: The character of Detective Jung Tae-seok reportedly draws from the real-life detective who led the investigation into Yoo Young-chul, who was featured in the Netflix documentary The Raincoat Killer: Chasing a Killer in Korea . 2. The Unlikely Partnership
While the cinematic team-up between the mob and the police is highly dramatized, the serial killer's methods and the real-life terror he inflicted on South Korea are rooted in the terrifying history of the "Cheonan Serial Killer" case from the mid-2000s. The Real-Life Inspiration: The Cheonan Serial Killer
| Element | In Real Life (2005) | In The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | A mid-level mob boss, not a charismatic "gentleman gangster" like Ma Dong-seok’s character. He cooperated reluctantly. | A physically heroic, almost likable crime lord (Jang Dong-su) who becomes the protagonist. | | The Cop | A rule-following detective who kept the alliance secret from his superiors. | A borderline corrupt, violent cop (Jung Tae-seok) who hates gangsters obsessively. | | The Alliance | A purely practical, short-term intelligence swap. No buddy-comedy banter. | A dramatic, emotional rivalry that evolves into grudging respect and friendship. | | The Killer | Kang Ho-sung (still alive in prison). He had no particular "style" beyond the traffic accident ruse. | A flashy, cinematic "devil" named "K" who enjoys toying with his victims. | | The Ending | The gangster testified in court (anonymously), and the killer got life imprisonment. | The film features a brutal, rain-soaked final fight where the gangster and cop literally beat the devil to a pulp. |
is loosely based on a true story . Director Lee Won-tae explicitly noted in the film's opening credits that the narrative is rooted in real-life events, specifically inspired by a serial killer who terrorized South Korea around 2005. Real-Life Inspiration is the gangster the cop the devil based on true story
Yoo Young-chul, the "Devil," was executed by hanging in Seoul Detention Centre in 2018. He remains one of the most reviled figures in modern Korean history.
To understand the film’s roots, you have to look at a real person: . He is one of South Korea’s most notorious serial killers, active between September 2003 and July 2004. Known as the "Raincoat Killer" (due to demanding his victims wear a raincoat during the murders) or the "Happy Day" killer (after a message he carved on a victim), Yoo Young-chul confessed to murdering 20 people—mostly wealthy elderly people and female masseuses.
is . While the movie is a dramatized action-thriller, it draws inspiration from real-life serial killings and criminal investigations that occurred in South Korea during the early to mid-2000s. 1. Real-Life Inspiration: The "Raincoat Killer" : The character of Detective Jung Tae-seok reportedly
Tell you which other Korean movies are based on the same, or similar, (like Memories of Murder ).
Detective Jung Tae-suk's character represents the immense frustration felt by the Korean police during this era. In 2004, South Korea's forensics and profiling units were still in their infancy. Rivalry between different police precincts and a lack of centralized databases allowed real-life killers like Yoo Young-chul and Jeong Nam-gyu to evade capture for months while moving between jurisdictions. Fact vs. Fiction: A Quick Guide The Film ( The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil ) The Real History (South Korea, 2003–2005) Intentionally crashes into cars and stabs the drivers.
It’s a masterclass in taking the vibe of true crime and turning it into a high-octane thriller. Are you a fan of South Korean thrillers, or The Real-Life Inspiration: The Cheonan Serial Killer |
The film’s central, unbelievable premise—a mobster and a police officer forming a pact to hunt a serial killer—actually happened in Seoul in 2005. The real-life case of Kang Ho-sung, the "traffic accident killer," provided the blueprint.
. The hit 2019 South Korean action-thriller, directed by Lee Won-tae and starring Ma Dong-seok (Don Lee) , pulls its core premise from the terrifying climate of serial killings in South Korea during the mid-2000s , specifically drawing inspiration from infamous real-life psychopaths like Yoo Young-chul . However, while the cinematic "Devil" reflects a genuine historical threat, the high-octane alliance between a mob boss and a rogue detective was heavily fictionalized for dramatic and theatrical effect. The Real-Life Inspiration Behind "The Devil"
The film depicts a police force that is sometimes hampered by bureaucracy or under the thumb of local bosses. This reflects real-life tensions where police and gangs occasionally shared information—though rarely to the extent of a formal partnership.
This specific highway trap echoes the real-world terror created by South Korean killers who exploited everyday social interactions or vulnerabilities to ambush victims. Furthermore, the film's "Devil" kills purely for the psychological thrill rather than monetary gain, a trait that heavily defines South Korean criminal profiles from the 2004–2006 era. 2. The Chilling Real-Life Courtroom Quote