BEYOND THE BAR
FRUITS & VEGETABLES
Kang Hyo-min speaking.
Ms. Kang Hyo-min?
Yes.
This is Detective Han Su-cheol from the Jicheong Violent Crimes Unit.
What can I do for you?
Ms. Kim Yeong-mi was arrested today on suspicion of murder.
During questioning,
she said you were her attorney, so I'm contacting you.
- Kim Yeong-mi? - Yes.
Do you have any personal connection to Ms. Kim Yeong-mi,
or have you represented her in the past?
No.
I don't think I know her.
She's refused to cooperate without legal counsel.
You must be busy,
but can you come to the station to confirm this in person?
Okay.
I will.
Ms. Kim Yeong-mi.
Ms. Kang Hyo-min is here.
You came.
Why don't you two talk?
Have we
met before?
I knew you wouldn't remember me.
Sorry?
You're partly responsible for what happened to me.
That's why
I'm asking you to represent me.
BYSTANDER
Doesn't ring a bell.
Same here.
Yeong-mi is a common name, so I think I've heard it somewhere.
You met her and still don't remember her?
No.
We know all of your friends.
Then could she be a friend from high school?
Maybe.
High school was the only time we weren't together.
I don't think we were friends.
She's older than me and didn't go to high school.
Maybe you know the victim, then.
I checked that too, but the victim
only graduated from middle school, and it was different from ours.
Neither of them went to high school?
The victim went to high school in the US.
It seems she moved after middle school.
So, what will you do?
Are you taking the case?
Not taking the case feels wrong,
but saying yes means I'll deal with a criminal case.
On top of that, the firm won't approve it as pro bono,
so I'd have to charge a fee.
But there's no way Ms. Kim Yeong-mi could afford that.
By the way, when can we go in?
Which treatment are you getting today?
The one she got.
It's really good.
Ms. Kang Hyo-min.
See you.
Does it hurt a lot?
No.
You can relax.
All right.
- I'll get started. - Okay.
Look how plump her skin looks.
Right? It works really well.
I should get it too.
Do we get a group discount if we all get it?
I'm not sure.
Ask them when you go.
Let's go together. All three of us.
Okay.
Yeong-mi Kim.
Yeong-mi Kim… Kim Yeong-mi.
KIM YEONG-MI SANGRIM HIGH, HANMUN MIDDLE SCHOOL
You're smiling again.
That must be Ms. Choi.
The scent's gone already.
Yes.
Good grief.
What's going on?
A lot of things are going on.
What do you think is our team's problem?
I don't think there's a particular problem.
Our team is way too dry.
We're so dry.
Our team would make a desert look like an oasis.
Is that so?
Don't you think we also should be having team dinners?
We just had one a while ago.
Don't tell me you only want one once a year.
You didn't even join the dinner last time.
Okay, let's have a team dinner.
Yes!
Since we're on the subject,
why not have it today?
If the rest of the team can make it, why not?
Since team dinners are an extension of work,
I'll make sure every person attends.
Don't force them, though.
We don't do this often. Even missing one person kills the vibe.
Especially Ms. Heo Min-jeong,
who didn't attend last time. I'll make sure she comes today.
Why are you looking at me like that?
I mean, I felt it last time too.
Ms. Heo seems to be a bit less committed
to our team these days.
Though I'm her peer…
I mean, since I'm her peer,
I feel like it's my job to give her a proper talking-to.
What do you think?
Let me know when the venue is set.
I will.
I'm on it.
She's so dead.
- Here's to a hard day's work! - To a hard day's work!
Enjoy, everyone.
Glasses up. Come on.
- Back-to-back. - No breaks.
Cheers!
That's enough.
Eat it with other dishes.
- It melts in your mouth. - Eat quickly.
- No time to talk. Eat up. - Eat it.
It's so good.
Alright, then. Shall we do a wave toast?
- Yes! - Yes!
I love a wave toast.
Let me mix the liquor.
You're no good.
Let me.
Can you mix beer and soju?
I'm an expert.
- Okay. - Give me the glasses.
Everyone must have been waiting for tonight.
The ratio of beer and soju is crucial.
Totally. I know.
You're pouring too much soju!
- A bit more. - How much beer are you pouring?
- Hey, shush! - Pour just a little less.
Hey!
You said you're an expert.
I'll do it.
What are you up to?
I just needed to get some fresh air.
Are you okay?
Did everything go okay at the police station the other day?
We've all been too cautious to ask you
about what happened.
I'm still thinking.
What happened?
My mom's always had trouble with men.
She's a smart woman,
but she just doesn't have an eye for men.
When her current boyfriend heard I was a lawyer,
he talked my mom
into pulling a scam by using my name.
I guess some people still take a lawyer's word as gospel.
The victim is demanding 20 million won,
saying they'll get my mom sent to jail if she doesn't pay.
Our entire savings, including the deposit for our home, is exactly 20 million won.
What a coincidence.
But it's just enough to avoid debt. Maybe the universe is helping us.
Twenty million won might not be much to some,
but I spent all of my teens and twenties
working part-time jobs to save that money.
Don't tell me you're planning to use that money for a settlement.
What else can I do?
If anything,
I think that would be doing a disservice to your mother.
It could lead to a bigger crime later on.
If a parent jumps into a fire,
does being a good child mean jumping in after them?
If you take care of this for her,
you might actually take away her chance for a clean start.
It's better that she learns her lesson now and starts over.
That's a new perspective.
Thank you. I'll think about it.
Shall we go for round two?
- Yes! - Yes!
What do you mean, round two?
We keep it simple. Just dinner with drinks, and that's it.
That's so cold.
Round two crew, assemble!
- Here! - Here!
I'm drunk. I'll get going.
Thank you.
Come on.
Seriously, she's so heartless.
This is no fun.
- I'm going as well. - What?
Thank you for the dinner. Bye.
- So heartless. - I am!
- You're no fun. - I'm not!
I need to go as well.
Okay. See you tomorrow.
So dry. Too dry.
A word, Ms. Choi?
Sorry?
Okay.
Who's still up for round two?
Here.
What are these?
I bought some clothes for the twins.
Thank you.
Also, the firm offers
housing deposit loans to eligible associates
at rates lower than the market average.
Once you pass the evaluation and officially join as an associate,
I'll help you to take advantage of this.
Okay.
With the benefit,
it'd be nice for you to move to a place where the twins can be more comfortable.
Thank you so much.
But I won't give you a high score just because you're the breadwinner.
Of course, I understand.
Still,
if you ever need an adult to lean on,
don't go looking elsewhere. Just come to me.
Okay.
Thank you, Mr. Yoon.
When did I say you could come in?
I'm thirsty, that's all.
Hey!
Shall we have one more beer?
Do you have any?
I'm very drunk
and about to go to bed.
And you're going to leave.
Then get me some water at least.
Listen.
I'm saying this as your close friend.
This woman is off limits.
Why?
I'm older than you--
It doesn't matter.
I've been married.
- I even have a kid. - She's all grown up.
I can't have a baby.
That's for the gods to decide.
You're overstepping.
- I won't have any more. - I won't force you to.
What?
What else?
Why am I even having this conversation with you?
Then let's just date.
Fine.
Let's say I won't get married.
How about you? Do you have unlimited time?
Doesn't the opportunity cost scare you?
- Don't you plan on getting married? - I will. I want to.
- With someone I love. - Exactly.
You're the one I love.
How could I marry someone else with you around?
You…
I don't deserve you.
You think so?
Then let's do what drunk people do.
What?
Make a mistake.
This is a mistake, okay?
Whatever you say.
X equals negative b, plus or minus.
X equals negative b, plus or minus…
THE PRINCIPLES OF MATHEMATICS
- Too bad for you! - You like that?
Look at her.
Time for a cigarette burn.
Give me a break.
Every freaking night!
Shouldn't she be in solitary confinement?
How can we sleep with a psycho like her?
LAWYER KANG HYO-MIN GAINS FAME FOR SAVING UNKNOWN ARTIST
I HAD TO RUN AN ERRAND BEFORE WORK SEE YOU
So you ran off?
We'll see each other at the office anyway.
What do I do?
PTSD?
Yes. That's the doctor's opinion.
She's extremely anxious
and wakes up screaming from nightmares
almost every night.
She says she feels numbness and pain too.
The other inmates are becoming more and more disgruntled,
so we are monitoring the situation closely.
I see.
X equals negative b, plus or minus
the square root of b squared minus 4ac.
X equals
negative b, plus or minus the square root of b squared minus 4a…
How are you doing?
Negative…
Ms. Kim Yeong-mi.
You know what?
I was top of my year throughout middle school
and high school.
I see.
I read you only finished middle school.
I dropped out at the end of my second year of high school.
I was
a victim of severe school bullying.
It's a cigarette burn scar.
Surprised already?
It's probably worse than anything you're imagining.
Are you saying
the victim was…
Yes.
She was the one behind it all.
She did this to me.
I thought I could move on.
I took the GED and was planning to go to college,
but the pain from back then
completely consumed my body and mind.
Like someone who just got beaten up,
my whole body ached and tingled.
So I started taking psychiatric medication.
But those pills ended up eating away at my mind.
I would be out of it all day and unable to concentrate on studying.
But I couldn't stop taking the medication.
Without them,
the memories from that day would torment me.
In our first session, you said I was partly to blame, right?
Have we met before?
I need to get some rest.
I think the pills are making me a bit drowsy.
Okay.
Let's see who wins.
Are you looking for Ms. Heo?
Sorry?
Yes.
Is she out of the office again?
Yes.
She went out of town for a trial, but she'll be back tomorrow.
- Sorry? - It's nothing.
- Can you let me know when she's back? - Sure.
Shall I leave a note if it's urgent?
No.
Don't tell her I looked for her, okay?
- Okay. - Never.
Sure.
As expected, the investment agreement contained a harmful provision.
It allows for the call option to be exercised
if the CEO is accused of embezzlement.
So Bluestone lent 15 billion won
to Hynic Core Inc.,
exercised its call option to acquire shares of Hynic Core Inc. for free,
and then sold them to Optalyn for 120 billion won.
So Bluestone walked away with more than 100 billion won in profit.
That really is something.
Which means
Mr. Ko Seung-cheol
not only took home tens of billions in dividends
but also earned billions in legal fees and success bonuses
by representing Optalyn
when it acquired Hynic Core Inc. from Bluestone.
And that solidified his position
as a rainmaker within Yullim.
But do you think Mr. Ko really planned all this?
Mr. Ko
must have known that Optalyn was after Hynic Core's technology
because Optalyn has been one of his longtime clients.
But at the time,
Yullim was representing both Hynic Core Inc. and Optalyn,
so it couldn't have directly advised
on Optalyn's planned acquisition.
If that's true, it's a violation of the Attorney-at-Law Act.
That's why he brought in Bluestone, where he is a beneficiary.
Exactly.
A beneficiary of an investment trust has no managerial authority,
so on the surface, it looks like they can't interfere.
But in reality,
he was probably pulling all the strings from behind the asset management company.
So it's basically an OEM setup.
OEM FUND FUND WITH IMPROPER INVESTOR INTERVENTION
But even if Mr. Ko is secretly a beneficiary,
isn't it still a conflict of interest?
On the surface, Bluestone is an investment trust,
so the asset management company holds all operational and decision-making power.
Mr. Ko is just a beneficiary on paper.
Plus, because the investment was made indirectly through an SPV,
a company created solely for a particular project,
there's no direct legal conflict of interest.
Still, to avoid any potential controversy,
he got a conflict waiver, consenting to a potential conflict.
How thorough.
Then it would be hard to find any evidence that this was an OEM setup.
Even if he was secretly calling the shots through the asset management company,
there's no way he would've left any evidence.
I might just have the answer.
Okay, Dad.
Mom asked me to have dinner with her, so I was planning to head over
to the campus.
Yes.
Okay.
See you later.
How dare you represent the murderer who killed my daughter?
How could you?
How?
How could you defend that evil monster?
What's going on?
Who are you?
Move!
I need to talk to that lawyer, Kang Hyo-min,
or whatever the hell her name is.
Pretty sick, right?
Get up!
You can't do this here. Please leave.
Yes?
Hyo-min.
Kim Yeong-mi.
Her former name was Kim So-yun.
She was charged with murder
for killing Choi So-yun.
Is she someone I know?
Think.
You owe her that much.
Choi So-yun.
I once read an interview you did for a women's magazine.
They asked you if you had any regrets in life
or if there was anything you'd undo.
Do you remember what you said?
You said you had no regrets
because even if you went back a thousand times,
you'd make the same decisions.
You said you didn't regret any decision you had ever made.
Is that really what you think?
Do you honestly believe you've lived your life
without a hint of regret?
From what I know, you haven't led such a great life.
You're nothing but a ruthless, egocentric hypocrite.
You wrote laws for people with disabilities and did volunteer work,
and yet you abandoned your own disabled daughter.
You pushed for legislation to protect victims of school violence,
but you turned your back on Kim So-yun.
At least try to feel some regret
so I can try to understand you.
B squared…
I remember you.
You do?
You changed your name from Kim So-yun to Kim Yeong-mi.
I did.
I hated that name.
Why do you think Choi So-yun did that to me?
Because we shared the same name?
Because I didn't lend her a textbook?
Or
because I was the new kid and still came out on top?
I don't think so.
I don't think there was any reason.
There's no justification for that cruelty.
- Back then, I-- - I'm sure you had your reasons.
Bystanders always have their excuses.
But
no bystander is truly innocent.
The silence of a bystander
can be just as cruel as the violence
of the perpetrator.
In the end,
it's no different from taking the perpetrator's side.
They say we're not only responsible for our actions
but also for our inaction.
What do you
want me to do for you?
Get me acquitted
for the murder I committed.
Sorry?
I know
I committed a crime.
But being convicted of murder
is the last thing I want.
You intentionally struck Choi So-yun, and as a result,
she died.
The hardships you've experienced
may be considered as mitigating factors in sentencing,
but it doesn't change the fact that this was murder.
If even one person had reached out to me,
I could have been sitting where you are now.
I would've been top of the year
instead of you.
I know
I'm being unreasonable.
But try offering me a hand.
You are…
all I've got now.
MR. YOON SEOK-HOON
Are you okay?
Yes?
Are you okay?
What about your jacket?
I sent it to the dry cleaner.
Thank you for helping me earlier.
Is she the mother of the victim in the Kim Yeong-mi case?
Yes.
Do you know Ms. Kim?
Yes.
When I took on the case, I didn't recognize her,
but we went to the same high school.
Kim Yeong-mi was a victim of brutal school violence,
and the person who died
was the main perpetrator of it.
I see.
I will make sure she's found not guilty of the murder charge
because I'm responsible too.
What do you mean?
OCTOBER 2013
Bye.
See you.
Are you okay?
- So annoying. - My gosh.
You can't just jump into the street like that.
- Whatever. - Are you hurt?
You didn't hit me,
and I will let it slide. So just go.
Look.
Gosh.
Her cell phone…
CHOI SO-YUN REALLY WENT AT IT
CIGARETTE ASH SPRINKLES! SICK!
I TOTALLY BLEW OFF STEAM TODAY
WHAT A MASTERPIECE
YOU SHOULD HAVE TIGHTENED THE TAPE
IT DOESN'T LOOK PAINFUL AT ALL
Look!
YOU SHOULD HAVE SMASHED HER HARDER
GGUNGYI
Hello.
Yes, I have your phone.
No. Get your mother.
I'll talk to her.
I'm convening the school violence committee today.
The victim will be protected,
and every single perpetrator will be expelled.
I'll also
file criminal charges and pursue a civil claim for damages.
This is why working moms can't keep up.
You're always the last to know.
The victim
is Kim So-yun.
Doesn't her name ring a bell?
Kim So-yun?
Yes.
That top student, Kim So-yun.
Your daughter
has always been top of her class,
but her grades have been dropping ever since that kid transferred in, right?
Look at you, helping the girl
who's outshining your own daughter.
Do you honestly
hear yourself?
Listen carefully, Ms. Choi, mother of Hyo-min from Class 2-4.
No one can expel my daughter.
Her father is the chairman of the board.
Do you understand?
Oh, and my family motto is
"Don't ever be the one who gets pushed around."
If my daughter gets humiliated at the school violence committee,
don't you think her anger might end up directed at your daughter?
It wasn't mere inaction. It was closer to active complicity.
My mom never stepped up.
I also let that incident slip by.
Not long after, Kim So-yun
dropped out,
and Choi So-yun left for the US to study abroad.
I can't believe I forgot about this incident.
I believe I have a responsibility as a bystander.
So if there's anything I can do now, I'd like to help.
I'd like to take the lead on this case.
I'll also deliver the oral argument.
Are you sure about that? It's your first criminal case.
Yes. I can do this.
All right, then.
Thank you.
You seem
to have a way of drawing people in.
I do?
- Do you think so? - Why, of course.
Sometimes, when someone is too perfect,
they lose a bit of charm,
but with you, it's different. You have it all,
but there's this subtle sense of space.
But I think
that sense of space only makes you even more captivating.
I wonder what kind of space that is.
The kind of space
that feels like it's meant to
remain unfilled.
It makes me
want to fill
that space.
COURT IN SESSION
FIRST CRIMINAL TRIAL HEARING FOR THE MURDER CHARGE
Counsel, could you repeat that, please?
The defendant pleads not guilty.
What on earth?
How is she not guilty?
My daughter was murdered!
Those in the gallery, please remain quiet.
Sit down.
Counsel,
are you fully aware that pleading not guilty
to the murder charge
could put the defendant at a severe disadvantage
in the broader context of this case?
Yes, that has been fully considered.
However, in this case, the defendant's actions
do not constitute murder under the law.
For a murder charge to be established,
both subjective and objective elements must be present.
In other words,
the intent to kill and the act of killing must occur simultaneously.
That was not the case here.
Let me explain with a simple example.
If person A thought about killing person B
but took no action,
it does not constitute murder.
If, on the following day, person A had a change of heart
and no longer intended to kill person B,
but person B died due to person A accidentally dropping something,
this too would not constitute murder.
This is because
the intent and the action did not take place at the same time.
The same applies to the defendant, Kim Yeong-mi.
The first act, the blow with a blunt object,
was made with intent to injure, but it did not lead to the victim's death.
The second act,
the collision which resulted in the victim's death,
was not carried out with any intent
but instead occurred under unforeseeable circumstances.
Therefore,
this case must be assessed in two separate parts.
The first act should be treated as assault,
and the second falls under the charge of death by traffic accident.
I understand.
Hyo-min is a genius.
Prosecution.
She's awesome.
Do you wish to amend the charges?
Your Honor, the prosecution believes
the attack was carried out with clear intent to kill.
We will therefore maintain
the murder charge as the primary charge.
However,
in case the court finds
that the elements of murder are not satisfied,
we will add attempted murder
and injury resulting in death as alternative charges.
We will also include charges of assault and death
under the Special Act on Traffic Accident Settlement.
Counsel,
do you have any objections to the amendment of the indictment?
No, Your Honor.
We've made our move,
and now it's time to find the final blow.
Yes.
It's overwhelming, but I'm going to do my best.
No matter how well you write the brief or argue in court,
that alone won't win the case.
Only well-polished gems make brilliant jewels.
The key is to uncover
the hidden gems among the facts that favor us.
Advocacy, like polishing a gem, can present arguments effectively,
but it cannot create substantive facts.
I understand.
I have a prior commitment.
Bye.
You rocked today,
Attorney Kang.
You were so cool, Attorney Kang.
Thank you.
I need to go see the accident site.
You've already been there.
There might be something I'm missing.
You're not an investigator. Why go that far?
I should see if I can dig up a real gem.
I heard you even offered to pay the attorney's fee.
Really?
Aren't you taking it too far?
We'll help you.
Just say the word. We'll help.
What can we do?
Shall we look for a gem?
MOM
I emailed you some reference materials. Have a look.
And I transferred the amount of Kim Yeong-mi's legal fee
to your account.
Ji-eun told me.
Why did she tell my mom?
Why would Mom pay for the fee?
I CAN TAKE CARE OF IT WHY ARE YOU BUTTING IN?
I SENT YOU SOME REFERENCE MATERIALS HAVE A LOOK
This is it.
Sorry for asking to meet somewhere like this instead of the office.
No way!
I love it here.
I should ask Mr. Lee to have meetings in places like this--
Mr. Lee shouldn't know about this place.
Never mind.
Have some of this. I already ordered some.
It looks delicious.
Are you kidding me?
What the hell?
- I'm sorry. - Where the hell were you looking?
Damn it.
Hey.
"Hey"?
What's with the foul mouth?
- What? - It was both our fault.
So why the foul language?
Hey,
I'm a customer. Are you crazy?
All this bullshit over a damn 3,000-won Americano?
If that gives you the right, I'll buy one too.
You're way out of line.
And you aren't?
Hey!
Where's the manager?
Get me the manager, damn it!
I'll make sure they fire your ass today!
Hey, you clueless jerk,
do you know how hard it is to find a part-timer?
I won't get fired over some jerk.
And this isn't just some café. It's an international chain.
I see.
You think this is some coffee joint from the damn '80s?
"Damn"?
You little…
Try me.
Go on, then. Take a swing at me.
- What the-- - That way, I can beat you up.
What the hell?
Excuse me.
- This is for your dry cleaning. - Are you the manager here?
No.
Why butt in, then?
You're too loud.
I'm not doing this for some dry-cleaning money.
Excuse me.
What's going on?
Who are you?
I'm the general manager here.
You won't believe
- what your worker did-- - Please leave.
What?
Just stop making a scene and leave.
Do you know what she said to me?
Okay.
I'm asking you to leave and stop making a scene.
- Do you know her? - No.
Let's just go back to the office.
I'll get the car.
Meet me outside.
Why did you step in?
I could have taken care of it myself.
Why did you step in?
I didn't step in because it was you.
Don't misunderstand me.
What's your problem, anyway?
Would you be upset if it hadn't been me?
No.
You would have thanked them.
Do children think their parents are paying for sins from a past life?
Do you think that we're saints and above getting hurt?
No.
We don't heal easily either when we get hurt.
You think you're entitled to yell at your parents.
Mom.
What?
Can I call you?
Yes.
What's your number?
YULLIM, HEO MIN-JEONG
I won't call you too often.
Okay.
How pretty.
I didn't even remember if the flowers had bloomed or started to wither.
We should do this more often.
I heard from other lawyers
that you've improved significantly.
Not at all.
I still have a long way to go.
But
I did put in a lot of effort.
When I first joined the M&A team,
all the jargon was so difficult
that I barely understood half of what was going on.
I knew they were speaking Korean,
but it might as well have been French.
It happens. I know.
They don't teach you those things at law school.
They don't.
That's why
I got into the habit of recording voice memos.
And I just kept listening to them over and over again
until things finally made sense.
It was so tough.
That's a good idea.
Are you cold?
- No. I'm okay. - Please.
CHOI YUN-GEUN ARE YOU FREE TODAY?
WANNA GO FOR A WALK TONIGHT?
ROOM 930, LIELSIUM HOTEL
So?
Did you take photos or not?
I…
I did take them,
but they got deleted.
Hey!
How could you screw up like that?
I'm meeting her Wednesday night.
At a hotel.
You are?
You should have led with that.
Ms. Kwon
must have been desperate.
No mistakes this time.
I understand.
Wednesday…
What do you mean?
Among the surplus staff at Yullim,
there are people Mr. Ko owes a favor to.
He probably couldn't fire them himself.
From where he's standing,
he probably wants to use you as a tool for restructuring
with the idea of pushing you out once the job is done.
Will he go that far?
It makes sense.
Someone under Mr. Ko
will start laying the groundwork to get rid of you.
He hates
getting his hands dirty,
so he won't step in himself.
Ha Du-sik did contact me to have lunch a few days ago.
You know he's Mr. Ko's right-hand man, don't you?
I do.
Mr. Ha and Mr. Ko are cut from a different cloth.
Mr. Ha is the shady type.
If he can't dig up any dirt,
he'll just make up some
in the dirtiest way possible.
The dirtiest way?
Like using hostesses, setting up affairs, and offering sexual favors.
He'll approach you in a similar way.
That's all he knows.
Are you saying he'll send a man to me or something?
It's possible.
You can't expect anything less. That's where his standard lies.
When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
COURT
FINAL HEARING FOR THE MURDER CHARGE
Your Honor, the defendant struck the victim's head with a blunt weapon,
which constituted the initial act that placed the victim in mortal danger.
The Supreme Court has set the precedent
that when a victim who has been beaten and mistakenly presumed dead
dies from suffocation after being buried alive,
the entire course of action amounts to one continuous act of homicide.
The precedent cited by the prosecution is not materially applicable to this case.
In the precedent case, the defendant mistakenly believed
the victim had died and proceeded to bury them,
and that act was the direct cause of death.
However, in the current case,
there was a separate and independent intervention by the victim.
This breaks the continuity of the acts as claimed by the prosecutor.
What exactly do you mean by
“independent intervention?"
It refers to the victim's habitual jaywalking.
The victim, Choi So-yun, frequently violated traffic regulations.
Three months before her death, she was hit by a car while jaywalking
and received outpatient treatment.
She also had 12 traffic violations on record over the past three years.
And, above all…
I SENT YOU SOME REFERENCE MATERIALS HAVE A LOOK
In the upcoming trial, the prosecutor will likely assert
that the blunt force attack
and the vehicle impact constitute one continuous course of conduct.
To refute this,
it must be proven that the causal link
between the act and the death was broken.
You need to prove an independent break in the chain of causation
to disprove the prosecutor's case.
I almost hit Choi So-yun with my car when she was in high school.
I was driving through a green light
when Choi So-yun suddenly walked into the middle of the street.
It was a four-lane street,
so it was extremely dangerous for a pedestrian to cross.
There was an overpass and an underpass,
but Choi So-yun opted to jaywalk.
People don't change easily.
This is it.
Can you help me?
First, we need to get the security footage from the accident site.
Maybe going back about six months?
I need to request the preservation of evidence first.
I'll also need the victim's traffic violation records.
The assault took place near a bar
frequently visited by the victim.
The parking lot for that bar is situated on the opposite side of the street.
The accident occurred on a six-lane, two-way street
that was unsafe for pedestrians to cross,
yet the victim chose to jaywalk.
Moreover, during the six months prior to her death,
the victim visited the bar 34 times
and crossed the road illegally in the same manner on each occasion.
Autopsy findings indicated that the trauma
from the blunt weapon led to a non-lethal concussion,
while the actual cause of death was a cardiac rupture
caused by chest compression from the vehicle collision.
Are you saying my daughter is to blame
for her own death?
Do you think it makes sense?
Order in my court!
One more outburst, and you will be removed from this court.
I can't--
Myeong-suk, no.
Calm down.
You have to calm down.
To accept the prosecution's claim
is to stretch the causal link between the defendant's actions
and the victim's death beyond reasonable bounds.
This case should not be treated as murder
but as two distinct and independent events.
Injury caused by a blunt object and death caused by a vehicle collision.
I will submit evidence to support this claim.
Prosecutor, proceed with the sentencing.
The prosecution requests
that the defendant be sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Defense, present your closing statement.
Your Honor,
I speak today not only as the defense attorney
but also as an individual
who sincerely acknowledges the gravity of this matter.
The defendant, Kim Yeong-mi,
was a victim of severe school bullying in the past.
And I was
one of the bystanders
who turned a blind eye to that violence.
What do you mean?
I'd like to submit as evidence
a video recording from 12 years ago
showing the defendant being subjected to school violence.
Your Honor, the source of the video in question is unclear,
and it has no direct relevance to the current case.
There's a high risk of further harm to the victim and her family.
That is correct.
As the prosecution has stated,
this video has no direct relevance to the current case.
However,
this is a key piece of evidence in determining the defendant's sentence
because it demonstrates how the defendant's suffering
from school bullying has impacted her current mental state
and contributed to the offense.
If the evidence is submitted to assist the defendant's sentencing,
it may be admissible on a limited basis.
I'll allow it.
What?
My daughter's dead.
And you want to show a bullying video now?
Who cares about stupid school violence videos!
Order in my court!
Do you seriously call yourself a judge?
Why?
Why are you defending the murderer?
Bailiff, escort her out.
Get off me!
Let go of me!
I won't let you get away with this!
I swear I'll kill you all!
Counsel, you may proceed.
Your Honor,
before the video is played,
may the defendant be permitted to wear an eye mask
and noise-canceling headphones during the screening
to minimize potential distress from trauma?
I'll allow it.
Would you like to cover your eyes and listen to the music?
Mr. Yoon.
COURT IN SESSION
Time for a cigarette burn.
You know
you'll actually hurt your eyes if you move, right?
Here we go.
My goodness.
Does it hurt?
I'd now like to show
footage of the defendant before the bullying began.
You may take off the mask.
One, two, three.
- Sorry! Have fun cleaning! - You're so dead!
The defendant, Kim Yeong-mi,
was a bright and diligent student
who consistently ranked first in her school
throughout middle school and her first year of high school.
She was an ordinary girl who laughed with her friends
and dreamed of the future.
Had it not been for the cruel bullying she endured,
she wouldn't be standing here today as a defendant
and instead be out in the world
contributing to society and realizing her full potential.
She even could have been sitting in my seat,
or perhaps sitting beside Your Honor as an associate judge.
