Tracking down an executioner with Park Hae-jin in The Killing Vote

4 July 28, 2023August 2, 2023

Tracking down an executioner with Park Hae-jin in The Killing Vote

by solstices

Hot on the heels of its first teaser, SBS’s noir thriller The Killing Vote has released another preview into the operations of the extremist vigilante who punishes crime with crime. By creating the titular killing vote, the masked mastermind Gaetal plans to corral unrepentant criminals and offer the public a chance to have them executed by his hands.

First up on the chopping block is a child pornography distributor, who’s bound to a chair as he awaits his fate. As citizens go about their daily lives, their phones all ring simultaneously with the same notification — they’ve been invited to participate in a killing vote. Amongst them is the cyber crimes officer Joo Hyun, played by Im Ji-yeon (Lies Hidden in My Garden), whose brows furrow in consternation at the radical message.

Thirty seconds left on the clock. Slamming his fist down like a gavel, Gaetal sneers that even with his killing vote executions, there are too many pest-like bastards in this world. But the detective Kim Mu-chan — played by Park Hae-jin (Showtime Begins!) — isn’t afraid to call Gaetal out on their hypocrisy. “Don’t delude yourself,” Mu-chan warns Gaetal. “You’re not a hero.”

Mu-chan’s investigative partner Hyun is also of the same opinion. While Mu-chan is out in the field, she’s at her computer, working to decode the secrets behind Gaetal’s voting software. “Do you still think Gaetal is in the right?” Hyun asks, as she discovers a spray-painted wall with the message “Number thirteen was wrong.”

We don’t see who she’s speaking to, but it may very well be the ex-jurist Kwon Seok-joo, played by Park Sung-woong (Bloodhounds). Having murdered the rapist of his eight-year-old daughter that got off scot-free, Seok-joo is currently serving time in prison. “Everyone who’s taken the perpetrator’s side,” Seok-joo yells, “is just as guilty!” The vengeance Seok-joo sought may echo Gaetal’s methods, but will he support someone who’s taken retribution to a whole new scale?

Four seconds, then three, two, one. The results are in, and Gaetal throws his hands up in gleeful celebration. Their concept of justice is rational, or so Gaetal says. These criminals are simply paying their dues. The question remains, though — does Gaetal truly believe in such retributive justice, or is he merely using it as an excuse to satisfy his bloodlust? As Mu-chan reaches out to dismantle a hidden camera, the teaser draws to a close, leaving us to ruminate on the questions it’s raised.

Produced by director Park Shin-woo (White Night) and scriptwriter Jo Yoon-young (Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo), the webtoon adaptation The Killing Vote will air on Thursdays, beginning on August 10.

Via Xsportsnews (1, 2, 3, 4)

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1 jerrykuvira

July 28, 2023 at 12:00 PM

I am okay with the The Devil Judge vibes but I hope its not an unhinged person behind Gaetal. The mystery of Gaetal has to be worthy of the social comment The Killing Vote is basing on.

And, I echo the sentiments of the ex-jurist.

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2 dramamad

July 29, 2023 at 12:41 AM

love park hae jin but really dont trust his script choices.

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3 Diana Hansen

July 29, 2023 at 7:55 AM

Could be good, could be a train wreck. I like the actors so I am willing to give it a shot. Some of the ones I've been afraid to try have turned out to be really good.