ENA Monday-Tuesday drama 'Honour' (directed by Park Geon-ho, written by Park Ga-yeon, planned by KT Studio Genie, produced by How Pictures, hereafter 'Honour') has only four episodes left. In the previous broadcast, Yoon Ra-young (Lee Na-young) exposed the existence of the illegal sex-for-pay app 'Connect-in' live to the entire nation, opening a new phase in the pursuit of truth toward a massive, highly secured sex trafficking cartel. Here, we summarize the timeline of the pursuit by the three lawyers of law firm L&J (Listen & Join) so far, and, through the key messages of 'Honour' revealed by director Park Geon-ho, we predict the direction of the remaining story.
#1. 'national son-in-law' actor sexual assault case: client's false testimony
The three lawyers Yoon Ra-young, Kang Sin-jae (Jung Eun-Chae), and Hwang Hyun-jin (Lee Chung-ah) took on the sexual assault case of victim Jo Yoo-jung (Park Se-hyun). The defendant is actor Kang Eun-seok (Lee Chan-hyung), known as the 'national son-in-law,' who had enjoyed widespread public affection. Amid rising negative public sentiment, a fatal flaw surfaced during cross-examination. Jo Yoo-jung's testimony that they first met at a club was not true. Then where did Jo Yoo-jung meet Kang Eun-seok? Her silence over this question became the starting point for the pursuit of truth.
#2. confirmation of 'Connect-in' existence: reporter's investigation and victim's chain of tragedy
The clue emerged through Hwang Hyun-jin's ex-boyfriend, reporter Lee Jun-hyuk (Lee Jun). He had been investigating the secret sex-for-pay app 'Connect-in' through sources including Jo Yoo-jung. Shortly after he promised to share information with L&J, he was murdered, and Jo Yoo-jung, too, staged her death as a suicide immediately after revealing 'Connect-in' to L&J. It began to surface how massive and dangerous this organization was.
#3. emergence of another victim: VIP users and impregnable security
Under the judgment that "if access is blocked, make them come to you," Yoon Ra-young publicly provoked the organization on live broadcast, saying, "Our goal is one. Connect. consolidation." In response, another sexual exploitation victim, Han Min-seo (Jeon Soyoung), came to L&J. The 'Connect-in' app confirmed on her phone had a rigorous two-layer structure that made normal access impossible. Through Han Min-seo, they attempted to trace the phone of Kwon Jung-hyun (Lee Hae-yeong), the second-in-command to Haeil, who was identified as a VIP, but a high-level security system activated, erasing the data and exposing only L&J's identity. It was a moment that suggested 'Connect-in' possessed security beyond imagination and had high-level backers who required such security.
#4. 'Connect-in' administrator Park Je-yeol: connection to an incident 20 years ago
The administrator of 'Connect-in' was 'Park Joo-hwan,' who raped Yoon Ra-young 20 years ago and also used violence against Kang Sin-jae and Hwang Hyun-jin when they tried to rescue her. He had washed his identity as Park Je-yeol (Seo Hyun-woo) and, as a sitting prosecutor, protected the cartel. Park Je-yeol threatened them with his past as a weapon to stop the pursuit, but L&J succeeded in persuading his wife Hong Yeon-hee (Baek Eun-hye) and securing decisive phone data. Inside were access logs, financial transaction records, victim supply instructions, and other clear evidence that could bring down the ugly reality of 'Connect-in.'
#5. Yoon Ra-young's live broadcast exposure: a frontal breakthrough risking reputation
During Yoon Ra-young's live broadcast debate, a malicious article accusing her of being the attempted murder perpetrator broke out, and public opinion rapidly turned against her. At the critical moment when the opposing panel fiercely attacked whether she had the right to speak of justice, Yoon Ra-young proudly confessed that she was not the perpetrator but a victim. At the same time, she exposed in detail the existence of the secret sex-for-pay app 'Connect-in' for the elite and the identity of prosecutor Park Je-yeol, who had been operating it. After Yoon Ra-young's courageous confession, hidden victims of sexual exploitation by 'Connect-in' began to come to L&J one by one. As those who had been trapped in silence came out into the world, what remained was to relentlessly pursue the 'Connect-in' administrators and users and bring them to legal judgment.
Director Park Geon-ho said the ultimate message he wanted to convey through this work was a "redefinition of the concept of recovery." "Recovery does not mean complete healing or forgiveness. It is not erasing the past, but rather choosing to live again despite it," he said, adding, "I think the point the three lawyers reach after passing through a long tunnel is also a place of mind where they no longer have to run away." With four episodes remaining, as the backlash following Yoon Ra-young's exposure grows fiercer, attention is focused on what choices and changes the three lawyers will face at the end of this journey and how 'Honour' will reach the 'recovery' it speaks of.
ENA Monday-Tuesday drama 'Honour' airs on ENA at 10 p.m. every Monday and Tuesday, and is available on KT Jini TV and Coupang Play.<
[Photo] KT Studio Genie
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