So Ji Sub's New Action/Crime Thriller "Mercy for None" Seals The Deal As One Of 2025's TOP ACTION K-dramas!
- Jon Lui
- Jun 7
- 3 min read
Unrelenting and full of action that grabs your throat and never lets go, So Ji Sub's new action/crime series Mercy for None can be considered one of the top action-packed K-dramas of 2025! We give you 5 instances that shocked us during its premiere!
Why this drama has us riled up (in a good way!)
Right from the first episode, the action keeps pouring and doesn't stop. Not only does Mercy for None keep you on your toes, it also has a sense of mystery that keeps us wondering, "Why did Nam Gi Jun (So Ji Sub) leave the gang with just a cut Achilles tendon? Wouldn't they do more to him?" Also, "Who really killed his younger brother, Nam Gi Seok (Lee Jun Hyuk)?" We give you five instances that shocked us while watching! Spoilers ahead!
It gets bloodier and more bone-crunching as you watch!
If you're a sucker for some serious bone-crunching action, look no further as Mercy for None sends hoards of low level gangsters to the emergency room to patch up broken limbs and stitches. We covered some action-packed K-dramas for guys in the past, but this one has to take the cake! For those of you squeamish about blood and gore, don't worry, it's not that bad. So Ji Sub is just dishing out what the bad guys give him.
Nothing prepared us for the dark underbelly of Seoul
On his quest to find his brother's killer, Nam Gi Jun discovers "The Graveyard", an online service directed at young rebellious orphans strapped for some quick cash. He finds out that one of these "young gangsters" was paid to go to jail for attacking his brother by a company called "N Clean". What surprised us was that these individuals would rather get paid and go to jail in order to skip their mandatory military service, which many still haven't gone to yet. This process was legally acceptable, which made it even more incredulous.
Nam Gi Jun has a little of John Wick in him
Watching Mercy for None gives off plenty of John Wick vibes. Want to see the main lead slice through 20 guys without breaking a sweat, no problem. As we find out, not only is Nam Gi Jun responsible for the rise to power of the Joo Woon Organization and Bong San Gang, but he's also the one who caused "trouble" in the entire underworld community (we won't spoil this one for you); therefore, cutting his Achilles tendon as a consolation prize.
Nam Gi Jun oozes with John Wick vibes in the new action/crime/thriller Mercy for None. (Credits: Netflix) 4. Betrayal is the name of the game
Like plenty of gang/mafia films/shows, betrayal always leads to the downfall of the top dogs. There is no exception here, except that betrayal is found in the closest of kin in Mercy for None! We were astonished at who betrayed Gu Bong San, leader of the Bong San Gang! Twists and turns like this make this drama fun and entertaining to watch!
Gu Bong San is betrayed and is forced to run (Credits: Netflix)
No one is as they seem
With another surprising twist thrown into the story, just when you think everything has been resolved and put back in order, this series throws another curveball! When everyone thinks these two gangs have finally finished each other off, we're shown that there is one more piece behind the puzzle, the man controlling "the game". As an undercover cop sent to infiltrate the underground world, "Mr. Kim" is actually a crooked cop who is trying to take everything for himself. With our minds blown and a fantastic finish, Mercy for None definitely takes the cake for best action K-drama of 2025!
Have you seen Mercy for None yet? Leave a comment on what surprised you the most about So Ji Sub's comeback! Mercy for None is now available for streaming on Netflix with all episodes out.