So Ji-sub Stars in Netflix Korea’s MERCY FOR NONE, a Gritty Adaptation of Hit Webtoon

Netflix Korea’s newest crime noir series, Mercy for None, brings together two of the country’s most iconic forces: K-Drama veteran So Ji-sub and one of Naver Webtoon’s most beloved titles, for a high-stakes revenge tale soaked in grit and emotional depth.

Mercy for None follows Gi-jun (So Ji-sub), a former gangster who reemerges after an 11-year absence to uncover the truth behind his younger brother’s death. The series is adapted from the wildly popular Naver Webtoon of the same name, which ran from 2020 to 2021, and built a loyal fanbase with its intense storytelling and morally complex protagonist.

Director Choi Seong-eun, speaking at a press conference at the beginning of the month in Jung-gu, Seoul, revealed that casting So in the lead role fulfilled a long-standing fan wish.

“So Ji-sub was the casting that fans of the original webtoon wanted most for the live-action adaptation. I was really glad that he agreed to take the role,” Choi said. “Even I wasn’t sure at first what kind of image or expression that actor would bring to the character Gi-jun. But on the first day I met him, I felt that he would be able to convey Gi-jun’s emotions well. I was given the opportunity to create freely in a rich environment with truly great ingredients.”

Best known for his dramatic roles in I’m Sorry, I Love You (2004) and Master’s Sun (2013), So Ji-sub returns to the action genre for the first time in over a decade. Mercy for None also marks his debut in a streaming original series.

In tackling Gi-jun’s brutal path to vengeance, So said he focused on restraint and purpose.

“The director told us not to include unnecessary action. Revenge scenes needed to have intent—were we subduing or punishing? There’s a difference,” he explained. “For each character, I thought of the action as a form of dialogue spoken through the body. The director said it would be great if the characters’ energy and emotional flow could be felt when they fight. He also said the action should have a narrative arc—beginning, development, twist and conclusion. He wanted the intensity of the action to build gradually and reach a climax. We talked about a lot of things beyond that too, and fortunately, I think all of that was well reflected in the final piece.”

Choi echoed this philosophy, noting that emotional resonance was at the core of every fight sequence.

“If the emotions weren’t convincing, it would’ve just been physical violence,” he said. “I directed it so that the collision of emotions would manifest as action.”

With a blend of nuanced performances, stylish direction, and emotional weight, Mercy for None aims to redefine noir for a new generation, and delivers a compelling argument for why webtoon adaptations remain a force to be reckoned with in K-drama storytelling.

Mercy for None is now streaming globally on Netflix.

Source: Korea Herald