I, The Executioner (2025), also known as Veteran 2 (Beterang 2), is the highly anticipated sequel to the 2015 action-comedy Veteran. This time, Do-Cheol and his team are back in action, joined by a new addition, Seon-U. Their latest case leads them on the hunt for a serial killer known to the public as Haechi.
Haechi targets criminals who have escaped proper justice, executing them in the exact manner they once used on their victims. As the investigation unfolds, the team follows multiple leads, each seemingly pointing to Haechi—only to discover time and time again that they have the wrong suspect. Then, a breakthrough in forensic analysis stuns Do-Cheol. He finally uncovers Haechi’s true identity—someone he never expected. But even with the shocking revelation, Do-Cheol refuses to back down. The chase is on, and justice must be served.
This article contains spoilers.
I, The Executioner (Veteran 2/Beterang 2, 2025) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:
The film opens with Detective Bong Yun Ju arriving at an illegal casino to catch the owner. Everything goes as planned until the owner, Deok-chil of the casino, notices Bong’s broach, which has a hidden camera. The camera streams live footage for Do-Cheol and the Violent Crimes Department. The perpetrators and the customers start running from the building. However, the cops act fast and arrest them all. The only person who needs to be caught is Deok-chil, who is on the rooftop. After several comical failures, the cops finally arrest Deok-chil — all thanks to Bong’s crotch-kick. The Veteran team of Do-cheol, Bong, Jae-Pyeong, Dong-Hyeon, and Si-Yeong is back to fight against crimes.
What is Haechi?
Elsewhere, Jung-sik is tortured and murdered by a masked man. The reason Jun-sik is murdered is because he got away after committing some crimes. In 2021, Ahn Somi made sexual assault allegations against Jung-sik. Furthermore, Jung-sik also impregnated Ahn Somi. When action was not taken against Jung-sik, and people started calling Ahn Somi a gold digger, Ahn Somi killed herself. Now Jung-sik is killed in the same place and way Ahn Somi died. The online channels and news media have given a nickname for this murderer, ‘Haechi,’ which means Justice Hero.
The media speculates if Haechi’s killings stem from a failing justice system. The latest victim, Seong — the Cigarette Burn Killer — murdered his grandmother at 13 by burning cigarettes on her face, serving a short sentence in a juvenile facility. Now, Seong is killed the same way. During the briefing, Do-Cheol reveals journalist Seung-Hwan coined the name Haechi for the killer, while Chief Inspector Kang Su-Dae suspects a copycat, not a serial killer. At home, Do-Cheol watches Seung-Hwan’s content. Seeing that Do-Cheol’s wife is annoyed, Do-Cheol focuses on their son Woo-jin, who is probably a victim of bullying.
Why is Do-Cheol called to Woo-jin’s school?
Meanwhile, Woo-jin, wearing earphones, fails to hear Do-Cheol calling him. At that time, Team Lead Jae-Pyeong calls Do-Cheol to give some bad news. A criminal, Jeon Seok-woo, had killed a pregnant woman and is going to be released from prison soon. Since Seok-woo was intoxicated at that time, he was sentenced only to three years in jail. So, the next target for Haechi is Seok-woo, and the cops are asked to protect Seok-woo once he is out of prison. Hearing this, Do-Cheol is annoyed as he was the one who arrested Seok-woo. On the day of his release, there is public outrage. Many internet influencers record the whole situation.
One of these influencers starts fighting a patrol guard, Seon-U, as Do-Cheol takes Seok-woo to safety. During the Violent Crime Department dinner, Do-Cheol invites Seon-U to join the team. Furthermore, Do-Cheol is frustrated that officers get disciplinary hearings for roughing up criminals. Amidst the dinner conversations, Do-Cheol receives a call from the police that Woo-jin had called the suicide helpline. The cops and Do-Cheol rush to Do-Cheol’s house to see Woo-jin relaxing on his bed. The teachers portray Woo-jin as a troublesome youngster since Woo-jin’s childhood, even though Do-Cheol is sure Woo-jin is bullied. Soon, Woo-jin takes counseling sessions.
What does Seung-Hwan do to go viral?
It’s time to move Seok-woo to a safe house. The police anticipate the influencer and public commotion, so they fake Seok-woo’s transport twice to distract the public while Seon-U transports Seok-woo to the safe house without any problems. That night, Seon-U drives Do-Cheol. On the way, Seon-U offers to help clone Woo-jin’s phone to understand what Woo-jin is going through. Instead of going home, Do-Cheol is called to Thuy’s house. According to Seung-Hwan, Thuy killed her husband and got some insurance money. Sadly, this is fake news, and Thuy’s life is at risk. So Do-Cheol promises to do what he can to help out.
The next day, the cops receive a notification that Seung-Hwan is going live and will introduce Haechi to the public. The cops hurry to the venue where there is an event, which is overtly crowded. Spotting a masked man, Do-Cheol and Seon-U chase after him. After a long chase, Seon-U stumbles on the stairs along with the masked man, almost killing him. Seeing the bleeding man, Seung-Hwan is terrified. Meanwhile, Seok-woo escapes from the safe house after receiving a call from his mother. At the hospital, Do-Cheol realizes the man in the ICU is not Haechi but someone Seung-Hwan set up to gain donations, likes, and subscribers.
Is Gang-hoo Haechi?
Elsewhere, Haechi has killed Seok-woo just as he had killed his victim. Seeing Seok-woo’s dead body, Do-Cheol realises he was first strangled to death and then his head was smashed. The next day, Do-Cheol disturbs Seung-Hwan’s stream to confront him for faking Haechi’s identity. After giving a warning to Seung-Hwan, Do-Cheol leaves. In a boxing ring, Woo-jin is beaten to a pulp by his schoolmates. Soon, Seon-U arrives and beats the bullies. Later, Do-Cheol hears the good news: the bullies apologize for what they had done to Woo-jin. This conversation between Do-Cheol and his wife is heard by Seon-U, who has hacked Do-Cheol’s phone.
There is a murder of 13 bikers, and the killer is Gang-hoo, who had gotten into drugs after a biker gang murdered his girlfriend. At the briefing, Seon-U said that during safe house transport, Gang-hoo’s vehicle was present at the scene. After tracking Gang-hoo’s vehicle, the cops reach a druggie ally. Inside Gang-hoo’s car, the cops find enough evidence to prove that Gang-hoo is Haechi. After surveying the alley, Seon-U finds Gang-hoon and fights him. When Do-Cheol is distracted, Seon-U injects himself with a needle to make it look like Gang-hoo has attacked him. When Seon-U becomes uncontrollable, the other cops separate them and arrest Gang-hoo.
Why does Seon-U think Do-Cheol is similar to Haechi?
At the hospital, Do-Cheol asks Seon-U to be careful next time as it looks like Seon-U was intentionally trying to kill Gang-hoo. The interrogation is being conducted by another team, which infuriates Do-Cheol. From the forensics, Do-Cheol learns that the way Seok-woo was strangled is similar to the technique Seon-U uses. All the orders Do-Cheol gives his team are heard by Seon-U, who leaves the hospital hurriedly. In order not to get caught, Seon-U, aka Haechi, turns Gang-hoo to Haechi and tries to kill him. If Gang-hoo is killed, Seon-U would never be caught, but now Do-Cheol chases Seon-U. Meanwhile, Do-Cheol gets a call from his wife about Thuy’s disappearance.
As Do-Cheol rushes out of the police station, he gets a call from Seon-U, who blackmails Do-Cheol to give up the chase by sending a video of Woo-jin getting tortured by some kids. If Do-Cheol does not follow through, then Woo-jin will die. Now, Do-Cheol realizes his phone has been hacked, so he calls Jae-Pyeong from a landline to give orders. In a tunnel, Do-Cheol finds Seung-Hwan tied to a chair with glass pieces surrounding him. A little ahead, Do-Cheol finds Thuy tied inside a car with a sharp rod close to Thuy’s neck.
On a call, Seon-U gives Do-Cheol two options: to turn the other way and save Woo-jin or try to arrest Seon-U. No matter what, Seon-U will make sure Seung-Hwan and Thuy both die. Furthermore, Seon-U suggests Do-Cheol is as much a Haechi as Seon-U. To demonstrate, Seon-U plays recordings of Do-Cheol’s past statements as evidence of supporting Haechi.
I, The Executioner (Veteran 2/Beterang 2, 2025) Movie Ending Explained:
The Haechi Showdown: Justice, Vengeance, and the Final Pursuit
A floodlight appears as Do-Cheol tries to help Thuy, and Seon-U comes before Do-Cheol. A video is played to show that Woo-Jin will die. Fortunately, Do-Cheol is prepared as the rest of Do-Cheol’s team arrives at Woo-jin’s location and saves him. After that, Do-Cheol and Seon-U start fighting. Taking an opportunity, Seon-U releases the rod sticking to the brakes and lets the car go ahead with Thuy inside it. Just as Thuy’s vehicle is about to hit a stand, Jae-Pyeong comes to Thuy’s rescue. Inside the tunnel, Do-Cheol saves Seung-Hwan from dying. As Do-Cheol struggles, Seon-U takes Do-Cheol’s car and rushes out of the tunnel. Meanwhile, Jae-Pyeong picks up Do-Cheol and chases after Seon-U.
At the end of the tunnel, other cops have blocked the path. So Seon-U turns around and speeds up, wanting to crash Jae-Pyeong’s car. In a split second, Do-Cheol steers the vehicle, making the car turn, and Seon-U crashes the car. For a while, it seems like Seon-U is dead, but Do-Cheol gives CPR and revives him. Immediately, Do-Cheol arrests Seon-U. After the rescue and arrest, the team is slouched on the pavement. At home, Do-Cheol apologizes to Woo-jin for not being more present or understanding of Woo-jin’s situation. In the post-credits, Seon-U has been imprisoned for life but has escaped while getting transferred. Because of this, Su-Dae is in trouble.
Haechi’s Justice: Righteous Avenger or Dangerous Killer?
The post-credit scene hints at the possibility of Veteran 3, yet the film itself provides a satisfying sense of closure. The shocking reveal confirms that Haechi is none other than Seon-U. However, the film deliberately withholds the exact reason behind Seon-U’s descent into vigilantism. Speculation suggests that Seon-U, having witnessed the flaws within the legal justice system, took it upon himself to deliver justice in his own way. But his actions hint at something deeper—something unsettling. During his kills, Seon-U’s expressions reveal more than just a sense of duty; there is an undeniable pleasure in his executions, suggesting an underlying psychological complexity.
Meanwhile, Do-Cheol grapples with his own moral dilemma. As a cop, he firmly believes that murder, in any form, is still murder. Yet, beneath his convictions, there is a lingering satisfaction in Haechi’s actions. He understands the consequences of taking the law into one’s own hands—it can spiral into chaos. At its core, the film challenges the audience to question the justice system’s imperfections. Is it truly fair to the victims? And when justice fails, does that justify the existence of a vigilante?
