“Beyond Evil” is a cold case that refuses to stay cold. The 2021 JTBC series, created by Sim Na-yeon and Kim Soo-jin, follows two policemen who break the law to catch a serial killer. It is a tense, morally gray drama that asks hard questions about guilt and innocence. The show ran 16 episodes across two months, from February 19 to April 10, 2021.
Trailer, via Netflix K-Content.
Lee Dong-sik and Han Joo-won
Shin Ha-kyun plays Lee Dong-sik, the older policeman with a secret past. Yeo Jin-goo plays Han Joo-won, the younger officer whose hunger for justice pushes him into dangerous territory. Together they form the core of the Manyang Police Substation of the Munju Police Station, located in the western part of Gyeonggi Province.
Their partnership is the engine of the show. They question the innocence of everyone involved in the case, including themselves. The central tension is not just about catching the killer, but about what they are willing to become to do it.
The Case That Refuses to Stay Cold
The killer’s crimes resemble a cold case that has resurfaced in a small town. The show spends its runtime chasing down leads, questioning witnesses, and piecing together a web of lies. Each episode builds on the last, leaving viewers with more questions than answers.
The show’s title, “Monster,” is a question as much as a label. Is the killer the monster? Or is it the policemen? Or is it the system that made them both?
Supporting Cast
Choi Dae-hoon plays Park Jung-je, and Choi Sung-eun plays Yoo Jae-yi. Kim Shin-rock plays Oh Ji-hwa, Cheon Ho-jin plays Nam Sang-bae, Park Ji-hoon plays Kwon Hyuk, and Choi Jin-ho plays Han Ki-hwan. Kil Hae-yeon plays Do Hae-won, Heo Sung-tae plays Lee Chang-jin, Nam Yoon-su plays Oh Ji-hoon, and Lee Gyu-hoe plays Kang Jin-mook.
These characters populate the town and add depth to the investigation. Some are allies. Some are suspects. All of them are hiding something.
The Baeksang Arts Awards
The show received seven nominations at the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards. It won three: Best Drama, Best Screenplay, and Best Actor for Shin Ha-kyun. It was also selected as one of the final candidates for the Baeksang Arts Award Grand Prize – Television.
What Works
- The chemistry between Shin Ha-kyun and Yeo Jin-goo anchors the series
- The writing keeps the mystery tight without sacrificing character development
- The moral ambiguity rewards careful viewing
- The direction handles the pacing well across 16 episodes
What Could Be Better
- Some supporting characters feel underdeveloped
- The middle stretch drags slightly before the finale picks up
- The show’s insistence on ambiguity can sometimes frustrate more than it intrigues
Final Verdict
“Beyond Evil” is a strong entry in the Korean crime-drama canon. It is a show that respects its audience by refusing to resolve everything neatly. The questions it raises about justice and morality stay with you after the credits roll.
Key Facts
- Network: JTBC
- Creator: Sim Na-yeon, Kim Soo-jin
- First aired: February 19, 2021
- Last aired: April 10, 2021
- Episodes: 16
- Nominations: 7 at the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards
- Wins: Best Drama, Best Screenplay, Best Actor (Shin Ha-kyun)
- Grand Prize candidate: Yes
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.
