Mercy For None: 3 reasons you can't skip this Netflix webtoon adaptation serving up Korean noir action with So Ji Sub and Lee Jun Hyuk
Starring the iconic So Ji Sub, Netflix drops another Korean action noir masterclass into its growing K-content slate. The mini-series, based on the Naver webtoon, follows Gi Jun, a former gangster who vanished 11 years ago and now returns to avenge his brother's death. The webtoon (2020–2021) was an instant hit. The show's got all the right hooks, an impressive cast, emotionally-fuelled action, a plot that doesn't play by the rules, raw brawls, and a finale that'll stick with you. Ahead of the premiere, the series teased key details, not to be missed in the series.
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After Bloodhounds, The Glory, My Name, Beyond Evil and more, there's a new name in the noir binge club. Directed by Choi Seong Eun, the series brings together a high-powered lineup, led by So Ji-sub as Ki Jun. His casting is fan-picked. Webtoon loyalists had him in mind for the live-action from day one. The director admitted she was unsure at first, but after meeting him, she said, 'I felt he could carry Gi Jun's emotions. I had the space to create freely, with truly great ingredients.' His character in the series is quiet, limping, intense, and out for blood. You've seen So Ji Sub in I'm Sorry, I Love You and Master's Sun. Lee Jun Hyuk plays Ki Seok, the brother whose mysterious death sets everything off. Heo Joon Ho steps in as a gang boss and father figure to Seok. Gong Myoung brings in heat as the hot-headed heir of a rival gang, and Choo Young Woo slides into the role of a prosecutor who plays clean in public but is all rot underneath. Ahn Kil Kang, Lee Beom Soo, and Jo Han Chul round out the gang ensemble. And then there's Cha Seung-won, a total wildcard. You'll have to binge to find out.
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The unpredictable plot
The best part of this genre often lies in its climax and plot twists, and Mercy for None checks both boxes. Ki Jun, who once cut his own Achilles tendon to cripple himself out of the crime world, is now limping back into it. His return is triggered by the shady death of his younger brother. But don't expect flashy, fast-paced action here. The director made it clear, they wanted the pace slow, the movements deliberate. No wasted punches. Just emotion-heavy sequences that keep pressing forward. 'I think it effectively conveys the character's struggle to forge ahead, no matter the odds,' he said. The show holds tight to the cold, sharp tone of the original webtoon, Plaza Wars. Two rival gangs, Ju Un and Bong San, battle for control, with old bosses and next-gen heirs in the mix. It's a world where mercy isn't just rare, it's a weakness.
The K-drama has no flashy or stylised actions, with bodies flying in the air. No stylish punches or heroes walking out of explosions. Since action sits at the core, Mercy for None makes sure it's heavy, raw, and bruised. So Ji-sub said he treated fight scenes like dialogue. 'The director told us not to include unnecessary action. He said it would be better not to throw in action just for the sake of it during transitional scenes. When it comes to revenge, are we going to subdue these people or punish them? There's a difference, and we tried to make that distinction,' he told The Korea Herald. The idea was simple: if the emotion doesn't land, the action doesn't matter. So they let the rage, the guilt, the grief do the heavy lifting. Get ready for some intense basement brawls, back alley knife fights, and baseball bats.
Mercy for None is streaming on Netflix.
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