SBS Friday-Saturday drama "Shinirang Law Office" Yoo Yeon-seok gave up the chance to return to being an ordinary lawyer on his own and declared his return as a "ghost-specialized lawyer" who once again listens to the voices of the dead, creating an emotionally stirring thrill.
On the 3rd, episode 7 of SBS's Friday-Saturday drama "Shinirang Law Office" (directed by Shin Joong-hoon, written by Kim Ga-young and Kang Cheol-gyu, produced by Studio S and Mongjakso) depicted Shinirang (Yoo Yeon-seok), who could no longer see ghosts, confronting Hanna-hyun (Esom)'s painful wounds and going through a process of awakening once more. The ratings recorded nationwide 7.6%, metropolitan area 7.3%, and a peak of 8.3% in the minute-by-minute rating, placing it first in its time slot and first in household ratings among all Friday programs. The 20-49 target rating peaked at 2.4%. (Provided by Nielsen Korea)
After not seeing ghosts for more than two weeks, Shinirang declared "Long live I-rang's independence" and remodeled his office into a plain law firm that only takes human clients. But reality was harsh. There was not even a single fly, let alone a person, in the office. Following the advice of his brother-in-law Yoon Bong-soo (Jun Suk-ho) to seek out people having a hard time himself, Shinirang started handing out business cards in front of the courthouse. There he unexpectedly met someone: Hanna-hyun (Esom), who had resigned from Taebaek. Learning that because of her things had gone so badly that even victories felt hollow, that the trial fell apart and she had left her company, Shinirang was overcome with guilt.
In fact, although she had loudly quit on CEO Yang Do-kyung (Kim Kyeong-nam), Hanna-hyun's attempt to stand on her own wasn't smooth either. The living expenses piling up from compensation for damages to the research institute from the previous incident caused substantial outflow, and her bank balance hit rock bottom. On top of that, Yang Do-kyung's interference put her on a blacklist and she was rejected at every interview. Eventually, facing the "X" marked on her résumé, Hanna-hyun recalled the cold attitude she had shown during Shinirang's interview. Only after experiencing it herself did she truly feel the pain and wounds caused by the stigma.
Finally, Hanna-hyun, who decided to start a solo practice like Shinirang, finally took on a case. A client handed down to her by Shinirang's senior (Park Ji-hong) introduced Hanna-hyun as "a very excellent lawyer." But Hanna-hyun sensed this case was a presale fraud when the construction company president made illogical claims that protests had crowded the construction site and that apartments couldn't be built because the owner wouldn't sell the land. She secretly asked prosecutor Kim (Yeon Je-hyeong) for help, then pretended to take the case while cleverly securing evidence of the scam.
Meanwhile, after receiving an urgent call from his senior warning that gangsters were involved in the case and he should never take it, Shinirang sensed Hanna-hyun's danger and rushed to the scene without hesitation. The two fled together from the gangsters' den, and when cornered, Shinirang threw himself forward and desperately protected Hanna-hyun. Fortunately, at the decisive moment the police arrived on the scene and the incident was resolved.
After clearing out the gang members involved in the presale scam, the two shared drinks and for the first time had an honest moment with each other. Hanna-hyun apologized to Shinirang for the past, saying she felt dirty after being deprived of interview opportunities and repeatedly rejected. Shinirang, who had been repeatedly punished by an invisible stigma and whose father (Choi Won-young) bore the stigma of being a corrupt prosecutor, said he still wanted to believe in his father because his father had a steadfast calling to punish bad people who tormented good people, which was why he chose the same path.
Hanna-hyun understood Shinirang better than anyone because he had taken on her father's dream. She, too, gave up the path of a musician and became a lawyer in place of her sister Han So-hyun (Hwang Ro-eum-byeol), who was hit and killed by a drunk driver. Shinirang, who had witnessed Hanna-hyun comforting a bereaved family holding a one-person protest in front of the courthouse after losing family to a drunk driving accident, deeply empathized with her hidden deep wounds. Above all, after hearing her drunken confession, "It's a shame you can't see ghosts. I wanted to see my sister," he realized that the "existence of the dead" he had tried to ignore was, for someone, a desperate wish to meet just once more.
Shinirang said, "If this is my fate, I will accept it," peeled off the wallpaper that had been layered over the talisman, took out a hidden censer and burned incense to open his spiritual sight. But the new deceased who appeared before his eyes shocked Shinirang. It was Han So-hyun, the sister Hanna-hyun had so longed for. Recognizing her and freezing, Shinirang's goosebump ending powerfully marked the start of the second act. The return of Shinirang, the "ghost-specialized lawyer," who accepted the wheel of fate, and what the first message from Hanna-hyun's dead sister will be, heighten curiosity. Episode 8 of SBS's Friday-Saturday drama "Shinirang Law Office" will air today (4th) Saturday at 9:50 p.m.
[Photo] Studio S, Mongjakso
[OSEN]