I Killed a Serial Killer: Netflix Series 'A Killer Paradox'

“A Killer Paradox”

Details

• Released on Netflix on February 9th
• Starring Choi Woo-shik, Son Seok-goo, etc.
• Based on the webtoon “A Killer Paradox”
• Rated 19+
  
  

Is there anyone who deserves to die? A serial killer who brutally murders people, a psychopath who feels no remorse for killing, and so on. Is eliminating evil a form of upholding justice or just another act of murder?

Sometimes, reality is more brutal than fiction. In reality, even the most heinous criminals must face the judgment of the law. However, the law sometimes punishes evil individuals too lightly. This is why dramas and movies often feature ‘killers who kill evil people.’ The concept of a character who feels a compulsion to kill and deliberately seeks out ‘deserving’ individuals to eliminate has been explored in various works of fiction.

The protagonist, ‘Lee Tang’, who works part-time at a convenience store, accidentally commits murder one day. He swings a hammer at someone who is assaulting him. Overwhelmed with guilt for taking a human life, he attempts suicide. But then he receives shocking news: the person he accidentally killed was a serial killer.

Detective ‘Jangnan-gam’, who is in charge of investigating the murder case involving Lee Tang, suspects him as a prime suspect but fails to find evidence of his involvement in the killing. Due to an improbable chain of coincidences, there is no concrete proof that Lee Tang definitively committed the murder.

However, there is another person who is looking for Lee Tang. This mysterious man seems to know that Lee Tang committed murder and is pursuing him. Who is this man, and what is his identity?

While evading capture, Lee Tang commits another murder. But once again, there’s no evidence, and the person he killed was someone who deserved to die. This string of coincidences leads Lee Tang to perceive himself as a ‘hero who eliminates evil,’ and his actions become increasingly audacious.

This Netflix series, based on the webtoon of the same name, “A Killer Paradox,” which began serialization in 2010, initially draws attention with its peculiar title. One wonders what connection the character name ‘Jangnan-gam’ has with the title and why the emphasis is on ‘난감’ (nan-gam, perplexed), making it “A Killer Paradox” instead of “A Killer Toy.”

“Is he a divinely appointed hero or a villain who deserves punishment?” The drama presents a protagonist who falls prey to the hero complex of believing that anyone who commits heinous acts deserves to be killed, prompting viewers to contemplate many things. We all understand that murder is a transgression that should never be committed, yet we also entertain the idea that evil individuals who perpetrate brutal crimes deserve to die. Of course, few would actually carry out such acts, but I believe most people harbor this ‘killer’s paradox’ within themselves.

With the acting prowess of Choi Woo-shik and Son Seok-goo, who have already proven their talent, and the directing skills of the director behind “Strangers from Hell” and “The Vanished,” expectations are high for this series. “A Killer Paradox” will be released on Netflix on February 9th.