The unsettling premise that gun ownership could become a reality, not just a fantasy, poses a weighty question to our society through the drama 'Trigger'. Until now, South Korea has had a strong image as a "gun-free nation," and for most citizens, guns were unfamiliar objects that existed only in movies or news reports. Consequently, when gunfights appeared in past Korean films or dramas, they were often criticized for their lack of realism. The subject of guns itself was simply too far removed from our daily lives.
However, as time has passed, it has become difficult to say that Korean society is completely free from guns. Although legal gun ownership is extremely limited, firearms permitted for hunting or sports exist and are managed under lock and key at police stations. Nevertheless, incidents and accidents involving firearms are occasionally reported in the news, startling us. In particular, a recent fatal shooting in Songdo, Incheon, has driven home the fact that this danger is no longer just a story from another country.
Coincidentally, 'Trigger' garnered significant attention even before its broadcast amidst this social climate. The scheduled live press conference was even canceled in the aftermath of the Songdo shooting incident. This was a symbolic event that made the drama's fictional story feel like a preview of reality. The moment fiction intersects with real-life tragedy, the sense of immersion and fear that viewers feel is bound to be amplified.
The drama's core premise stems from the radical idea of a "firearm delivery service." Through a service presumably run by the mysterious figure 'Moon-baek,' anyone who desires one can easily have not only pistols and revolvers but also machine guns and shotguns delivered to their door. The very imagination of such deadly weapons, capable of taking a life in an instant, being distributed so carelessly is in itself a profound shock.
Of course, the idea of guns being distributed so easily and in such large quantities can feel unrealistic. While there are speculations about the clandestine existence of homemade guns assembled from smuggled parts, the drama's scenario—where a wide variety of complete firearms are delivered in bulk through a public system like parcel delivery—is virtually impossible. If this were possible in reality, Korean society would have already been swept into an uncontrollable vortex of gun crime.
The drama highlights "discontent with society" and "suppressed anger" as common traits among the characters who acquire guns. People who feel their sense of justice has been ignored by the world, or those who refuse to admit their own clear faults and instead lash out at the world, all unleash their emotions through firearms. A line from the drama, "The reason Koreans are so angry is because they don't have guns," raises tension by presenting the dangerous logic that in a society where gun ownership is rampant, people paradoxically become less likely to treat others carelessly.
A point that cleverly delves into Korea's unique situation is the 'military experience.' The majority of South Korean men are required to learn how to use firearms through mandatory military service. They learn not just to shoot but also to disassemble and assemble guns, meaning a significant portion of the population is potentially capable of handling firearms. The drama seizes on this point, realistically depicting how ordinary neighbors can transform into skilled and deadly individuals when they get their hands on a gun.
At the center of this chaos, the character tracking the case is 'Lee Do,' played by Kim Nam-gil. He is a former special forces operative with outstanding skills but has been living a life of contentment in a regular police station job, leaving his past trauma behind. However, faced with a series of gun-related incidents, he begins to use his expertise to hunt down the mastermind behind the invisible gun delivery service. His sharp pursuit across crime scenes provides viewers with thrilling suspense.
Lee Do's investigation soon leads him to the enigmatic figure 'Moon-baek,' played by Kim Young-kwang. He is presumed to be the key figure who designed and operates the gun delivery service 'Trigger' with his vast capital. Why and for what purpose he is spreading guns throughout society is the biggest mystery that runs through the drama. The tense confrontation and psychological warfare between Lee Do and Moon-baek serve as the central axis that anchors the plot.
Ultimately, 'Trigger' is a social commentary drama that stimulates the dangerous imagination of 'What if I were the only one with a gun?' and shows the tragedy that results when suppressed anger is expressed in the wrong way. As a blockbuster with a massive production cost of about 30 billion won, it is currently ranking first on streaming charts in several countries, receiving recognition for both its artistic merit and popular appeal. At a time when this fictional story feels like reality, the message 'Trigger' sends resonates with us in a way that is anything but light.
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