Devil’s Tattoo

Heo Moo-hyuk teeters on the edge of divorce as his wife Soo-jin, who is six months pregnant, grows distant and starts seeing a painter. The fragile home life shadows his work, making every assignment feel heavier. Seoul looms outside as the city press keeps watch.

A string of brutal murders rocks Seoul, with the killer leaving only a strange red car as a clue. The city buzzes with media crews and police scanners as clues vanish and fear spreads.

Heo reports on the crimes and quickly finds himself in trouble when one of his stories touches a sponsor's relative. The fallout costs him his job and isolates him professionally.

An unidentified caller contacts the CNBS office, claiming to know where the killer is hiding and hinting at the motive behind the murders. The message arrives as a desperate lifeline for Heo, who is desperate to regain footing.

With support from the network and Director Baek, Heo presents the tip to the public, shaping a narrative that promises control and closure. The broadcast marks a risky pivot from uncertainty to a seemingly solvable mystery. Viewers respond with renewed trust, but the seed of doubt about the truth is planted.

The response is electric: Heo is reinstated, awarded a large prize, and promoted to deputy chief. The victory feels vindicating, but it carries new burdens as the city watches every move he makes.

As the investigation continues, Heo realizes the tip may be incorrect and that the true culprit remains unknown. The revelation unsettles him and erodes the sense of control his broadcast had promised.

With the media spotlight intensifying and concerns for his own family, Heo faces pressure to protect the network and those around him. The stakes rise as the costs of chasing the story become personal.

Heo confronts a difficult choice: reveal the truth and risk consequences, or shield the network by concealing what he knows. The balance between journalistic duty and loyalty to colleagues and family weighs heavily.

Despite his efforts, the killer's identity remains elusive and the city continues to live under the fear. Heo's pursuit exposes the fragile line between information and responsibility.

The narrative forces Heo to reckon with what it costs to chase a story: trust, career, and family all at risk as the truth resists easy answers.

The film ends with a reflective look at a metropolis living under the shadow of a predatory crime, where the line between duty and loyalty blurs. Heo's choices leave him changed, and the city asks what a responsible journalist owes to truth and to those closest to him.