There are no courtroom heroes. Going to work, working overtime, and salaries take precedence over realizing justice. The new tvN weekend drama 'Seocho-dong' depicts the realistic daily lives of true 'salaryman lawyers' who prioritize their livelihoods over a sense of mission.
Set to premiere on the 5th, 'Seocho-dong' (written by Lee Seung-hyun, directed by Park Seung-woo) is a drama that captures the joys and sorrows of five associate lawyers (lawyers employed by a law firm who receive a salary) who commute daily to the Seocho-dong legal town. While it is set against the unique backdrop of a courtroom, their concerns are universally relatable, focusing not on life and death but on making a living.
During the production presentation for the new tvN weekend drama 'Seocho-dong' held on the afternoon of the 1st at The Link Hotel in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, Director Park Seung-woo introduced the project as "a warm drama about associate lawyers who work like regular employees and pursue their dreams and daily lives." He noted that this drama feels more like a slice-of-life story than many existing courtroom dramas.
Lee Jong-suk returns to the small screen as the nine-year seasoned associate lawyer Ahn Joo-hyung. He said, "Typically, courtroom stories focus on realizing justice, but 'Seocho-dong' deals with the story of making a living. It's interesting because it's my first time in a slice-of-life show that I can watch comfortably." He added, "I was able to enjoy the set because of the actor Kang Yoo-seok. This drama has the greatest strength in its cast."
Moon Ga-young plays the empathic lawyer Kang Hee-ji. She remarked, "This is my first time portraying a character with a profession, so I was very excited. There were a lot of lines to memorize and studying to do, but my sense of satisfaction was also high. Since the writer is a real lawyer, I could immediately ask any questions I had. Each of the five characters has different attitudes and growth, making it diverse."
Kang Yoo-seok humorously said, "This time I'm playing a professional role again, and I guess I look reliable." He continued, "'Seocho-dong' isn't rigid or dramatic just because it's a courtroom series. It shows the natural aspects of daily life. My contribution is about 1%, and the remaining 99% belongs to the excellent directors and actors," adding warmth to his comments.
Ryu Hye-young, who returns to the legal world after 'Law School,' said, "Before, I was a future legal professional, and now I've become a real lawyer. I enjoyed the time we filmed together and was honored to play a legal role again."
Im Sung-jae takes on the role of the realistic capitalist lawyer Ha Sang-ki, serving as comic relief. He shared, "The characters I've portrayed in the past mainly didn't have professions, but this time I have a job. I was very happy to be a lawyer, as the script was engaging and fun. Comfort is the adjective for our drama. "
'Seocho-dong' tells the story of salaryman lawyers who are more devoted to their lives than to a sense of mission and justice. Unlike dramatic and glamorous courtroom dramas, it aims to infuse the real-life joys and sorrows along with a delightful Seocho-dong lifestyle. Notably, it is impressive that the script was written by a current lawyer.
Thanks to this, it naturally brings to mind last year's hit SBS 'Good Partner.' This work also received praise for its realistic event structure and vivid details, as it was scripted by a practicing divorce lawyer Choi Yu-na.
However, 'Good Partner' was closer to a 'well-made genre piece' with a narrative centered on events, where the emotional depths and conflict structures were sharply defined. Each episode of courtroom battles led the main events, elevating dramatic tension and immersion. For viewers, 'realization of justice' and 'emotional vicarious satisfaction' were crucial key points.
In contrast, 'Seocho-dong' advocates a unique genre of slice-of-life in the legal world. It focuses on the inner lives of characters and changes in relationships rather than events, aiming to depict the daily lives of lawyers through a lighthearted and comfortable lens. The actors also collectively said during the production presentation that 'Seocho-dong' is a story about making a living, 'a drama you can watch comfortably,' and 'a story close to reality.' Particularly, Lee Jong-suk expressed confidence that it is a "drama you can watch comfortably in today's era of seeking dopamine."
'Seocho-dong' will unveil on the 5th at 9:20 p.m., and it will be interesting to see how it compares to the successful 'Good Partner.'
[OSEN]