The story of Mercy for None begins with Nam Gi-jun receiving a phone call in the woods, immediately setting a tense atmosphere. The scene then shifts to the funeral of his younger brother, Nam Gi-seok, where various figures from the criminal underworld and business sectors, including Chairman Gu Bong-san and Jun-mo, pay their respects. Ju-woon's manager, Choi Seong-cheol, speaks privately with Kim Chun-seok, suggesting that Bong-san was behind the attack that killed Gi-seok, but Chun-seok dismisses this, saying the police have confirmed it was just some runaway kids. Prosecutor Lee Geum-son, Ju-woon's eldest son, arrives but is asked to leave by Seong-cheol, as Ju-woon does not want him there. Gi-jun arrives, and Seong-cheol commands everyone to bow to him. Gi-jun inspects Gi-seok's body and questions whether it was really just kids who killed his brother.

In a meeting between the two chairmen, the matter of Ju-woon's successor is discussed. Gi-jun enters and reminds them of a pact made 11 years earlier: he promised not to show his face again, and the chairmen promised to keep his brother safe. When they refuse to provide more information about Gi-seok's death, Gi-jun leaves. Outside, Hae-beom introduces himself to Gi-jun. Gi-jun visits Gi-seok's house, where he finds camping books and a birthday gift Gi-seok intended for him. Gi-jun wraps a band around his ankle, the one with a scar, symbolizing his past injury and connection to his brother.

The backstory reveals that 11 years ago, Ju-woon and Bong-san rose to power with Gi-jun's help. Gi-jun had wiped out a Busan gang that attacked Oh's gang, allowing Ju-woon and Bong-san to become leaders. They made a pact that whoever messed up first would pay the price. Gi-jun was spared but crippled by an injury to his Achilles tendon and told to disappear, a punishment meant to keep him in check rather than mercy.

Jun-mo's death occurs early in the series. Despite Bong-san realizing something was wrong with Gi-seok's report, he is too late to prevent the fallout. Jun-mo's death triggers chaos, including a car crash attempt on Gi-jun's life, which he survives. Bong-san tells Ju-woon that the order to kill Gi-seok came from within Ju-woon's gang, suspecting Yeong-Do, but Yeong-Do suggests suspecting Ju-woon's own son. Meanwhile, the prosecution raids Bong-san's base, escalating tensions. Ju-woon ultimately kills his old friend Bong-san to protect his son.

Gu Jun-mo, Ju-woon's son, causes chaos within the Bongsan Group by hiring foreign thugs to kill a Bongsan manager encroaching on his business. Chairman Gu asks Chairman Lee for help to discipline Jun-mo without direct involvement. Lee sends Gi-seok to rough up Jun-mo, who retaliates by ordering a hit on Gi-seok. When the truth about Jun-mo's hit surfaces, the fragile peace between Bongsan and Ju-woon groups collapses. Ju-woon, with help from his prosecutor son Lee Geum-son, greenlights a raid on the Bongsan Group. Ju-woon kills Bong-san, but his victory is short-lived.

Gi-jun embarks on a rogue mission to avenge his brother. He fights through dozens of men, eventually killing Jun-mo, even after realizing Jun-mo's hired thugs were not the ones who actually killed Gi-seok. For Gi-jun, Jun-mo's attempt is enough justification for revenge.

The series ends with Gi-jun fully immersed back into the violent criminal underworld he had left behind, driven by his quest for brutal justice for his brother's murder.

Short, Simple Narrative of the Ending

Gi-Jun, a former gangster, returns to Seoul's underworld to avenge his younger brother Gi-Seok's murder. After uncovering the truth and exposing the crime boss Geum-son as the killer, Gi-Jun confronts him in a violent showdown. Geum-son, cornered and disgraced, tries to kill himself, but Gi-Jun stops him, ensuring he suffers before killing him. Fatally wounded, Gi-Jun returns to his campsite, where he slowly dies, haunted by memories of his brother and the life they could have had together.

Expanded, Chronological, Scene-by-Scene Narrative

The final act of Mercy for None begins with the merger of the two rival gangs, Juwoon and Bongsan. The board members gather, and Geum-son, now in control, delivers a confident speech. The mood shifts abruptly when news breaks that Geum-son is a murderer--audio evidence has been sent to the press by Hae-beom with the help of lawyer Yoon. The board members, shocked, turn on Geum-son. In a fit of rage, Geum-son kills one of them. Seong-cheol, a loyal enforcer, intervenes and restrains Geum-son, then leaves to find Gi-Jun, who is fighting his way through the building's guards.

Seong-cheol confronts Gi-Jun, attempting to reason with him, but Gi-Jun, consumed by grief and vengeance, refuses to stop. Seong-cheol attacks Gi-Jun, apologizing as he does so, but Gi-Jun kills him. Gi-Jun then enters the room where Geum-son sits, defeated and isolated. The two men talk. Geum-son admits he enjoyed the fight for power more than the power itself, but now realizes he was never suited for this life. As Gi-Jun moves to attack, Geum-son shoots him. Despite his wounds, Gi-Jun tells Geum-son that people never respected Ju-woon, only feared him. Geum-son, broken, raises his gun to his own head, but Gi-Jun slashes his wrist, preventing suicide. Gi-Jun tells Geum-son he does not deserve an easy death, then stabs him in the neck, leaving him to bleed out in the chair he fought so hard to claim.

Gi-Jun, gravely injured, staggers out of the building. He returns to the campground he once ran, a place symbolic of the peaceful life he desired. He sits by a fire, blood soaking his clothes, alone. In his final moments, he hallucinates Gi-Seok sitting beside him. They talk about leaving the criminal life behind and starting fresh--a dream Gi-Jun could never realize. Gi-Seok smiles at him, and Gi-Jun, at peace with his brother's memory, dies by the fire.

Fate of the Main Characters

• Gi-Jun: After avenging his brother and dismantling the criminal empires, he dies alone at his campsite, haunted by the life he and Gi-Seok could have had but never did.
• Geum-son: Exposed as a murderer, abandoned by his allies, and defeated by Gi-Jun, he is killed by Gi-Jun in a final act of vengeance, dying in the chair that symbolized his ambition.
• Seong-cheol: Loyal to the end, he tries to stop both Geum-son and Gi-Jun, but is killed by Gi-Jun during the confrontation.
• Gi-Seok: Already dead before the finale, his memory and the desire for justice for his death drive Gi-Jun's actions throughout the series. In Gi-Jun's final moments, he appears as a comforting hallucination, representing the bond and lost future between the brothers.
• Hae-beom and Lawyer Yoon: Their actions in leaking the audio evidence to the press are crucial in exposing Geum-son, but their fates after the climax are not shown on screen.

Key Points the Story Highlights

The ending underscores the futility and cyclical nature of violence and revenge. Gi-Jun's journey is one of loyalty and sacrifice, but also isolation--he achieves his goal at the cost of his own life, and the peace he seeks remains out of reach. The final scenes between Gi-Jun and the hallucination of Gi-Seok emphasize the tragedy of their bond and the life they could not share. Geum-son's downfall illustrates the emptiness of power gained through betrayal and murder. The series closes with a stark message: in this world, mercy is absent, and the cost of vengeance is total.

There is no mention of a post-credit scene in the available information about the TV show "Mercy for None," Season 1, titled "Limited Series," produced in 2025. The show concludes with Gi-jun's death, where he imagines his brother Gi-seok sitting next to him by a campfire, symbolizing a moment of peace and closure for Gi-jun after his violent journey of revenge. The narrative focuses on the themes of vengeance, loss, and the consequences of violence, without any indication of additional scenes beyond the final episode's conclusion.

The murder of Nam Gi-seok was ordered from within his own gang, the Juwoon Group. Although Gu Jun-mo, the impulsive son of the Bongsan Group leader, initially targeted Gi-seok, it was later revealed that the order to kill Gi-seok came from inside Juwoon, with suspicions falling on Juwoon's own members rather than external enemies. This internal conspiracy is a key plot element uncovered during the series.

Gi-jun and Gu Jun-mo are adversaries; Jun-mo is the reckless son of the Bongsan Group leader who causes chaos within his own gang. Jun-mo hires thugs to kill a Bongsan manager and later is involved in the conflict that leads to Gi-seok's death. Gi-jun ultimately kills Jun-mo after a violent confrontation, which is a pivotal moment in the story, escalating the gang war and Gi-jun's quest for revenge.

Lee Geum-son, Juwoon's prosecutor son, plays a significant role by greenlighting a raid on the Bongsan Group, which helps Juwoon gain the upper hand in their gang conflict. He is also involved in labeling Gi-seok's death as a random gang skirmish, which complicates Gi-jun's investigation and quest for justice.

Gi-jun, a former highly respected gang member who severed his Achilles tendon to leave the violent life behind, is drawn back into the underworld after his brother's murder. His past skills and reputation enable him to navigate the dangerous criminal world, fight numerous enemies, and pursue revenge with expert efficiency, despite his physical handicap and emotional turmoil.

Gi-jun dies in the final episode after uncovering the conspiracy behind his brother's death and avenging him by killing Gu Jun-mo. His death marks the tragic conclusion of his relentless quest for justice and revenge, highlighting the high cost of the violent world he re-entered.

The TV show "Mercy for None," season 1 titled "Limited Series" (2025), is rated TV-MA, indicating it is intended for mature audiences 17 and older and is not family-friendly for children or sensitive viewers.

Potentially objectionable or upsetting aspects include:

• Intense violence and action scenes related to gang conflicts and revenge
• Themes of crime, tragedy, and moral ambiguity
• Possible strong language and mature dialogue
• Emotional intensity tied to loss and vengeance

These elements may be disturbing or inappropriate for children and sensitive individuals, so viewer discretion is advised.