(Episode 29)
Defendant.
Please give your final statement.
I...
I decided to become a judge...
out of anger and resentment...
caused by the society for being an orphan.
As I read the case files and rendered rulings,
I realized that...
the anger and resentment I had...
could become love and hope in the eyes of the law.
When I was in my robe,
it was...
the happiest moment of my life.
10 years ago, on the night of the incident.
Please save me.
From the other side of the call,
- I ignored her desperate cries... - Save me, please.
to be saved.
And I strangled...
the girl instead.
For what did I commit such a monstrous act?
I will not claim that I committed such an act for my family.
The life I had built as a judge, my reputation, and accomplishments.
Ironically,
in order to save those,
I threw away the law, my conscience,
and...
myself, who always followed...
the law and my conscience.
Why are you my mother?
I know the law very well.
Knowing the law...
is most dangerous to those without a conscience like me.
Our society is bleak with people who try to stay above the law like me.
This society isn't capable of punishing people like me.
There aren't any preventive measures anymore.
However, in the end,
the tightly-knotted net of the law has caught me.
I stand here to be judged by the stern people...
of this country,
And in this courtroom,
there is my other half...
whom I cherish like my own daughter.
In order to keep my career, I pointed my sword at her.
But I wished...
that she would point that sword back at me.
I desperately wished...
she would bring me to court and punish me.
If the fear of an incorrect verdict stops you from seeing the truth,
you must resign.
This is just a reasonable doubt.
As long as the assemblyman has an alibi...
His alibi...
is fabricated.
I'll make sure it happens.
- Pardon? - Choi Kyung Ho's retrial.
I'll make sure it happens.
This is a war now.
Professor Yoo.
My testimony will be your finishing blow.
Now, I daresay that...
my standing in this very courtroom while wearing a prison uniform...
proves that...
the law and justice are still served...
in Korea.
To prevent our society...
from suffering due to people like me, who try to stay above the law,
I'd like to ask you all...
to judge wisely...
and execute me.
By order of the court,
I hereby sentence Yoo Myung Hee,
the defendant, to death.
I'm sorry,
but you can't do that.
Pentobarbital sodium.
This is enough...
to euthanize a person.
And you'd have about four minutes left to live.
However,
you will not receive...
the four-minute sentence you gave yourself,
but the sentencing of the court.
Just as the stiff bamboo cannot bend and breaks,
the defendant chose suicide...
to pay for her crimes,
but that is not receiving punishment according to the law,
but arrogance and an attempt to escape...
disguised as a punishment.
You stand here...
as a defendant accused of murder...
and not as a judge.
You paid a guard...
to bring you the drug?
The world and the law will no longer be manipulated...
by you.
You must atone for your sins...
to the victims who had to live in pain for years...
because of your actions.
You cannot sentence yourself.
In the trial...
of Hanguk Law School's professor, Yoo Myung Hee,
for the murder of Kim Ga Young 10 years ago,
only the sentencing remains.
Both Yoo Myung Hee and her husband,
Assemblyman Do Jin Myung,
previously claimed to have committed the murder,
which caused a setback in the case.
(Case No. 2017916, Murder)
(Yoo Myung Hee's Sentencing)
I will read the order of the court.
Applying the most severe sentence...
permitted by law 10 years ago, at the time of the murder,
we order the following.
By order of the court,
we hereby sentence Yoo Myung Hee,
the defendant, to 15 years in prison.
(Do Jin Myung Call Records)
(Do Jin Myung DNA Test)
Are you sure about this?
- He's still your father... - Please.
Okay. Take a short break, and come back.
Okay.
What are you doing? Why aren't you sleeping?
I'll go to sleep.
Treat Yoo Myung Hee as your enemy,
who killed your brother, like Kim Joo Hyung.
Why should you get hurt because of a scumbag like that?
Go to sleep. You have to work tomorrow.
Assemblyman Do Jin Myung, prosecuted for charges including...
raping a minor and soliciting murder...
was sentenced to prison time.
Assemblyman Do was once thought to win the presidential election,
but he is now headed to prison instead.
The court found that there was sufficient evidence to prove...
the rape of Kim Ga Young, solicitation of the murder...
of Seo Gi Ho, and more.
Do you want a drink?
- Yes, I'll have some. - Here.
Eui Hyun.
I'm going to close down my law firm.
I want to close it down and take a break.
I'm going to stay a few months at the orphanage...
that your grandfather used to run.
If that's what you want.
You'll be okay without me, right?
I'm sorry.
For what?
For everything.
I'm sorry too.
I think I can finally understand why you couldn't turn your back...
on Han Joon's parents.
Don't ever understand that.
I always felt like I was indebted to them,
but don't you ever feel that way towards anyone.
Don't think...
they ended up that way because of you.
I won't. Of course.
But why does it feel like you're my father?
Let's drink.
Okay.
Good.
(Courthouse)
(From: Yoo Myung Hee)
Isn't that a statue of Lady Justice?
(From: Yoo Myung Hee)
Would you like me to treat you to lunch today?
All right. Let's dig in.
Judge Sah,
since when were you suspecting Professor Yoo Myung Hee?
And how did you find out that she was going to commit suicide?
I had a criminal law professor at Harvard Law School.
The professor committed suicide with a pistol in the office.
A novel written by the professor was discovered.
The novel centered around the professor.
A perfectionist professor committed perfect crimes...
and tipped off some clues of the cases to the police.
The novel is about playing a game of catch with the police.
In the novel, the professor...
decides to commit suicide right before...
the police are about to apprehend the professor.
When I looked at Professor Yoo,
I was reminded of that professor at Harvard.
Would I ever be able to forgive Professor Yoo?
If you were in my shoes, Judge Sah...
It won't be easy to forgive her.
It's just that...
it would be hard for you to be around Han Joon.
Han Joon came to my house the other day.
He told me that it was his last time seeing me.
I couldn't tell him...
that it wasn't our last time and to stop talking nonsense.
I must meet with Professor Yoo.
Should I come with you?
It must have been hard for you to come here.
Thank you for visiting me.
Why did you send me the statue of Lady Justice?
I cannot understand no matter how much I think about it.
You helped me become a judge...
because of your guilt towards my brother.
How could you have instigated him to murder my brother?
I came here for your answer to that.
To become a judge,
I tried really hard as if my life depended on it.
And I finally earned my judgeship.
But...
if it had been revealed that...
my husband raped a female middle schooler after getting too drunk,
I would have had no choice but to forfeit my judgeship.
To keep your judgeship,
did you murder Kim Ga Young and violate the law?
Yes.
That's when I made my first mistake.
Meeting you...
in the restroom because of your brother's case file.
After you became a judge,
you were assigned with Jang Soon Bok's petition for retrial.
I thought it was all fate.
If you, as a judge...
and my other half,
punished me,
I thought I would be able to accept my punishment. That's why...
I wanted you to uncover the truth I had concealed.
So I helped you with Jang Soon Bok's retrial.
Then instigating my brother's murder doesn't make sense even more.
But the more...
The closer you got to the truth,
I became more afraid.
Even if I would lose everything, including my status and reputation,
I thought I would be able to reveal the truth,
but I was wrong.
The thought of the possibility that...
the truth behind Choi Kyung Ho's case would be revealed...
frightened me to death.
At that moment, I wasn't myself.
So...
after all these years,
you're saying that you tried to destroy yourself...
out of guilt for murdering my brother, right?
I have...
committed an indescribable crime toward you, Jung Joo.
In the end,
I was your ticking bomb.
A bomb you could neither keep...
nor throw away.
I will pay for what I had done to your brother.
If you thought...
you could pay for what you did by committing suicide,
you will never be forgiven.
Pay for your crime every day.
Face the consequence...
of what you had done.
(Dongseong Prison)
Did you see her?
Yes.
I guess she accepted your request for the meeting.
I heard she refused my dad's request.
Let's go.
Why did you come here?
You should go see your mother instead.
Why didn't you...
tell me about her wounds?
How could I?
You know how much I hated you because of the misunderstanding.
Think about how devastated your mom must have felt to harm herself.
I am the cause of her pain.
