面貌清秀的宋志元(姜东元 饰)是来自朝鲜的谍报人员,在代号441的老间谍影子的带领下,他们闯入首尔一幢公寓,刺杀了本国叛逃人员及其一家。期间,他们遭遇韩国安全部门的追捕,一番激烈枪战过后宋志元等侥幸逃脱,但他被上级认为有叛变之心而从此弃用。另一方面,行动的失败导致韩国一方的行动队长李仁奎(宋康昊 饰)遭到革职处分,他只得开设侦探所,靠收钱追踪逃跑的越南新娘养家糊口。 不久,金正日和金大中实现历史性的会见,朝韩双方局势缓和。六年后,李仁奎在某个越南人工厂偶遇宋志元,他希望抓住志元及神秘的影子赚大钱,而志元也想利用仁奎洗脱自己叛变的罪名。两人别有用心住在了同一屋檐下,随着了解的加深,他们的想法渐渐发生改变……A North Korean killer known as "Shadow" is sent to assassinate an important dissident who found refuge in Seoul. He is helped by two sleeping agents: Son Tae-soon as look-out, and Song Ji-won, an elite fighter. The North Koreans have not counted with Lee Han-gyoo, from the South Korean National Intelligence Service, who has been tracking them and closes in with his men. Han-gyoo has not counted with the North Koreans' skill and ruthlessness. True to his reputation, "Shadow" disappears. Ji-won manages to escape, but cannot return to his country, where he is suspected to be a traitor, nor defect, for this means certain death for his wife and daughter who remained in North Korea. Discredited, Han-gyoo is fired from the NIS. Several years later, Ji-won and Han-gyoo meet unexpectedly, and pick up their confrontation -- but not quite from where they left it off.