Original subtitles

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...

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?)