TV
Yoo Yeon-seok's Thrilling Victory in 'Shin-i-rang Law Office' Captivates Viewers
In the episode aired on the 14th, the first collaboration between Shin-i-rang (played by Yoo Yeon-seok) and the unjustly killed Lee Kang-pung (played by Heo Sung-tae) concluded with a satisfying outcome. However, the episode ended with Shin-i-rang's desperate cry upon seeing a new spirit, raising anticipation for the next case. The exhilarating catharsis led to a viewership rating of 9.2% in the metropolitan area, peaking at 11.3%, making it the top-rated drama in its time slot. The 2049 target audience rating also reached an average of 2.6%, peaking at 3.4%, securing the top spot in its time slot. (Data provided by Nielsen Korea)
The law firm Taebaek used Lee Kang-pung's gangster past to frame him as a 'violent patient's false claim,' pushing Shin-i-rang into a corner. Despite the embarrassment from the first trial due to possession-induced chaos, Shin-i-rang attempted to send Lee Kang-pung away by burning his talisman. However, after Lee Kang-pung's daughter, Lee Ji-woo (played by Ahn Chae-hum), collapsed from shock after reading an article, and his wife, Kim Min-joo (played by Kim Si-eun), revealed her husband's remorse and redemption, Shin-i-rang had a change of heart.
Shin-i-rang first approached nurse Oh Jin-sook (played by Lee Da-bit-na), the last witness in the operating room. Despite her difficult circumstances as a single mother, she couldn't refuse the hospital's under-the-table money and remained silent. Shin-i-rang shared his past wounds of being stigmatized as a criminal's child, persuading her to speak the truth for her child's sake. Although Oh Jin-sook refused to testify, she hinted at the possibility of manipulated records submitted to the court, suggesting checking the EMR (Electronic Medical Record) as a crucial lead.
Shin-i-rang learned that the main computer storing the EMR had been sold to 'Saenara Used Appliances' and headed to the warehouse with his brother-in-law Yoon Bong-soo (played by Jeon Seok-ho). There, they recognized the owner, Jo Ki-chul (played by Park Ki-deok), whom Lee Kang-pung had once served as a 'boss' in his gang. Shin-i-rang recalled Jo's habit of creating secret compartments in car seats, leading them to successfully find the EMR hard drive, the key evidence in the case. The problem was that Jo Ki-chul was a drug dealer disguised as a used appliance exporter, and the warehouse was his hideout.
At that moment, Han Na-hyun, who had extracted internal information about Saenara Used Appliances from the prosecution, appeared disguised as a prosecutor. However, when the gang members, who seemed cooperative, realized their drugs were exposed, they surrounded and threatened her. Just then, Shin-i-rang crashed through the warehouse door with a vehicle, unable to ignore Han Na-hyun in danger due to his kind-hearted nature. Ultimately, Shin-i-rang, Yoon Bong-soo, and Han Na-hyun were captured and forced to kneel.
When Jo Ki-chul played the music he used to beat his subordinates brutally, it triggered Lee Kang-pung's anger button, leading to a possession that occurs when encountering disliked people or anger-inducing causes. The 'red-faced' Shin-i-rang shouted, "I'm a gangster lawyer!" and swiftly subdued Jo Ki-chul and his gang with powerful punches and flashy kicks. After the intense fight, a drop of water fell from the ceiling, running down his cheek, breaking the possession, and causing Shin-i-rang to faint.
Shin-i-rang visited Ji-woo to let Lee Kang-pung possess him one last time. Lee Kang-pung comforted his daughter, who blamed herself for his death during surgery due to his snoring, saying, "It's not your fault." Seeing the mother and daughter resolve to live happily and bravely, he bid farewell to Shin-i-rang on the rooftop of Okcheon Building. Father Matteo (played by Jung Seung-gil) burned the talisman, sending him peacefully to the afterlife.
Shin-i-rang scattered beans and hung garlic and a cross in front of his office, confident that even ghostly grandfathers couldn't come. However, he was mistaken. Shin-i-rang screamed again when he saw a student floating in the air asking, "Mister, can you see me?" The next case involves a high school girl who died after falling from a building while performing a flashy idol dance, leaving viewers eager to uncover the hidden truth. SBS's 'Shin-i-rang Law Office' airs every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 PM.
Reporter Lim Chae-ryung, Ten Asia syjj426@tenasia.co.kr
