[비즈한국] It’s familiar, yet unfamiliar. At first glance, ‘Through the Darkness’ might seem like a typical crime procedural, but by focusing on South Korea’s very first profiler, it shifts the entire perspective. In most crime dramas, the protagonist is a detective who chases after criminals. Unlike detectives who scour crime scenes and physically struggle to catch suspects, a profiler’s role is to analyze the crime scene to deduce the perpetrator’s habits, age, personality, occupation, and methods, thereby assisting in the investigation. Naturally, this process is far more sedentary than that of detectives on the front lines.
‘Through the Darkness’ is set in the early 2000s, a time when motiveless crimes began to surge. Based on a non-fiction report co-authored by Professor Kwon Il-yong, South Korea's first profiler, and writer Ko Na-moo, the drama draws attention by setting its stage in an era when the very concept of a "profiler" didn't exist. These days, being a profiler is considered a very familiar profession. Thanks to shows that delve into past criminal cases—such as ‘Unanswered Questions’ (as implied by context), ‘Story of the Day Biting the Tail’, and ‘Alseulbeomjap’—crime experts like Professor Kwon Il-yong, former assemblyman Pyo Chang-won, and Professor Lee Soo-jung have become active media figures. But 20 years ago, things were different. Even the veteran detectives in the drama are seen asking back, "A pilot?" when they hear the word "profiler."
A profiler is a criminal investigation analyst who deduces the personality, characteristics, and behavior of a criminal by analyzing evidence and methods left at the scene based on psychology and behavioral science, thereby uncovering the motive and intent behind the crime. It is distinct from forensic science, which relies on physical evidence like fingerprints or DNA. In cases like serial murders where the motive is unknown, profiling increases the efficiency of catching suspects, sometimes even by engaging in high-level psychological warfare to elicit confessions. In short, it means reading the criminal’s mind. In the past, this might have sounded like total gibberish. It seems natural that Gook Young-soo (Jin Seon-kyu), the forensic team leader in ‘Through the Darkness’ who constantly cites FBI cases and pushes to establish a Criminal Behavior Analysis Team, gets snapped at with, "Is this America?" When there aren't even enough resources or manpower to cover active crime scenes, the idea of preventing crime by analyzing psychological profiles sounds like an idle luxury. Back when the very concept of a "psychopath" was unheard of, that reaction was inevitable.
Gook Young-soo's persistent efforts bear fruit. Song Ha-young (Kim Nam-gil), the detective Gook had earmarked as a profiler, proves his worth by providing his own money to an imprisoned criminal named Yang Yong-chul (Ko Geon-han) to conduct frequent interviews. By extracting behavioral patterns, he succeeds in catching the real culprit, Jo Gang-mo (Oh Seung-hoon), who had framed another man for his girlfriend's murder. Of course, this success is initially framed as "an incompetent detective seeking advice from a criminal," but through many twists and turns, the Criminal Behavior Analysis Team is finally created. Even so, fellow officers treat the team with disdain or pity. Those on the front lines, running on the ground, likely misunderstood the Criminal Behavior Analysis Team as people who sit around and talk while "watching a fire from across the river." This is reflected in a line from mobile investigation team leader Yoon Tae-goo (Kim So-jin), who initially reacted sharply before eventually cooperating: "For your team, it might just be a matter of interest, but for us, it is our duty!"
‘Through the Darkness’ is expected to feature many cases based on real-life crimes that garnered significant public attention. The "Changui-dong case" (the 5-year-old girl dismemberment case) solved in episode 4 was based on the first case in Korea to ever use profiling techniques. Future episodes appear to cover figures modeled after serial killer Yoo Young-chul, as well as the "Daeseong serial murder case," which is based on the infamous Hwaseong serial murders committed by Lee Chun-jae. However, unlike traditional crime dramas that sensationalize these gruesome real-life events, this drama focuses its energy on the process of tracking and approaching the crimes. Kim Nam-gil’s performance as Song Ha-young is calm and restrained. Ha-young seems cold at first glance, but he quietly takes care of grieving families and walks his own path regardless of others' misunderstandings. In his subtle psychological battles with criminals, we can expect to see a true, grounded portrayal of the inner world of a profiler, beyond just the "cool" image often associated with the profession.
‘Through the Darkness,’ which depicts the lives of people walking paths others haven't taken, has recorded a peak viewership rating of 10.8% by its fourth episode, receiving a positive response. As a 12-part series, it seems to have a different rhythm compared to traditional dramas, and one cannot help but wonder what this new kind of crime procedural will leave behind.
Who is the writer, Jung Soo-jin?
I have worked for various magazines, covering and writing about movies, travel, and pop culture. While I don't want to fall behind on trends, I have become an "old-school" person who watches the latest dramas only to predict the next scene with obvious cliches. I am drifting through the vast world of OTT platforms, trying to regain my sense of intuition. My current wish is for a unified OTT subscription plan.