Mercy for None Episode 1 Recap: A Brother’s Death Triggers a Violent Reckoning

This Mercy for None Episode 1 recap begins in 2010 Yeouido, Seoul, where Gi-jun tells his younger brother Gi-seok that he’s secured him a spot at Juwoon Group, thanks to Chairman Lee Ju-woon. After the warm moment, Gi-jun heads into a brutal gang fight and takes down a dominant opponent with ease, hinting at his deadly capabilities.

In the present day, a Bongsan Group manager is kidnapped and murdered by foreign assassins. Chairman Gu Bong-san discusses the situation with Chairman Lee Ju-woon, revealing that his own son, Gu Jun-mo, ordered the hit after uncovering internal business issues. To avoid direct involvement, Bong-san asks Ju-woon to discreetly eliminate the assassins in exchange for real estate help. Ju-woon agrees and tasks Gi-seok, now Ju-woon’s successor and senior managing director, with the job—even though Gi-seok wants to leave the company.

Gi-seok and his junior, Cheon Hae-beom, visit Jun-mo. Gi-seok gives the assassins a three-day warning to leave. Jun-mo mocks Gi-seok by bringing up Gi-jun’s past scandal, which led to both chairmen cutting Gi-jun’s Achilles tendon as punishment. Gi-seok silences Jun-mo with a few quick blows and walks out, unfazed by threats.

An Ambush in the Shadows

Later that night, Gi-seok senses someone in his home. While feeding a stray cat in the parking lot, he’s ambushed by masked attackers. Despite taking most of them down, he is ultimately stabbed when his guard drops. Gi-jun, who lives alone in the woods, receives a call about his brother.

The scene abruptly jumps to Gi-seok’s funeral, where Juwoon employees and the Bongsan chairmen pay respects. Ju-woon’s manager Choi Seong-cheol suspects Bongsan’s involvement but Kim Chun-seok brushes it off as an attack by runaways. Ju-woon’s eldest son Prosecutor Lee Geum-son is told to leave, unwanted by his father. When Gi-jun arrives, everyone bows as Seong-cheol leads him to Gi-seok’s body. Gi-jun immediately questions the narrative about the killers.

The Broken Pact

Gi-jun later confronts both chairmen about their 11-year-old pact—he agreed to disappear in exchange for his brother’s safety. Now, with Gi-seok dead, their silence is damning. Gi-jun visits Gi-seok’s house, finding camping books and a birthday gift that was never sent. Wrapping a band around his scarred ankle, he begins his return to the violent world he left behind.

He goes to the police, asking to meet the arrested suspect, Hui-chan. After manipulating the detective, Gi-jun gets access. Hui-chan is cold and remorseless, but slips up by mentioning a younger brother. Gi-jun follows that lead and is ambushed by Hui-chan’s gang—exactly as he planned.

A Calculated Bloodbath

Outnumbered but calm, Gi-jun annihilates the gang, showing the skills that once made him feared. After the fight, he approaches Hui-chan’s brother, determined to uncover who truly orchestrated Gi-seok’s murder.

The final moments of Mercy for None Episode 1 reveal Hui-chan stabbing Gi-seok. Yet Gi-seok calmly removes the knife and stumbles toward the parking lot exit—only to be met by an unseen assailant waiting beyond the door. This Mercy for None Episode 1 recap lays the foundation for a gritty revenge drama fueled by blood, betrayal, and unresolved brotherhood. With Gi-jun back in the game, his path forward looks brutal—and unstoppable. For more on recaps, do check out the link below.

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