The premiere episode of "The Worst of Evil" sets the stage for a gritty, action-packed crime drama that delves into the dark underbelly of Seoul's criminal world in the 1990s. The episode opens with a series of violent fistfights in 1994, a stark introduction to the brutal reality that permeates the storyline.
In the present day, we meet Park Jun-mo, a low-ranking police officer, and his wife, Yoo Eui-jung, who has just been promoted. Their visit to Eui-jung's family home for a celebratory dinner quickly turns sour as Jun-mo is belittled by her family for his lack of ambition. Eui-jung's plea for him to ignore their taunts foreshadows the challenges that lie ahead for their relationship.
The narrative then shifts to Jung Gi-cheul, a charismatic DJ at a popular pub in Gangnam. His encounter with Jang Kyung-chul, a local gangster known as Sergeant Jang, offers him a path to quick wealth and power. Gi-cheul's decision to work for Kyung-chul, despite the inherent risks, marks the beginning of his descent into the criminal world.
Over the course of a year, Gi-cheul manages a hotel and a pub for Kyung-chul, but the disrespect he receives from the gangsters fuels his ambition to rise above his station. In a private meeting, he proposes a drug trafficking scheme to Kyung-chul, only to be met with refusal and insult. This rejection sparks a plan to eliminate Kyung-chul and take control of his operations.
Gi-cheul's cunning plan involves hiring a skilled knife wielder, offering him two nightclubs in exchange for his loyalty. The stage is set for a dramatic showdown at a hotel, where Gi-cheul and his men, along with the knife wielder and his crew, launch a coordinated attack on Kyung-chul's gang. The ensuing chaos leads to Kyung-chul's capture, but not before Gi-cheul's best friend, Tae-ho, is killed in the crossfire.
The death of Tae-ho devastates Gi-cheul, and in a fit of rage, he slays Kyung-chul with a knife. This act of vengeance solidifies Gi-cheul's resolve to take control of the criminal enterprise. He travels to Busan to meet with Song Dong-hyuk, Kyung-chul's boss, and spins a web of lies about Kyung-chul's betrayal. Gi-cheul's offer of a monthly investment return of 50 million won persuades Dong-hyuk to overlook the murder, setting the stage for Gi-cheul's rise in the criminal hierarchy.
Meanwhile, the international implications of the drug trade are highlighted when a woman dies from a drug overdose in Japan. The Japanese and Korean police and narcotics officials join forces to investigate the smuggling of meth and cocaine from Korea. The murder of a key witness who confessed to the smuggling operation underscores the deadly seriousness of the drug trade.
Back in Korea, Prosecutor Chang-sik tasks Detective Do-hyung with infiltrating Gi-cheul's gang. Do-hyung initially approaches Jun-mo for the undercover assignment, but Jun-mo refuses. It is only after a visit from Prosecutor Chang, who leverages Jun-mo's family history and the promise of a promotion, that Jun-mo agrees to take on the dangerous mission.
Jun-mo's infiltration begins with him posing as Tae-ho's cousin, a gambit designed to play on Gi-cheul's emotions. Their first encounter at Gi-cheul's restaurant 'Sikgaek' is tense, culminating in a fight and a confrontation where Gi-cheul notices the watch on Jun-mo's wrist—the same watch that Tae-ho had taken from Kyung-chul. This moment of recognition sets the stage for the complex relationship between Jun-mo and Gi-cheul, as they stare each other down, aware of the lies and deception that surround them.
The first episode of "The Worst of Evil" is a gripping start to the series, laying the groundwork for a tale of ambition, betrayal, and the high stakes of life in the criminal underworld. With its compelling characters and intricate plot, the show promises to keep viewers on the edge of their seats as the story unfolds.