Is The Gangster The Cop The Devil Based On True Story [updated] Online
While the skeleton of the story is real, the movie takes enormous creative liberties. Here is a breakdown of what is true and what is Hollywood (or Seoul) fiction.
Released in 2019, this neo-noir action thriller captivated audiences with its "enemy of my enemy" premise: a high-ranking mob boss (Ma Dong-seok) teams up with a rogue detective (Kim Mu-yeol) to hunt down a nihilistic serial killer (Kim Sung-kyu). is the gangster the cop the devil based on true story
It’s inspired by the true story of Korea’s serial killer panic, but the iconic image of a gangster handcuffed to a cop chasing a devil is pure cinematic genius. While the skeleton of the story is real,
: The film is set in the summer of 2005. This aligns with the era when South Korea was grappling with several high-profile serial murder cases, including those of Yoo Young-chul and Jeong Nam-gyu (the "Rainy Thursday Killer"). It’s inspired by the true story of Korea’s
The "Devil" of the title, the unassuming car repairman and killer K, is where the film’s claim to "true story" elements firmly resides. The character is explicitly and chillingly modeled on , one of South Korea’s most prolific and psychopathic serial killers. Active in 2003-2004, Yoo was a sadistic predator who targeted wealthy elderly people and, later, young female massage parlor workers and prostitutes. His methods were brutal: bludgeoning with a hammer and stabbing.
