[suspenseful music]
-[man] Hello. -[woman] Hello.
[man] Hello.
LAW FIRM GEOBO
MOTION TO RECUSE DEFENDANT: HWANG IN-JUN
THE JUDGE IN CHARGE IS THE PARENT OF THE VICTIM IN THE DEFENDANT'S PRIOR CASE
-[paper crumples] -[sighs]
SEARCH RULING HWANG IN-JUN
CASE 2017P2027
SEOUL FAMILY COURT DISPOSITION
CASE 2017P2027, MANSLAUGHTER HWANG IN-JUN
1. PUT UNDER PARENTAL PROTECTION 2. SHORT-TERM PROBATION
[scoffs]
Miss Sim was the guardian, then?
[Geun-hee] So it's you.
You're the whistleblower who got her own boss kicked out.
She recognized me.
[Tae-ju] A motion to recuse?
Yes, Ms. Na is in a bad mood because of it.
[sighs]
Where is Judge Sim and does she know about all of this?
When we met, you knew I was the judge?
The judge in charge of that case, right?
Yes.
And despite that, you asked me to reassign the case to you.
Yes.
[scoffs]
What were you gonna do?
Punish the kids on behalf of your son?
I had to put an end to it…
because it started off all wrong.
Don't you agree?
That's pretty offensive.
It sounds like you're blaming me for making the wrong call for the case.
Didn't you?
Now listen, Judge Sim--
No, you listen. They learned…
from your decision that day in court.
"Oh, the law is nothing."
That's what they learned.
Who are the two of you back there?
[Geun-hee] Why are you attending this trial?
We're the victim's parents.
Who told you you could be here?
Why are they in my courtroom?
Article 25.2 of the Juvenile Act
guarantees victims the right to state an opinion in a protection case.
You've already submitted a written statement.
VICTIM'S STATEMENT OF OPINION NAME: SIM EUN-SEOK, MOTHER
-That's true. I did, but I-- -So I'll take that into account.
Protection case trials are supposed to be held behind closed doors,
so you can't be here.
What?
[disappointed exhale]
[Geun-hee] Hwang In-jun. Baek Do-hyeon.
Eleven-year-olds.
First-time offenders.
They said that they regretted what they had done.
[Geun-hee] You think other judges would have decided differently?
It was the correct decision! [taps]
[Eun-seok] Sure.
You believe.
You always make the right decision.
It was only three minutes.
They killed a person.
And that was how long they stood at trial.
[emotional music]
What could they have learned from that?
"The law doesn't protect all victims."
"Oh!"
"The law is so simple."
"It takes three minutes…
to get through a trial."
[breathes angrily]
Five years ago…
when they stood trial for the first time,
you should've taught those boys then,
exactly how the brick they threw…
just for fun…
destroyed a family…
and ruined the rest of their lives.
[emotional music]
Neither their schools nor their families made them realize it.
At the very least, the court…
could have taught them that lesson.
Because that is our job.
[gentle somber music]
[indistinct chatter]
Already? But…
[dark somber music]
[gasps]
[Do-hyeon] Hey, let's go get some food.
[exhales hopelessly]
That's the way the law is.
You know that.
[sniffles and sobs]
[Eun-seok] Juvenile cases are all about speed.
That's why they turned out like that!
Why do you handle all cases with speed?
What about the kids who can't keep up with it?
And the victims?
Who's responsible for them?
That's not being efficient.
It's irresponsible.
[bones crackle lightly]
Why…
don't you have
some kind of sense of duty?
-[loud tap] -[mug clinks]
[sighs]
[exhales calmly]
Ms. Sim, I learned a lot from you today.
[Geun-hee] For such an honorable judge, you sure ignored the conflict of interest.
Will you be able to speak so eloquently to the Disciplinary Committee?
[smug tone] I look forward to it.
And one more thing.
Moving forward, you're excluded from In-jun's Protection Case
and the Yeonhwa Gang Rape Case
which is Dong-gyun and Gyeong-su's criminal case.
But you're so smart. You must already know that.
[chair thuds]
Judge Sim.
PRESIDING JUDGE'S OFFICE
Kang Seon-a is here at the court with her sister.
What would you like to do?
Kang Seon-a?
[breathes deeply]
Hwang In-jun.
I heard he denied being an accomplice.
Is that true?
Why me of all people?
I think about it. Really, every day.
[Seon-a] "Why me?"
"What was it that I did wrong?"
[sniffles] "Why was I chosen?"
I was just online chatting.
In the chat room, Hwang In-jun, he said he was a student.
I talked about my problems and my mom and he gave me advice.
That day, I was stressed out from a fight with my best friend.
So he suggested that we meet and talk for a bit.
That's why I went out.
[Seon-a cries]
But I shouldn't have. Because of me, even my dad…
Well, do you think…
that Hwang In-jun will just get away with it?
[exhales shakily]
[pensive music]
You mentioned Baek Do-hyeon.
Why was that?
There might be four boys, not just the three.
Seo Dong-gyun, O Gyeong-su, Hwang In-jun…
and Baek Do-hyeon.
[documents rustle]
Cha Tae-ju.
You're no longer in charge of the case.
You could get in serious trouble.
I know.
I shouldn't be doing this.
[Eun-seok] But isn't it horrible?
They're more evil than…
five years ago.
[sighs]
I'm not insisting I handle this case.
But if the case gets closed this way,
we may no longer get a chance… to sentence them properly.
One of the kids I'm in charge of ran away from home and committed theft.
[phone rings]
This is Cha Tae-ju.
[woman] Judge Cha, it's the Juvenile Classification Center.
Ah, yes, hi.
[woman] Baek Ha-rin, the girl you sent to us.
We just got her physical results back.
And, well, it says… [inhales deeply]
…that she's pregnant.
She's pregnant?
[Tae-ju] Ha-rin, I'm really worried about you.
Did you tell your father?
[Ha-rin] Jeez, I don't know.
Fuck.
What are you going to do now?
[sighs]
[inhales deeply]
The gang rape case was up at National Petition.
Who the fuck do you think runs the gang?
Don't change the subject.
[sighs] Fucking hell.
Those assholes are the ones who did it.
I got pregnant when I was with that runaway family.
Baek Do-hyeon, that asshole.
What? Who did you…
Baek Do-hyeon.
[Tae-ju] He belongs to the same runaway family as the other three.
They motel owners all know them for prostitution.
-[doors clank open] -[sighs]
Fuck. My sister is in room 302 now.
[blows air]
-Come on, open the door. -Who are you?
[hard thumping on door]
She's a minor, fuck. [inhales]
-The police? -For fuck's sake, come on!
Man, where's the fucking key?
-I said open it now! -Open the fucking door!
-All right, all right, take it. -[Do-hyeon] Shit.
Who are you? What are you doing here?
-Here you go. -[groans]
-Why are-- -What's this?
[sugar daddy] What?
-[screams] -[Do-hyeon] Piece of shit!
-[crashing] -[sugar daddy whimpers]
-[Gyeong-su] You're rich, man! -[In-jun] Yeah, you look nice.
[laughter] Fuck.
[screams and grunts]
-You fuck. -Why are you…
I'm her brother.
What? Her brother?
[Gyeong-su laughs]
Should I send this to your wife or maybe your kids' school?
-Huh? -No, no. I'm really sorry. I'm so sorry!
-I'm sorry. -[Do-hyeon] Fucking shit!
-[thumping] -[groaning]
[Do-hyeon] You stupid asshole.
This fucking bastard has a death wish.
[Gyeong-su] Hey!
[money rustles]
-Thank you. -Good job.
[Do-hyeon giggles]
Hey, In-jun.
All right.
-Fuck, thank you. -Hey.
-[Do-hyeon] Here. -Fuck, what's that for?
Thanks, Do-hyeon.
-Fuck off, moron. -Jeez, son of a bitch.
[Do-hyeon] What should we get for dinner? How about chicken?
Hey.
So where's my cut?
I told you to fucking wait.
[Do-hyeon] You're so annoying.
[Gyeong-su] Hey. Didn't you want to buy some shoes?
Come here.
They conned the victims out of millions of won each time.
They made all that money and didn't share any of it with her.
So she ran away.
The boss of the gang is Baek Do-hyeon.
[Ha-rin] No one dares to touch him.
When he grabs a knife, he turns into a total psycho.
He starts stabbing.
Dong-gyun and Gyeong-su, those morons. [chuckles]
They're older than him, but they're both idiots.
You really think those dumbasses could do it without Do-hyeon?
[laughs] That's fucking hilarious.
No, that can't be true.
[Eun-seok] Only three boys were caught on CCTV.
Baek Do-hyeon wasn't there.
I know that. But that's what she said, okay?
Whatever the truth is,
this case will be taken care of without your help.
[Tae-ju] So please stop stressing about it.
I mean, what if you get sent to the Disciplinary Committee?
That's what you're afraid of?
I am afraid of what they'll become if they're already like this.
[inhales]
[Eun-seok] "Whatever the truth is,
this case will be taken care of without your help."
That's why they're like that.
Because of judges like us.
[tense music]
[Ko] They're really notorious.
Every motel owner on the street knows them.
But they stay quiet because they're afraid to lose customers.
I'll text you an address now.
From where the latest victim was.
[owner] I think… [sighs]
…it was four or five boys. They just barged in.
And then they threatened to put my motel in trouble.
-Here. There they are. -[Do-hyeon] What the fuck! Come out!
-Come out! My sister is here. My sister. -Look at them.
-My sister is… -[owner] Nothing like that happens here.
[Do-hyeon] Fuck, my sister is…
-[Dong-gyun] Hey, let's go. Come on. -[Do-hyeon] Open this now!
An old man and a young girl came in, right?
She's my sister. Hurry up! Give me the key.
-Cooperate with us. -You bitch!
-Open the door now! -What are you looking at, asshole?
This is Sim Eun-seok.
Can you send me a list of the runaway kids our court is in charge of?
Yes, girls. Cases from last six months, ASAP.
I don't know Hwang In-jun, but I've heard of…
Baek Do-hyeon.
I've heard awful rumors about his runaway family.
So I've never met him.
And, well, I heard that he uses girls.
Can you tell me in detail?
Why should I bother?
I don't want to know anything about it.
I'm not a part of it anymore.
Aren't you?
[Eun-seok] Let's find out whether or not…
you've been involved at court.
VIOLATION: DID NOT ANSWER CALL IN DUE TIME
I don't know Do-hyeon, but I know his girl.
[girl] We shared a room at a facility.
Well, I don't know if she's dating him still.
Shit.
That damn son of a bitch.
[angry breathing]
Ask me anything.
I'll tell you everything I know.
[tense music]
WE STRONGLY OPPOSE THE REDEVELOPMENT
[ex-girlfriend] There's this really old place.
The second floor of the Daeho Inn.
[tense music]
Baek Do-hyeon is a total pervert and piece of trash.
He cons sugar daddies out of money.
But that's not all.
[insects chirping]
[plastic crinkles]
-Those bastards rape girls to make money. -[camera shutter clicking]
[In-jun] Hey, look here. Look at this.
[laughter]
This is fucking hilarious. This dude is crazy.
[ex-girlfriend] They rape girls and film it.
[shutter clicks]
Then they threaten them with the videos and force them into prostitution scams.
[In-jun] Did you upload them all? How many hits?
[ex-girlfriend] And they even sell the fucking videos.
-Are you leaving? -Yeah.
All right. Later.
[eerie music]
[ominous music]
[bottles and cans clink]
[heels clacking]
[button clicking]
[button clicks]
[Do-hyeon] Hey. Who the hell are you?
[Do-hyeon sucks teeth]
Are you a pig?
It's no use.
Nothing on that computer.
[Do-hyeon chuckles]
[chuckles]
Baek Do-hyeon?
[clears throat]
-You fucking bitch! -[clatters]
[gasps]
Shit!
[groans, thuds]
-[thwacking] -You fucking whore! You fucking bitch!
Fuck you, you stupid fucking bitch! Fuck!
Get the fuck up, you bitch.
[panting]
-[groans] -[objects clatter]
[grunts]
[Do-hyeon] Do you know how much that fucking thing's worth?
-[yells and thwacks] -[groans]
[laughs]
This is fun. All right. Come on, bitch. Get up.
[panting]
Even if the others turned out like this, you shouldn't have, Do-hyeon.
You should have tried. You had a second chance.
One of you should have at least tried.
Why…
Why is this the best you can do?
Tell me, why?
[mocking tone] "Tell me, why"?
What the hell are you saying, bitch? You fucking bitch!
-[groans] -Oh, fuck!
[sharp exhale]
What I want to know is
who the fuck…
you are.
-[flesh pierces] -[groans in pain]
-Fucking answer me. -[groans]
[flesh squelching]
Damn it! Answer me now, you stupid fucking bitch!
-[thwacks] -[groans]
[Do-hyeon groaning in pain]
[grunts]
[both groaning]
[Do-hyeon] Damn it.
Motherfucker!
[eerie music]
[Do-hyeon] Shit!
[chilling music]
PHOTO EVIDENCE 1
[Do-hyeon groaning]
It's you.
Shit.
The Yeonhwa Gang Rape Case.
[inhales deeply]
Baek Do-hyeon.
You were there.
You were at the scene too.
[breathes angrily]
Fuck.
[Do-hyeon] Seriously. What the fuck!
This bitch is crazy.
Just babbling on.
You're right, though.
I was there.
[scoffs]
So what?
You fucking bitch. Get up! Get up! Ah!
Die. Die!
Die! Die! It's okay. You can die, you fucking bitch!
[screams]
Die, you fucking bitch! Just die!
-Die! Die! Die! -[choking]
[Do-hyeon screams]
-[laughs maniacally] -[sirens wailing]
[Do-hyeon] Fuck!
You fucking bitch!
Fuck!
[sirens continue wailing]
[gasps]
[wincing]
[groans]
[gasps]
[Geun-hee] Oh, Judge Sim!
What happened? What… Oh! Can you walk?
Wait. This way.
I only gave you first aid. You need a hospital.
Who's in charge of…
In-jun's case?
[plastic crinkles]
I have something to tell you regarding aspects of the case.
I'll be in charge of it.
I'll handle it according to the law.
Leave if that's why you're here. I don't wanna hear it.
It wasn't just the gang rape, though, Miss Na. Listen.
There's more to this than we even know.
Those boys were threatening the victims--
This isn't…
[exhales deeply]
You're not a detective.
Judges have a duty…
to get to the truth behind a case using proper procedures.
You still have a grudge?
If you keep making this case personal,
I'll no longer sit back and watch.
If I had made it personal,
I would have sent… [breathes shakily]
…In-jun to the prosecutor in the first trial.
This case… is just the tip of the iceberg.
Those boys threatened the victims
and were using them to make… [groans]
You have to go now.
Get to a hospital or I'll call 911.
Listen up, please.
[sharp exhale]
This is the best I can do for you.
[thunder rumbles]
[rain pouring]
[Geun-hee] If you keep making this case personal,
I'll no longer sit back and watch.
[Tae-ju] Please stop, Judge Sim.
You're no longer in charge of the case.
I'm afraid you'll get into serious trouble.
[I-hwan] That's the way the law is.
[sighs]
You know that.
[somber music]
[Do-hyeon] That's right. I was there.
[snickers] So what?
[exhales heavily]
YEONHWA DISTRICT COURT
[exhales]
[thunder rumbles]
JUDICIAL CULTURE AWARD PROSECUTOR NA GEUN-HEE
ACHIEVEMENT PLAQUE
APPRECIATION PLAQUE JUDGE NA GEUN-HEE
[door opens]
[Tae-ju] The trial will begin soon.
You really won't attend?
Mm-mm.
Go ahead.
[door closes]
[Geun-hee] Case number 2022PU3409.
The court has accepted the request for recusal,
so the judge in charge of the case has been changed.
If you want to raise objections or discuss the documents
you submitted in the previous trial, please do so now.
[Chan-mi] None, Your Honor.
Then, with that, the trial will begin.
Dashcam footage was presented
in the previous trial to suggest that Hwang In-jun is an accomplice.
That's not the truth.
[TV chimes on]
Hwang In-jun is just an ordinary student. He's diligent and polite.
But Dong-gyun and Gyeong-su, whom he met at an institution
constantly threatened him and forced him to do things.
The master-servant relationship tormented him a great deal.
As a result, he was frightened during the police interrogation
and gave a false testimony.
Because of their threats,
he had no choice but to take Kang Seon-a to the construction site.
That was all.
In-jun's DNA was not found to be present in the victim's body.
The allegation that he's an accomplice does not stand to reason.
[Eun-seok] This case is only the tip of the iceberg.
These boys threatened the victims
and they used the victims to make… [groans]
[chilling music]
Okay, I understand.
So the testifier is here today, is that right?
[Geun-hee] I'd like to hear what Baek Do-hyeon has to say as well.
Baek Do-hyeon.
Asshole, you know I'm here to defend you, right?
Make it quick.
Or you're in deep shit, you crazy dick.
[breathes deeply]
-[mic thumps] -[sniffles]
Hello, Your Honor.
I heard that you've been good friends with Hwang In-jun since you were little.
Yes, we were classmates in grade school.
[sucks teeth] We've been friends since.
Then did you know that Seo Dong-gyun and O Gyeong-su
had been threatening him and assaulting him for quite a while?
[paper rustles]
Yes. In-jun had a hard time with it.
Do you have evidence?
Yes.
We submitted photos at the previous trial.
These were taken after he was assaulted by Dong-gyun and Gyeong-su--
Uh, no, no.
Not these. Evidence of their intimidation.
Text messages or phone calls.
Well…
[Geun-hee] The reason I'm asking this question is very simple.
In-jun's testimony is not consistent with Dong-gyun and Gyeong-su's testimony.
[Chan-mi] Sorry?
Dong-gyun and Gyeong-su claimed
that there were four culprits involved in this case.
Including the defendant, In-jun, and the testifier, Baek Do-hyeon.
[unnerving music]
[remote beeps]
[Tae-ju] Hwang In-jun's trial is set for next week.
And I have been ordered to listen to you two before the trial.
Of course, whatever you say here
won't have any effect on your criminal trial.
We just want to hear your thoughts.
Ah, but…
this is your last chance to bring up anything else about In-jun's case.
Was he really not an accomplice?
Did you guys threaten him?
You can say, if there's nothing.
Yeah, there's nothing.
Okay.
If that's it, I can't help it.
[tense music]
[Tae-ju] You can remain silent.
However, if you choose to give a false testimony,
it may actually work against you.
I'll say it one last time.
This will be your last chance to make a statement about it.
Sign your names.
[sirens wailing]
[somber music]
[Ko] Judge Sim. Are you okay?
Yes, I am.
We should've come faster.
No.
You came right on time.
Now I'm absolutely sure.
Please investigate the evidence here.
And keep it secret.
[Ko] Okay. But first, you need to get to a hospital.
[plastic crinkles]
[camera shutters clicking]
Actually, it wasn't three.
It was four.
[Gyeong-su] Just tell him, fuck.
Me and him, Hwang In-jun, and Baek Do-hyeon did it together.
[Gyeong-su] We fucked whores like Seon-a and filmed it.
And then we used it to threaten them or…
-use them for scams. -[Dong-gyun] We sold the videos too.
A lot of people like that kind of stuff.
But we didn't know she went to a hospital to get checked.
Seon-a, that stupid bitch.
Argh! Girls are usually quiet.
-Right? Aren't they? -Yeah.
But they were Baek Do-hyeon's orders.
If we don't listen, he stabs us.
[Gyeong-su] This dude got stabbed.
[Dong-gyun] When I first met him, I thought he was jack shit.
Then he stabbed me right here and laughed about it, fucker.
[Dong-gyun] And I'm older than that son of a bitch.
[Gyeong-su] He's a crazy dickhead.
What are they saying?
Those fucking bastards. [breathes shakily]
[tense music]
[door closes]
Huh?
-[objects clatter] -You fucking bitch!
-[flesh pierces] -[groans]
[Eun-seok] Even if the others turned out like this,
you shouldn't have, Do-hyeon.
