The recent exposure of real names involved in the 'Connect-In' sexual exploitation crimes attempted to divert public attention with an idol drug scandal, but the agency's CEO faced a counterattack, providing a sense of justice.
In episode 9 of ENA's Monday-Tuesday drama 'Honor: Her Court' (hereafter 'Honor'), the L&J (Listen & Join) lawyer trio, Yoon Ra-young (Lee Na-young), Kang Shin-jae (Jung Eun-chae), and Hwang Hyun-jin (Lee Chung-ah), secured testimonies from 'Connect-In' victims and focused on identifying the users. During this process, it was revealed that another victim they protected, Han Min-seo (Jeon So-young), was the mysterious 'Green Hood.' However, she left behind a laptop belonging to the deceased journalist Lee Jun-hyuk with a note saying "It's a gift" and disappeared. Despite attacking Yoon Ra-young and Hwang Hyun-jin, she left crucial evidence to dismantle the secret prostitution ring, deepening the mystery of her identity.
Subsequently, L&J hacker Ahn Dong-je (Kim Moon-ki) successfully decrypted the strong password protecting the core data on the laptop. The revealed file contained a list of 'Connect-In' users, a cartel of top 'predators' from the legal, political, media, and business sectors, shielding each other with their sordid desires. L&J held an urgent press conference, revealing the real names of some users confirmed to be involved in sexual exploitation crimes through victim testimonies, and announced their intention to file criminal charges, vowing to fight until no one escapes justice. Cornered, the cartel attempted to divert attention by releasing a top idol's drug scandal, but L&J countered by adding the idol's agency CEO to the 'Connect-In' user list, launching a fierce counterattack.
Meanwhile, Seong Tae-im (Kim Mi-sook), head of Haeil, suspicious of IT company 'The Prime' CEO Baek Tae-joo (Yeon Woo-jin) who joined forces with her daughter Kang Shin-jae, conducted a thorough investigation. It was revealed that Baek Tae-joo was the Korean student hacker who initially reported the sexual bribery list of rookie actress Seo Ji-yoon, who tragically died 20 years ago. At that time, Haeil had removed the list from the prosecution to protect top clients, allowing them to thrive for the past 20 years. Kwon Joong-hyun (Lee Hae-young), whose name was exposed, pressured Seong Tae-im to handle the situation, emphasizing that those clients are still around.
As a result of Seong Tae-im's actions, a joint investigation team was formed, targeting L&J. They raided the office with a search warrant for illegal evidence collection and obstruction of justice, seizing materials. Kang Shin-jae, realizing her mother's involvement, erupted in anger, but Seong Tae-im remained unfazed, stating she was doing what she always did for Haeil and its clients. She warned her to be cautious of Baek Tae-joo, saying, "I have both you and me in the palm of my hand."
Prosecutor Park Je-yeol (Seo Hyun-woo), cut off by the organization, stood at the photo line to confess to all charges. At that moment, videos of 'Connect-In' users' sexual exploitation scenes were released on social media, exposing victims' faces and causing chaos. It was revealed that Han Min-seo was behind the video leak, building up to a shocking ending. Furthermore, she lured Park Je-yeol, panicked from being accused of leaking the video, to L&J's safe house where victims were sheltered.
As Park Je-yeol went on a rampage, firing a gun, Kang Shin-jae and Hwang Hyun-jin were brutally assaulted, reminiscent of 20 years ago. As he aimed to pull the trigger on them, Yoon Ra-young struck his head with a metal pipe, killing him instantly. Han Min-seo recorded the entire scene on her phone and sent a message to Yoon Ra-young saying, "Thank you, mom, for killing dad." Around her neck was the necklace Yoon Ra-young had left at her daughter's grave.
The shocking ending was capped by Baek Tae-joo. Watching Park Je-yeol's demise on his phone, he remarked, "The safest way to dispose of a used-up bomb is to pull the pin," suggesting he orchestrated the scandal from the sexual bribery list 20 years ago. Meeting Seong Tae-im, he left a cryptic message, "I like poetic justice," hinting at the true mastermind behind the scandal, sparking unprecedented curiosity. The episode's viewership ratings rose to 4.3% nationwide and 4.2% in the metropolitan area.
Tae Yuna, TenAsia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr