# Vigilante (TV series)

Vigilante (Korean: 비질란테) is a South Korean television series created by Moon Yoo-seok. The series stars Nam Joo-hyuk, Yoo Ji-tae, Lee Joon-hyuk and Kim So-jin. It is based on the Naver webtoon of the same name. The first season aired on Disney+ from November 8 to 29, 2023, in selected regions. It is also available for streaming on Hulu in the United States. A second season has been confirmed. Vigilante premiered at the On Screen section of the 28th Busan International Film Festival on October 5, 2023, where three of eight episodes were screened.

## Premise

Kim Ji-yong, a student at the police academy in South Korea, becomes the "Vigilante" at night and punishes criminals, who receive light sentences for heinous crimes. Ji-yong's actions catch the attention of Jo Heon, the head of an investigation team. Jo Heon initiates an operation to capture the Vigilante after learning about him through Choi Mi-ryeo, a news reporter, who covers the Vigilante's activities.

## Cast
### Main

* Nam Joo-hyuk as Kim Ji-yong
    A Korean National Police University student, and the "Vigilante".
* Yoo Ji-tae as Jo Heon
    The team leader of the regional investigation unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and known as the "Physical Monster".
* Lee Joon-hyuk as Jo Gang-ok
    The vice-chairman of DK Group. He is a fan of the Vigilante, and knows Ji-yong is the Vigilante. He wants to build the Vigilante as a real hero.
* Kim So-jin as Choi Mi-ryeo
    A reporter of broadcast station MBS. She sources and reports on news of the Vigilante.

### Supporting
#### Police

* Lee Seung-woo as Min Seon-wook
    A model student of the Korean National Police University, and Ji-yong's good friend. He was a judo athlete.
* Jo Han-joon as Hwang Joon
    A student of the Korean National Police University, and a good friend of Ji-yong and Seon-wook.
* Kwon Hae-hyo as Lee Jun-yeop
    A professor of the Korean National Police University.
* Lee Hae-young as Eom Jae-hyub
    A police chief who was later transferred to become the principal of the Korean National Police University.
* Won Hyun-jun as Nam Yeong-il
    Heon's replacement as the new team leader of the regional investigation unit.

#### Others

* Yoon Kyung-ho as Kim Sam-doo
    The CEO of Sewool Future Resources. He was acquitted for instigating murders.
* Shin Jung-geun as Mr. Bang
    A killer who is experienced and agile.
* Yun Jae-wook as Seo Doo-yeop
    A criminal.
* Kim Cheol-yoon as Goo Seong-yeol
    An underling of Seo Doo-yeop.
* Kim Dae-gon as Jang Soon-do

### Special appearance

* Jeon Bae-soo as Seok Seung-cheol
    The secretary general of the Blue House, and a close associate of Jae-hyub.

## Episodes

| No. | Title | Original release date |
| 1 | "Episode 1" | November 8, 2023 (2023-11-08) |
| A young Ji-yong witness his mother's death committed by a thug named Choi Sung-soo. Sung-soo was held guilty, but was given a small sentence due to fake evidence. Ji-yong grows up to become a student at National Police Agency and learns that Sung-soo still commits crimes. Ji-yong tracks down Sung-soo and brutally thrashes him. This makes Ji-yong to track down and scare the criminals, who gets being released from prison after being given smaller sentences. Choi Mi-ryeo, a broadcast reporter at Repo25h, learns about Ji-yong's vigilante activities during the weekends and dubs him as Vigilante. The Vigilante story starts creating buzz for the channel and Mi-ryeo decides to double down on it. With no activities of Vigilante in the weekends, Mi-ryeo broadcasts an old case in which a perpetrator called Jeong Deok-heung had sexually assaulted So-yoon, but was given a small sentence. Ji-yeong learns about Deok-heung and decides to track him down. After facing embarrassment from the society, Deok-heung learns that So-yoon changed her name and is living in an apartment. He tracks her down and tries to kill him, but Ji-yong manages to save So-yoon and brutally thrashes him. Ji-yong makes Deok-heung to write an apology letter and leaves the place. |||
| 2 | "Episode 2" | November 8, 2023 (2023-11-08) |
| Mi-ryeo baits the Vigilante with more information on the criminals on REPO25h. |||
| 3 | "Episode 3" | November 15, 2023 (2023-11-15) |
| Copycat crimes emerge nationwide, and Jo Heon and Mi-ryeo chase after the Vigilante. |||
| 4 | "Episode 4" | November 15, 2023 (2023-11-15) |
| The fake Vigilante suggests joining forces, and Heon closes in on the Vigilante's identity. |||
| 5 | "Episode 5" | November 22, 2023 (2023-11-22) |
| Mi-ryeo reports on Sewool's alleged crimes, and Ji-yong and Heon come into conflict. |||
| 6 | "Episode 6" | November 22, 2023 (2023-11-22) |
| Ji-yong and Gang-ok help Mi-ryeo continue digging into Kim Sam-doo and the Vole. |||
| 7 | "Episode 7" | November 29, 2023 (2023-11-29) |
| The Vole tries to bury the case by sacrificing Kim Sam-doo, but Sam-oo retaliates with all he has. |||
| 8 | "Episode 8" | November 29, 2023 (2023-11-29) |
| Ji-yong gathers everyone involved in one location, and the final battle begins. |||

## Production

Studio N announced its plan to remake the webtoon Vigilante [ko] by Kim Gyu-sam [ko] into a film in September 2019. Nam Joo-hyuk was cast to play lead role in the series in April 2022. Yoo Ji-tae gained 20 kg of weight to realistically portray Jo Heon, the head of the metropolitan investigation team chasing Vigilante.
It was confirmed that a second season is in production.

## Release

After its premier at the 28th Busan International Film Festival on October 5, Vigilante was released on November 8 in a total of 8 episodes with two episodes available per week every Wednesday.

## Accolades

| Award | Year | Category | Nominee(s) / work(s) | Result | Ref. |
| Seoul International Drama Awards | 2024 | Outstanding Korean Drama | Vigilante | Pending | |