In a daring move, actress Lee Na-young's character Yoon Ra-young declared war on the secret sex trafficking cartel 'Connect' during a live broadcast. Despite the dire circumstances, she bravely made herself the 'bait' in a bold confrontation. The show's ratings increased to 3.8% nationwide and 3.4% in the metropolitan area, marking a rise for the third consecutive episode.
In the third episode of ENA's Monday-Tuesday drama 'Honor: Her Courtroom' (hereafter 'Honor'), aired on the 9th, Yoon Ra-young (played by Lee Na-young) was attacked by a mysterious figure in a green hoodie. The assailant seemed to have pre-planned the attack, leaving no trace on CCTV or black boxes. Although there was speculation about a connection to the secret prostitution app 'ConnectIn', there was no evidence on social media or community forums. The only link was Jo Yoo-jung (played by Park Se-hyun), a minor and victim of sexual assault, who refused to testify and meet with a lawyer.
Yoon Ra-young confronted Jo Yoo-jung before a site inspection, urging her to face 'ConnectIn' and warning her that there was no turning back. During a reenactment, Jo Yoo-jung recalled reporter Lee Jun-hyuk (played by Lee Chung-joo) telling her to run, and she reversed her statement, admitting, "It wasn't me. They made me do it." She revealed to Yoon Ra-young that 'ConnectIn' was a secret prostitution app and that Lee Jun-hyuk was writing an exposé. However, despite Yoon Ra-young's assurance that "nothing will happen to you," Jo Yoo-jung took her own life by overdosing in a treatment room.
The police concluded the case as a suicide due to psychological pressure, but Yoon Ra-young was not convinced. She believed Jo Yoo-jung was murdered after reading her will, which pleaded, "Please protect my sister." The mystery deepened as it was revealed through a flashback that the perpetrator was a cleaning staff member. Jo Yoo-jung's face turned pale at the threat, "Your sister's life depends on you. Don't you understand?" echoing words previously hinted at by prosecutor Park Je-yeol (played by Seo Hyun-woo), suggesting the cartel's reach extended into the prosecution.
The only way to approach the untouchable secret organization was to make them come to her. During a live interview, Yoon Ra-young announced the founding purpose of the public interest law firm L&J (Listen & Join), emphasizing that victims are never alone and that there are lawyers who will listen and fight alongside them.
She declared, "What we need is just one thing, 'Connect.' Alone we are weak, but together we are strong," signaling her intent to bring the massive sex trafficking cartel 'ConnectIn' into the light.
Yoon Ra-young's live broadcast hit its mark. Han Min-seo (played by Jeon So-young), another victim of sex trafficking who had not responded to numerous calls and texts, reached out. While it seemed like a breakthrough, danger lurked everywhere. Kang Shin-jae (played by Jung Eun-chae) was shocked to find the number '2005' scrawled on her car's rear window, and Hwang Hyun-jin (played by Lee Chung-ah) was attacked by a figure resembling the green-hooded assailant who had previously targeted Yoon Ra-young. The thrilling catharsis of Yoon Ra-young's declaration was short-lived as the chilling warnings heightened the tension.
Prosecutor Park Je-yeol hinted at a turning point in the case. His suspicious actions were noted from his first appearance. He instructed detective Koo Sun-kyu (played by Choi Young-jun) to verify the initial reporter of the already closed Lee Jun-hyuk murder case. Upon reviewing the 911 call recording, Koo Sun-kyu recognized the voice as his wife, Hwang Hyun-jin, and struggled to hide his discomfort. Park Je-yeol's enigmatic expression while watching Yoon Ra-young's live broadcast further fueled the mystery.
In this episode, Yoon Ra-young made a risky deal with forensic director Hong Yeon-hee (played by Baek Eun-hye). Unidentified DNA and a woman's accessory were found at reporter Lee Jun-hyuk's home, making Yoon Ra-young and Hwang Hyun-jin subjects for comparison. Previously, Hong Yeon-hee had insisted on taking Yoon Ra-young's divorce case despite her refusal. In exchange for taking the case, Yoon Ra-young requested a DNA sample swap, protecting Hwang Hyun-jin, who was the first to discover Lee Jun-hyuk's body and had a one-night stand with him.
However, the man Hong Yeon-hee referred to as hell was her husband, a current prosecutor. The mystery deepened as questions arose about his identity and why he chose Yoon Ra-young as his defense attorney.
Tae Yuna, TenAsia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr