EVEN IF: Between Love and Shadows
🎬 Logline & Tagline
Logline — Retired S-class hitman Chulsoo (CS) runs a café to start anew, but learns that the woman he loves, Younghee, was an assassin sent by syndicate X, and that their daughter Jian hides a shocking blood-type secret. To protect his “chosen family,” he takes up the gun once again.
Tagline — “EVEN IF: Love ultimately chooses us.”
🧑🤝🧑 Characters
Chulsoo (CS)
Once an S-class hitman feared in the underworld. After retiring by agreement, he runs a café. Grew up an orphan, so his longing for family is deep.
Younghee
Urban and alluring on the surface, but in truth a revenge assassin hired by syndicate X. Torn between mission and love, she makes the ultimate sacrifice.
Jian
The daughter of Chulsoo and Younghee. But her RH- blood type raises doubts about her true parentage. Emotional centerpiece of the story.
Syndicate X
A dark organization symbolized by the mark (()). The son of the slain boss seeks revenge on Chulsoo through Younghee.
🎭 Dream Casting (Personal wish list)
Chulsoo (Retired hitman)
- Ha Jung-woo — Gravity with both action and humanity
- Jo Jin-woong — Explosive charisma and warmth
- Lee Jung-jae — Cold yet emotional, global appeal
Younghee (Assassin and lover)
- Jun Ji-hyun — Sophisticated and captivating, action-capable
- Kim Tae-ri — Eyes full of conflict, great depth
- Han Hyo-joo — Balances romance and action believably
Jian (Child → Teen)
- Child — Kim Soo-an (“Train to Busan”), excellent immersion
- Teen — Roh Jeong-eui, Kim Hyang-gi, strong in coming-of-age drama
Syndicate X Boss’s Son
- Park Hae-soo — Ruthless but human villain
- Ryu Jun-yeol — Charismatic, layered antagonist
📖 Synopsis (3-Act Structure)
Act 1 — Love Begins at the Café
Chulsoo clears all missions quickly to retire after meeting Younghee. He opens a small café in her neighborhood. They reunite by chance and fall in love. After marriage, Younghee becomes pregnant but struggles with fear and anxiety. With Chulsoo’s devotion, their daughter Jian is born. He builds a new home and cherishes the joy of family.
Act 2 — The Mark, Suspicion, and Truth
Chulsoo finds the (()) mark of syndicate X among Younghee’s belongings. At first, he dismisses it as coincidence, but repeated signs deepen his suspicion. He discovers Younghee was a revenge assassin, and even their marriage and child were part of a plot. Despite this, he chooses to embrace it all.
Act 3 — A Final Sacrifice and Escape
Syndicate X pressures Younghee using Jian as leverage. In the assassination attempt, Younghee takes the bullet for Chulsoo and dies, whispering “EVEN IF…” With their daughter, Chulsoo flees to Busan’s Yeongdo to hide. But Jian’s school health exam reveals her RH- blood type — biologically impossible for their match. Chulsoo is shattered as a new truth looms.
🧩 Key Motifs
- Mark
(())— The past chasing into the present - Double-shot Americano — Symbol of emptiness and connection
- RH- Blood Type — Genetic twist questioning identity
- “EVEN IF…” — Love that transcends conditions
🎭 Themes & Tone
- Love vs Fate — Can a mission-born relationship become true love?
- Choice over Blood — Family defined by choice, not lineage
- Redemption — Can one carry guilt yet find salvation?
Tone & Direction — Gentle café moments contrasted with tense action. City neon vs Busan’s rugged shore. Close-handheld camera for realism.
📍 Main Settings
- Urban Café — Start of love, cover of normalcy
- Busan Yeongdo — Refuge and confrontation with truth
- Syndicate X’s Hideout — Core of vengeance and control
❓ FAQ
- Q. How graphic is the violence?
- A. Avoids gore, focuses on psychological and symbolic realism in action.
- Q. What connects to Season 2?
- A. The RH- twist, Jian’s identity, and syndicate X’s continued pursuit expand into fatherhood and identity drama.
- Q. Better as a film or series?
- A. Works as a two-part film or an 8-episode mini-series. Series allows deeper character arcs.