Character Relationship Map: Squad 38

Characters

• Baek Sung-il (played by Don Lee) — protagonist
• Yang Jung-do (played by Seo In-guk) — protagonist
• Chun Sung-hee (played by Sooyoung Choi) — supporting
• No Bang-sil (played by Song Ok-suk) — supporting
• Jung Ja-wang (played by Ko Kyu-pil) — supporting
• Jo Mi-joo (played by Lee Sun-bin) — supporting
• Cheon Gap-soo (played by Ahn Nae-sang) — minor
• Ahn Chang-ho (played by Lee Hak-ju) — minor
• Ahn Tae-wook (played by Jo Woo-jin) — minor
• Sa Jae-sung (played by Jeong In-gi) — minor

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Chun Sung-hee → No Bang-sil (Professional Mentor) — No guides Chun in investigative techniques
• Yang Jung-do → Jo Mi-joo (Romantic Interest) — Yang develops feelings for Jo
• Baek Sung-il → Cheon Gap-soo (Professional Superior) — Cheon is Baek's commanding officer

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Jo Mi-joo → Chun Sung-hee (Social Friend) — Jo and Chun develop a friendship
• Yang Jung-do → Sa Jae-sung (Conflict Target) — Yang investigates Sa for tax crimes
• Baek Sung-il → Ahn Tae-wook (Conflict Adversary) — Baek pursues Ahn for tax evasion
• Yang Jung-do → Ahn Chang-ho (Conflict Rival) — Yang and Ahn compete for recognition
• Baek Sung-il → Jung Ja-wang (Alliance Team Member) — Baek and Jung work as part of Squad 38
• Yang Jung-do → Chun Sung-hee (Alliance Partner) — Yang and Chun work closely together on investigations
• Baek Sung-il → Yang Jung-do (Alliance Team Leader) — Baek leads Yang in Squad 38 operations

Story Analysis

The season follows a tax-related scam from personal grievance to coordinated criminal operations, institutional distrust, reconciliation, and a renewed plan after a two-year jump.

Plot Progression

1. Season 1: The Scam Revealed — A repeated scam exposes a larger criminal problem. A reluctant partnership begins when conventional pursuit is not enough.
2. Season 1: The First Operation — The new team forms and selects its first targets. Obtaining a signature while avoiding investigation creates mounting pressure.
3. Season 1: Danger Escalates — The team discovers that criminals are targeting them as well. Violence and casualties make the pursuit of honesty increasingly costly.
4. Season 1: Institutional Corruption — A high-value scheme brings new danger and improvisation. Connections between City Hall and the police department create a crisis of trust.
5. Season 1: Return To The Game — Reconciliation leads toward the team's biggest job, followed by a two-year time jump. A new plan and a familiar prospective recruit reopen the story's central question of trust.