In the 13th episode, aired on the 24th, the drama depicted the miraculous survival of Shin Yi-rang (played by Yoo Yeon-seok) after being shot and falling into a coma. The episode dynamically unfolded the heart-wrenching backstory of the 'Yellow Boots' kidnapping case. During this process, the past misdeeds of the 'corrupt prosecutor' Shin Ki-jung (played by Choi Won-young) were revealed, and he appeared before his son as a ghost with no memory, adding another layer of shock.
The episode recorded a nationwide viewership rating of 6.5%, peaking at 6.7%. The key demographic of viewers aged 20-49 showed a peak rating of 2.08%, according to Nielsen Korea. Additionally, the drama has maintained its spot in Netflix's 'Today's Top 10 Series in Korea' for six consecutive weeks, ranking second in Korea from April 13 to 19, capturing viewers' attention. The ratings, which had dipped due to competition from IU and Byun Woo-seok's '21st Century Grand Lady,' saw a slight increase compared to the previous week.
As Shin Yi-rang's soul, separated from his body, was about to depart with no memory, the ghost of a child, Yoon Si-ho (played by Park Da-on), pleaded, "You promised to find my mom!" This desperate cry seemed to revive Shin Yi-rang's heart, bringing tears of relief to his family and Han Na-hyun (played by Esom). Awakened miraculously, Shin Yi-rang intensified his efforts to fulfill Yoon Si-ho's last wish by tracking down the motives behind Detective Jo Chi-young's (played by Lee Sang-woon) turn into a serial child kidnapper.
A crucial clue was found in a pizza coupon flyer discovered at Jo Chi-young's home. Two years prior, after divorcing his wife, Jo Chi-young's six-year-old son died in an accident. From the child's perspective, Shin Yi-rang deduced that Jo Chi-young's son had wanted a '1-night, 2-day camping trip' that could be won with 10 coupons. Jo Chi-young referred to the kidnapped victims as "my child" and fed them pizza, indicating he was deluded into thinking he was becoming a 'good father.' He likely buried Yoon Si-ho at the campsite his son had wanted to visit, revealing his twisted psychology.
During a prison visit, Shin Yi-rang confronted Jo Chi-young about his heinous crimes. Jo Chi-young's justification that he "rescued children from unworthy parents" was met with Shin Yi-rang's retort, "To children, parents are their whole world," and "You took away the most precious thing." The turning point for Jo Chi-young, who had remained silent, was Yoon Si-ho's spirit. Possessing Shin Yi-rang, Yoon Si-ho conveyed, "If I were your son, my heart would hurt too much," leading Jo Chi-young to tearfully confess the location of the bodies.
After the police discovered Yoon Si-ho's remains, Shin Yi-rang and Han Na-hyun guided his father, Yoon Jae-wook (played by Go Sang-ho), and mother to the site. The area was filled with flowers from those mourning the tragic death. The couple, who had been avoiding each other out of guilt for losing their child, held hands again and broke down in tears. Yoon Si-ho, who had wished for his parents' happiness, ran towards them with a bright smile, symbolizing the resumption of their family's halted time. He left Shin Yi-rang with the compliment, "You're a hundred, a thousand times cooler than Lightning Man," before ascending to the sky.
Following the case resolution, Shin Yi-rang's family and Han Na-hyun gathered for a cheerful meal at a meat restaurant. Han Na-hyun's affectionate gesture of placing meat in front of Shin Yi-rang created a warm atmosphere. She also made a surprising proposal, suggesting they meet "where ghosts can't find us," showing her straightforward romantic interest.
The sweet moment was short-lived as Shin Yi-rang faced a harsh past. Yoon Jae-wook, who intended to pursue a civil lawsuit for damages through Shin Yi-rang, suddenly withdrew. He discovered that the prosecutor responsible for his father's death, a respected and diligent teacher, was Shin Ki-jung. Yoon Jae-wook revealed that his father had expelled a student involved in school violence, whose father was the head of a top law firm, and Shin Ki-jung had pursued excessive charges for personal gain, leading to resentment even towards Shin Yi-rang, who apologized.
Confronted for the first time with his father's corruption through a victim's account, Shin Yi-rang was thrown into deep confusion. Amidst this turmoil, Shin Ki-jung appeared as he was at 41, the age at his death. As a ghost with no memory, unaware that the young man before him was his son, Shin Yi-rang coldly refused his request, saying, "I won't take your case." The intense ending left viewers questioning whether Shin Ki-jung was truly a corrupt prosecutor and what truth Shin Yi-rang would uncover. The 14th episode of SBS's 'Shin & Law Office' will air on Saturday at 9:50 PM.
Reporter: Im Chae-ryeong, TenAsia syjj426@tenasia.co.kr