Collectors 2020

Kang Dong-goo's reputation and team

Kang Dong-goo, a gifted grave robber, is known in Seoul's underworld for his uncanny ability to locate hidden burial chambers and artifacts. He relies on instinct and improvisation rather than formal archaeology, and he lives with veteran digger Man-gi and Man-gi's daughter Hye-ri, who assists with logistics and hacking. After every successful heist, he leaves a chocolate pie wrapper as his personal calling card.

The Buddha statue theft and Sang-gil's interest

Dong-goo steals a valuable Buddha statue from a temple even while police protect it, shocking the underworld with his audacity. He then approaches Sang-gil, a wealthy antiques broker, who is impressed by his talent and offers to fence future finds. Sang-gil commissions Dong-goo to obtain a mural from a Goguryeo-era tomb.

Dr. Jones recruited for the mural job

To tackle the more complex tomb operation, Sang-gil hires Dr. Jones, a specialist who can decipher layouts and hidden passages. Dr. Jones's expertise will help Dong-goo navigate the tomb’s traps and chambers. Sang-gil's circle is shown as a secret collector with a vault that hides more than it reveals.

Sang-gil's vault and Se-hee's role

Sang-gil is revealed as a secret hoarder, maintaining a heavily fortified vault of illegally excavated antiquities. Museum curator Yoon Se-hee authenticates and quietly moves pieces, enabling his operations without attracting suspicion. This backdrop explains the stakes of the planned mural heist.

Flashback: Sang-gil murders Dong-goo's father

In a brutal flashback, Sang-gil hires Dong-goo's father for a tomb robbery, murders him, and attempts to bury a young Dong-goo alive. Sang-gil leaves a chocolate pie as a cruel 'gift' before sealing the grave, a trauma that fuels Dong-goo's vendetta. The memory explains the vow driving his current alliance with Sang-gil—and his long-term plan to take him down.

Present-day vendetta and double-dealing

Back in the present, Dong-goo continues to work for Sang-gil while secretly plotting revenge. He plays along with the broker's schemes, gathering intelligence and setting up a long-term plan to unseat him. The dual motives drive their dangerous alliance and set the stage for a spectacular heist.

The royal sword rumor and crew expansion

Dong-goo convinces Sang-gil that a legendary royal sword may lie beneath central Seoul, reigniting the idea of a high-stakes tomb job. To pull it off, Sang-gil expands the crew to include Sapdari, the legendary 'Shovel Leg', and other specialists who can dig fast and cleanly. The plan blends personal revenge with a spectacular heist.

Preparation and progress toward the royal tomb

The team proceeds with the refurbishment-project ruse, tunneling into the underground site toward the royal tomb. Dr. Jones maps the mural layouts while Sapdari contributes speed and precision to the digging. The operation tightens as authorities and rivals threaten to derail the plan.

Arrival at the royal tomb

Kang's crew reaches the royal tomb and moves toward the weapon, a moment that confirms the broader plan is about more than money. The operation continues under the cover of the refurbishment project as rivals close in. The tension peaks as they edge closer to the prize.

Betrayal: Sang-gil lured and abandoned

Kang lures Sang-gil into the tomb on the promise of a hidden royal sword, but then abandons him underground, leaving behind another chocolate pie to echo the past betrayal. The calculation is pure revenge, turning Sang-gil's own hubris against him. The danger of trust in the underworld is laid bare.

Sang-gil's rescue and discovery of an emptied hoard

Sang-gil is rescued by the refurbishment crew, only to find his private collection has been cleared out. Se-hee had secretly shut down Sang-gil's security to steal the hoard, and she is shocked to discover that Kang has already emptied the vault, leaving behind only a portrait.