LAW AND THE CITY
CHARACTERS, ORGANIZATIONS, EVENTS, AND PLACES IN THIS DRAMA ARE FICTITIOUS
Aren't you getting up?
I'm off today.
EPISODE 9: IF YOU ASK WHAT MY DREAM IS
BEST FOODS FOR PREGNANCY SECOND AND THIRD TRIMESTER
- I'll get you some soup. - It's fine. I'll just eat this.
They say it's better to eat warm food. Hold on.
What's all that?
They're gifts from the nurses.
Should we take a look?
Let's see. This is…
Baby clothes. They're so cute.
This is…
Moisturizer and stretch mark cream.
That's the fourth stretch mark cream now.
Come on. The more, the better.
You think I'll get stretch marks?
I might not.
Everyone's different.
But you might. Because everyone's different.
What's this?
They're so cute.
They say the first daughter resembles the dad.
- Yeah. - She'll be super cute.
Let's see.
Did you ask about maternity leave yet?
Just wait a bit.
I'm not even sure if I can take maternity leave in the first place.
What? What company doesn't allow maternity leave these days?
I don't know. That's what they said.
Wait. So, what did you say?
Did you just say okay and leave?
Then, what was I supposed to say?
Was I supposed to say, "I quit"?
No, that's not what I meant. Okay, don't get mad. The baby will hear.
When did I ever get mad?
This is so annoying.
Munjeong, your breakfast…
How many cases are you handling right now?
About 50.
So what do we do? Do Attorney Ahn and I each take 25? We already have 50 each.
Hiring a temp lawyer for three or six months isn't easy.
You know clients hate it when their attorneys keep changing.
But it's still my right.
Yes, I know it is.
What?
Use a new one.
Here.
I picked it up.
- Bye. - Bye.
ATTORNEY HA SANGGI
Yes?
- Attorney Ha, you have a package. - A package?
It looks like the interns sent this.
I see. Okay, thank you.
Attorney Ha Sanggi,
thank you for being such a great teacher to us.
We'll keep learning to become great lawyers.
- From Park Dohyeon… - Kim Hana.
- Gong Minjun. - And Yu Haeyeon.
This won't do today?
- I don't know why I'm so sensitive. - We should've eaten something else.
It's okay. Go ahead.
Hey, it must a boy.
My mom was the same.
She said morning sickness is worse with boys.
But it's a girl.
What? It's a girl?
- Yeah. - Congratulations!
- Thanks. - What about maternity leave?
He said no.
I wonder what associates in other firms do when they have babies.
I have no idea.
- I've always been by myself. - Me too.
But your boss is a woman.
What did she do when she had her baby?
- She's not married. - Really?
- How about yours? - I'm not sure either.
Do you think a female boss would be more understanding about it?
It's so harsh though. Of course, they should allow that.
But you know how it is.
We're all small firms. If one person's out, it makes a mess.
Still, at least you have Juhyeong.
- You two could work it out. - Right.
I'm okay with it, so do what works for you.
Hey, come work at our firm. Our boss isn't like that.
Right?
If a spot opens up, tell her to hire me first.
What's this?
That? You know…
You didn't get one?
What is this?
- Where did you get this? - Never mind.
Never mind. It's nothing.
- What? - What?
- It's nothing. - Do you have a girlfriend?
- This is delicious. - Why are your ears so red?
Come, now!
- Did you have lunch? - Yes, I did.
- Ms. Kang. - Yes?
If someone became pregnant here, how would maternity leave work?
Are you getting married?
No, I was just curious.
You had me for a second.
Legally, I know what we're supposed to do.
But in reality, it's not easy to give maternity leave.
There's only one associate, after all.
Right, that makes sense.
You're really not getting married?
No, I'm not.
Too bad. I thought we had something to celebrate.
Take care, ma'am.
Attorney, Bae, I just sent you an email.
KoriTech's starting a new business
and wants us to see if there are any legal risks.
- Could you write up a legal memo? - Yes, sir.
KORITECH'S NEW BUSINESS INITIATIVE REVIEW
Legal memos are so boring.
Where's Attorney Ahn? He's not here.
