tvN's new drama ‘Pro Bono’ has confirmed the casting of Jung Kyung-ho and So Joo-yeon, heralding the birth of a new courtroom drama.
tvN's new drama ‘Pro Bono’ (written by Moon Yoo-seok / directed by Kim Sung-yoon / planned by Studio Dragon / produced by Sequence One, Lotte Cultureworks, Studio Flow) is a comedic human courtroom drama that unfolds as a self-serving judge, desperate for success, inadvertently becomes a public interest lawyer.
Writer Moon Yoo-seok, who has recorded hits in courtroom dramas with ‘The Devil Judge’ and ‘Miss Hammurabi’, and director Kim Sung-yoon, who has formed a fanbase with dramas like ‘Love in the Moonlight’, ‘Itaewon Class’, and ‘Anarchist from Colony’, are collaborating, raising expectations. The meeting of actor Jung Kyung-ho, known for his extreme realism and called a ‘master of realistic acting’, and actress So Joo-yeon, who has captivated viewers with her delicate emotional performances, draws attention.
Jung Kyung-ho plays the role of Kang Da-wit, a public interest lawyer with a background as a judge. Kang Da-wit is an influencer in the legal field, boasting a perfect work ethic and a clean image, with hundreds of thousands of followers on social media. Just as he is on the path to a brilliant career, he gets embroiled in an unexpected incident, resigns from his judgeship, and begins his life as a public interest lawyer in a dimly lit corridor. It remains to be seen whether the self-serving Kang Da-wit, blinded by success, can regain his former glory, and attention is focused on how Jung Kyung-ho will portray Kang Da-wit’s tumultuous life.
So Joo-yeon plays the role of Park Ki-ppum, who has a personality that is the complete opposite of Kang Da-wit. Park Ki-ppum is a public interest lawyer who becomes obsessed with various interests and eventually becomes a law enthusiast. She sees her mission as a lawyer to advocate for human rights and realize social justice, finding healing in helping good citizens who rely on beautiful legal texts. Viewers are curious about So Joo-yeon’s performance as she brings warm energy to the character of Park Ki-ppum, who spreads warmth to the world with her good heart.
Thus, Kang Da-wit and Park Ki-ppum meet as lawyers in the public interest team of the non-profit organization ‘Pro Bono’, defending victims who have lost their way with the money earned by defending conglomerates, embodying justice. The synergy between Kang Da-wit, who knows the methods of the powerful, and Park Ki-ppum, who is dedicated to finding ways to help victims, is expected to provide thrilling catharsis.
In this context, curiosity is piqued about the daily lives of public interest lawyers who handle pro bono cases with zero fees and zero revenue in a corner of a building that sees no sunlight, rather than in a mega law firm where huge private interests collide, such as inheritance disputes and tax lawsuits involving conglomerates.
The new tvN drama ‘Pro Bono’, showcasing the exhilarating rebellion of public interest lawyers who may lack money but are overflowing with ability, pride, and a sense of justice, is set to premiere in the second half of this year.
