National Death Penalty Vote (2023)

«The Killing Vote» (국민사형투표) is a 2023 South Korean crime thriller based on a popular webtoon. The series explores the dark side of justice and public opinion when a mysterious masked figure named «Gaetal» launches a nationwide vote on the death penalty for brutal criminals who have escaped justice. Citizens receive messages on their phones and have a limited time to vote «for» or «against» execution. If the majority votes «for», Gaetal carries out the sentence. The police try to stop the vigilante, and detective Kim Mu-chan (Park Hae-jin) leads the investigation, delving into moral dilemmas and personal traumas.

Key details:

• Original title: 국민사형투표 (Kookminsahyungtopyo)
• Release year: 2023
• Country: South Korea
• Language: Korean
• Number of episodes: 12
• Network: SBS TV
• Premiere date: August 10, 2023
• Finale date: November 16, 2023
• Production companies: Pan Entertainment, Studio S
• Director: Park Shin-woo
• Screenwriter: Jo Yoon-young
• Starring: Park Hae-jin (Kim Mu-chan), Park Sung-woong (Kwon Seok-ju), Lim Ji-yeon (Joo Hyun)

Plot:

The series begins with Gaetal, a masked hacker, hacking into the national emergency alert system and announcing the launch of the «Death Penalty Vote». He offers the public the chance to decide the fate of criminals who have committed heinous crimes but remained unpunished due to legal loopholes. The voting takes place via a mobile app, and if more than 50% of participants support the execution, Gaetal personally carries out the sentence, often using brutal methods. Society is divided: some support the avenger, considering him a hero, while others condemn the vigilantism. Detective Kim Mu-chan, who has his own painful experience with the injustice of the system, tries to track down Gaetal but faces ethical questions and public pressure. Joining the investigation are Kwon Seok-ju, a former judge who himself suffered from criminals, and cyber police officer Joo Hyun. Together they uncover a network of corruption behind Gaetal and are forced to choose between law and justice.

Franchise timeline:

«The Killing Vote» is a standalone series based on a webtoon and currently has no sequels, prequels, or spin-offs. However, if you are interested in similar South Korean thrillers about vigilantes and moral dilemmas, here are some recommendations:

• «Vigilante» (2023) — a series about a police academy student who becomes a vigilante at night, punishing criminals.
• «Taxi Driver» (2021–2023) — the story of a secret taxi service that takes revenge on behalf of victims of injustice.
• «The Devil Judge» (2021) — a judge turns court hearings into a reality show where viewers vote on verdicts.

Where to watch:

• Amazon Prime Video — official streaming (available in some regions)
• SBS Official Site — official network site (in Korean)
• HanCinema — information resource
• The Movie Database (TMDb) — metadata and streaming links
• UAKino — search on a Ukrainian resource (may be available with Ukrainian dubbing)