I'm not sure. What's the matter?
Well, I had a lawsuit for him to take.
I'll do it.
The client said they couldn't step out and asked us to come in person.
- And? - You were concerned yesterday.
Wouldn't advisory work be easier on you than litigation now?
You just have to sit and write.
- I'm being considerate of your pregnancy. - No, I'll do it.
- Okay, then. - Yes, sir.
Munjeong, can you come out for a second?
- Munjeong. - Yeah?
You didn't eat earlier. I got you some bread.
Hey, thanks.
And this is decaf coffee.
- You're allowed to drink this, right? - Yes.
This is precious coffee.
Want to eat some tteokbokki with me later?
- I can handle it. - Thank goodness!
Gosh, I'm so thankful.
This is really good, especially this sauce.
They say this place is super famous.
But not a lot of people are here today.
That's why we're here.
Did you enjoy your food?
I tried to patent this sauce before, but it wasn't approved.
The review took a long time too.
But in the end, they said it wasn't unique enough to be patented.
Did that person work here for a long time?
He worked here for a little over two years.
- Excuse me! - Coming!
I originally hired him as a server.
But from the start, he was eager to learn kitchen work.
And a big spoonful…
A big spoon…
Put it right over here.
So I moved him into the kitchen
and even taught him how to make our tteokbokki.
Then out of nowhere, he quit and opened a place just like ours.
Did you go try their food?
I figured I'd get worked up if I went myself,
so I had some takeout that someone brought back.
It tastes exactly the same.
That's why you think you've lost customers?
After they opened,
our sales dropped by half.
We always had a lot of regulars.
Often, folks would come from far away just to eat here.
But I guess their location's better.
It seems people don't even bother to come here now.
JUST LIKE MOM MAKES OUR TTEOKBOKKI
INSTANT TTEOKBOKKI RESTAURANT
Thank you.
The patent was rejected,
so he left and figured he could just use it however he wanted.
That's so shameless.
Are you full?
A little.
Let's go another round.
JUST LIKE MOM MAKES OUR TTEOKBOKKI
- The sauce is so good. - Can I get you anything?
Welcome!
- Extra ramyeon noodles, please. - Extra ramyeon noodles?
OUR TTEOKBOKKI
- Enjoy. - Thank you.
It's honestly way too similar.
At this point, it's pretty much a second location.
Hey, that must be him.
- One more blood sausage here, please. - Okay, sure.
Can you handle it?
There's no reason I can't.
- Because it tastes the same. - Exactly.
Give tips on using tableware.
- Okay. - Give them more kimchi.
- All right. - Okay.
- So, how's the food? - Yes.
Take all the photos you want and spread the word.
All right. This is really good.
I'm so full.
But from what I know…
- Yeah? - Recipe theft lawsuits almost never win.
Right. Plus, the patent wasn't approved.
They'll obviously use that as an excuse to say they did nothing wrong.
Just because the patent was rejected doesn't mean it's okay to steal.
- Yeah. - But how do you get approved?
I can just ask everyone for the reason.
Why were they rejected for patents?
LOACH SOUP DISPUTE
FAMOUS LOACH SOUP RESTAURANT LOSES LAWSUIT AGAINST EX-EMPLOYEE OVER STOLEN RECIPE
RECIPE THEFT CASES
WAVE OF RECIPE THEFTS HITS RESTAURANTS
BUSINESS LICENSE
AI SELECT
SANNAMWON LOACH SOUP
SANSEOL PUFFERFISH SPICY PUFFERFISH STEW
SANNAMWON LOACH SOUP
32-1 SANSEOL-DONG, DONGDAEMUN-GU, SEOUL
It's so upsetting.
The ingredients in our pastry fillings are totally different from the other shops.
Ours have whole beans in them.
That's what gives them a stronger sweet flavor.
Our customers know that, and that's why they come here.
UNDER CCTV SURVEILLANCE
- Ma'am. - What brings you suddenly here?
Mind if I take another look at your kitchen?
This recipe isn't protected by a patent, so there's no issue with using it.
Even if a recipe isn't patented,
it can still be protected if it qualifies as a trade secret.
Could you pull up Exhibit 4, please?
In most disputes over recipes,
the parties who had them stolen lost their suits,
because the recipes weren't deemed trade secrets under the law.
It's because they didn't meet the requirement of confidentiality.
Could you pull up Exhibit 5, please?
For a recipe to be recognized as a trade secret,
it has to be managed as one.
But most restaurants don't put any protections in place.
But in the case of the plaintiff, Jeong Hyeonju,
she installed a separate door lock on the sauce-mixing room
and shared the code only with select kitchen staff.
The defendant, Oh Jeongwook, was one of those staff members,
which is how he learned of the recipe.
That's why this recipe qualifies as a trade secret under the law.
Keeping it confidential doesn't allow protections as a trade secret.
It also has to meet the criteria of secrecy and economic value.
Secrecy is recognized when it hasn't been disclosed anywhere,
and it can't be known without going through the plaintiff.
With this level of control, we can see that condition is clearly met.
Yes, that appears to be the case.
Still, there's no proven economic value.
After the defendant opened his shop, the plaintiff's revenue was cut in half.
The defendant used this one recipe to lure away the plaintiff's regulars.
That alone shows its economic value.
That has not been proven.
Plaintiff's counsel, please submit your supporting documents.
Yes, Your Honor.
- All right, good work. - Thank you.
By the way, Chairman.
Remember Lee Dongsu from the first cohort?
What is it now?
He's been investing in small business owners
but with terms heavily in his favor.
When they push back later,
he demands the full amount back and threatens to sue.
So he hasn't sued them yet, right?
That's right.
I'd like to meet them in person.
- The victim? - Yes.
Lee Dongsu too.
ADVISOR KIM HYUNGMIN
When you opened the barbecue restaurant, Lee Dongsu invested 100 million won,
and you agreed to pay him 4 million won monthly in returns?
Yes, I've been paying that for over five years.
No matter the profit or loss from the restaurant?
Yes.
These terms are way too unfair.
I've never seen an investment like this before.
Things are tough lately, so we missed a payment for the first time.
And now, he's threatening to sue us unless we return the full investment.
If we break the contract,
we have to return the full amount immediately.
Did he have any involvement in running the restaurant?
No, not at all.
I know I have to return the investment and I will.
But is there any way to delay when I have to?
I'm at my limit. Please help me out.
Okay, I'll try to find the best possible solution.
Thank you.
What about the consultation fee?
I'm not a lawyer.
I know business and investing pretty well, so I wanted to help.
There's no consultation fee. Don't worry about it.
Thank you so much.
One Italian BMT on honey oat bread, please.
Try what I ordered. It's good.
- Okay. - Make that two, please.
No bell peppers, please.
I'll have a footlong Egg Mayo with the recommended toppings and sauces.
I'll have the same. And I'll have a cookie too.
I'll have everything on it.
- How is it? Isn't it good? - Yes, it is.
I like it best with avocados.
Hey, Egg Mayo is the best.
This is when lawsuits are so fun.
It's when you blindside the other party
with something they didn't see coming.
But still, submitting evidence the day of? Isn't that a bit much?
- That's what makes it fun. - That's right.
That's a skill too.
- Yeah. - Hey, Sanggi.
Learn a thing or two, will you? Stop pretending to be so noble.
Hey, as long as the theoretical foundation is sound,
you'll win every time, kid.
Yes, Professor. I understand. Geez…
Munjeong, you looked into things so persistently.
I should learn from you now,
- not Juhyeong. - Sure.
I taught her all that.
You can't help things you don't think of.
But if something feels off, you should check despite the hassle.
I took that, refined it further with more focus,
and elevated it into persistence.
How ungrateful.
Did Ms. Jeong send her sales records?
Yeah, I already submitted how sales were slashed in half as evidence.
- Okay. - It's over now.
All right, then.
Let's use this to draft the written statement.
Yes, ma'am.
- Attorney Ha. - Yes?
Here.
What's this?
GWANGSEONG UNIVERSITY
You went to Gwangseong, right?
They're documents for the PhD program.
