Is The Gangster The Cop The Devil Based On True Story

The short answer is While the characters are fictionalized and the plot amped up for cinematic thrills, the film’s core narrative engine—a serial killer who attacks a mob boss, leading to an unlikely alliance—is rooted in a bizarre and real criminal incident from the early 2000s.

The film’s primary inspiration is the prolific serial killer , who terrorized Seoul and surrounding areas in 2003-2004. Known as the “Raincoat Killer” (for wearing a raincoat to avoid blood splatter), Yoo confessed to murdering at least 20 people—mostly wealthy elderly individuals and female masseuses. is the gangster the cop the devil based on true story

The police report (and Yoo’s later testimony) states that Kim looked at the bleeding man on the ground, realized the police were coming, and fled the scene. He did not alert the authorities. Why would a gangster call the cops? Instead, Kim mobilized his entire criminal network. The short answer is While the characters are

Even though the plot is invented, the tag isn't a lie. It’s a . The film captures the chaotic, violent energy of early 2000s Korean crime, where the lines between law enforcement and organized crime were often blurred. The police report (and Yoo’s later testimony) states

The character "K" is widely believed to be inspired by Yoo Young-chul , known as the "Raincoat Killer." Yoo murdered at least 20 people between 2003 and 2004. According to discussions on Reddit , the killer's habit of staging car accidents to lure victims mirrors real criminal tactics from that era.