It is a common misconception that the film is a remake of a true story because of its Hollywood connection.
The film is a fictional screenplay penned by director Lee Won-tae. It presents a hypothetical scenario: What would happen if a ruthless crime boss and an incorrigible detective were forced to work together to catch a serial killer?
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. is the gangster the cop the devil based on true story
No, The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil (2019) is not directly based on a true story.
However, it is inspired by real-life events and crime patterns, particularly a notorious series of serial killings in South Korea during the early 2000s.
Kang Ho-sung is one of South Korea’s most notorious—yet lesser-known—serial killers. Between 2005 and 2008, he murdered at least nine people, though some investigators believe the number could be higher. His modus operandi was simple: he would deliberately cause minor traffic accidents, and when the victim got out to argue or exchange insurance information, he would stab them to death with a custom-made knife. It is a common misconception that the film
Unlike the cinematic killer in the film (who is a calculated monster), Kang Ho-sung was a disorganized but highly dangerous predator. He didn’t care about the victim’s age, gender, or social status. He killed a student, a housewife, a convenience store worker, and, most relevantly, a gangster.
To help clarify, here is a direct comparison between the film’s plot and the historical reality: Kang Ho-sung is one of South Korea’s most
| Element | In The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil | In Real Life (Yoo Young-chul / Kim Tae-chon) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | The Incident | Serial killer stabs mob boss; boss survives. | Serial killer attacks mob boss with crowbar; boss wins the fight. | | The Alliance | Gangster and Cop form an official, secret pact to catch the killer. | No alliance. The police were already investigating. The gangster hunted the killer alone. | | The Motivation | Cop wants justice; Gangster wants revenge for his wounded pride. | Gangster acted purely out of pride and territory protection. | | The Ending | The cop arrests the gangster after the killer is caught. | The gangster was already a wanted criminal. Both the killer and the gangster went to prison separately. | | The Killer | A young, handsome, smiling psychopath who kills randomly. | A middle-aged, awkward construction worker with specific hatred for rich people and sex workers. | | The Daughter | The killer targets the gangster’s daughter. | No such relationship existed. Yoo targeted strangers. |
The film’s primary inspiration is the prolific serial killer Yoo Young-chul, who terrorized Seoul and surrounding areas in 2003-2004. Known as the “Raincoat Killer” (for wearing a raincoat to avoid blood splatter), Yoo confessed to murdering at least 20 people—mostly wealthy elderly individuals and female masseuses.
Here’s where the connection gets specific: