In the 10th episode aired on the 4, the drama showcased a fierce courtroom battle involving Kang Da-wit (played by Jung Kyung-ho) and the Pro Bono team. The episode achieved impressive viewership ratings, with an average of 8.6% in the Seoul metropolitan area and a peak of 9.5%, while nationwide ratings averaged 8.6% with a peak of 9.3%, securing the top spot in its time slot across cable and general programming channels. (Based on Nielsen Korea's data for cable, IPTV, and satellite combined paid platforms)
The episode centered around the trial of Kang Da-wit, accused of manipulating a past trial involving Yoo Jae-beom's (played by Yeon Je-wook) father, Yoo Baek-man (played by Kim Yong-jun). The Pro Bono team, representing Yoo Jae-beom, clashed with Kang Da-wit over the influence of Kang's mother's accident at Yoo Baek-man's factory on the trial's outcome.
The Pro Bono team, led by Yoo Nan-hee (played by Seo Hye-won), discovered that the current judge had a favorable bias towards Kang Da-wit due to past assistance. They strategically added the judge's father-in-law as a representative for the victim, forcing the judge to recuse himself.
Kang Da-wit, appearing in a hospital gown and wheelchair, disrupted the proceedings by highlighting the judge's history of granting trial delays for wealthy chairpersons, showcasing his confidence.
The courtroom battle intensified as Hwang Joon-woo (played by Kang Hyung-seok) accused Kang Da-wit of harboring deep resentment towards Yoo Baek-man, citing Kang's request to transfer to a court with jurisdiction over Yoo's factory. A former prosecutor testified about being pressured by Kang to replace the defendant, adding weight to the abuse of power allegations.
In response, Kang Da-wit's lawyer, Oh Jung-in (played by Lee You-young), dismissed the claims as subjective interpretations and weakened the credibility of the prosecutor's testimony by revealing his golf outings with Yoo Baek-man. She firmly countered the abuse of power allegations by stating that judges do not have investigative authority.
As tensions rose between Kang Da-wit and his former team, Park Ki-bbeum (played by So Ju-yeon) discovered that Kang was the judge who saved her family from bankruptcy, leaving her conflicted. She pleaded with Kang to reveal the truth, expressing her desire to trust him.
However, Kang remained distant, telling Park that the side that wins in court defines the truth, challenging her to defeat him to uncover it.
Park, heeding Kang's advice, pursued the truth in her arguments. She questioned Kang about the unusually high sentence and the repetitive questioning of the factory manager during the trial. She cautiously inquired if he ever recalled his mother's accident during the trial and whether revenge motivated him.
In a tense moment, Kang Da-wit broke his silence, admitting, "Yes, it was revenge," and confessed, "I am guilty," leaving viewers stunned at the episode's conclusion.
Reporter: Se-yoon Jung, TENASIA yoon@tenasia.co.kr