The Vanished

On the day of Seol-hee's funeral, her body is mysteriously stolen, throwing the investigation into chaos. Detectives and family scramble for clues as the missing corpse delays the formal examination. The eerie disappearance hints at a deliberate attempt to obstruct justice.

Detective Jung-sik takes the lead and requests the presence of Seol-hee's husband, professor Park Jin-han. The request signals a pointed inquiry into the couple's life and the circumstances surrounding the missing body. Tension rises as the investigation unfolds.

Right after the funeral, Jin-han rushes to seek comfort with his secret affair, a student. The affair adds motive and complexity to the case, complicating how others perceive his involvement. He struggles to keep the relationship hidden as events spiral.

A sequence of bizarre events at the police station makes Jin-han suspect that his wife could still be alive. The investigators press for answers about the missing body while his paranoia grows. The possibility of a staged death or hidden truth looms large.

Jin-han recalls a long-ago research into a new form of drug that could paralyze the nervous system and leave no clear evidence. He and his mistress Hye-jin plot to use this drug to poison Seol-hee so they can be together. The plan hinges on exploiting the drug's elusive effects.

An attempted poisoning targets Seol-hee as part of the scheme, but a hidden factor—illicit drugs that could block the effect—creates a fatal flaw. The plan teeters on this vulnerability, raising the stakes for everyone involved. Tension peaks as the moment of action approaches.

Fearing that his seemingly dead wife could pose a threat, Jin-han reveals the truth about his affair to Hye-jin. The confession shifts the balance of power and deepens the entanglement between the lovers and the investigation. The relationship becomes a pivotal thread in the mystery.

As inquiries advance, more evidence ties Jin-han to his wife's death and the missing body. The police grow convinced that he poisoned Seol-hee and moved the body to derail the examination. Authorities tighten the net, pressuring Jin-han to explain.

Police locate the house Jin-han claimed belonged to Hye-jin, but it is empty and gives no answers. The emptiness deepens the mystery and suggests Jin-han was stalling or misdirecting the investigation. Doubts about who is controlling the narrative grow.

Jin-han begins receiving messages from the number of dead Seol-hee, guiding him toward the place where they once had their secret. The eerie communications blur guilt and possibility, forcing him to confront uncomfortable truths. The messages accelerate the unraveling of the case.

After his release, Jin-han heads to an isolated house and the surrounding forest, where he crosses paths with detective Jung-sik. The encounter marks a turning point as mystery and pursuit collide. The chase tightens as both men push toward the truth.

Years earlier, Jung-sik's wife dies in a car accident and her body disappears. Her sister recalls only a logo from the car, a clue that leads back to the company owned by Jin-han and his wife. This memory fuels Jung-sik's later revenge plan.

Jung-sik collaborates with Hye-jin to execute a calculated revenge. He steals Seol-hee's body and leaves hints he claims are Seol-hee's doing. The deception grows, blending guilt, manipulation, and strategic moves.

Jung-sik achieves his objective by finding the body of his late girlfriend and framing Jin-han for murder and body theft. The case twists as evidence is weaponized to pin the crime on the professor. The truth becomes a tool in a carefully constructed frame.

The film closes with Jung-sik and Hye-jin driving away together, having secured their victory over Jin-han. The final image suggests a new, unsettled future for the conspirators. The mystery ends as they disappear down the road.