Near the Korean Demilitarized Zone, Sergeant Lim Gyu-nam of the Korean People's Army, who is about to be discharged after 10 years of service, prepares to defect from North Korea to South Korea, due to disillusionment with the regime. However, lower-ranking soldier Kim Dong-hyuk, who discovers Gyu-nam's plan, attempts to escape first, and Gyu-nam, who tries to stop him, is suddenly arrested as a deserter.
Major Li Hyeon-sang of the Ministry of State Security who came to the unit to investigate a deserter, turns Gyu-nam, whom he had known since childhood, into a hero for his efforts to apprehend a deserter, and gives him a position as a direct assistant to the division commander, assisting him with his life. However, when Gyu-nam makes a full-scale escape along with Dong-hyuk, Hyeon-sang begins a pursuit with no way to back down. As Gyu-nam and Dong-hyuk make their escape, Dong-hyuk is killed by Major Li Hyeon. Dong-Hyuk hands hands his sister's necklace to Gyu-nam and succumbs to his injuries. Major Li Hyeon is stopped as Gyu-nam crosses a mine field. As dawn breaks, Gyu-nam sees a squad of South Korean patrol troops. Realising that he is near to South Korea, he approaches them. However, he is stopped by Major Li, who holds Gyu-nam at gunpoint and says that life in South Korea is a failure. Gyu-nam pushes him and beats him up, before running towards a telephone and calling the South Korean soldiers of JSA, telling them about his wish to defect.
Gyu-nam then rushes inside a tunnel that heads towards the DMZ and to South Korea. As he runs, he is shot by Major Li multiple times. Determined to escape, Gyu-nam crawls towards a white line that symbolises the North and South Korean border. As Major Li is about to kill Gyu-nam, South Korean troops arrive, forcing Major Li to leave. Gyu-nam notices that his hands are on the White Line- he is now officially in South Korea. Gyu-nam is then asked by a South Korean soldier if he had radioed for defection. With Gyu-nam responding affirmatively, the South Koreans rescue him.
One year later, Gyu-nam is sitting inside his apartment, writing a business proposal letter, planning to travel abroad. A few days later, he also meets he meets his late junior Dong-hyuk's mother and sister, passing them the family necklace and sharing some moments with Dong-hyuk while they were serving in the North. The film ends with Gyu-nam, now a free man, listening to a podcast. He receives mail informing him of the approval of his business proposal. Seeing this, he smiles and walks while watching the skyline.
Cast
Lee Je-hoon as Sergeant First Class Lim Gyu-nam, a North Korean soldier who dreams of a new life in the South, away from the North where the future is predetermined.[4]
Koo Kyo-hwan as Major Lee Hyun-sang, an officer of North Korea's National Security Department, an intelligence department, who initially promoted Gyu-nam for apprehending a deserter but now leads a pursuit.[5][6]
Hong Xa-bin as Kim Dong-hyuk, a low-ranking soldier who dreams of escaping like Gyu-nam, but was apprehended.
Seo Hyun-woo as Major Cha, the head of the police department in charge of the 1st Division's battlefield area.
Lee Sung-wook as First Lieutenant Hong, a military officer belonging to the Ministry of Police in charge of the battalion.
In the film, Major Li Hyeon-sang turns out to have won international piano competitions, but chooses the military career because he is the son of a general trying to survive in the regime. According to the closing credits accompanied by Zion.T's 2014 digital single "Yanghwa Bridge", these are the classical music that have appeared in the movie:
^Park Sang- hoo (May 24, 2024). 이제훈·구교환 '탈주' 7월 3일 개봉 확정 [Lee Je-hoon and Koo Kyo-hwan's 'Escape' confirmed to be released on July 3] (in Korean). JTBC. Archived from the original on June 22, 2024. Retrieved June 22, 2024 – via Naver.
^Kim Bo-ra (January 10, 2024). "함께 연기하는 게 꿈"…'탈주' 이제훈x구교환, 올 7월 개봉 확정 [공식] ["It's my dream to act together"… 'Escape' Lee Je-hoon x Koo Kyo-hwan confirmed to be released in July this year [Official]] (in Korean). OSEN [ko]. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
^Shim Eon-kyung (December 28, 2021). 구교환, '탈주' 출연 확정...이제훈 러브콜 성사됐다[공식] [Gu Gwan-hwa confirmed to appear in 'Escape'... Lee Je-hoon's love call was successful [Official]] (in Korean). Sports TV News. Archived from the original on December 28, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2021 – via Naver.
^Kim Bo-ra (January 10, 2024). "함께 연기하는 게 꿈"...'탈주' 이제훈x구교환, 올 7월 개봉 확정 [공식] ["It's my dream to act together"... 'Escape' Lee Je-hoon x Koo Kyo-hwan confirmed to be released in July this year [Official]] (in Korean). OSEN [ko]. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
^Ha Ha-jeong (June 18, 2024). '탈주' 송강→이솜, 주연배우 못지 않은 화려한 특별출연 ['Escape' Song Kang → Lee Som, special appearance as spectacular as the main actors] (in Korean). OSEN [ko]. Retrieved June 22, 2024 – via Naver.
^Ha Ha-jeong (June 18, 2024). '탈주' 송강→이솜, 주연배우 못지 않은 화려한 특별출연 ['Escape' Song Kang → Lee Som, special appearance as spectacular as the main actors] (in Korean). OSEN [ko]. Archived from the original on June 22, 2024. Retrieved June 22, 2024 – via Naver.
