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In I Saw the Devil, Tae-joo (played by Choi Moo-sung) is a long-time friend and associate of the main antagonist, Kyung-chul (Choi Min-sik). They are both serial killers, though Tae-joo is specifically a cannibal who lives in a large, secluded mansion with his female partner, Se-jung. Kyung-chul retreats to Tae-joo's home for medical aid and shelter after being injured by the protagonist, Soo-hyeon. The two share a casual, amoral bond, discussing their crimes over a dinner of human flesh. Their relationship ends when Soo-hyeon tracks Kyung-chul to the house, leading to a brutal fight where Soo-hyeon incapacitates Tae-joo (breaking his arm/wrist) and Kyung-chul. Later, Soo-hyeon visits Tae-joo in the hospital and rips his jaw open as punishment, effectively ending Tae-joo's threat.
In the film I Saw the Devil, the relationship between Tae-joo and Kyung-chul is that of long-time friends and fellow serial killers. They share a mutual understanding of each other's depravity and lack of empathy, acting as kindred spirits in a world where they are both predators.
Here are specific details regarding their relationship:
Tae-joo and Kyung-chul have a history that predates the events of the film. When Kyung-chul is severely injured and being hunted by the protagonist, Soo-hyeon, he retreats to Tae-joo’s secluded, fortress-like home in the mountains. This indicates a high level of trust (by their standards), as Kyung-chul knows Tae-joo will provide him with a "safe house" and medical assistance.
While both are murderers, their methods differ. Kyung-chul is a nomad who hunts victims in his van, driven by sexual violence and impulse. Tae-joo is a cannibal. He lives a more stationary life with a female companion (who is also a killer), and they keep victims in a basement "larder" to be consumed. Tae-joo’s cannibalism is shown during a dinner scene where he implies the meat they are eating is human.
During their interactions at the house, they speak casually about their crimes. Tae-joo expresses a twisted kind of admiration for Kyung-chul’s notorious nature, but he also mocks him for getting caught and toyed with by Soo-hyeon. They recognize each other as "monsters" who exist outside the boundaries of human morality.
When Soo-hyeon eventually tracks Kyung-chul to the house, Tae-joo doesn't hesitate to help his friend. He engages in a brutal fight with Soo-hyeon to protect Kyung-chul. In this sequence, Tae-joo uses his physical strength and a variety of weapons (including a heavy pipe or log) to try and kill Soo-hyeon. This fight serves to show that while Kyung-chul is the primary antagonist, Tae-joo is equally dangerous and perhaps even more physically imposing.
The relationship effectively ends during the confrontation at the house. Soo-hyeon brutally defeats Tae-joo, breaking his limbs and leaving him incapacitated before continuing his psychological torture of Kyung-chul. Tae-joo's presence in the film serves to broaden the scope of the evil Soo-hyeon is fighting; it suggests that Kyung-chul is not an isolated incident but part of a hidden "underworld" of human monsters.
The summary omits the iconic scene where Soo-hyeon visits Tae-joo in the hospital and rips his jaw open. While the summary correctly notes the relationship ends at the house, this hospital scene is the definitive conclusion to Tae-joo's arc.