How could I have told you the truth?
Your mother...
treated her judgeship as her vocation.
She lived her whole life with the pride of being a judge.
I think...
I can understand why she must have done what she did.
She is straight as an arrow and knows no compromises.
It's a relief that she didn't try to kill herself a long time ago.
It's all my fault.
So don't hate your mother.
I'm leaving Seoul.
What?
Han Joon.
I won't kill myself. Don't worry.
I can trust you on that, right?
Yes.
I don't know when it will be.
But stay healthy until we meet again.
I'll go now.
I'm sorry.
Bye.
Your blood pressure medicine...
Don't forget to take them.
Father.
(Contact List)
(Han Joon)
- Hey. - You pick up...
even before it rings now.
- When did you come? - Just now.
I was just about to call you.
Hey. Do you want to sleep over?
What?
Come in.
Look. I cleaned for you.
The house feels so empty since no one is here.
It feels cold. Sit down. Sit.
I've been drinking too much lately, so I feel too sick to drink.
Are you hungry? Should I make some instant noodles?
It's okay. Sit down.
- Why? Let's eat... - I want to talk to you.
What is it?
Judge Lee...
went to see Professor Yoo.
I know.
She's so thoughtless. How could she go there?
She shouldn't be visiting my mom now.
How did you know?
I went to see my dad too.
"Dad"?
I can't call him "Assemblyman Do". He's no longer an assemblyman.
Sure.
You did good.
What was that?
Gosh. I never thought I'd ever hear you say I did good.
I'm feeling too good. I need a can of beer.
Do you want soda?
- Yes? - Okay.
Okay, have some soda.
Thank you.
The chicken's here.
Gosh. It's nice and hot.
Okay.
It looks delicious.
Cheers.
That's nice. How long has it been since we last did this?
Sorry. I didn't even eat chicken with you all this time.
Don't be sorry. So much happened recently.
Kyung Ho died, and then the retrial...
Are you okay?
Of course not.
Eat this.
Eat this, and let the bad memories fly away.
Have a wing.
This is hot.
Thanks.
I didn't think you'd actually sleep over like this.
Hey, Eui Hyun.
After tonight, I'm leaving Seoul.
What do you mean?
Just.
I keep thinking about my mom and dad here.
It's also too hard to stay close to Jung Joo.
If you weren't here,
I would've been too worried about her to leave,
but I can leave without worrying because you're here.
Take good care of Jung Joo.
You make her laugh, okay?
Do you know how pretty she is when she laughs?
Why me?
Listen to him. Hey. You don't know, do you?
Do you know how you look when you look at her?
It's just like how you look at me.
What that means...
is that you care for her very deeply.
Whatever. I'm going to sleep.
You should sleep too. You have work tomorrow.
(Episode 30 will air shortly.)
Retrial of a Criminal Judicial Panel filed in 2017, case number 25.
We hereby deliver the sentencing of Defendant Choi Kyung Ho.
The court found the defendant, Choi Kyung Ho,
guilty of rape and murder 10 years ago.
However, after deliberation,
we find that the defendant had made...
a false confession to pay back his family's remaining loans...
and provide his mother's surgery fee.
Not only did the witness, Yoo Myung Hee, fabricate evidence,
but we have also found Do Jin Myung guilty of the rape...
and Yoo Myung Hee guilty of the murder.
Choi Kyung Ho is acquitted of the charged crimes.
Therefore, the charge...
only applies when there is no proof of the crime.
According to the latter section...
in Article 325 of Criminal Procedure Code,
the court's ruling is followed.
By order of the court,
I hereby find the defendant innocent.
My brother's innocence left me a bitter taste in my mouth.
It was a compromise for his younger sister and a sick mother.
But he also violated the law.
His sacrifice to protect his family even if he had to violate the law...
is an example of "One law for the rich, and another for the poor."
It's a sad portrait of our lives in this bleak world.
As I wear the robe of a judge...
under my brother's shadow,
I feel the weight of my brother's innocence...
upon my robe.
To make sure the court is free of such rulings,
I will walk into the case files.
I will approach the cases and the people involved in the cases...
with a warm heart and a cool head.
I feel so relieved since the retrial of Choi Kyung Ho is over.
- Sit down. - No, thank you. I'm good.
I told you. We can't move now.
You didn't want to move to Gangnam so that she could get better grades,
so I gave your brother a loan for his store.
Anyway, let's talk at home later. Okay. Bye.
Gosh, what's the big deal with test prep classes?
What is it? Your kid's education?
True. Children's school matters are harder than judging cases.
There's no answer.
You can't say that.
I hear your son studies on his own and is on the top of his class.
That's because he take after me,
so he has nothing going for him except grades.
My gosh.
Oh, no. Oh, my gosh.
- How could they... - Why you...
- What is it? - What?
Look at this.
- Gosh. - What is it?
- Hey. Get up. - Does it hurt?
Middle schoolers hit another student this badly?
The assailant posted this?
- Three students assaulted her, - Hey.
- and one filmed it. - Did you flirt with him or not?
Get up. Hey.
- What is happening to this country? - Are you kidding me?
How did their parents raise their kids...
- Turn that off. I can't watch. - Hey.
What's wrong?
Video? I just saw it.
What?
Okay. Where is she?
Okay.
I'll head to the police station soon.
Okay.
Where... Where's my chamber?
There it is. Okay, stop crying.
What's wrong with him?
I don't know. I have no idea either.
That's right. I'm giving a lecture on law this weekend...
to Daehyeong Girls' Middle School.
How should I do it to make it enjoyable?
Daehyeong Girls' Middle School was my school.
Really? Then will you do it instead?
They'll throw stones at me if I go.
I'd also look forward to eye candy, and hope for a hot male judge.
I can't disappoint them.
Does that mean you think I'm hot?
I'm just saying...
Sure. I can't deny it.
Then you...
must get to enjoy eye candy every day thanks to me.
Right?
Wait for me. I'll be your eye candy.
Judge Sah.
I hear you're lecturing tomorrow at Daehyeong Girls' Middle School.
Yes.
- How dare you flirt with him? - They say...
- they're middle school students. - Why were you flirting?
As someone with a daughter near their age...
Hey.
- It's very distressing. - I told you to get up.
Please give a lecture...
that will raise awareness so these things don't happen again.
- Hey. Get up. - Does that hurt? Does it?
A single lecture won't fix this,
but I will try.
How...
If the assailant posted this herself,
that means she's completely unaware of her crimes.
She is incapable of empathizing with someone else's pain.
They met at the same test prep school. How...
What were they thinking...
I wonder how the victim and her parents feel.
The victim will carry that wound as a trauma for her entire life.
I'm worried.
I think the parents and school...
are largely responsible for her inability to empathize.
If there was anyone among her family members, teachers,
or friends that she could trust and depend on,
she couldn't have done something so cruel.
I know.
Han Joon is such a friend to you, right?
Han Joon isn't in Seoul.
Sorry?
He says he wants to take a break.
I see.
Han Joon is much stronger than anyone,
so I'm sure he'll be able to get past this nightmare.
Yes, I have faith in him.
Did he say where...
I guess that really was our last moment.
Even until the moment he left, he was worried about you.
He said he hoped you will be able to laugh again soon.
Did he say anything else?
If you weren't here,
I would've been too worried about her to leave,
but I can leave without worrying because you're here.
Take good care of Jung Joo.
No.
Head Chief Seo.
Where did he go?
It looks like he didn't come in at all.
You're right. I'll give him a call.
- The person you have reached... - He isn't picking up.
I'll see if he called the office.
- Okay. I'll try again. - Okay.
(Soo Yeon)
Hello, Soo Yeon.
Wedding date?
Yes. My sister said we shouldn't push it off any longer.
Well, you see...
She's in France for work,
and she wants to book the venue once she returns.
She said we should go here and set a date.
When can you go?
If you're busy, I can go alone...
Soo Yeon, I think we should reconsider about our wedding.
Chae Sung.
I'm sorry. It isn't about you. It's my problem.
I'll call you once it's resolved. I'll do it within this week.
Next, the Gobek-dong middle schooler assault case.
Gosh.
This came to us.
The public is watching this case closely,
so it was decided to be heard by a panel...
rather than an individual judge. That's why it was given to us.
(Special circumstance permit cases to be heard by the panel instead.)
Based on experience with cases like these,
we can work hard and hold a proper trial...
but become a target of the public and get attacked.
We need to be extra cautious.
We must make sure we aren't swayed by the public sentiment.
I agree.
An important case like this cannot be judged by the public.
But we can't ignore the public sentiment.
Especially since my daughter is a scary middle schooler.
This case hits close to home.
Let's begin.
Okay.
(Case No. 20181053 Assault)
Case number 20181053. The assertion is...
that the defendants, all in the 8th grade,
beat the victim, also an 8th grader...
from the same test prep school, in an underground garage...
with their hands, feet, umbrellas, and such,
thereby seriously injuring the victim.
Defendants. Do you admit to these charges?
Choi Chang Ran admits everything and is repenting.
Not just as an attorney, but as a parent,
I'd like to sincerely apologize to the victim.
The defendants Byun Soo Wan and Seo Yeon Kyung admit everything,
and are repenting...
about giving the victim a never-healing emotional scar.
However, Seo Yeon Kyung...
was coerced by Choi Chang Ran...
and merely recorded the assault.
She did not participate in the actual assault.
Please put that into consideration.
Defendant Choi Chang Ran.
You harmed the defendant because the boy you liked...
liked the defendant, correct?
She knew that I had my eyes on him.
She flirted with him, so...
Defendant Choi.
So do you think beating your friend like that makes any sense?
Your Honor.
The defendant, Choi Chang Ran, is deeply repenting her wrongdoing.
How could she say such a thing if she's repenting her wrongdoing?
Why are you crying? You've done nothing right.
The act committed by the defendants is hard to believe...
that it was done by middle schoolers since it's brutally vicious.
The horrendous beating has left the victim with unspeakable pain.
Defendant Choi Chang Ran, why are you crying right now?
I'm sorry. I won't do it again.
Think of the tears the victim must have shed...
when you write us the apology letter...
explaining the meaning of your tears and how you plan to ask...
for the forgiveness of the victim to our judicial panel.
The same goes for the two of you too.
I sincerely hope...
that you are crying because you can sympathize...
with the victim's pain, and you are ashamed of your crime.
I'll see you in front of the parking lot.
How could you do this?
Chang Ran's family hired competent lawyers from a big law firm.
The lawyer said that she's going to put in a good word to the panel.
How can Yeon Kyung go to trial with a public defender?
Public defenders are competent too.
Don't be like that.
Hire competent lawyers from famous law firms.
And can't you ask the panel to be lenient on Yeon Kyung?
No, I can't.
And the court doesn't know that I'm the father of a defendant.
I understand you must be disappointed in Yeon Kyung.
But shouldn't you be helping her in a crisis like this?
"Helping"?
Haven't you seen the consequence of "helping" in the news lately?
Besides, imagine if they find out the defendant's father is a judge.
People will start spreading rumors and jump to conclusions.
If that happens, it will be harder for Yeon Kyung.
You should go now. I have a meeting with associate judges.
And the judges on the panel.
Nothing would make them even budge.
So don't get your hopes up.
If anyone bullies you, tell me right away.
I... Hold on.
Hello. What brings you here?
Nothing. It's nothing.
Bye.
Hello? No.
Why am I telling you this?
I just thought that it's been a while since we talked.
Did you get there safely?
Yes. Gosh, it's so nice to breathe in some fresh air.
Your birthday is in two days.
You should have left after your birthday.
No, that's all right. Forget about my birthday.
Since I think about it now, you always had your birthday soup...
at Han Joon's house.
Okay.
No, we can just order it online.
Besides, it's cold and we don't have a car.
But we can't wait.
We need to switch the bulbs tonight.
Okay, fine. I'll buy it on my way home. Bye.
Do you...
need to go shopping?
Yes.
I think these are the ones.
You think?
You must be certain.
You must be certain to can finish the job at once.
Check with your mother if she's at home.
No, I'll just buy them. I can come back if I'm wrong.
Do you want to come back here again with me? Is that it?
No, it's not.
Whatever.
Where's the electricity aisle?
Judge Sah!
Don't call me like that in here.
Then how should I address you?
Call me by my name.
Sah...
Eui...
Or stay close to me so you don't have to call me.
What?
This isn't right.
Then I'll just make sure I don't have to call you.
Judge Lee.
I don't think that's the way to the electricity aisle.
You said this wasn't right.
Let's go.
Over there.
You said you have to cook seaweed soup, right?
Welcome.
- The meat for seaweed soup... - Give me 400g of brisket and flank.
It sounds like you can cook seaweed soup pretty well.
No, I only know the recipe well.
I'm serious.
Just like how someone who has never dated knows a lot about dating.
"Dating"?
I'll wait for the meat.
Can you pick out some seaweed for me?
Sure.
I'll carry them for you to your front steps.
No, that's all right. I must carry my own groceries.
Okay, suit yourself then. Go inside now.
Thank you.
Hey, Jung Joo. My goodness.
Look who's here.
Oh, my. The bag must be so heavy for her.
No, no.
Let me carry this to your front steps.
Only to our "front steps"? It'd be better if you could bring it inside.
- Mom. - Since he's here, it'd be better...
if he could change the bulbs for us.
Remember? I fell when I did it last time. It could've been worse.
Stop lying!
Now, can you put one it in there?
My gosh, look at that. Goodness.
This is why you need a man in the house.
We did just fine until now without one.
I meant it's better with one.
It's done. Thank you. I'll get going now.
Why? You should eat first.
It's okay. It's pretty late.
Really? Then you should go.
Sorry?
Okay.
- Don't come out. - Why not?
You should at least walk him out.
No, it's fine.
He always tells me to go in first anyway.
I won't see you out. Thank you.
I'll go now.
Goodbye.
Everything else is fine.
You brat. I think he's offended.
No, he isn't like that.
(Courthouse)
The phone has been turned off. Please leave a message...
after the tone.
Yes?
- Chief Oh. - Yes. Hello.
Let's begin.
Well... Judge Sah isn't here yet.
Judge Sah?
He called to say he's taking the day off.
Didn't he call you?
Pardon? He's taking the day off?
Yes. You and I can discuss the cases on our own first.
Did he say why he was taking the day off?
He said it was something unavoidable.
He didn't sound so well.
If he didn't say it even to you, his officemate,
I wonder what that must've been.
Anyway, let's begin.
Okay.
The phone has been turned off. Please leave a message...
What is this?
Judge Sah.
No, no. Snap out of it.
What are you doing?
I must've lost my mind.
Why do I keep thinking about him?
Do I like Judge Sah?
Do you?
Now, I'm hearing things too.
Do you like me?
(Nothing to Lose)
But what's going on between you and Judge Sah?
Are you sure there's nothing?
Really? Did you hear what I said?
- Should I pretend I didn't? - An office romance?
- Maybe it's a crush. - It's not like that.
I see stars.
I've never seen so many stars before either.
It's your first time?
There's someone I want to see more than the stars.
Since she is by my side now,
I can finally see the stars.
Okay, cue!
(You think you're impartial, don't you?)
(Judge Sah has ice in his mouth.)
Are you going to be that way?
(Where's my pocket?)
(You can't just go.)
- Sorry. - I'm a natural prosecutor.
He tried to set fire...
(Video not on pause. Episode did not end.)
I forgot my line. I'm sorry.
(Yong Soo wants to eat.)
(Han Joon: He ate a lot.)
(But I want to eat.)
(Judge Sah seriously orders to submit a written apology)
The rest...
(Judge Sah submits his pencil instead.)
The only person...
(Judge Sah is like a newborn pony.)
(And a cracking voice.)
(It's totally a madhouse.)
- You spit on me. - I'm sorry.
(Growl)
I'm sorry.
- Sorry. - I'm sorry.
(Another ad-lib begins.)
This is why you need a man in the house.
You should fix it again.
(You'll stay tuned tomorrow, right?)