My favorite lawyers in K-dramas—any objection?
If Legally Blonde’s Elle Woods had traded her pink suits for hanboks, she’d fit right into the Korean drama courtroom. K-drama lawyers are nothing like the dull stereotype of real-life attorneys who drown in paperwork and billable hours. Instead, they fight corruption, juggle secret romances, debate ethics like it’s a blood sport, and somehow have really good skin.
I’ve always been a sucker for courtroom drama. My initiation came as a kid: Al Pacino in And Justice For All (yes, in 1979, so if you know it, we share a birth decade or two). That iconic meltdown with “You’re out of order! This whole court’s out of order!” scream by Pacino, frothing at the mouth, hooked me for life. Courtroom chaos is addictive. Real law may not be as riveting (sorry to my lawyer friends), but in dramas, the stakes are high, the lawyers are magnetic, and sometimes, you even learn a little something about human nature.
Having said that, here are some of my favorite K-drama lawyers, who I’m sure many won’t object to.
Lee Jin-wook as Yoon Seok-hoon in Beyond the Bar (Netflix)
The nation’s current crush, Lee Jin-wook, plays a perfectionist litigator so polished and sleek, he seems flawless. Seok-hoon fights against corruption outside and within his law firm, but underneath the steel exterior, he co-parents a dog with his ex-wife. That detail alone deserves its own spin-off: “Paw and Order”? It’s proof that even the most hardened lawyer can melt at the sight of puppy eyes.
Lee Jong-suk as Ahn Joo-hyung in Law and the City (Disney+)
Joo-hyung is the sharp, icy type. He is brilliant, ambitious, yet strangely uninterested in climbing the corporate ladder. He’d rather fight cases than fight for corner offices, and eat out daily with his fellow lawyers. Of course, no K-drama lawyer is complete without a romance subplot, and his brewing chemistry with fellow lawyer Kang Hee-ji (Moon Ga-young, who is as intelligent as she is pretty) complicates his carefully guarded emotional walls. His dilemma? To love or to litigate.
Song Joong-ki as Vincenzo Cassano in Vincenzo (Netflix)
Vincenzo is no ordinary lawyer. Adopted by the Italian mafia and raised as their consigliere, he returns to Korea with style, vengeance, and an impeccable tailored wardrobe. Half the fun is hearing Song Joong-ki deliver lines in Italian like he’s auditioning for The Godfather: Seoul Edition. His ethical dilemma? He’s a lawyer who solves problems the very “unlawyerly” way through mob tactics. The jury’s still out on whether he’s a hero or an antihero, but either way, we’d want him on retainer.
Park Eun-bin as Woo Young-woo in Extraordinary Attorney Woo (Netflix)
This is the breakout role that won Park Eun-bin the Grand Prize (Daesang) at the 59th Baeksang Art Awards. Attorney Woo is an autistic savant whose genius legal mind often clashes with her personal struggles. Watching her navigate prejudice, solve impossible cases, and even fall in love was heartwarming, groundbreaking, and a cultural reset for K-drama. Her story reminds us that the courtroom is as much about humanity as it is about laws.
Ju Ji-hoon as Yoon Hee-jae in Hyena (Netflix)
This arrogant, privileged, silver-spoon lawyer serves Korea’s one percent with precision and a superiority complex. Hee-jae lives in a rarefied bubble until he meets his match: the street-smart, unpolished but razor-sharp lawyer played by Kim Hye-soo. Their cat-and-mouse rivalry is delicious, proving that the courtroom can double as a boxing ring. His dilemma? Fighting for the elite while his own principles keep getting shredded by his opponent.
Ji Chang-wook as Noh Ji-wook in Suspicious Partner (Amazon Prime)
Once a star prosecutor, Ji-wook’s career collapses under scandal, forcing him to reinvent himself as a defense lawyer. Scarred but resilient, he carries the weight of past betrayals into every case. Of course, being a K-drama, romance is never far away. His entanglement with a fellow lawyer (his real-life lover if gossip were to be believed) provides the necessary heart-flutters. His arc is about redemption: Can a man who lost it all rebuild his career and his heart?
Cho Seung-woo as Shin Sung-han in Divorce Attorney Shin (Netflix)
Sung-han isn’t your typical attorney. He’s a former classical pianist who swapped Chopin for child custody battles. Tragedy brings him back from Germany to Korea, where he reinvents himself as a cunning, but caring divorce lawyer. His courtroom isn’t just about dividing assets, it’s about healing lives. His predicament? How to reconcile his grief with his newfound calling.
Kim Hye-soo as Judge Shim Eun-seok in Juvenile Justice (Netflix)
Not a lawyer but I thought I’d include her here because I like the character. Strict, icy, and unflinching, Judge Shim Eun-seok commands her courtroom like a general. She is a juvenile court judge handling cases that are both fascinating and devastating. Beneath her tough exterior lies a personal scar that fuels her relentless pursuit of justice. Watching her weigh law against morality is so compelling.
The verdict
From mafia consigliere to autistic savant, K-drama lawyers (and judges) prove that legal dramas are about more than just courtroom wins. They explore morality, redemption, love, and the messy gray areas of human nature (while also teaching us a Korean phrase or two). Real lawyers may not be this glamorous, but on screen, they are superstars, in more ways than one.
