The Devil (TV series)

Plot

A string of murders brings together a conflicted detective, a psychic librarian, and a mysterious lawyer with dubious motives. Detective Kang Oh-soo (Uhm Tae-woong) is assigned to two seemingly unrelated murder cases, where the only clues left behind are tarot cards, with the first card meaning "judgment." This leads him to Seo Hae-in (Shin Min-a), a quiet librarian who has the uncanny ability to make a psychic connection to an object to discover its history. She reveals to him that the victims were connected to the death of a high school boy years ago. The one common link between the suspects is their defense attorney, Oh Seung-ha (Ju Ji-hoon), a young lawyer who is seemingly kind and altruistic. Hae-in and Seung-ha later fall in love, though Oh-soo also has feelings for her.

As the culprit continues to leave clues, more lives are ruined and the body count rises. Oh-soo races to uncover the truth, but he is also haunted by the sins of his past which he has been trying to atone for. An incident in his youth 12 years ago has snowballed into a larger tragedy, and the two men involved are destined to face each other again, unsure who is good and who is evil.

Main characters

Uhm Tae-woong as Kang Oh-soo

A detective who works in the violent crimes division. He is energetic, brave, relentless in his duties, and a straight talker. Oh-soo comes from a rich family and is the second son of a famous politician. During his middle school years, he was considered a troublemaker and a bully. At 16, he stabbed a fellow student to death during an argument. To atone, he turned away from his dark past.

Ju Ji-hoon as Oh Seung-ha

A public defender. Known for his kindness, Seung-ha frequently volunteers at a soup kitchen, and always listens intently to his client's problems and suggests solutions. 12 years ago, his life changed after the death of his older brother, followed shortly by his mother's death due to shock and grief. He disappeared after graduating from middle school, and resurfaces as a lawyer. While hiding his real identity, he meticulously prepares for revenge.

Shin Min-a as Seo Hae-in

A librarian who possesses an ability for psychometry and is knowledgeable about tarot cards. Bright and optimistic, she lives with her widowed mother, who is deaf and mute. Hae-in learned about her supernatural ability when she was 12 years old.

Supporting characters

Kang Oh-soo's family

Jung Dong-hwan as Kang Dong-hyun, Oh-soo's father

Choi Deok-moon as Kang Hee-soo, Oh-soo's older brother

Yoon Hye-kyung as Choi Na-hee, Hee-soo's wife

Kang Oh-soo's friends

Kim Young-jae as Na Seok-jin, Hee-soo's assistant and Na-hee's lover

Han Jung-soo as Yoon Dae-shik, private money lender

Oh Yong as Kim Soon-ki, ex-prison inmate

Police detectives

Joo Jin-mo as Ban Chang-ho, chief detective

Greena Park as Lee Min-jae

Kim Young-joon as Shin Jae-min

Supporting cast

Jo Jae-wan as Kim Young-chul

Lee Bo-hee as Yeo Soon-ok, Hae-in's mother

Lee Eun as Gong Joo-hee, Hae-in's best friend

Kim Kyu-chul as Cha Gwang-doo, lawyer and former detective

Im Seung-dae as Hwang Soo-geon

Park Kwang-jung as Mo In-ho

Yoo Yeon-soo as Jo Dong-seob

Kim Kyung-ik as Sung Joon-pyo, reporter

Extended cast

Seo Jun-young as young Oh-soo

Ko Joo-yeon as young Hae-in

Lee Min-hee as lost girl

Lee Do-ryun as Gwan Hyun-tae

Jeon Ye-seo as Oh Seung-hee, Seung-ha's sister

Park Chul-ho as Jung Tae-hoon, Tae-seung's older brother

Choi Jae-hwan

Lee Sung-min as Hwang Dae-pil

Kwak Jung-wook as young Tae-seung

Kim Min-kyu

Oh Hyun-chul

Park Young-seo as the real Oh Seung-ha

Ratings

Source: TNS Media Korea

Remake

The Devil became very popular in Japan when it aired on cable channel So-net in October 2007. This led to the production of a Japanese remake in 2008 titled Maō, starring Satoshi Ohno, Toma Ikuta, and Ryoko Kobayashi.