Original subtitles

We will now begin the trial presided by the 91st Criminal Judicial Panel.

Case number 2017GWA1243.

Defendant, you admitted...

to the assault in your first trial,

but you answered inappropriately...

which caused the trial to be put on hold.

If similar behaviors continue,

we will hold you responsible for disturbing the trial...

and use your action as a reason to aggravate your sentence.

Chief Choi, should we begin now?

Yes.

Kyung Ho is not a bad guy.

Kyung Ho, don't sit there.

Come here, Kyung Ho.

Please be seated, and quiet down.

Let us continue our trial.

Defendant.

Why did you assault Kim Joo Hyung?

Did you assault him...

because of your sister?

Kim Joo Hyung held your sister hostage...

and tried to harm her.

I don't have a sister.

You don't?

Are you implying that a judge told a lie?

Defendant, is your sister in this courtroom?

Is she here or not?

Defendant.

You can refuse to answer questions that may be used against you.

You may not answer the question if it's too much for you.

I choose not to answer.

The victim, Kim Joo Hyung, agreed to settle...

with just an apology from you.

Why didn't you settle?

If you do, you won't be sentenced as it's against the victim's desire.

I will take responsibility for my actions.

Do you not have any intentions to apologize to the victim?

No.

I don't think that's a wise decision.

You need to submit an affidavit that the victim does not wish you...

to be punished before the ruling.

Consider your options until the day of the ruling.

I hope it will yield a beneficial result for you.

So there's a real murderer who raped and killed Kim Ga Young...

10 years ago?

Yes, that's what I heard. So there's a possibility it might be me.

Please run a thorough investigation.

Are you joking?

I hope I was. Hang on a second.

I should show you this so you can believe that I'm not.

I'm a prosecutor.

You are a prosecutor.

Some people call me the vicious prosecutor of Seoul District.

Or others call me the Knucklehead Prosecutor.

I just told you that I'm going to be as docile as a lamb.

You'd better give your best shot.

Wait, but... Well, I don't think that's a smart move these days.

Okay, I got it. I'll take a look.

You just gave me your word.

Go on, please.

The next trial will be held on December 13, 2017 at 10am.

This is all for today's trial.

1371.

The vehicle with that license plate number.

How is that plate number connected to the rape and murder?

There's no connection. I made a false report after killing her.

A false report? What report?

You reported it?

Why is Choi Kyung Ho being so pig-headed?

It's wise to settle and get his case dismissed.

He's not pig-headed. He's insane.

I guess that's where Judge Lee gets her insanity from.

Judge Sah.

Yes?

You must've forgotten as you've been working as an independent judge.

As long as you're filling for an associate judge,

your place is on Chief Choi's left.

Is there a policy that determines my position?

There isn't.

It has been a custom in our court.

If the custom reveals the status of the judges,

I believe breaking the custom is better than keeping it.

So you want to break the custom?

Do you think we, associate judges, kept it because we're thoughtless?

The triangle formation of Criminal Judicial Panel...

is a beautiful custom which represents the associate judges'...

respect toward the chief judges. Don't you think so, Chief Choi?

What? Well... Is that so?

Since you insist that it's a beautiful custom,

when an independent judge fills in for an associate judge,

I should remain on the right of the chief judge,

and shouldn't you stay on the left?

That means we must switch seats on the bench. Are you okay with it?

Are you planning to move into the Criminal Judicial Panel?

You crossed the line earlier too.

I, the main judge, was leading the trial,

but you sent wrong signals...

to the defendant without knowing all the particulars.

If you do so, you're going to ruin the trial.

I filled in after I finished reading the casefile.

He's right.

When he wasn't the main judge during his time as an associate judge...

on my panel, he read all the casefiles.

Chief Choi.

Why are you lording over him? That's not like you.

I didn't...

When did I lord over him, Chief Choi?

Are you siding with the independent judge?

I'm sorry for causing trouble again.

After taking a hostage in a courtroom, this is nothing.

I was Choi Kyung Ho's attorney at his initial trial.

Did you know?

I found out recently while reading the casefile.

I do vaguely remember that he had a sister in high school.

But why isn't your last name Choi?

Why is it Lee?

That was due to a personal reason.

It's your personal life, so stay out of it?

I'd like to as well,

but what should we do about this?

Your sitting on the panel at his trial is cause for mistrial.

What should we do about that?

I can't have a moment of peace.

Isn't that interesting?

Eat.

Even my prosecutor's instincts say Choi Kyung Ho wasn't the killer.

So please investigate me thoroughly.

I'll send you his casefile tomorrow.

Has he gone mad?

I told you. I'm a knucklehead.

- Look. Do Han Joon, right? - That's right.

I don't know what you're up to,

but if you want to be investigated, you should go elsewhere.

Come on, Detective Jang. Why are you changing your tune?

You said you'd review it.

I said I'd review it, not investigate...

Yes, please investigate.

I heard you worked at Gwangdeok Precinct 10 years ago.

I heard you were best friends with the head detective on the case.

I'm sure you heard stuff about it back then.

From what I can tell, you're perfect for this case.

Why are you doing this to me?

What's wrong with you?

I'm at the wall cafe, so come out for a few minutes.

Hey, Judge Lee.

I heard...

Judge Sah sat on the panel for you.

It must've been hard to watch your brother's trial.

You did well.

But did Judge Sah...

know about you and Choi Kyung Ho?

Over here.

I hear you're working hard for Judge Lee here.

I can't say I'm just doing my job.

That's a bit too annoying.

You don't need to hold back your thanks because he said that.

When he says it's annoying,

it means it worries him.

His dad was the same way.

He'd say it was annoying,

but he'd do everything for you.

You only pretend to be cold, right?

I don't drink wall cafe coffee.

The coffee tastes the same.

Your dad used to like it too.

If you have nothing to say, I'll go now.

I do.

You're quite popular at the law school.

Give a special lecture for me during winter break.

- A special lecture? - Think it over, and let me know.

Now that I saw both of you, I should go to the committee.

That's whom I came to see anyway.

Thank you.

But how did you know that Choi Kyung Ho was my brother?

That?

I heard not long ago from Han Joon.

He told you?

Eui Hyun.

You said you were busy,

but you had time to fill in for someone else's trial.

An individual judge...

for a panel judge.

Did you ask him to go in your place?

Why do you care?

That's right. I remember now.

My sneaker in Choi Kyung Ho's casefile.

You said it was for your best friend.

That best friend was Do Han Joon,

wasn't it?

That means Do Han Joon gave it to Kim Ga Young.

Just a minute!

What did you just say?

Did Han Joon really give it to her?

I don't know yet.

Then did Han Joon really...

Nothing's for sure yet.

The fact that Kim Ga Young was Han Joon's caretaker's daughter,

everything about the car with license plate 1371,

and everything related to Han Joon's family...

were omitted from the casefile.

Was that a coincidence?

It's all speculation.

But Seo Yong Soo said...

1371 was Ga Young's killer's license plate.

But 1371...

was Han Joon's car.

And you bought the sneaker with the "1371" on it for him.

Unless he has a foolproof alibi for the time of the crime,

everything points to Han Joon.

We can't believe everything Seo Yong Soo says,

and we haven't investigated Han Joon's alibi.

I understand that you can't suspect Han Joon,

but you can't be assured that he's innocent either.

But you're making a person a killer.

Unless you have conclusive evidence, speculation is prohibited.

(Korea University Law School)

How did you...

I stopped by your office.

It looked like a case you were looking into.

I presided over Choi Kyung Ho's rape and murder trial.

You should've deleted the name at least.

If he did?

Would that change the truth?

Were you okay?

Would you be okay?

If it were me, the mere fact that my child's name is included...

would be offensive.

It's very offensive.

I'm about to lose my mind.

I'm sorry, professor.

There's no need.

My son's name will drop out soon anyway.

I don't think that'll be too easy.

Do Han Joon must've been close enough to Kim Ga Young...

to give her a very expensive gift.

Didn't you know, professor?

Darn it.

Make sure your associates don't talk.

Don't let them post stupid things on the bulletin board.

You should control your associate.

What do you take my associates for?

My associates...

have sealed lips just like me.

(Judge Lee, disgrace of the court)

The cold breeze is refreshing.

We should always take a walk if we go out to eat.

It's much nicer to walk than sit in a stuffy car.

It was nice not seeing him for a while.

I know.

He stopped coming ever since his mom went to the hospital...

"Kyung Ho was also wronged."

He added something.

Who's Kyung Ho?

Why does that family have so many people who were wronged?

He looks cold.

How's Jang Soon Bok's retrial request going?

Well... The thing is...

What is it?

(Rapist Killer Choi Kyung Ho is Judge Lee Jung Joo's brother.)

Judge... Judge Lee Jung Joo...

Lee Jung Joo again?

(Rapist Killer Choi Kyung Ho is Judge Lee Jung Joo's brother.)

Judge Lee Jung Joo's brother...

is a rapist-murderer?

Rapist-murderer?

What did you do this time?

Everyone in the court found out Kyung Ho is your brother.

- They know everything. - I told them.

What? Have you lost your mind?

You even changed your last name to cut ties with him.

You're a judge.

If a rapist-murderer is your brother,

who'd want you to judge them?

Mom. Please...

leave me alone.

How could I leave you alone?

I hear too many things.

Then quit working here.

I hate being dragged here every time something happens.

Hey. Did you look into it?

Gwanak Police Station?

Thank you.

Why are you going to the station?

(Gwanak Police Station)

Why are you guys doing this to me?

As if a prosecutor wasn't enough, a judge is on this too?

Do you want me to investigate you too?

Investigate? What do you mean by that?

That's what I'd like to know.

I have no idea what that knucklehead prosecutor wants from me.

Is the name of the knucklehead prosecutor...

Do Han Joon?

If you know him, please stop him.

I wasn't even the detective in charge of the case.

I truly don't know anything about it.

I heard you were close with the late detective in charge.

Yes, we were close.

I understand it must be hard to remember,

but someone's life depends on it.

I heard Choi Kyung Ho called...

the police after the rape and murder.

He made a call?

That's right. He did call. I answered the call.

I was on duty.

He said a middle schooler had gone missing...

and gave me a license plate number.

Oh, right. Choi Kyung Ho was the first person to call it in.

- Are you sure it was him? - Yes.

I heard that he was the murderer...

which was uncommon at that time period.

That's why I remember that.

After that case, I don't overlook people who make the first calls.

Was the number Choi Kyung Ho gave you 1371?

How could I remember that?

This is driving me crazy.

(Prosecutor Do Han Joon)

I thought it'd help your investigation.

You're going to let him continue to fill in?

Judge Lee can't fill in...

because she's the victim in Kim Joo Hyung's case.

It's impolite to ask an independent judge to continue filing in,

so this will be the last trial he'll attend as a substitute.

Since Judge Sah has more experience as an independent judge,

how about giving him the right seat?

I cannot do that.

I will stay on your right side.

We should head out now before we're late.

The prosecution may bring up the charge committed.

(Defendant)

The defendant, Kim Joo Hyung,

threatened Judge Lee Jung Joo...

on November 22, 2017, during his first trial.

He tried to burn the record of his trial.

With a knife,

he wounded the victim's neck for an unknown number of treatment days.

The incident caused the trial to be adjourned,

and he held a sitting judge of this court hostage.

His action of attempting to burn the record is considered...

to be a serious crime.

Therefore, the prosecution charges the defendant according to...

Clause 324, Article 3 of Criminal Law.

Please sentence him to severe punishment.

Are the defendant and his counsel...

ready to present your case?

I did not harm her.

Who wounded whom?

Your Honor.

That prosecutor has feelings for that idiotic judge.

That's why he charged me with an ulterior motive.

No, I did not.

Then is it true that you do have feelings for her?

Did you prepare evidence that shows bodily harm during the hostage...

and that confirms the number of treatment days?

Your Honor, I do not make false statements in this sacred courtroom.

It is true that I do have personal feelings for Judge Lee.

However, this is a place for a fair and rigorous trial.

I did not prosecute the defendant out of a personal retaliation.

I will call in a witness that will prove my true intention.

Who is the witness?

He was in the courtroom during the hostage incident.

After she was released from the defendant,

he was able to check the condition of Judge Lee's neck.

I request Judge Sah Eui Hyun to be a witness in our next trial.

That judge.

I think that judge also has a thing for the idiotic judge too.

Hey, why is an independent judge substituting for an associate judge?

Don't sit there from next time on. I need you on the witness stand.

The sneaker you tried to take from Seo Yong Soo.

Why do you have this?

Did you get it for me?

Judge Lee found out that you bought the sneakers.

So? Is she certain that I'm the real murderer?

Suspicious circumstances cannot conclude that you're the murderer.

There's no definite proof...

that you gave them to Kim Ga Young even though you bought them.

I cannot jump to conclusions that you killed her because the number...

on the sneaker matches your license plate number.

Hey, that's my point.

I cannot rule out the possibility of Mr. Seo Yong Soo's statement...

that the car owner is the murderer to be false.

All these long years could have distorted his memory.

Exactly! That's how a judge ought to think.

My gosh, I'm so relieved to hear that.

Help her feel relieved, and tell her...

- if you're not the killer. - What?

What was that?

Do you seriously have a thing for my Jung Joo?

She can neither doubt nor feel assured about you.

I just feel bad for her.

If you're serious about her...

Thanks for your concern and advice, but don't go further.

If not, I might be tempted to give her up for such a nice guy like you.

I'm taking this sneaker.

- You want to be investigated? - Yes.

I'll tell everything you want to know at the precinct.

You must be freezing. Let's grab a cup of coffee and talk.

Tell me.

I need you to tell me everything today.

Okay, I will.

Your brother isn't the real murderer.

No. I don't think he is.

- What? - So is it me?

No, it's not me either.

Then who is it?

- I need to find that out. - Are you joking?

I'll take whatever you throw at me,

but please look after yourself.

To whom did you give the sneakers?

I'll tell the police about that.

Son!

What are you two doing here at this hour?

Jung Joo, I really want to drop you off, but I must leave now.

You said you needed to get back, right?

That punk.

You remember this, don't you?

It's dirty. Get that out of my desk.

What is that?

It's Ji Se Ra's sneaker I bought you a long time ago.

I found out you gave them to Kim Ga Young.

You remember this, right?

No. I don't remember it.

You must be scared to remember it.

But I'm sure you remember that you scrapped my car.

- I did it because... - Was it to destroy the evidence?

What? Destroy the evidence?

You drove my car to the cottage that day, didn't you?

- What are you talking about? - Think carefully.

How could I remember that?

It happened over 10 years ago.

"10 years ago".

But you remember very clearly that it happened 10 years ago.

What? What are you getting at?

What are you implying?

If you don't want the Knucklehead Prosecutor to indict you,

present your alibi on September 12,

the date of the incident 10 years ago.

You must have lost your marbles.

You should go get yourself checked out.

You encouraged me to try everything except rape and murder.

I had no clue that you spoke from experience, Assemblyman Do.

How violent. Are you going to hit me too?

Go ahead, but is that good enough tool for you?

- How dare you? - Do Han Joon.

What are you doing?

Get out.

September 12.

It's our wedding anniversary.

That day, 10 years ago,

I prepared a surprise for your mother.

He's right.

I had to leave early from the get-together...

because of the surprise he prepared.

You.

Did you really suspect him?

Kim Ga Young's sneaker...

You didn't give it to her, did you?

It's a rape-murder trial that I defended 10 years ago.

Here's a copy of the record your father requested.

His name is Choi Kyung Ho.

I remember he confessed, so there was nothing to defend.

I don't know why he needs that casefile.

I thought I'd feel much lighter...

once I heard him say it wasn't him.

However,

it's worse than not hearing anything at all.

He says Kyung Ho isn't the killer.

Han Joon said that?

That one sentence gave me the chills.

Everything became frightening in an instant.

It is frightening.

If that's true, an innocent man...

rotted in jail for 10 years.

Based on the suspicions recently raised,

we should investigate...

whether or not Choi Kyung Ho really is the killer.

Why are you so interested in Choi Kyung Ho's case?

Choi Kyung Ho and I...

met 10 years ago.

Mom.

You have to live.

I'll be fine in prison,

so you have to live too.

Live, at least for Jung Joo's sake.

I...

Mom...

I love you, Mom.

The person that I saw...

was a good son.