In 2029, after the governments of North and South Korea announce a 5-year plan to reunify the country, strong sanctions by the world's most powerful nations cripple the economy and lead to a hellish period of chaos. With the appearance of an armed anti-government terrorist group called The Sect which opposes reunification, the President creates a new police division called the Special Unit which amasses significant political power. However, seeing its own influence drop, the Public Security intelligence service hatches a plot to do away with the Special Unit. Amidst the bloody struggle between two ultra-powerful institutions, rumours emerge of a secret "Wolf Brigade" taking shape within the Special Unit. Human weapons who go by the name of wolves, "Illang" (The Wolf Brigade).
Kim Jee-woon debuted in 1998 with Joyonghan gajok (The Quiet Family), followed by Banchigwang (The Foul King, 2000) and Janghwa hongnyeon (A Tale of Two Sisters, 2003). Both Dalkomhan insaeng (A Bittersweet Life, 2005) and Joeun nom, nappeun nom, isanghan nom (The Good, the Bad, the Weird, 2008) were presented, out of competition, in Cannes. Angmareul boatda (I Saw the Devil, 2010) competed in the Official Selection of the San Sebastian Festival. He made his Hollywood debut with The Last Stand (2013). He returned to Korea in 2016 with Miljeong (The Age of Shadows), presented out of competition in Venice.