Public interest lawyer Jung Kyungho succeeded in abolishing a constitutional provision that had long caused side effects.
On the 28th (Sun), the tvN weekend drama PROBONO (written by Moon Yoo-seok / directed by Kim Sung-yoon / planned by Studio Dragon / produced by Sequence One, Lotte Cultureworks, Studio Flow) episode 8 left an exhilarating aftertaste as Kang Da-wit (played by Jung Kyungho) and the PROBONO team fought against a clause of the constitution whose need for change had been raised and created a meaningful turning point.
Episode 8 recorded its highest ratings yet with an average household rating of 9.5% in the Seoul metropolitan area and a peak of 10.9%, and an average household rating of 9.1% nationwide and a peak of 10.5%, topping cable and general programming channels in its time slot both in the metropolitan area and nationwide. It also ranked first in its time slot among cable and general programming channels in the tvN target 20-49 male and female ratings. (Based on paid platforms combining cable, IPTV, and satellite / provided by Nielsen Korea)
Kang Da-wit, who was skeptical after hearing that the person who tipped off a cyber recka YouTuber about popular singer Elia's (played by Jung Ji-so) private life was her agency CEO and mother Cha Jin-hee (played by Oh Min-ae), went straight to see Cha Jin-hee when another negative issue related to Elia was reported in the press. The media outlet in question was run under the name of a lawyer who had provided the tip.
Cha Jin-hee initially denied the facts, but under Kang Da-wit's reasonable suspicion she defended all her actions as a mother's choice to protect her daughter. Sensing there was something more, Kang Da-wit visited the lawyer again, confirmed evidence that Cha Jin-hee tried to control even Elia's private sphere, and informed Elia of this.
Shocked by the truth, Elia decided to file a lawsuit to terminate her exclusive contract and asked the PROBONO team to handle it. The PROBONO team emphasized the legitimacy of contract termination by arguing a breakdown of mutual trust as the core issue, while also uncovering problems in the settlement process involving Elia's brother, who is a division head, and threatened to file embezzlement charges as part of an all-out pressure campaign.
But the situation quickly worsened when Woo Myung-hoon (played by Choi Dae-hoon), who represented Cha Jin-hee, invoked the constitutional kin exemption clause. Cha Jin-hee took the blame, saying her son's embezzlement was all on her instructions, and Woo Myung-hoon strongly pushed the point that, under the kin exemption, property crimes committed between direct relatives such as a mother and daughter are not subject to punishment.
Faced with an opponent's argument invoking the constitution itself, the PROBONO team hit a dead end. Because this was a fight that required challenging the constitution itself, significant social backlash was expected and victory could not be guaranteed. Nonetheless, Elia and the PROBONO team agreed they could no longer stand by the reality of family crime victims and resolved to fight to change the law beyond winning or losing the lawsuit.
The PROBONO team finally took their steps beyond the courtroom to the National Assembly. Appearing at a national audit session for criminal law maintenance and institutional reform, Elia and the PROBONO team calmly launched a counterattack, one piece of evidence at a time, against Cha Jin-hee, who continued to pretend she was a caring mother, and Woo Myung-hoon, who defended her.
Seeing lawmakers moved by Cha Jin-hee's appeal to maternal love, Kang Da-wit pointed out that Elia, as her daughter, had known about the settlement issues but remained silent because she was her mother. He then presented evidence in turn that Cha Jin-hee had used the disputed settlement money to buy an apartment and give it to her lover, and that the corporate card had been used by the lover, revealing Cha Jin-hee's true face that had been concealed.
Standing alongside other victims of family property crimes in similar situations, Elia candidly described the suffering that had followed because of the kin exemption and explained why the law needed to be changed. As a result, the Constitutional Court decided unanimously to abolish the kin exemption, delivering a perfect victory for Elia and the PROBONO team and a thrilling catharsis.
The PROBONO team members Jung Kyungho, So Juyeon, Yoon Na Moo, Seo Hye Won, and Kang Hyung suk left viewers curious about what feats they will perform next, and the tvN weekend drama PROBONO airs every Saturday and Sunday at 9:10 p.m.
[Photo] Broadcast capture
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