Your Honor,
the defendant's crime
must never be justified or forgiven,
and she must face the punishment it rightfully deserves.
But if this case is concluded solely through punishment,
we will have lost yet another life.
The law must serve not only to punish
but also to offer new opportunities
through rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
The crime committed by Kim Yeong-mi
is not merely a personal tragedy
but the result of a societal failure we chose to ignore.
Supporting her rehabilitation
is more than an act of personal redemption.
It's a way for us to restore the compassion
and responsibility we neglected
and a path toward a more just and humane society.
I would like to submit a petition
written by 84 of the defendant's high school classmates,
bystanders like myself.
Your Honor,
I earnestly ask the court to carefully consider
these materials and the petition
in determining the appropriate sentence.
Please allow Kim Yeong-mi the opportunity
to start over and rebuild her life.
Defendant.
You may make your final statement.
I admit my wrongdoing.
I truly regret my actions.
I will humbly accept the sentence I am given.
The court will now deliver its verdict.
The court
finds merit in the defense's claim that there is a break
in the chain of causation
between the defendant's assault with a blunt weapon
and the victim's death.
As such, the act of assault and the vehicle collision are determined
to be unrelated and separate occurrences.
First,
the defendant
struck the victim with a blunt object with the intent to cause bodily harm,
resulting in a concussion.
Accordingly, the elements of the crime of bodily injury are satisfied.
Second, with regard to the vehicle accident,
the defendant failed to properly maintain a lookout ahead,
resulting in the victim's death. This constitutes a charge of causing death
under the Special Act on Traffic Accident Settlement.
For the two offenses, the court hereby sentences the defendant
to two years of imprisonment.
That concludes the court's ruling.
What's all this?
The bullying videos and photos found on Choi So-yun's phone.
You still had her phone?
Yes.
I never ended up giving it back to her.
It was in storage.
This will help with the sentencing.
About what you said earlier…
Mom, I was--
If I could go back in time with my current age, experience,
and everything I've learned,
I might make a wiser choice.
But
it was the best decision I could make at that time,
and I can't change that now.
Because
at the heart of every decision I made
was my love for you, Hyo-min.
As long as that love remains unchanged,
I would make the same decision every time, even if I could go back to the past.
That's why I said I don't regret my decisions.
But…
having heard what you said,
I feel regret for the first time.
I can take care of it. Why are you butting in?
- What are you doing? - Oh, gosh.
Mr. Yoon.
I thought you guys were having a get-together.
Everyone is at the fried chicken spot nearby.
Is something wrong?
It's just…
My head feels a bit heavy.
Why are you still here?
I have some work left.
I sometimes come up here to clear my head.
It's nice.
What is?
Just everything.
The view, the vibe,
and
my unexpected encounter with you.
Everything.
Today's trial…
was one of the most impressive I've ever seen.
Really?
They say people make intuitive judgments first
and then come up with logical reasons afterward.
That's why they say intuition is a gift from God,
and reason is its faithful servant.
Your argument was both intuitive and technically well-supported,
presenting clear logical reasoning to the judge.
It also maintained a good balance between emotion and reason.
You did well.
You did well too.
What did I do well?
When you meet a client wanting to heal their scars through a lawsuit,
you need to look beneath the scars.
Let go of your biases and look at the essence.
To me,
justice means protecting the people I have to protect.
Don't think like a small mind trapped in dogma.
Try to see the bigger picture.
You're an awesome sculptor.
You patiently chip away at the rough edges
and shortcomings of the associates
and bring out potential they didn't even know they had.
Of all your sculptures, who is your greatest masterpiece?
Lee Jin-woo?
Kang Hyo-min?
You should smile more often.
There's no reason to hide your smile.
I will.
BEYOND THE BAR
What are you gonna do?
Let's begin by taking all actions permitted under existing law.
- What's your deal, you bastard? - Mr. Yoon.
Mr. Yoon, pull yourself together.
I'm counting on you.
I'm so worried about him.
- You still should've told me. - Did you ever give me a chance?
You should've made me understand you.
I was wondering if you had plans tomorrow.
- Hello. - Let's go.
Mr. Ha Du-sik is backed by Mr. Ko Seung-cheol.
He won't just stand by and watch.
They've filed a lawsuit against Bluestone Fund.
You'll get your company back.
Subtitle translation by Yuri Kang