Presentation
Korean Title: 소년심판
Aired in: 2022 (10 episodes)
Channel: Netflix
Grade: 10/10
Actors: Kim Hye Soo, Kim Moo Yul, Lee Sang Min and Lee Jung Eun
For more…
Kim Hye Soo:
– Home Sweet Home
– The Queen of Office
– Signal
– Hyena
Kim Moo Yul:
– Wife Returns
– Bad Guys: Vile City
– Beautiful Bride
– Grid
Dramas with multiple stories:
– Move to Heaven
– Mystic Pop-Up Bar
– Tomorrow
– Extraordinary Attorney Woo
Analysis
Synopsis
Shim Eun Seok is an elite judge, who has just been assigned to the juvenile court. As she hates juvenile delinquents, she administers justice her own way to punish and teach them properly.
My Opinion (No Spoiler)
I really love legal dramas, especially those about judges. So, it is no wonder that Juvenile Justice would grasp my attention. And I was absolutely not disappointed!
To me, the strength of the drama is its focus on the cases rather than on the characters. Each story is dark and intense, but extremely well narrated. Not only are the young delinquents the victims of the systems they evolve in, but they are also their executioners. That’s why the cases are so ambivalent and difficult to trial. This ambiguity is what really makes the interesting.
As a viewer, I was also forced to put myself in the judges’ shoes and decide whether or not I would heavily punish the adolescents. Of course, some deserved it, but not all.
Moreover, I really appreciated that the drama didn’t sugarcoat nor romanticize its plot. Some cases are unfair, while some sentences are inappropriate, leaving sometimes a bittersweet taste. But that is the essence of law. Not everything ends up well.
Anyway, if you want to watch a realistic drama about society, delinquency and judges, I really recommend this one. Plus it is only 10-episode long!
Analysis (Spoiler Alert)
The best way to explain the topics present in the drama is to deep dive into the 6 cases depicted, each of them connecting more and more characters together and explaining their respective pasts as well.
Case 1 – Yeonhwa Child Murder Case: The first case of the drama is probably the most gruesome and violent one.
The context: 13-year old Baek Sung Woo (Lee Yeon) turns himself in at the police station. He is holding a knife covered in blood and claims he has schizophrenia. During one of his supposed crisis, he confesses he has killed his neighbor, 8-year old Yun Ji Hu (Lee Joo Won), and has cut him into pieces he disposed of.
The legal aspect: The core of the debate in that case has to do with the age of the accused. The latter would normally receive a 20-year prison sentence for this kind of brutal crime. Yet, there is a law protecting children under 14, meaning that they are not to receive heavy ‘normal’ sentences. That’s why, judges are confronting with a dilemma: To severely punish the young boy who supposedly suffers from schizophrenia; or to give him the usual 2 years of prison despite the public uproar.
The link with the plot: This atypical case is the first one for viewers of the drama as it is for the newly-appointed juvenile judge Shim Eun Seok (Kim Hye Soo). Right from the start, she proclaims her hatred towards juvenile delinquents. Moreover, she is quite detail-oriented and clever, which allows her to see the holes in stories she hears.
That being said, she finds a fault in Sung Woo’s argument. If he were really schizophrenic, he would definitely have been apprehended right after committing the murder. Indeed, individuals with that condition are unpredictable and incapable of planning their next moves. Thus, Sung Woo would never have been able of turning himself in to the police, had he really been going through an episode.
Based on that conclusion, Eun Seok and her co-judge Cha Tae Ju (Kim Moo Yul) investigate further and discover that a 16-year old girl is the real culprit. She is the one who killed Ji Hu and manipulated Sung Woo, so he would admit the crime and both would be free of charges.
The verdict: Han Ye Eun (Hwang Hyun Jung) gets 20 years (she is over 14) and Baek Sung Woo gets a level-ten probation (maximum of 2 years in a youth detention center).
Reflection on society: When do we become adults in the eyes of law? When do we become responsible for our actions? Should the age of the criminal or the brutality of the crime be taken into account when announcing a verdict? What about crimes committed by people who are sick (e.g. schizophrenia): Should they be trialed the same way or receive a lenient sentence? Where is the line between being conscious of your actions and delusion? What is the level of responsibility for individuals who are manipulated by others or victims of gaslighting?
Case 2 – Seo Yu Ri Case:
The context: Seo Yu Ri (Shim Dal Gi) is currently on probation for theft and prostitution. One day, judges receive a call saying she has been admitted to the hospital, as she appears to be the victim of physical assault. There, they meet her grandmother, who is her only guardian. Yu Ri’s parents are nowhere to be found. The young teenager also got herself involved in a gang, while trying to run away from her house.
The legal aspect: When Eun Seok and Tae Ju visit Yu Ri at the hospital, they are told that her injuries are very similar to those of assault. Some are old, others are new; but neither Yu Ri nor her grandmother want to talk. Worse, the grandmother says she must have fallen and hurt herself.
The difficulty of the case here is to prove the abuse when the victim is afraid of admitting it/denies it and when everyone turns a blind eye to it. If Yu Ri doesn’t talk, the judges can’t do anything to help.
The link with the plot: Fortunately for Yu Ri, Cha Tae Ju, who is very empathetic and warmhearted, believes something else is going on. On top of that, he was himself the victim of domestic abuse as a child, so he understands the struggle for the victim.
Despite his tough childhood with a violent parent, Tae Ju managed to escape his home and worked hard to become a judge. He sees his job as a way to rescue kids and to reach out to them, the way others in his life did.
The fact that this case strikes a sensible chord for Judge Cha makes him investigate further. Doing so, judges discover that Yu Ri is actually being constantly abused by her father, who was himself abused by his own father. Meanwhile, the grandmother remained silent, whether it’d be with her son or with her granddaughter.
The verdict: Shim Eun Seok eventually finds proof against Yu Ri’s father and condemns him.
Reflection on society: How do we put an end to domestic violence? How can we help victims raise their voice? Aren’t accomplices (like the grandmother in that case) partly responsible for the suffering of the victim when they choose to be silent? How do we break the cycle of violence and prevent victims from becoming executioners? How can we use/improve current systems to help young kids get out of violent households? And if they get out, what can we do to shelter them and help them recover from their wounds and trauma?
Case 3 – Pureun Home for Girls Case:
The context: Pureun Home for Girls is a foster facility ran by Mrs. Oh. She lives there with her 2 daughters and 8 foster girls. In order to ensure the well-being of adolescents placed in foster houses, judges regularly visit and check in on them. One day, the authorities receive an anonymous call from Pureun Home denouncing the facility for child abuse and embezzlement of governmental funds.
The legal aspect: Head Judge Kang Won Jung (Lee Sung Min), who is known to be fair and just, acts against his usual character in that case. Indeed, he asks both Judge Cha and Judge Shim to turn a blind eye to the anonymous tip. He is afraid the foster house would have to close down if proof against the owner Oh Seon Ja (Yum Hye Ran) is found. This would also mean that the 8 foster girls would be forced to leave and judges would have to press charges against the good and generous owner. All in all, it would make things worse.
The link with the plot: Defying Head Judge Kang’s order, Shim Eun Seok and Cha Tae Ju decide to investigate the tip. Turns out child abuse actually took place, but because of the foster girls not the owner Oh Seon Ja. Moreover, she indeed used the governmental funds for personal reasons, as she paid for the injured girl’s surgery with them. On top of that, the foster girls all turn against Mrs. Oh and describe her as an evil person who treats them poorly. Statements that are false and unfounded.
Upon hearing that, the 2 judges inform Oh Seon Ja they would close the foster home. The news shake Mrs. Oh to the core. She ends up fainting and being transported to the hospital.
Seeing her mother’s situation, Kim Ah Reum (Jung Yi Ju) reveals she was the one who called the authorities. She’d hoped the facility would close and her mother would then pay more attention to her and her sister. She also gets into a fit of rage against the foster girls for having ill-spoken of her mother. Enraged, she chases them out of the house. The teenagers are forced into the streets and try to find ways to survive on their own (mainly illegal ones). In the end, the judges manage to bring them all back.
The verdict: Both Eun Seok and Tae Ju decide not to denounce Pureun Home for Girls.
Reflection on society: What leads teenagers to resolve to illegal activities? What were the problems in their familial dynamics that forced them into survival? What can we do for young adolescents who have no other means of earning money but prostitution? Indeed, teenagers aren’t allowed to work under a certain age, so they can’t earn money. Yet, sometimes it is the only way out of their house/to survive. What is the emotional toll for people like Mrs. Oh Seon Ja and her daughters? How can we find a good balance between helping people and taking care of one’s own family? As a parent, how can one avoid putting his children in the same situation as the foster kids’? How can we help facilities with realistic measures, not just some written on paper? Indeed, reality is often very different from a set of rules on paper.
Case 4 – Moonkwang High School Exam Paper Leak Case:
The context: Head Judge Kang Won Jung is preparing to enter politics after a long career in the legal field. Before he retires, he is asked to preside on one last case involving a prestigious high school called Moonkwang. It welcomes many children of high profile individuals (ministers, CEOs,…) and is currently under scrutiny for the leak of its exam papers.
The legal aspect: The fact that students are the children of affluent people of society makes it harder for judges. They can’t be swayed by favors. On top of that, the legal trio has to prove that there has indeed been a leak and that only a few selected students part of a group called Descartes got the answers in advance. Meanwhile, the school is desperately trying to save its reputation and denies it all.
The link with the plot: Unfortunately for Head Judge Kang, he takes on this case unaware that his son Kang Sin Woo (Kim Joon Ho) belonged to Descartes and thus cheated. Upon knowing it, he is confronted with probably the greatest dilemma of his career: To judge fairly the case, while incriminating his son or to cover it up to protect his child? As a parent, Kang Won Jung naturally feels obligated to lie about his son’s implication and be biased in his verdict. Yet, Shim Eun Seok doesn’t budge and reveals the masquerade. She forces Head Judge Kang to admit he has faltered and that he’s no longer qualified to render a verdict.
The verdict: People involved in Descartes, as well as the school and Head Judge Kang are punished. Yet, the worst storyline lies with Eun Seok’s boss, whose son tries to commit suicide when he realizes he has put a stain on his father’s future career. However, this incident also pushes Kang Won Jung to get closer to his family. He’s been absent while working hard as a judge and always pushed his children to do better at school to match his level. He may have quit his political career, but he managed to salvage his family life and his kids’ happiness.
Reflection on society: The case harshly criticizes the education system in South Korea where performance and results are kings, while students’ happiness and well-being are disregarded. It also highlights the discrepancies between poor students and wealthy students, who can’t fight on the same battleground.
How much can we expect students to sacrifice to be the best at school? What does being the best even mean? Are extracurricular activities and As the only means to have a decent future? How can we support hardworking students who may not have the money to pay for school fees? Is not going to the university a bad thing? How much can you endure to be on top? Why is cheating not punished more severely? Why do wealthy people always manage to get out of scandals? As a parent, how can you empower your child to make him thrive? How can you support him without pressuring him? How can you choose between your career and your family? How can you judge and be impartial when your kid’s life is in the balance?
Case 5 – Underage Traffic Accident Case:
The context: By night, the police chases after a stolen car driven by an 17-year old Kwak Do Seok (Song Dong Ho). Four other students are in the vehicle with him, seemingly frightened by the high speed. At a crossroad, Do Seok hits a biker and kills him on the spot, while getting thrown out through the windshield. He is transported to the hospital in a critical condition.
The legal aspect: At first sight, the case appears to be easy to judge. Do Seok stole the car and involved the other passengers when the police realized he was underage. Yet, there is more that meets the eyes. Indeed, Shim Eun Seok receives a video from an anonymous individual, showing Do Seok being abused and beaten up by these same passengers. It turns out he was willingly being bullied by them in order to protect his girlfriend Baek Mi Ju (Chung Su Bin). The latter was being threatened by the group after they had taken compromising pictures of her. Seeing Do Seok in that state and being unfairly accused, she decided to send the video to the judge.
The difficulty here is to prove the coercion and influence the group had on Do Seok, resulting in him committing crimes. On top of that, the teenager already has a prior, making him the perfect culprit. His mother is desperate to prove her son had changed and became good, just like his girlfriend Mi Ju. The pregnant biker’s wife wants justice, while the other kids’ parents want to pin it all on Do Seok.
