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The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil (2019) movie poster

Plot Summary

The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil (2019) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 110 min · Korean
Echo score 75
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Directed by
Won-Tae Lee
Starring
Dong-seok Ma, Sung-kyu Kim, Mu-Yeol Kim
Budget
$6.5M

A powerful crime boss, seeking vengeance after a brutal attack, finds himself reluctantly partnering with the very detective investigating him. As they navigate a dangerous underworld, their uneasy alliance becomes a fight for survival against a cunning serial killer and the pervasive corruption that surrounds them. The line between good and evil blurs in this intense, action-packed thriller.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil
  6. 6 Every angle
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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil (2019) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

A mysterious tragedy strikes when a man's car is struck by an unknown assailant, leading to his death as he steps out to photograph the damage for an insurance claim. In the midst of this chaos, Jung Tae-Suk, portrayed by Mu-Yeol Kim, an upstanding police officer, investigates the scene and suspects foul play from a potential serial killer, yet his superior dismisses his concerns. Simultaneously, gangster Jang Dong-Soo, played by Dong-seok Ma, is returning home from a tense meeting with a rival gang leader about territorial disputes when a violent encounter with the killer occurs, leaving both him and the assailant injured.

As Dong-Soo is hospitalized, his loyal henchmen misconstrue the chaos as a move by a rival gang, prompting them to retaliate. However, Dong-Soo discerns that the attack was not orchestrated by his rivals—there's a more dangerous player involved. When Tae-Suk visits him, pleading for cooperation to apprehend the murderer, Dong-Soo refuses. He instead sends out his men to hunt the killer using a sketch and they soon find a car and a knife tied to a recent murder. Realizing the necessity of collaboration, Dong-Soo reaches out to Tae-Suk and agrees to join forces to stop the killer, motivated by the need to preserve his image and protect his business interests.

The stakes rise as Dong-Soo insists that whoever captures the killer first should have the right to deal with him. While Dong-Soo seeks vengeance, Tae-Suk's intentions are rooted in justice and career advancement as he aims to solve multiple connected murder cases. In a chilling twist, Dong-Soo instructs his right-hand man, Kwon Oh-Sung, to eliminate a rival using the killer's weapon, unknowingly further complicating the investigation. When Tae-Suk discovers this, a heated confrontation erupts between the two, especially when the ramifications of the serial killer’s actions lead to the case being escalated to the Major Case Squad.

As the investigation unfolds, each twist leads Tae-Suk deeper into the killer's web. He is soon faced with another kidnapping case indirectly tied to the killer's gruesome pattern, prompting him to have a mother deliver ransom money in hopes of tracking down the abductor. The chase takes an unexpected turn when they spot the killer, culminating in thrilling pursuits where both lawmen and criminals engage in intense battles for survival.

Ultimately, as the net tightens around the elusive Kang Kyung-Ho, played by Sung-kyu Kim, the lines between law and criminality begin to blur. Although Dong-Soo manages to confront and assault the killer, Tae-Suk’s intervention leads to the killer's arrest, even as he gains a wealth of evidence against him. The courtroom drama escalates with Dong-Soo’s unanticipated testimony revealing extensive ties to his past actions. The justice system decisively sentences Kyung-Ho to death, while Dong-Soo’s criminal dealings result in his arrest, aligning their fates in a gripping conclusion.

In a final twist, as Dong-Soo finds himself incarcerated alongside Taylor Kyung-Ho, the tension escalates dramatically, leading to a confrontation filled with impending uncertainty. With a sinister smile, Dong-Soo approaches the confined Kyung-Ho, the stakes of vengeance higher than ever.

Last updated: November 03, 2024 at 21:13

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Plot questions answered

The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil (2019): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why does Jang Dong-Soo agree to help Detective Jung Tae-Suk catch the killer?

Dong-Soo agrees to cooperate because the serial killer's random attacks threaten his criminal empire. He recognizes that the killer is a dangerous unknown variable who could disrupt his business operations and reputation. Additionally, he wants to catch the killer first so he can control the killer's fate rather than leaving it to the police.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Dong-Soo dismisses his men's assumption that the attack was a rival gang move, showing he understands a more dangerous threat exists.

