In a bold revelation, actress Na Young Lee has confessed to being a victim of sexual assault 20 years ago and exposed the secret prostitution app 'ConnectIn', leading to the downfall of Seo Hyun Woo. Her bravery has inspired a wave of solidarity among other victims. The show's ratings reached 4.2% nationwide and 4.0% in the metropolitan area.
In episode 8 of ENA's Monday-Tuesday drama 'Honor: Her Court', Yoon Ra Young (played by Na Young Lee) finds herself ensnared in a trap set by Park Jae Yeol (played by Seo Hyun Woo). As he continuously taunts her with the trauma from 20 years ago, saying, "I can crush you anytime. You'll never escape that night," she becomes disoriented. However, his wife, Hong Yeon Hee (played by Baek Eun Hye), who was previously assaulted and collapsed, uses a stun gun to subdue Park Jae Yeol, allowing them to narrowly escape. Having learned the truth about Yoon Ra Young's past, Hong Yeon Hee hands over a USB containing copied data from Park Jae Yeol's phone, urging her to "end him once and for all."
The counterattack, however, was not smooth. When abnormal access to 'ConnectIn' was detected, Park Jae Yeol executed an emergency shutdown in admin mode, deleting users' apps to destroy evidence. L&J hacker Kim Dong Je (played by Kim Moon Ki) attempted to unlock the admin mode password using Park Jae Yeol's phone data, but with only one chance left due to input restrictions, the situation was dire. At that moment, Baek Tae Joo (played by Yeon Woo Jin), the CEO of IT company 'The Prime' and fiancé of Kang Shin Jae (played by Jung Eun Chae), stepped in. Successfully unlocking the admin screen, they finally secured evidence of 'ConnectIn's access records, financial transactions, and victim supply directives.
Meanwhile, Park Jae Yeol moved a step ahead. Coinciding with Yoon Ra Young's live debate appearance, an article was released with the headline, "The perpetrator of the unsolved attempted murder case of a Korean law student 20 years ago was a famous star lawyer," exposing photos of the three L&J lawyers. The community spread real names, and public opinion quickly deteriorated.
At the same time, unaware of this, Yoon Ra Young faced blatant attacks from an opposing panelist, accusing her of feigning righteousness while hiding her crimes. Her past, which she wished to keep hidden, was exposed to the entire nation, and amidst the cameras and audience's gaze, she was thrown into confusion. Park Jae Yeol's threat, "Afraid you'll always be seen as a victim, you'll say nothing," echoed in her mind. But this time was different. Yoon Ra Young silenced the buzzing studio by confessing that she was a victim of sexual assault.
She boldly revealed that Park Jae Yeol, her then-boyfriend, had raped her and also assaulted friends who tried to help her. She expressed regret for not speaking out sooner, which might have prevented further sacrifices, mentioning journalist Lee Jun Hyuk, who was killed while investigating the prostitution cartel, and Jo Yoo Jung, who died under false murder charges.
Finally, she exposed the existence of the secret prostitution app 'ConnectIn', operated for the elite, and revealed that a current prosecutor involved in its operation was none other than Park Jae Yeol, urging swift action from investigative agencies. Unlike 20 years ago, Yoon Ra Young did not run away; she stood firm, ready to break but not to fall.
Despite potential backlash, the L&J trio embraced each other, ready to face the consequences together. However, it was not L&J that took the hit. Park Jae Yeol was suspended from duty by the Minister of Justice, pushed to the edge. The corrupt ties within the police were also severed. Police officer Kim Seung Jin (played by Jung Hee Tae), Park Jae Yeol's henchman, threatened with a gun to seize the evidence L&J had secured, but detective Koo Sun Kyu (played by Choi Young Joon), husband of Hwang Hyun Jin (played by Lee Chung Ah) and his partner, had already removed the bullets, having witnessed Kim's attempts to destroy evidence with a burner phone and drug syringe. Ultimately, Kim Seung Jin was arrested in the act.
Most importantly, Yoon Ra Young's courage sparked a massive wave. Former clients and numerous citizens who watched the broadcast sent bouquets, saying, "Returning the courage you gave me." Moreover, victims of 'ConnectIn', who had been hiding in the shadows, began to courageously step into L&J's office one by one. Yoon Ra Young promised, "I will do everything to protect you," as she opened the curtain on a full-scale war against the great evil, not alone but with the power of 'solidarity'.
However, not everyone shared the same sentiment. Another victim of 'ConnectIn', Han Min Seo (played by Jeon So Young), packed her bags and left Yoon Ra Young's house, vowing to return the pain she suffered in a more excruciating way. Approaching Park Jae Yeol's daughter, Park Sang Ah (played by Kim Tae Yeon), and collecting evidence of his ruthless violence, Han Min Seo's unique plan for revenge adds tension as a potential wildcard.
By Tae Yuna, TenAsia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr