白勇奇（金来沅 饰）和金钟大（李敏镐 饰）这对落难兄弟无路可去，偶然机会他们帮黑社会打架，擅长打斗的钟大得到老大姜佶秀的赏识，他为了温饱干脆拜入姜的门下。怎奈世事难料，姜在受伤后金盆洗手，试图退出江湖又身不由己。钟大搭上手眼通天的闵夫人，通过热炒地皮闯出名堂。与此同时，在最初的混战中白勇奇阴差阳错加入敌对帮派，凭着一股狠劲他越做越大，成为帮派中一员不可忽视的猛将。在某次行动中，钟大救下了险些被张德才手下杀害的白勇奇，两个好兄弟久别重逢。 20世纪70年代的韩国，政客与黑道沆瀣一气，鱼肉乡民，在散发着腐臭气息的名利场，钟大和勇奇这对曾经的好兄弟也渐行渐远……
In the 1970s, during the height of political corruption, Gangnam, the southern part of Seoul, is starting to be transformed into a developed area. Childhood friends Jong-dae and Yong-ki struggle to get by, until their shanty homes are demolished by local thugs. Desperate for cash, they get involved in violent political clashes, and are separated during one of the skirmishes. Three years later, Jong-dae lives as an adopted son of former gang leader Gil-soo and unknown to him a small-time gangster. Meanwhile, Yong-ki has raised as a made man inside Seoul's most powerful criminal organization, the Myeongdong-pa under Yang Ki-taek. Jong-dae meets foxy Min Seong-hee and is entangled in real estate business from tips Min Seong-hee gets from Park Seung-gu they enter into bigger business. Jong-dae finally meets Yong-ki and they together hatch plans to co-operate and become rich. Min Seong-hee introduces Jong-dae to a disgraced politician, Seo Tae-gon who still has political controls and they plan to raise him back to the political arena. They enter high-stakes battle going over land in Gangnam, by other political parties to fund secret presidential election and slush funds and drives up the plot-value of the city from inside information about future plan to turn Gangnam as an extended part of the capital. As the gangs fight over the rights to various plots and to maintain power structure, Yong-ki betrays his people and eliminates opposition with Jong-dae. Yong-ki who had to save his skin from suspicion of his boss kills Gil-soo. Jong-dae realizes this and keeps an eye on him. Meanwhile, Yong-ki's gang motivates him to overthrow Jong-dae and take over the whole operation when it is all over. After Seo Tae-gon's final mission they face each other and Jong-dae threatens Yong-ki to disappear and eliminates his gang members. Seo Tae-gon, to turn a new leaf in his career, recruits two new goons as his henchmen and puts them in charge to assassinate both Jong-dae and Yong-ki and they do so while Seo Tae-gon announces his nominee-ship for election and dances with Min Seong-hee. The ruling government declares its intent to adjoin Gagnam to its capital. After years an aged Seo Tae-gon addresses the developed city of Gangnam about his commitment to the city.
