In the film, a mysterious killer named Kang Kyung-ho (played by Kim Sung-kyu) orchestrates random fender-benders at night. When the drivers step out to inspect the damage, he stabs them to death. His fatal mistake occurs when he targets Jang Dong-soo (played by Ma Dong-seok), a powerful mob boss. Dong-soo fights back, survives the attack, and partners with Detective Jung Tae-suk (Kim Mu-yeol) to get his revenge.
There is no public record of a high-ranking Korean mob boss surviving a random hit by Cho Kyoung-ho and launching a mafia-wide manhunt.
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.
Compare The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil to other with high-octane action. is the gangster the cop the devil based on true story
According to the filmmakers, the screenplay is loosely based on true crime, though specific details about the exact case were not officially provided. The film's opening text states that it is "based on true events," framing the story as a dramatization of actual murders from around 2005. Director Lee Won-tae used real-life events as a foundation, while also building out the fictional characters and central premise.
: 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").
The film's "based on a true story" tagline requires a careful distinction: In the film, a mysterious killer named Kang
For those unfamiliar with the plot, The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil follows Jang Dong-su (Ma Dong-seok), a powerful crime lord who runs a modest loan-sharking operation. One rainy night, he is deliberately rammed by a car and then stabbed repeatedly by a mysterious, emotionless killer. Miraculously, Jang survives due to his immense physique and willpower.
While South Korean cinema often draws from real historical events (such as Memories of Murder or The Chaser ), this specific story was an original creation. The characters of Jang Dong-soo (the Gangster) and Jung Tae-seok (the Cop) are not based on real individuals.
Cho targeted random drivers on dark, isolated roads. Dong-soo fights back, survives the attack, and partners
The film's narrative is inspired by the real-life events surrounding Park Chung-ha and his encounters with the police. In 2007, Park Chung-ha kidnapped and tortured a police officer, which led to a massive manhunt. The officer managed to escape, and Park Chung-ha was eventually caught and sentenced to prison.
The real killer did not accidentally target a mafia don. The Cop-Mob Alliance
If you enjoyed the film for its realism, you’d likely appreciate like The Raincoat Killer or In the Name of God — both based on factual serial killer cases.
While the show is not a completely accurate retelling of true events, it's rooted in the real-life stories of these individuals. The creators have stated that they took inspiration from various sources, including news articles, books, and interviews, to craft the narrative.