Jung Kyung-ho is enjoying a successful year with two hit dramas under his belt. The actor, who has been in a public relationship with Choi Soo-young for 13 years, starred in the MBC drama 'Oh My Ghost Clients,' which concluded in June. Despite MBC's overall struggles this year, Jung is considered a strong contender for the '2025 MBC Drama Awards.' Meanwhile, he continues to make waves in his current tvN project.
In the latest episode of the tvN weekend drama 'Pro Bono,' which aired on the 27th, team leader Kang Da-wit (played by Jung Kyung-ho) faced off against rival law firm Baek Seung in a fierce battle to keep his team intact.
The episode achieved impressive ratings, with an average of 6.5% and a peak of 7.9% in the Seoul metropolitan area, and an average of 6.1% and a peak of 7.2% nationwide. It ranked first in its time slot across cable and general programming channels, including the 2049 demographic, according to Nielsen Korea.
The Pro Bono team received a shocking notice of disbandment from Oh Kyu-jang (played by Kim Kap-soo), the founder of Oh & Partners. The team's public interest lawsuits were deemed incompatible with the firm's focus on high-profile clients from the political and business sectors.
Kang Da-wit confronted Oh Kyu-jang, arguing that public interest lawsuits could enhance the firm's reputation. He proposed a competitive case acquisition against Baek Seung, with the condition that if they lost, he would accept the team's disbandment without contesting wrongful termination. Intrigued, Oh Kyu-jang accepted the challenge.
The case in question involved Elijah (played by Jung Zi-so), a beloved idol facing blackmail after a video of her confronting a stalker fan surfaced. Elijah's team sought a quiet resolution before the situation escalated.
During the initial meeting, both sides presented their strategies. Baek Seung, led by Woo Myung-hoon (played by Choi Dae-hoon), suggested settling with compensation and confidentiality agreements. Meanwhile, the Pro Bono team demonstrated a keen understanding of the entertainment industry, identifying the risk of video leaks and using real-time traffic analysis to track the cyber stalker's uploads.
Despite the video's release, the teams' responses diverged. Woo Myung-hoon proposed hospitalization and a public apology to protect Elijah's brand, while the Pro Bono team focused on protecting Elijah as a person, highlighting the harassment she and her acquaintances faced. Team member Yoo Nan-hee (played by Seo Hye-won), a fan of Elijah, played a crucial role in securing the case by sincerely representing Elijah's perspective.
After a heated battle, the Pro Bono team took the case to court, where Kang Da-wit's logical rebuttals and Yoo Nan-hee's heartfelt defense highlighted the severity of the situation. Elijah also appeared in court, apologizing for the controversy and emphasizing the harm caused by the cyber stalker's statements to both her and her fans.
However, the episode ended with a shocking revelation: the cyber stalker's lawyer informed Kang Da-wit and Park Ki-bbeum (played by So Ju-yeon) that the person who leaked Elijah's private information was none other than her agency's CEO and her mother. This twist leaves viewers eagerly anticipating the next episode to uncover the true motives behind Elijah's mother's actions.
Lee So-jung, TENASIA Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr