Episode 1 of "Karma" bears the intriguing title, "The Man With Loan Shark Debts." The narrative opens with a harrowing scene: a man, trussed up and brutalized, finds himself trapped within the confines of an abandoned warehouse that is swiftly engulfed in flames. Rescued by firefighters but severely burned, he undergoes arduous medical treatment, only to emerge with his face hideously disfigured. As he convalesces, he reveals his identity: Park Jae-yeong. A female doctor, visibly perturbed, struggles with his heartfelt gratitude.
The storyline then rewinds to 15 days prior to the inferno. Jae-yeong, burdened by three months of unpaid rent, ducks his loan shark, who retaliates by kidnapping him. The shark issues an ultimatum: repay within 30 days or face having all his organs harvested. Desperate and without a concrete plan, Jae-yeong trudges back to work, where his financial woes deepen as he borrows from Chang-seop, a gullible colleague.
At work, Jae-yeong overhears his boss terminating Gil-ryong, a Korean-Chinese ex-convict hired under a prison rehab program despite having a sick child. Enraged, Gil-ryong brandishes a blade at his boss before storming off. Jae-yeong later eavesdrops on Gil-ryong's wife berating him, noticing a facial scar and a hand tattoo. Curiosity piqued, he investigates and discovers the tattoo belongs to the Knife of Yanbian, a notorious Korean-Chinese triad renowned for their ruthless revenge tactics.
Jae-yeong's world is further upset when his father, Dong-sik, is involved in a hit-and-run. The affluent perpetrator seeks a private settlement, offering Jae-yeong 5 million won. Jae-yeong gives 3 million to Dong-sik for medical expenses but reconsiders. Dong-sik, however, refuses to return the money. Enter a woman who surprises Jae-yeong, leading him to mock Dong-sik for prioritizing a gold digger over helping his own son. Spurred on, Jae-yeong extorts an additional 3 million from the perpetrator.
That night, Jae-yeong visits Dong-sik's place to fetch some clothes. While there, he pilfers his father's Rolex, some savings, and, upon further inspection, stumbles upon a life insurance policy promising a 500 million won payout in the event of Dong-sik's death by motor accident or disease. The revelations pile on, painting a portrait of intrigue, desperation, and moral dilemmas intertwined in Jae-yeong's life.
On his exit, Jae-yeong finds himself ensnared in a harrowing dilemma, faced with the grim choice of either meeting his end or taking his father's life. Just as he grapples with this impossible decision, he is abruptly accosted by a group of teenage delinquents, who badger him into buying cigarettes for them. Jae-yeong's frustration boils over into aggression, and his rude demeanor incites the teenagers into a rage. They swiftly turn on him, beating him mercilessly and making off with his cigarettes and vape.
Haunted by a harrowing nightmare where he is brutally dismembered, Jae-yeong awakens to find himself in a hospital bed. His father stands beside him, lambasting the police for their failure to install CCTV cameras in every alleyway, a sentiment that sparks a sudden revelation in Jae-yeong. He dashes out of the hospital room with renewed purpose.
Seeking out Gil-ryong, Jae-yeong proposes a harrowing deal: 60 million won in exchange for his father's life, taken in such a way that it does not appear as murder. As a gesture of good faith, Jae-yeong surreptitiously records their conversation and hands over the recording to Gil-ryong, stipulating only that Dong-sik's demise should not bear the hallmarks of foul play. Gil-ryong, needing only to run Dong-sik down in the very alley where Jae-yeong was assaulted, agrees to the terms.
However, Jae-yeong's troubles are far from over. The next day, Gil-ryong begins to shadow him, his eyes gleaming with greed. With minimal effort, Gil-ryong uncovers the full extent of the payout and demands an inflated sum of 150 million won. Cornered and desperate, Jae-yeong reluctantly agrees, his protests falling on deaf ears until Gil-ryong curtly instructs him to secure an airtight alibi.
Jae-yeong extends an invitation to Chang-seop for a delightful barbecue and secures a karaoke room, complete with companionship for their evening's entertainment. However, their plans take a sudden turn when Chang-seop is unexpectedly summoned home halfway through. Left to his own devices, Jae-yeong proceeds to the karaoke room alone, lingering there until 10:12 PM, making sure to leave a lasting impression on the escorts.
Later, Jae-yeong finds himself at a cafe, attempting to catch the waiters' attention by smiling, coughing, and watching a video at full blast. Just as he does so, a dramatic scene unfolds outside: Gil-ryong accidentally runs over Dong-sik. Unperturbed, Jae-yeong stays until the cafe closes, eventually making his way home.
Anticipation builds as Jae-yeong eagerly awaits a call from Gil-ryong, growing increasingly frustrated when it doesn't come. To his relief, a call finally arrives, but it's from Chief Park, summoning him to identify Dong-sik's deceased body. Jae-yeong's smile at the news is tinged with an unsettling mix of tears and emotion.
Stage 2 begins with Jae-yeong feigning grief over his father's loss. However, his genuine shock is palpable when a witness is brought in – Dong-sik's girlfriend. A flashback reveals her in conversation with someone at the moment of the murder, witnessing the car reversing and Gil-ryong inspecting the body. Adding to the intrigue, Dong-sik's body was not discovered in the alley but buried deep in the mountains.
This revelation prompts Jae-yeong to shed genuine tears, mentally reprimanding Gil-ryong for derailing their meticulously laid plans. And with that, Karma Episode 1 concludes on a tense and emotional note.