  • Jang Dong-Soo
  • Jung Tae-Suk
  • alliance
  • serial killer
  • cooperation
Q2

Why does Dong-Soo order his henchman to kill a rival using the serial killer's weapon?

Dong-Soo instructs Kwon Oh-Sung to eliminate a rival using the killer's weapon to simultaneously settle a personal score and frame the serial killer for another murder. This move backfires by drawing police attention and escalating the case to the Major Case Squad, complicating Tae-Suk's investigation.

Foreshadowing: The agreement that whoever captures the killer first gets to decide his fate establishes Dong-Soo's willingness to manipulate the situation for his own ends.

  • Kwon Oh-Sung
  • rival
  • murder weapon
  • framing
  • investigation
Q3

Why does Jang Dong-Soo testify against himself in court?

Dong-Soo provides unexpected testimony that reveals his extensive criminal history and connections to the killer. This seemingly self-destructive act may be calculated to ensure Kyung-Ho receives the death sentence, satisfying Dong-Soo's desire for personal vengeance while also ending a potential threat, the killer knows too much about Dong-Soo's operations.

Foreshadowing: Throughout the film, Dong-Soo's primary motivation is catching Kyung-Ho himself rather than letting the police handle it.

  • courtroom
  • testimony
  • Kang Kyung-Ho
  • death sentence
  • confession
Q4

What happens in the final scene between Dong-Soo and Kang Kyung-Ho in prison?

In the final moments, Dong-Soo is incarcerated alongside the convicted killer Kyung-Ho. With a sinister smile, Dong-Soo approaches Kyung-Ho, suggesting he plans to take personal vengeance rather than accept the legal system's outcome. The scene implies Dong-Soo will kill Kyung-Ho himself despite both being behind bars.

Foreshadowing: Dong-Soo's insistence throughout the film that he must be the one to catch the killer reveals his intent for personal revenge, not justice.

  • prison
  • final scene
  • Kang Kyung-Ho
  • vengeance
  • confrontation
Q5

Why does Tae-Suk's superior dismiss his concerns about a serial killer?

Tae-Suk's superior dismisses his serial killer theory because the first victim appears to have died in a simple accident, photographing car damage for an insurance claim. Without obvious signs of foul play, the superior sees no need to open a murder investigation, leaving Tae-Suk frustrated and determined to pursue the truth independently.

Foreshadowing: The opening incident involves a man stepping out to document damage for insurance, a detail that makes the murder appear accidental.

  • Jung Tae-Suk
  • police superior
  • serial killer
  • dismissed
  • investigation
Q6

Why do Dong-Soo's henchmen think a rival gang attacked him?

When Dong-Soo is attacked, his henchmen see the violent assault as a retaliation from a rival gang over territorial disputes they had just discussed in the meeting. They jump to this conclusion because the attack occurred right after a tense negotiation, making it seem like timing was not coincidental.

Foreshadowing: Timeline item 3 establishes Dong-Soo was returning from a heated meeting with a rival gang leader about territorial issues.

  • henchmen
  • rival gang
  • misunderstanding
  • territorial dispute
  • retaliation
Q7

Why does the opening victim step out to photograph car damage for insurance?

The victim was simply following standard procedure after his car was struck, he got out to document the damage for an insurance claim. This mundane, law-abiding action becomes the trap the killer exploits, demonstrating how the killer preys on ordinary situations. The insurance context also helps explain why police initially thought it was an accident.

Foreshadowing: The killer's pattern involves attacking people in vulnerable, everyday circumstances where violence seems unlikely.

  • insurance
  • car damage
  • opening murder
  • serial killer
  • trap
Q8

Why is Kang Kyung-Ho so difficult for police to catch?

Kang Kyung-Ho is elusive because he operates as a random, unpredictable serial killer rather than someone connected to the criminal underworld. He strikes without clear motive or pattern, making investigative profiling difficult. Additionally, he cleverly uses the chaos between gangs and police to blend into the confusion, attacking when least expected.

Foreshadowing: The initial police dismissal of Tae-Suk's concerns allows Kyung-Ho to continue operating without immediate intense scrutiny.

  • Kang Kyung-Ho
  • serial killer
  • elusive
  • investigation
  • capture
Q9

Why does the murder case get escalated to the Major Case Squad?

