Vigilante

Kim Ji-yong leads a double life that keeps him off the grid. By day he is a student at the Korean National Police University, studying the law he aims to uphold. By night he becomes Vigilante, a shadowy figure who targets criminals who slip through official channels. He does not wear a cape, but moves with resolve and a cold precision that unsettles the streets. The people around him each hide a motive of their own, whether they are allies, rivals, or suspects. As the city consolidates around this silent guardian, loyalties fray and the line between right and wrong grows thinner. A web of allies and informants complicates every move. Tension peaks in quiet, decisive choices. Costs mount.

Directed by Choi Jung-yol and created by Moon Yoo-seok, Kim Kyu-sam, and CRG, Vigilante arrived in 2023. The production blends sharp campus drama with nocturnal crime scenes, using kinetic action and a moody city look to heighten tension and stakes.

The show leans into moral ambiguity where rules burn under pressure. Audiences watch Ji-yong weigh danger against ethics as friendships strain and secrets surface. The narrative raises questions about vigilantism whether grit and resolve can substitute due process. It also sketches the ripple effects on loved ones and colleagues.

There are no major awards or nominations publicly listed for Vigilante as of its release. The series has drawn praise from fans for Nam Joo-hyuk's layered performance and the ensemble's chemistry, while critics highlight direction pacing and the show's ambitious moral stakes. It has also been noted for production values.