Gu Jeong-tae (Byun Yo-han), a well-respected real estate agent in Seoul, has a peculiar pastime—he takes an interest in watching people when they have no idea they are being observed. His fixation goes beyond mere curiosity, as he also sneaks into the homes of his clients whenever they are not around, betraying their trust.
However, he is careful never to leave any sign of his intrusion, even going as far as carrying out necessary repairs. Additionally, he takes photographs of their possessions, seemingly as souvenirs from his unsettling escapades.
When curiosity crosses the line (Photo: Following/Next Wave Films and Syncopy)One evening, while eating at a convenience store, he notices Han So-ra, a popular social media influencer, seated nearby. While munching on packaged sausages, he observes So-ra uploading an image of a vegan salad on her social media profile, which immediately piques his curiosity.
This prompts him to start trailing her across the city, paying close attention to her movements until he eventually finds out where she lives. His obsession does not stop at physically following her—he also keeps track of her online activities, gathering details about her past and daily routine.
Eventually, he figures out how to slip into her apartment unnoticed. However, things take a different turn when So-ra unexpectedly appears at his office as a client. She hands him her apartment key, asking him to look after the place in her absence.
With this access, Jeong-tae continues entering her home, inspecting its condition, and handling maintenance work, all while keeping tabs on her online presence.
How Following Concludes
Law enforcement gets involved when an anonymous tip from So-ra directs them to a particular location. At the same time, she ensures that Jeong-tae arrives there as well. To strengthen her case, she deliberately inflicts injuries on herself to make it appear as though he attacked her.
However, Jeong-tae manages to escape before he can be apprehended. Meanwhile, Detective Young-joo looks into So-ra’s background and uncovers evidence of her past criminal activities.
She requests permission from her superiors to investigate further, but they expect her to simply carry out instructions without overstepping her boundaries. In an attempt to clear his name, Jeong-tae reaches out to Young-joo, sharing his side of the story and urging her to believe him.
Every home has secrets, and he knows them all (Photo: Following/Next Wave Films and Syncopy)As events play out, Young-joo takes So-ra back to her apartment. So-ra continues to present herself as a helpless victim, maintaining her act convincingly. Later, she arranges a private meeting with Jeong-Tae, unaware that he is secretly recording their conversation.
During their discussion, she admits to a series of terrible crimes, including killing four dogs for financial gain and eliminating other victims to protect herself. Just as Jeong-tae begins to process this revelation, she uses a taser on him, intending to end his life.
However, her plan is thwarted when Young-joo and her team arrive in time to stop her. Shortly afterward, authorities uncover the remains of So-ra’s previous victims, leading to her arrest alongside Jeong-tae. Sometime later, Jeong-tae is released from prison and meets with Detective Young-joo.
Expressing his gratitude, he thanks her for trusting him, but she simply responds that she is only doing her job.
Who is the Real Victim in Following?
As Following comes to a close, Jeong-tae seeks out Detective Young-joo, assuming that she will sympathize with his situation. He believes she will acknowledge the harm So-ra inflicted on his life. Instead, she provides him with a harsh reality check.
She makes it clear that he is not an innocent victim, pointing out his disturbing history of stalking. On the other hand, So-ra cannot be entirely considered a victim either. Just before she is taken into custody, she insists that she has been wronged, portraying herself as an innocent person.
While she endured struggles and was targeted by predatory men, she, in turn, harmed others to serve her selfish interests. Additionally, she built an online presence based on deception, fabricating details to grow her social media influence. Ironically, this manipulation contributed to her downfall.