The case escalates to the Major Case Squad after Dong-Soo's reckless move, using the killer's weapon to murder a rival, creates multiple crime scenes linked to the same weapon. This draw police attention and force higher-level involvement, making it harder for both Tae-Suk and Dong-Soo to control the investigation's outcome.

Foreshadowing: Tae-Suk's confrontation with Dong-Soo about this very action highlights how it complicates the investigation.

  • Major Case Squad
  • escalation
  • investigation
  • weapon
  • crime scenes
Q10

Why does Dong-Soo insist on racing Tae-Suk to capture the killer first?

Dong-Soo demands they race to catch the killer because he wants vengeance, not justice. By capturing Kyung-Ho himself, Dong-Soo can ensure the killer suffers at his hands rather than facing a potentially lenient legal sentence. It also protects his criminal reputation, if a cop catches the killer first, Dong-Soo loses face in the underworld.

Foreshadowing: Dong-Soo states whoever captures the killer should have the right to decide his fate, revealing personal vengeance as his primary goal.

  • race
  • capture
  • vengeance
  • reputation
  • Kyung-Ho
Q11

What does it mean that the lines between law and criminality blur in this movie?

The film explores how both the cop and gangster use illegal methods to pursue the same killer. Tae-Suk works with a criminal and manipulates evidence, while Dong-Soo essentially becomes an unregulated enforcer. Neither operates purely within the law or crime, they converge in their methods, showing moral boundaries become flexible when confronting a greater evil.

Foreshadowing: The alliance between Tae-Suk and Dong-Soo itself represents this blurring, as they share information and resources despite being natural enemies.

  • moral ambiguity
  • corruption
  • alliance
  • justice
  • gangster
  • cop
Q12

Why does Tae-Suk have a mother deliver ransom money in the kidnapping case?

Tae-Suk uses a mother as bait to trace the killer during a kidnapping he believes is connected to the serial killer's pattern. By letting her deliver ransom, he can observe the exchange and track the abductor. This leads to the chase where they finally spot the killer, directly advancing the investigation toward capture.

Foreshadowing: Tae-Suk's investigation deepens as he connects seemingly unrelated crimes to the same killer.

  • kidnapping
  • ransom
  • mother
  • bait
  • chase
  • investigation

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies with criminal-cop alliances like The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil

When bitter enemies must join forces to survive a greater threat. If you liked the volatile partnership in The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil, explore these movies where detectives and criminals form reluctant teams. These films feature high-stakes action, moral ambiguity, and tense dynamics as sworn enemies navigate a shared goal, perfect for fans of gritty crime thrillers.

  • tense
  • calculating
  • gritty
  • vengeful
  • unsettling
  • strategic
  • Tone: dark, tense, morally ambiguous
  • Pacing: fast, driven by confrontation
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows two opposing forces—often a meticulous detective and a powerful gangster—whose professional conflict is interrupted by a third, more dangerous party. Their alliance is fraught with suspicion and strategic maneuvering, as they must temporarily set aside their animosity to confront a mutual threat, leading to a complex dance of cooperation and betrayal.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here based on the core dynamic of an enforced alliance between archetypal enemies. They share a gritty tone, high intensity, and a focus on how professional boundaries collapse under extreme pressure, creating a uniquely tense and morally complex viewing experience.

Gritty urban manhunt movies like The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil

High-stakes chases through a corrupt underworld where no one is clean. Fans of The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil will enjoy these intense manhunt stories set in corrupt city environments. These movies feature fast-paced investigations, brutal violence, and a pervasive sense of moral decay, perfect for viewers seeking dark, action-packed thrillers about survival in a broken system.

  • brutal
  • oppressive
  • anxious
  • gritty
  • vengeful
  • corrupt
  • Tone: dark, oppressive, bleak
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative is a relentless pursuit, often for a serial killer or elusive target, set against a backdrop of institutional corruption. The journey exposes the rotten foundations of the city's power structures, and the protagonists—whether cops, criminals, or both—must get their hands dirty, challenging their own morals in a world that offers no clear heroes.

Why they belong together: This thread connects movies through their shared atmosphere of a corrupt, gritty urban setting and the high-intensity experience of a desperate manhunt. The combination of fast pacing, dark tone, and heavy emotional weight creates a cohesive vibe of relentless pressure and ethical compromise.

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Every angle

The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil (2019) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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