Mercy for None (Korean: 광장) is a gripping 2025 South Korean action noir television series written by Yoo Ki-seong and directed by Choi Sung-eun. Based on the popular webtoon Plaza Wars: Mercy for None, this Netflix original debuted globally on June 6, 2025. With a star-studded cast including So Ji-sub, Huh Joon-ho, and Ahn Gil-kang, the series explores the underbelly of Seoul’s organized crime scene through a haunting tale of loyalty, betrayal, and retribution.
Mercy for None – Official Trailer
What Is Mercy for None About?
The story follows Nam Gi-jun, a former gang enforcer who abandoned the violent world of crime over a decade ago. After a mysterious incident left him injured, Gi-jun disappeared from the criminal underworld to live in peace. But when his younger brother Nam Gi-seok, now second-in-command of the powerful Joowoon organization, is brutally murdered, Gi-jun is forced back into the shadows to uncover the truth and exact vengeance on those responsible.
His return sparks a deadly war between rival factions—Joowoon and Bongsan—while uncovering a conspiracy that reaches the highest levels of power, including prosecutors and police.
Is Mercy for None Worth Watching?
Yes—if you’re a fan of dark crime dramas, morally complex antiheroes, and high-stakes gang rivalries, Mercy for None delivers on every front:
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- Gritty Noir Aesthetic: Stylized violence, moody cinematography, and a haunting atmosphere.
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- Top-Tier Performances: So Ji-sub gives a career-defining performance as a man broken by loss and hardened by revenge.
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- Complex Power Dynamics: The show dives into the internal politics of rival criminal empires and their links to law enforcement.
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- Tense, Layered Storytelling: Each episode unveils deeper motives, corruption, and personal vendettas.
Watch Order and Episode Format
Mercy for None is available as a limited series on Netflix. All episodes were released simultaneously on June 6, 2025, allowing for binge-watching.
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- Platform: Netflix (Worldwide)
- Episodes: [Exact episode count TBD based on release]
- Language: Korean (with subtitles and dub options in English and other languages)
Mercy for None – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Mercy for None based on a webtoon?
Yes, it is based on Plaza Wars: Mercy for None by Oh Se-hyung and Kim Geun-tae.
What genre is this series?
It is primarily an action noir and revenge thriller, with elements of crime drama and political conspiracy.
How violent is the show?
The show is graphic and intense, featuring violent confrontations, psychological trauma, and moral ambiguity—true to its noir genre.
Will there be a second season?
As of now, Mercy for None is a standalone limited series, though its popularity may influence further adaptations from the webtoon.
Cast – Who’s Who in Mercy for None
Main Cast
| Actor | Character Name | Role Description |
|---|---|---|
| So Ji-sub | Nam Gi-jun | Former gang enforcer turned avenger |
| Huh Joon-ho | Lee Joo-woon | Head of the Joowoon organization |
| Ahn Gil-kang | Gu Bong-san | Rival boss of the Bongsan organization |
| Lee Beom-soo | Sim Sung-won | CEO of N.Clean trauma cleaning firm |
| Gong Myung | Gu Jun-mo | Bong-san’s heir, an unstable successor |
| Choo Young-woo | Lee Geum-son | Prosecutor, Joo-woon’s son and the true antagonist |
| Jo Han-chul | Choi Sung-cheol | Loyal director in Joowoon |
Supporting Roles
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- Jung Gun-joo as Chun Hae-bum – Gi-seok’s assistant
- Ahn Se-ho as Kim Chun-seok – Defector from Joowoon to Bongsan
- Kang Shin-hyo as Hong Hyun-seok – Bongsan director
- Ji Yi-soo – N.Clean employee
- Kim Hak-sun as Han Seok-yoon – Chief of the Investigation Unit
- Lee Jae-yoon as Kaneyama/Kim Gil-rok – Zainichi Korean assassin
- Kim Tae-in as Jung In-seok – Ex-MMA champion turned enforcer
Special Appearances
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- Cha Seung-won as Mr. Kim – Police superintendent with deep ties to both gangs
- Lee Joon-hyuk as Nam Gi-seok – Gi-jun’s brother, whose murder starts it all
Behind the Scenes – Production Notes
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- Webtoon Origin: Adapted from the hit manhwa Plaza Wars: Mercy for None.
- Production Studios: Yong Film and Studio N.
- Director: Choi Sung-eun
- Writer: Yoo Ki-seong
- Filming: Began in late 2023 and completed in early 2025.
- Distribution: Netflix released the series globally on June 6, 2025.
Conclusion – Vengeance Burns Bright in Mercy for None
Mercy for None is a hard-hitting Korean noir that blends gritty action with a deeply emotional story of brotherhood, betrayal, and bloodshed. It’s a powerful exploration of what happens when a man with nothing left to lose takes on a world riddled with corruption and violence.
If you’re a fan of My Name, A Model Family, or The Night Comes for Us, this should be your next binge.
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