Voice of a Murderer

Voice of a Murderer

Year: 2007

Runtime: 122 mins

Language: Korean

Director: Park Jin-pyo

DramaThrillerCrimeMystery

For 44 days, Gyeong-bae endures a relentless series of threatening phone calls after his son is abducted. The kidnapper demands a ransom of 100 million won, prompting a team of detectives to join the investigation. Despite their efforts, the perpetrator repeatedly evades capture, keeping the family in terror.

Tense
Sad ending
Emotionally heavy
High intensity
Steady pacing
Moderate complexity

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Voice of a Murderer (2007)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Voice of a Murderer (2007). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Modern day

The events unfold in contemporary Seoul, framed by a 24/7 news cycle and police forensic work. Time is driven by the clock of a high-stakes search and a public call for justice. The story emphasizes the immediacy of the crisis rather than a historical period.

Location

Seoul, South Korea

Seoul serves as the bustling backdrop for the kidnapping case, a modern city where media fires up the public and police work hard to keep pace. The investigation traverses crowded streets, television studios, and civic spaces, reflecting Seoul's blend of glare and grit. Key locations mentioned include the Han River and areas near Lotte World, anchoring the narrative in a recognizably metropolitan setting.

🗺️ Seoul 🇰🇷 South Korea 🏙️ Urban crime drama

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:27

Main Characters – Voice of a Murderer (2007)

Meet the key characters of Voice of a Murderer (2007), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Sang-woo

A 9-year-old boy whose disappearance drives the entire crisis. His absence anchors the emotional core of the story and sets in motion the city-wide effort to rescue him. The investigation centers on his fate and the impact on his family.

👶 Innocence 💔 Victim 🧭 Catalyst

Han Kyung-bae (Sul Kyung-gu)

A celebrated news anchor whose son is abducted, propelling him into a public battle for answers. He bears immense pressure from both his family and the public glare, testing his resilience and credibility as a figure of authority.

👔 Public figure 🧭 Family man 🫶 Pressure

Oh Ji-sun (Kim Nam-ju)

The mother of Sang-woo who endures shock and grief while navigating a publicly scrutinized crisis. She participates in appeals for information, illustrating how private pain can intersect with public demands for justice.

👩 Family 💔 Grief 🗨️ Public attention

Kim Wook-Jung (Chief Detective) (Kim Yeong-cheol)

Lead detective overseeing the case; he coordinates a high-pressure investigation, balancing strategy with the danger of a taunting kidnapper. His leadership is tested as twists complicate the search for Sang-woo.

🕵️ Detective 🧠 Strategist 🗝️ Determined

Chief Detective (Kim Kwang-kyu)

The senior investigator who forms the secret task force and directs forensic efforts. He navigates institutional pressure while steering the pursuit of the kidnapper and the truth.

🧭 Leader 🧩 Coordinator 💪 Authority

The Kidnapper, Bastard's Voice (Gang Dong-won)

A calculating antagonist whose calm, emotionless voice and patient tactics reveal a mind always a step ahead. He taunts the family and refrains from lingering on calls, moving exchanges around to stay unpredictable.

🗡️ Villain 🧠 Mastermind 🗣️ Taunter

Lee Jae-joon

Kyung-bae's former best friend who carries a heavy grudge and becomes a suspect with an airtight alibi at times. His relationship to the family adds to the tension of the investigation.

🤝 Former friend 🕵️‍♂️ Suspect

Kyung-bae's mother (Na Moon-hee)

The mother of Sang-woo's father, who shares in the family’s grief and anchors emotional support amid the crisis. Her presence highlights the generational impact of the case.

👵 Family 🕊️ Loss 💬 Public interest

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:27

Major Themes – Voice of a Murderer (2007)

Explore the central themes of Voice of a Murderer (2007), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🗞️ Media & Public

Media coverage and the celebrity status of Han Kyung-bae amplify the public's involvement and pressure on investigators. Public appeals, news broadcasts, and the chase for answers blur the lines between journalism, politics, and justice. The city watches every twist in real time, shaping the investigation's pace and tone.

🕵️ Investigation

Police assemble a secret task force and forensic team to chase down clues and verify life proofs. The case features twists like the possibility that audio proofs may be manipulated, forcing re-evaluation of what can be trusted. Detectives must balance methodical digging with the risk of public panic.

💔 Family Tragedy

Behind the search is a family dealing with unimaginable loss, pride, and vulnerability. Kyung-bae and Ji-sun grapple with grief while being thrust into the national spotlight. The narrative centers on the human cost of crime and the resilience of a family under siege.

🔎 Truth & Deception

A crucial twist reveals that a 'proof of life' may be manipulated, challenging the authority of supposed evidence. The investigation must separate truth from deception under intense public scrutiny. The revelation reframes how the city understands the case and its victims.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:27

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Crime Dramas About Grief Like Voice of a Murderer

Stories where a meticulous investigation is overshadowed by profound personal loss.If you appreciated the blend of police procedure and deep emotional trauma in Voice of a Murderer, this list features films where the search for truth is intertwined with a character's methodical descent into sorrow. These movies are for viewers who like serious, emotionally heavy crime stories.

grievingmethodicalsomberdesperateoppressiveheartbreaking

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a linear, often steady-paced investigation of a crime, but the focus consistently shifts inward to the psychological state of the protagonists. The procedural elements create structure, while the emotional arc charts a course from hope to despair, often ending in a somber or tragic resolution.

Why These Movies?

They are grouped by their shared balance of a logical, investigative plot with an overwhelming emotional core, particularly themes of loss and grief. The tone is consistently tense and melancholic, with a heavy emotional weight that resonates long after the credits roll.

Intense Kidnapping Thrillers Like Voice of a Murderer

Thrillers centered on the ultimate parental fear: a child in grave danger.For viewers who found the parental terror in Voice of a Murderer compelling, this collection features other high-tension movies about child abduction and desperate rescues. These films share a gripping, anxious mood and explore the darkest fears of parenthood under extreme pressure.

anxiousgrippingdesperatenerve-wrackingheart-poundingterrifying

Narrative Summary

The plot is a relentless cat-and-mouse game, pitting desperate parents against a cunning antagonist. The journey is emotionally grueling, testing the limits of the protagonists' endurance and sanity. The structure often involves ransom demands, investigative dead ends, and rising stakes, creating a feeling of inescapable dread.

Why These Movies?

They are united by their central theme of a child's peril, which creates an immediate, high-intensity emotional hook. The viewing experience is consistently tense, anxious, and emotionally draining, focusing on the visceral horror of the situation rather than just the action.

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Voice of a Murderer Summary

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Voice of a Murderer Summary

Voice of a Murderer Timeline

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Voice of a Murderer Timeline

Voice of a Murderer Spoiler-Free Summary

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Voice of a Murderer Spoiler-Free Summary

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