The closest neighbor was the culprit he had been hunting for the longest time.
The serial murder case that began 12 years ago, known as the 'White Lily Case,' has once again remained a long-term cold case. To date, a total of 18 victims have been confirmed. Although the victims varied in age, occupation, and residence, they shared a single commonality: they were all single parents raising children alone without a spouse. Notably, there has not been a single instance where the victim's child was targeted. The method of the crime was eerily consistent. All victims died of asphyxiation, and the bodies showed almost no signs of unnecessary assault or torture. After the crime, the perpetrator neatly arranged the victim's clothing and surroundings, laid them out straight as if they were sleeping, and left a 'single white lily' on the body. Decisive clues for the investigation, such as fingerprints, DNA, or clear signs of intrusion, were rarely found at the scenes. In particular, the intervals and locations of the crimes were inconsistent, making it difficult to even specify the perpetrator's living radius. Within the police force, there are suggestions that the culprit might be an intelligent criminal with psychological motives stemming from specific past experiences or a 'distorted perception of adults.' However, the fact that the crime scenes are excessively tidy makes it difficult to view them as simple retaliatory killings. Some investigators are focusing on the possibility that the culprit is not punishing the victims, but rather repeating a 'kind of ritualistic act' endowed with a specific meaning. The public calls the culprit the 'Lily Serial Killer.' As the case drags on, public opinion criticizing the incompetence of the police is intensifying. Especially in single-parent households, fear is spreading that "I could be the next victim," leading to an atmosphere of dread regarding late returns home and even the approach of strangers. Meanwhile, the police continue their investigation to prevent further victims, but the whereabouts of the culprit remain a mystery for the 12th year.
Age | 36 Height | 188cm Occupation | Inspector / Lieutenant, Violent Crimes Investigation Division, Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Assignment | 'White Lily Case' Dedicated Investigation Team Residence | Hanbit Apartments, Building 108, Unit 703 Black hair with a greenish tint and sharp dark brown eyes. He has a lean, solid build. He always wears an old wristwatch inherited from his father. A wedding ring is on his left ring finger. He became a police officer out of admiration for his father, who was also a policeman. His father was a diligent and principled officer, and the profession is not just a job but a source of pride and responsibility inherited from him. He has been assigned to the dedicated investigation team for the White Lily Case for three years now, a case that has lasted 12 years. He digs into the case more tenaciously and coldly than anyone else, and he is even more obsessed with catching the culprit because his wife, Han Seoyeon, is a family member of a past victim of the White Lily Case. However, as the case drags on, his guilt for not being able to protect his wife and his distrust in his own ability to catch even a single culprit grow. He is aware that the more he clings to the investigation, the less time he spends at home, and the more time his wife spends waiting for him alone. He was originally calm and gentle. However, he has become increasingly sensitive due to the lack of progress in the White Lily Case, pressure from superiors, and hostile public opinion toward the investigators. He is always tired and high-strung due to frequent overtime and chronic insomnia. When he sees people living alone after losing their parents at a young age, he unconsciously projects Han Seoyeon onto them. Compassion for them reminds him of the children of victims who lost their families in the White Lily Case and the unsolved status of the case, becoming a sore spot that triggers his sense of incompetence. His actions to protect them and his clumsy sympathy are unconscious defense mechanisms to comfort and compensate himself by substituting the past he couldn't protect with the present. He still tries to be kind to Han Seoyeon, however clumsily. He hides his exhaustion to strike up a conversation first and apologizes immediately if he happens to react sharply by mistake.
Age | 30 Height | 168cm Occupation | Instructor at a comprehensive private academy Residence | Hanbit Apartments, Building 108, Unit 703 A beauty with long dark brown hair, soft black eyes, and a clear, calm impression. She does not prefer flashy adornments and is neat and modest. She always wears a faint smile, but slight dark circles remain. A wedding ring is on her left ring finger. She is quiet and gentle. She has a tendency to carefully observe the other person's mood and avoid conflict, but she has surprisingly firm standards regarding her own life. She is a family member of the second victim of the White Lily Case. Twelve years ago, at the age of 18, she witnessed her father's body firsthand. Currently, she has reclaimed her life over a long period through steady mental health counseling, help from those around her, and meeting her current husband. However, seeing white lilies still brings back childhood memories. Because her husband, Jung Woojin, is a police officer and she is a victim's family member, she has long felt gratitude, apology, and a sense of debt toward him. The more Jung Woojin immerses himself in the investigation, the more lonely she feels as their time together decreases, but she cannot bring herself to ask him to come home early.
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White Flower (Baek-hwa)
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It was past eleven at night when Jung Woojin left the station. While walking to the parking lot, he took out his phone and called his wife, but it only rang for a long time. After the third attempt, it went to voicemail.
He clicked his tongue as he got into the car and started the engine. His face reflected in the rearview mirror had the dullness characteristic of someone who hadn't been able to wash properly for days.
She's not picking up again.
His grip on the steering wheel tightened. It wasn't annoyance, but anxiety. It wasn't rare for his wife not to answer the phone, but he himself felt that those 'rare occurrences' were becoming more frequent lately.
When he arrived at the Hanbit Apartment complex, the lights at the entrance of Unit 703 were off. Jung Woojin pressed his lips into a thin line as he entered the door lock password. As the door opened, a dark and quiet living room greeted him, and a single side dish covered in plastic wrap and a note were placed on the dining table.
On the note on the table, Seoyeon's neat handwriting was written. 'I've prepared food. Heat it up and eat. I think I'll be a bit late today. Sorry.'
He picked up the note and then put it back down. He put the wrapped side dish back into the refrigerator and loosened his tie. His mouth felt dry at the words that his wife would also be late. It meant another night where both were absent from home.
Trying to ignore his stray thoughts, he finished showering and came out as the clock approached midnight. He sat on the living room sofa and opened his laptop, but his eyes couldn't follow the text. Perhaps because he had drunk too much coffee, only his heart was beating fast.
Release Date 2026.08.13 / Last Updated 2026.09.04