2025 FALL GRADUATE ADMISSIONS
What? But why…
Just in case, you should apply for the PhD program.
If you want to teach later on, you'll need a doctorate.
No, it's okay. I…
I don't plan on doing that.
There's no harm in getting it.
You like debating and studying anyway.
If you stay with the firm, I can even help out.
Think it over.
- Yes, ma'am. - Okay.
Don't go through with that lawsuit.
This is why you called me here?
Even if you made a nice investment deal that favors you,
at this point,
it's better for both sides to compromise and walk away.
You didn't exactly run your business with kid gloves either.
I'm telling you this from experience.
In the end, business is about
working with and treating people right.
That will make you more successful.
No, that's not it.
Make good investments and turn big profits.
That's how you succeed.
What right do you have to do this?
It's not about the right. It's about responsibility.
You weren't like this when I first met you.
How long are you going to live like this?
What does it matter to you how I live?
Just assign a lawyer as usual. Don't suddenly act like you care.
Yes, all the past investment contracts.
Yes.
Bring whatever you find.
Okay, thank you.
LAW GROUP HYUNGMIN ADVISOR KIM HYUNGMIN
SUPREME COURT RULING DEPOSIT REFUND
Yes?
Attorney Ha, are you busy?
Ms. Kim, what brings you here?
Well…
I came to get your advice on something.
Do you have a minute?
I'm so sorry.
I just got a last-minute detention hearing.
I can't help right now.
- Okay, then. I'll ask someone else. - Wait.
Why don't you ask Attorney Ahn? If he doesn't know, no one else will.
Okay, I will.
I'm sorry. I should be helping you.
Really, it's fine.
By the way,
are you going to apply for the PhD program?
This? No, it's nothing!
My boss handed it to me, and I only glanced at it.
I say go for it. I'm very much for it.
It would suit you so well.
- Give it a shot. - No, it's okay.
What do you mean "no"? Professor, you got this!
We can't lean on Article 104 of the Civil Code, can we?
Claiming the contract is void because one party exploited
the other's urgent circumstances or lack of experience?
I don't think Article 104 would apply here.
Courts hardly ever recognize it.
Making an investment contract with a principal refund isn't illegal.
I've been combing through it and hoping for a solution,
but nothing seems to work.
I think this will be simpler than you think.
How?
It says "investment contract" at the top.
But just ignore the word "investment."
It's an investment contract, but ignore the word "investment"?
Yes. Focus only on what is actually promised in the contract.
It's just lending money and collecting interest.
So it's a loan?
Yes. This isn't an investment contract.
It's labeled as one, but he loaned 100 million won
and took 4 million a month.
So, if we treat this as a loan,
we still need to repay what was borrowed and give back the 100 million won.
If it's seen as a loan, the Interest Limitation Act applies.
So legally, interest can't exceed 20% per year.
Since he received 4 million monthly as interest,
that's way over that limit.
Over five years, the extra interest alone would cover the full principal and more.
So actually,
Ko Ilseop is now the one who needs to get money from Lee Dongsu?
Yes. It's not Lee Dongsu who should be suing.
It actually should be Ko Ilseop suing and demanding the overpaid amount back.
- Wow. - Do you need help with anything else?
No, this is more than enough.
The plaintiff has submitted their sales records.
Defense counsel,
do you have any response?
Plaintiff's counsel claims all criteria for a trade secret have been met.
But the condition of secrecy, where the recipe isn't disclosed anywhere
and is only known through the plaintiff, has not been satisfied.
As I mentioned last time,
that was kept under lock and key...
Could you pull up Exhibit 5, please?
This is the patent publication.
The plaintiff applied for a patent but was rejected.
However, after 18 months,
the details of the patent application become public.
So the plaintiff's recipe is no longer a secret that is hidden from the public.
I tried to patent this sauce before,
but it wasn't approved.
The review took a long time too.
But in the end, they said it wasn't unique enough to be patented.
You're right.
That means the requirement of secrecy is not met.
Plaintiff, will you continue to claim this as a trade secret?
We'll review it, Your Honor.
The plaintiff's recipe wasn't novel enough to be approved as a patent.
Not only could it be easily learned by anyone working there,
it's also been revealed, so it's not a trade secret.
Plaintiff, please review this for a proper response.
If there's nothing else, we'll end the trial at the next hearing.
Yes, Your Honor.
Is it okay to work this late?
- It's fine. I can do it. - Here.
Jiseok said to look after you. Why did you two fight?
Do you two share everything with each other?
Need any help?
- Let's do it fast and go. - Yes. Please.
JUST LIKE MOM MAKES OUR TTEOKBOKKI
Then, I guess the recipe doesn't matter anymore.
Yeah, it's all out in the open now.
Is there really no way around this?
What would you have done?
I would've been pretty ticked off if I lost all my customers
and my sales were cut in half.
I mean if you were a customer.
You like good food.
How would you feel if a place identical to your regular spot opened?
If I were a customer, I'd never go. Loyalty matters.
- You said they taste the same. - Hey.
If you're a regular somewhere, it's not just about the taste.
The owner's know-how,
the familiar interior, and the unique vibe the place has.
Those kind of things put me at ease.
What if all of that was the same?
Yeah.
Right?
Hey, I…
I have to go.
Bye.
Applying for the patent has actually created an obstacle.
You're right.
I only applied for the patent because I just wanted to say,
"This taste was my creation,"
and be recognized for it.
But instead, it kept me from getting that recognition.
Do you think
Oh Jeongwook knew the patent had been rejected?
Yes. Not long after he started working here,
he suddenly asked me
if I'd consider patenting the recipe since it's too good not to.
So I told him I'd already tried, but it wasn't approved.
He was checking whether there was a patent or not.
You're saying he asked on purpose?
He was trying to steal the recipe from the start?
He didn't just steal the recipe.
He stole your shop's vibe, the interior design, and everything.
It's pretty clear he planned it from the start.
You're right. Even the interior designer asked me
if I was opening another location.
Do you know his interior designer?
He's a regular here.
We've never really had a fancy interior.
We just fix things when they break,
and we'd always ask him for help whenever we made small changes.
I think Oh Jeongwook hired him to design the interior for his place too.
Geez.
The recipe…
and this shop…
Over 20 years,
I slowly built up
everything here.
From these chairs
to those bowls…
For every single thing…
I put in
so much thought and care.
That's how I made this store.
But people won't know that.
Because the taste and atmosphere are the same anyway.
It used to be such a joy working here.
But now, it's not.
It makes me sad.
Let's get that joy back.
Could I get the number of that interior designer?
Are you heading out now?
- Yeah. You too? - Yeah.
- What's that? Did you visit the school? - No. It's nothing.
It's just…
My boss suddenly asked if I'd be interested in a PhD program.
She gave this to me out of nowhere.
I see. Are you interested?
Nope.
People keep saying it would suit me and that I should try it.
But that's easier said than done. It's not exactly cheap either.
Do you want to do it though?
Yeah, I do.
Nothing.
I want to do it.
Let's go, Sanggi.
Okay, thank you.
- Is it all set? - Yes, Your Honor.
You may start your presentation then.
As you can see,
the plaintiff's and defendant's dishes look and taste identical.
The style of the staff's uniforms…
and the interior design of the shops is the same too.
Items with similar colors and designs were used by coincidence.
The parts of the interior that look alike aren't unique to the plaintiff's shop.
They're common, ordinary elements you'll find in plenty of other places.
Yes, exactly. That's the key point.
As the defense previously claimed,
the plaintiff's recipe isn't patented or legally classified as a trade secret.
The staff uniforms and interior design
have an ordinary style that doesn't appear to be that unique.
This is part of the interior design request
made by the defendant as he prepared to open his restaurant.
And next to it,
you'll see a photo of the plaintiff's shop.
The details in the defendant's request
describe the exact interior of the plaintiff's shop.
If the interior was nothing special, as the defense claims,
then why did he go to such lengths to have it replicated precisely?
I'm so happy a branch opened near my place.
The main shop was great, and this location near my house is also…
I hope more branches open.
The taste was refined over the years through constant research.
The know-how gained from running the business
is seen in the staff's attitude, their uniforms, and the atmosphere.
All of these elements make up the plaintiff's shop,
which is the product of the significant investment and effort put into it.
The defendant became an employee at the plaintiff's shop,
learned that know-how,
and even checked the recipe's patent status.
After the defendant confirmed the patent had been rejected,
he earned the plaintiff's trust, obtained the recipe,
and made his own shop look like a branch location when he opened it.
- Pure speculation. - It doesn't matter when the defendant
started planning his intentions.
What's clear is without the plaintiff's restaurant,
the defendant's restaurant wouldn't exist.
Not only was there unauthorized use of the legacy and identity
built by the plaintiff over years,
the impression of a branch was created to profit unfairly.
Patent or not, trade secret or not,
this clearly violates the Unfair Competition Prevention Act.
The defendant is liable for damages
and must be prohibited from using the recipe and running the shop.
Okay.
Defense counsel,
do you have a response?
No, Your Honor.
DEFENDANT, PLAINTIFF
You want to apply for the PhD program?
Yes, I thought I'd give it a shot.
I came to ask if you'd be willing to guide me.
Of course, I'd be happy to. But why all of a sudden?
You graduated a while ago.
Well, I just wanted to study a little bit more.
If the opportunity arises later on, I'd like to try teaching too.
Do you want to become a professor in the future?
Yes. Not right away though.
But I want to explore that path while studying.
If you start the PhD program,
what about your current job?
I plan to keep working. I still have rent to pay.
That's why I'm thinking of applying to the evening program.
LAW GROUP HYUNGMIN HA SANGGI
If you just want to study more and get your PhD, that's fine.
But if you're aiming to be a professor, that's a bit tricky.
We give those who did their PhDs full-time priority for teaching opportunities.
We think it's fairer than offering them to people who worked while studying.
Right. That makes sense.
Don't you have any money saved from working?
Yes, I do.
Okay, Professor. Goodbye, sir.
If you're seriously considering joining academia,
think it through carefully.
If not, studying while working is totally fine too.
SEOKGO BLOOD SAUSAGE SOUP
Hi, ma'am.
My mom…
- What brings you here? - Is she…
Your mom wasn't feeling well, so I swapped shifts with her.
- Really? - Yeah.
She's sick?
I see. Okay.
Okay, bye.
Mom.
Is that you, Sanggi?
What brings you here without any notice?
Mom, are you sick?
Sick? I'm not sick.
My head was hurting a bit, so I just took a day to rest.
Your head hurts?
Since when?
That's just what happens when you get older.
When was your last checkup, Mom?
Gosh.
What if they say it's something serious?
That's even scarier.
If it's serious, get it treated. What are you talking about?
It's fine.
It's just a headache.
- I have money. - I have money too.
- Then, get checked! - Gosh, be quiet.
Forget it.
I'll go buy some porridge. Get some rest.
JUST LIKE MOM MAKES OUR TTEOKBOKKI
- Attorney Bae, let's go. - Okay.
You've worked so hard. Come and eat before you go.
I appreciate it, but I should get going.
That's such a shame though.
My goodness.
I'll make sure to visit next time.
Lines will be forming again soon. I better visit before then.
No matter when you stop by, there will always be a seat saved for you.
- Thank you. - Gosh. I'm the thankful one.
Thanks to you, I think I can work with joy again.
Because I really do
love my job.
Me too.
Hey. You haven't had dinner yet, right?
- Let's eat. - What are these?
I noticed your feet were swelling lately, so I got a pair that's one size larger.
They fit well.
I'm sorry.
No, why are you sorry? I'm sorry.
Hey…
Can I think about it a little more?
About what?
I love this job so much.
Litigation is just so much fun.
I'm still not sure how things will go
with childbirth or parenting.
But for now, I'll keep thinking about it as I work.
Come here.
My goodness.
Munjeong.
Think it over all you want.
And do whatever feels right.
I'll support you no matter what.
Great job today.
Why on earth are you showing here? I'll just see you in court.
I came to tell you this.
What you did to Ko Ilseop…
You called it an investment, but in reality,
it's the same as a loan with interest.
How is it the same? We clearly agreed it was an investment.
Just calling it that doesn't make it one.
Legally, it's a loan.
You lend and invest money a lot too,
so you know what the Interest Limitation Act is.
So in that case, you won't get your money back from Mr. Ko.
You'll owe him tens of thousands instead.
Are you a lawyer now?
It's pretty funny to hear legal talk from you.
Is having your own office at the firm making you…
a little confused?
Straighten up if you don't want to see me again.
I won't give up and I'll fight you to the end.
Gosh, I'm so damn sick of you!
- What do you want to eat? - Chicken?
- Sure. - Hello, Ms. Kim.
- You're still here? - I should probably get going too.
Thanks to you the other day, that case worked out fine.
- Thank you. - Not at all.
I only said a few words.
Those few words saved a man's life.
- Get home safe. - Goodbye.
- Did you help her with something? - Just something simple.
The restaurant from last time?
No, let's have gopchang. I'm suddenly craving something spicy.
Gopchang all of a sudden?
- You don't want it? - No, it's okay.
So no matter how long or how much I deposit,
I'll be able to get daily interest, right?
Yes, that's right.
Since you can deposit and withdraw anytime,
it's great for saving up a large sum of money.
I see.
I just need flexibility with deposits.
I won't need to spend for a while.
Then, would you like me to help you open the account you mentioned?
Yes. Please transfer everything from here.
All right, sir.
Your account is all set.
Is it all right to go now?
- Just a second. - Okay.
Take these plushies with you.
Okay.
I'm heading to prison now.
I'll take responsibility.
Thank you, Attorney Cho.
Were you really upset last time?
Well…
I mean, lobster and ham…
That's a big difference.
But it's okay.
That's not what I meant.
I was talking about how I'd only given cases to others.
I see.
I reached out because there's a case I'd like you to take.
Goodness. Sounds good.
It's about time.
We'll take anything. Attorney Cho's a great worker.
Yes, I'll be counting on you.
What kind of case is it?
An attempted murder case.
Hey, come here.
Where are you going, you punk? Come here.
Hey!
You little bastard. You thought it was over when you transferred?
You got me kicked out of school. I have nowhere to go.
So what now?
What now?
Damn it.
My life is over because of you, punk. Are you happy?
So what now?
Stab me.
Go ahead.
Do it.
I said stab me.
Stab me. Do it.
Damn it.
Chanyeong.
Where did you get the knife?
It was his.
Did you take it from him?
Does that even count as taking it from him?
Just…
feel free to tell me what happened that day.
- Attorney Cho. - Yes?
Why haven't I been arrested though?
The facts aren't that complicated, but it's a bit messy.
Well, we'll have to admit the charge and push hard for leniency.
What? You're not going to try for a not guilty?
Like, completely innocent?
- Yeah. - That's a stretch.
He stabbed someone after all.
We have on records that he transferred after being bullied.
Considering all that, we'll ask for a very lenient sentence.
You could try arguing self-defense.
Self-defense?
You little bastard.
You thought it was over when you transferred?
You got me kicked out of school. I have nowhere to go.
So what now?
What now?
The bully attacked, so he acted in self-defense.
It would definitely qualify.
Isn't it a bit ambiguous though?
So what now?
Once Chanyeong picked up the dropped knife,
they'll obviously say he subdued the attack.
You know the precedents.
Self-defense only applies if the attack is ongoing.
They'll say he stabbed him after the attack ended.
No, the attack didn't end.
He even followed him to his new school.
You can't say the attack was just that one day.
The bullying and attack was ongoing?
It's worth trying.
- He isn't in custody yet, right? - No.
Maybe they saw potential for self-defense.
Forget it.
It's better to get a reduced sentence.
No matter what we argue, they'll charge and rule however they want.
What's with you?
That court-appointed voice phishing case I did.
She ended up with a 10 million-won fine.
- What? - She couldn't pay the fine,
so she went to prison today.
If I'd pleaded for leniency instead of claiming innocence,
it would've cut a few million off.
But I don't think Ms. Kim gave you the case
just to use extenuating circumstances and reduce his sentence.
It's a student from her foundation, so she's more invested.
Ms. Kim has a foundation?
Juhyeong and Huiji mentioned it last time. Didn't you hear anything?
She really did seem to care a lot.
Yeah.
I'm sorry, but it's my case.
I'm not going to risk a heavy sentence after arguing innocence.
If you want to help,
help me get the sentence reduced.
DAD
Hi, Dad.
Come and work for me now.
What?
You've done enough as a lawyer.
Since when was there a time limit?
You didn't have any big ambitions.
Was there a reason you became a lawyer?
You just kept studying and ended up as one.
You used to always tell me to become Hanguk Group's counsel.
That has a purpose and a reason, okay?
I'm doing fine on my own.
Don't worry about me.
Then, tell me.
Is there a reason for you to keep doing this?
Exactly. So stop living like that and help with the family business.
You remember you're an only child, right?
Geez, again with the only child stuff…
Join the company. I don't want to work forever either.
Isn't this is a good spot to be alone and enjoy solitude?
Hello, Ms. Kim.
How's Chanyeong's case going?
We're still reviewing it.
But admitting guilt and explaining the circumstances may be our best bet.
I see.
Then, I guess there's no other way.
By the way,
is something on your mind?
It's nothing.
- Could I sit down for a second? - Have a seat.
It's written all over your face though.
Well, could I ask…
How did you
graduate from law school
but end up doing business?
I actually wanted to be a lawyer too.
But I kept failing the bar exam, so I found something else.
Why did you want to be a lawyer in the first place?
Well, I don't know.
I think I wanted to make a lot of money.
I wanted to live comfortably,
help people in tough situations,
and maybe buy a building.
You achieved it all.
I guess so.
I took a different path,
but I achieved it all.
By the way,
if I ever start a business later,
I'd appreciate some advice.
Not for free though.
Of course, anytime.
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER CLINICAL DEPRESSION
BEHIND THE GYM AFTER SCHOOL
DUMBASS
YOU RUNNING OFF SNIFFLING WAS SO FUNNY
CAN I POST YOUR CRYING VIDEO?
CRAWLING ON ALL FOURS SUITS YOU
CAREER GOALS NONE
What brings you here?
Can you take a look?
It started in his junior year.
Yeah, it's impressive how he's held out this long.
This should be enough for mitigation, right?
He's from Ms. Kim's foundation, so he may be struggling financially too.
Add that too. It counts as a mitigating factor.
Yeah, you're right.
Since he's showing remorse,
I better write an opinion asking for leniency
based on these materials.
But shouldn't we ask him if he's actually remorseful?
The rest are objective facts,
so we can ask for leniency if we want.
But you need to ask if he's remorseful.
We can't just claim remorse for him.
I'm not sorry.
I get where you're coming from, Chanyeong.
But if you say you're not remorseful, the punishment could be much heavier.
It's not because
I think I did the right thing.
I did do something bad
with bad intentions.
Okay. You admit you did wrong.
If you say you regret it, they'll reduce your sentence a lot.
If I messed up, I should be punished.
If saying sorry erased the crime, then…
he could just say sorry and get off too.
Why did you have those bad intentions?
Because…
I couldn't keep living like that.
I even transferred schools to get away from him,
but he followed me there.
So I gave up.
I decided to be bad like him.
You're not like him, Chanyeong.
So don't give up.
OPINION ON FACTS OF ALLEGED CRIME
FALLS UNDER SELF-DEFENSE…
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16TH WAKE UP!
ATTEMPTED MURDER DEFENDANT MOON CHANYEONG
Let's do our best today.
Okay.
SEOUL POLICE STATION
Because this could be my last case.
LAW AND THE CITY
My husband is dead.
Our company isn't that overbearing.
This could be a problem.
They're paying a much higher fee. What can we do? We can't take both sides.
Who are you to turn down cases?
He isn't innocent though.
I'll pay you a fat retainer.
It was likely the right call as a boss.
At times like this, just say I'm right and take my side.
How is my wife?
It's so unfair.
You were never bothered by this kind of stuff.
What's different this time?
Translated by Hye Min Eom