Title: The Z Virus
Theme: Survival against overwhelming odds in a world overrun by a new kind of zombie virus that spreads faster and kills harder than anything seen before.
Setting: Begins in a high-security government lab and moves to modern Seoul—a sprawling city where chaos and human resilience collide.
Tone: Gritty, suspenseful, and character-driven with moments of introspection and hard-won hope.
Central Concept:
After a laboratory accident releases a deadly virus, society is plunged into mayhem. The protagonist, Min Jiwoo (known as Jiwoo), a disciplined 20‐year-old veteran, must navigate this new, perilous world. With his inherited martial skills and his family's legacy—a prized katana—the journey for survival becomes as much about reclaiming hope as it is about fighting monsters. Along the way, he encounters allies (and adversaries) whose names and stories shape his destiny.
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Key Characters
Min Jiwoo ("Jiwoo") – A 20-year-old Korean, recently discharged from military service. Resourceful, determined, and carrying the legacy of his deceased kendo-instructor parents.
Park Eunji – The female lead. A resourceful and determined survivor with a mysterious past, whose courage and compassion gradually make her Jiwoo's closest ally.
Na Young-mi – A charismatic and brave TV reporter who broadcasts the early warnings of the outbreak, symbolizing the struggle for truth amid chaos.
Officer Kim – A principled police officer encountered during Jiwoo's dangerous forays into zombie-infested zones.
Professor Lee & Dr. Seo – Key scientists in the government lab; their fateful experiment triggers the outbreak. Their backstories provide early clues about the virus's origins.
(Additional survivors and adversaries will be introduced as the journey unfolds, each given distinct names and backgrounds to enrich the narrative.)