You should have tried. You had a second chance.
[Eun-seok] What could they have learned from that?
"The law doesn't protect all victims."
"Oh, the law is so simple."
"It takes three minutes…
to get through a trial."
[sighs deeply]
Why do you handle all cases with speed?
What about the kids who can't keep up with it?
And the victims?
Who's responsible for them?
[emotional music]
[Ko] We haven't found all the victims yet.
So the court should report Baek Do-hyeon when In-jun's trial is over.
Oh, there was a computer in his hideout.
It's likely he used it to distribute the sex videos.
But we didn't find anything on it.
Based on the statements, he must have a secret phone.
We're looking, but we haven't found that either.
A secret phone?
Yes. I'm sure it will prove that he's an accomplice.
[Chan-mi] Objection, Your Honor.
They're just statements made by the defendants.
There's no direct evidence
showing In-jun and Do-hyeon are accomplices.
[Geun-hee] The evidence that we're about to show you now
is from Baek Do-hyeon's secret phone
which Hwang In-jun brought to the crime scene.
[key clacks]
THREESOME GIRL YEONHWA SEX CLUB
BITCHES WITH HUGE TITS
[panicked breathing]
Seon-a, just pat me on the head.
[laughter]
Show that bitch's face to the camera.
-Fucking bitch. -[shutter clicks]
One, two, three.
[cries]
[Do-hyeon] I don't… believe it.
I clearly was… Fuck.
[In-jun] I told you not to touch that bitch.
Only runaway girls, asshole.
Stop being a little bitch.
I deleted everything. And I got rid of all the proof.
Enough shit. I want money.
[chuckles]
[Do-hyeon] Well, who's a big boy now?
Wow, asshole.
I'll defend you, you dumbass.
If you fuck up…
or things go wrong, I'll come clean about you, asshole.
[exhales, laughs]
Do it.
Hey, hey.
[grunts]
You fucking bastard!
You're a crazy fucking asshole!
Well, fuck, you dickhead!
-[In-jun grunts] -[phone clatters]
-Fucking bullshit! -[hard smash]
[Do-hyeon] Fuck this shit! Fuck!
[panting]
-[brick clinks] -[screams]
Are you happy now?
I said I'll save you.
Fucking coward.
[Dong-gyun] Baek Do-hyeon's dad called us.
Because the police are only interrogating Hwang In-jun and us.
We can't fucking get away with it. They found our DNA.
[Gyeong-su] His dad said exclude Baek Do-hyeon,
and he'd hire an attorney to defend us.
If we serve time, he'd give us each 50 million won.
-Those fucking bastards! Fuck! -[thumping]
[Jung-han] Be quiet.
Your Honor, Do-hyeon forced me.
Shut up, motherfucker.
I was afraid. I had no choice!
-[Jung-han] Settle down. -You fucking said she looked tasty.
[Do-hyeon] And we'd make a shit ton of money!
Yeah, but then, you took it all.
That's why they fucking damned you out!
-[Jung-han] Be quiet! -You bastard.
We pretended to be your friends. Are you happy?
You asshole! You fucking dick!
-[Jung-han] Stop it! Stop! -Hey, do I look easy to you?
[Do-hyeon] You motherfucker!
-Go fuck yourself, you bastard! -Execute that jerk! Execute him! Fuck!
Stop talking shit,
-you little motherfucker! -You made me do it, asshole!
-You shitty shithead! -[Jung-han] I said stop! Baek Do-hyeon!
-Judge, that asshole is as bad all of 'em. -You fucking bastard! I'll kill you!
I did it because he kept egging me on.
-You love having sex, you moron! -[Jung-han] Hey, knock it off!
-You fucking perv, you sniff girls' shoes! -[Jung-han] Be quiet, both of you!
-Hey, you bastard! Fucking let go of me! -[Jung-han] I said, stop!
I'm gonna… Let go of me now!
[Jung-han] Stop!
[In-jun] Let go of me!
-Hey, you stop! Come here! -You're fucking crazy!
-Get over here! -I said stop!
[Gyeong-su] I'm sure that dick Do-hyeon has no idea.
He always carries around a secret phone, right?
Yeah.
I linked my cloud account to it on the DL.
Just in case.
"Cloud"? You mean online storage?
Do-hyeon, that asshole. That fucking snob really pissed me off.
Fuck it! No stopping me now.
[Dong-gyun] That asshole Do-hyeon and his rich parents.
He left home because of his stepmom.
And we only listen to him because he paid us.
When my dad is drunk, he gets in fights.
That's why my mom left.
[chuckles] His uncle is the same way.
If we had good parents, we wouldn't do this.
[Gyeong-su] You know?
People wanna put like all of the blame on us.
But honestly, I don't think we were in the wrong.
What?
Aren't the buyers of the prostitutes the bad ones?
If those guys didn't want it so bad, we wouldn't have done it, right?
And the victims?
How is Seon-a at fault?
[dark music]
[Geun-hee] This proves that Baek Do-hyeon and Hwang In-jun
were at the crime scene
and that they conspired with Dong-gyun and Gyeong-su
to commit rape as well as other crimes.
All right.
The victim has watched from the court interrogation room outside.
It must be hard for you.
[Geun-hee] But I'm sure you don't want to leave with any regrets.
If you have any last words, speak now.
[sobbing]
[sniffles]
[Seon-a] You know, I slit my wrist, right?
My sister thought I did it because my school asked me to drop out.
But that wasn't it.
[somber music]
I have this best friend.
After what happened, I texted and called her.
I couldn't ever get a hold of her.
[Seon-a] Finally, after a long time, she texted back.
I thought she had just been really busy.
But she said…
Her mom said not to hang out with me.
I'm the victim.
So why am I getting all the blame?
When can I go back to my old life?
Can I ever go back to it?
[sighs]
There's one absolute truth I realized working at court.
Anyone can be a victim.
It's so obvious, but no one gets it.
[sighs]
Kang Seon-a.
Listen to me. If this case takes you into court,
you keep one thing in mind.
[Eun-seok] It's not your fault.
[sobbing]
Raise your head.
Confidently.
[somber music]
Please let…
my life go back to normal.
[Seon-a sobbing]
[emotional music]
[sobbing]
The four boys conspired together to rape the victim.
[Geun-hee] Thus, they are co-perpetrators.
Therefore, this protection case is now closed.
This case will be forwarded to the Prosecutors' Office.
And if the prosecution files charges,
a criminal case could be opened against you at that time.
[breathes deeply]
Your Honor. What does that mean for me?
[Do-hyeon] Come on, I… I need to know.
[door opens]
[door closes]
[sighs]
URGENT TRANSPORT MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
[Tae-ju] Larceny, violence,
prostitution trade, prostitution scam, and even…
raping young girls.
How did children end up like this?
They say that it takes a whole village to raise a child.
[Eun-seok] In other words,
a child could be ruined if the village neglects them.
Those boys raped Kang Seon-a…
and she wasn't… their only victim.
We can't just blame the boys.
It took a village.
[phone ringing]
I feel relieved, though, now that we know.
[Beom] The victim and her guardian can finally sleep comfortably
since it's done.
What do you mean "since it's done"?
I mean, since Ms. Na--
There's no end for rape victims.
It doesn't matter how much time passes.
They'll be scarred for their entire life.
That's why it's so cruel.
[door opens]
[door closes]
[Geun-hee] There's one rule that I follow as a judge.
That is to leave my feelings out of the courtroom.
I thought that was the only way I could make fair judgments.
[gentle music]
But I realized recently,
that's not entirely appropriate…
in a juvenile court, not always.
For that reason,
I'd like to say something right now to those…
who have been hurt by me.
I apologize… as an adult.
[gentle music]
[rain pouring]
[door closes]
[phone ringing in distance]
Hey, Ms. Joo.
Yes?
The hearing for Judge Sim is today, right?
Uh-huh.
I hope that they're not too hard.
I hope so too.
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE
[door closes]
Na Geun-hee, but why?
[Won-jung] Judge Cha told me
what happened at… at the court.
And so?
Well, at the disciplinary hearing…
please, Geun-hee…
defend my junior.
Why… why should I?
Sim Eun-seok did her job as best she could.
You should not stand in her way.
Don't you agree?
Geun-hee?
[snickers]
[both chuckle]
[pensive music]
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE
[pensive music continues]
[bird twittering]
[Eun-seok] Put it there. I said to get back to work.
[Tae-ju] But I'm worried.
There's no need.
COURT
Hmm.
This is how it feels to stand down here.
[sighs]
[Eun-seok] They lowered the bench a lot, so judges look less authoritative.
But from here, it's still overwhelming.
You think the kids know the heavy responsibility of a judge?
Of course not. They shouldn't.
It's meant to be lonely.
COURT
I'm sorry, Judge Sim.
I just… I wanted to… to say this.
The Brick Manslaughter Case,
Judge Na Geun-hee,
Hwang In-jun, and Baek Do-hyeon…
When I learned the details,
I was disappointed in you.
What happened to Judge Kang was upsetting, and even you…
I was very disappointed.
And I was angry.
But when I thought about it again…
I can finally understand…
why you made such judgments…
and said the things you said.
[Eun-seok] They break the law.
They dared unabashed…
even at such a young age.
This is the reason I so despise you all.
Kids like you never change.
In three weeks, and if you lie again,
and it's confirmed that you were an accomplice
in the sexual assault after all,
this case could…
be sent to the prosecution.
You weren't swayed by feelings.
You followed your beliefs.
[insects chirping]
[box rustles]
NAMGUNG CHAN
[light music]
NAMGUNG CHAN
[sighs]
[sniffles]
[sniffs]
[sighs]
[emotional music]
[sniffles]
[sighs]
I LOVE YOU, MOM
[sighs]
♪ Nobody can ♪
♪ Give comfort to me ♪
♪ Nobody can ♪
♪ Give comfort to me ♪
♪ Ooh-ooh ♪
♪ Ooh ♪
♪ Time will pass ♪
♪ And soon, I'll be free ♪
♪ But for now ♪
♪ It's hard to feel ♪
♪ As deep ♪
[birds chirping]
DECEASED, NAMGUNG CHAN DIED MAY 8, 2017
Chan.
It's your mom.
[fire crackles]
[peaceful music]
I'll see you again…
my son.
[keyboard clacking]
…JUVENILE CRIMES HAVE RISEN BY 31.9% IN 2001 COMPARED TO 1992…
[male judge] Judge Sim Eun-seok. If you have any final words, speak now.
[Eun-seok] I admit all of my mistakes.
I damaged the impartiality of the court,
its independence and honor.
I gladly accept any punishment.
[male judge] Not your regrets.
Your attitude and thoughts as a judge.
The Supreme Court…
reminded me of how I treated young offenders.
When I was first appointed, that must change, for sure.
However…
I won't say that all the sentences I imposed were wrong.
As a judge, I'll work to be impartial
and I won't disgrace myself.
But… I despise young offenders.
Some may criticize my attitude towards them,
and some may be hurt by it.
"Hatred."
It means…
dislike or ill will.
Though I despise young offenders, I have no ill will towards them.
I'll be sincere when I deal with their cases.
Though I despise them,
I'll make decisions with a cool head.
Though I despise them,
I won't look at them with any bias.
In other words,
my initial thoughts remain the same.
But the context for them…
is very different at this point.
♪ There's a shadow ♪
COURT
♪ I see the final wave ♪
♪ Crashing down those souls ♪
♪ Don't lose your faith ♪
♪ Don't be afraid ♪
♪ It's like a fever ♪
♪ In fact, chance ♪
♪ It's all to see the lie ♪
So, yes, my actions will be different from before.
But I…
will always despise…
young criminals.
♪ I see, feel ♪
♪ I can feel the stars ♪
♪ Starting to fade away ♪
♪ Let the star shine ♪
♪ Shine free ♪
♪ When I shine again ♪
♪ With the sparkle in your eyes ♪
♪ Oh ♪
[gentle music]
♪ Dried tear drops ♪
♪ From yesterday ♪
♪ There's a song in my heart ♪
♪ I'm standing ♪
THE CHARACTERS AND EVENTS DEPICTED IN THE SHOW ARE FICTITIOUS