The link with the plot: Shim Eun Seok and Cha Tae Ju need to distinguish between truth and lies, if they want to punish fairly everyone involved. However, there are not enough elements to corroborate Mi Ju’s version, Do Seok is in a coma unable to give his version of the facts and the bullies’ parents have decided to cover the story.
The verdict: This case is the most unfair of the drama. Not only is justice not served, but real criminals walk away unpunished. The biker’s wife will have to raise her baby alone without having the love and support of her late husband; Dong Seok is considered the main responsible and thus receives a heavy sentence; other kids only get probation.
The worse part actually lies with Do Seok’s kindness and sacrifice being rewarded with ingratitude. Indeed, Shim Eun Seok explains to the bullies that Do Seok steered the wheel in a way that protected the passengers but put him in great danger, instead of trying to protect himself first. In the end, he risked his life to save them when they didn’t even deserve it in the first place.
Reflection on society: How can you prove bullying? How can you put an end to it? How can you sort out the truth from the lies? How can you teach adolescents the weight of the law, the value of human life and sacrifice? How can you continue to be a judge when you witness its unfairness? How can the law be that cruel to the good ones and that light to the culprits? Will walking away eventually comfort teenagers in thinking they get get away with just anything? What about the role of the parents: How can you educate kids if parents are not willing to teach them right from wrong?
Case 6 – Yeonhwa Gang Rape Case:
The context: Hwang In Jun (Jung Se Hyun), Seo Dong Gyun (Kim Do Geon) and Oh Gyeong Su (Kim Joon Sung) are being trialed for the rape of Kang Seon Ah (Kang Chae Young). The 16-year old girl remembers being assaulted by 3 young men but only the DNA of 2 of them is found. The case forces Shim Eun Seok to confront both her boss and her past.
The legal aspect: Like most cases involving rape, the memories of the victim are key when it comes to identifying the criminal and tracing back the storyline. Yet, Seon Ah is traumatized by the events making her statements confused at times. But she doesn’t falter and keeps on assuring that there is more to this case than what proofs show.
Once again here, the legal complexity lies in the age of the offenders, but also in the statements made by the different sides.
The link with the plot: As the credibility of Seon Ah’s statement is at stake, Shim Eun Seok and Cha Tae Ju investigate the premises of the crime scene. They end up discovering a dash cam revealing that not 3, but 4 adolescents were involved in the crime. Among them, there is Baek Do Hyeon (Kim Kyun Ha).
Do Hyeon is the reason why Eun Seok’s life went astray. When he was 11, he and his friend played at throwing bricks from the roof of the school. One day, a brick landed on Eun Seok’s son, killing him on the spot. As if the pain of losing her child was not even, the trial against Baek Do Hyeon was hasty. In less than 3 minutes, the judge in charge, Na Geun Hee (Lee Jung Eun), freed the kid and let him leave with no punishment.
As if the torture were not already enough, Na Geun Hee is now Eun Seok’s new boss, who replaced Head Judge Kang. She still operates with her usual processes and wants the trial to be fast. But Judge Shim retaliates and refuses to see Do Hyeon walk away unscathed again, especially when she discover his involvement in a series of serious crimes (prostitution, illegal filming, rape, sales of pornographic images, illegal detention of young girls…).
The verdict: Shim Eun Seok manages to set Baek Do Hyeon and Hwang In Jun up during the trial. They end up accusing each other, allowing Shim Eun Seok to give them the maximum sentence.
Reflection on society: How can we put an end to society constantly blaming rape victims? Who’s worse between people filming pornographic videos and those actually buying them? How can an overworked judge pay close attention to each case in order to give the right sentence?
Ending: The finale shows Judge Na Geun Hee realizing her past mistakes. She has not handled her previous cases properly, focusing on the results instead of the consequences of the sentence. She emphasizes the loneliness of being a judge and the heavy burden one has to bear.
Meanwhile, Shim Eun Seok freed herself from her grief. She has avenged herself by punishing her son’s murderer properly. Moreover, she has also gained a lot from her experience as a juvenile judge. Though she still hates young delinquents, she is now able to understand that circumstances turn them into ones most of the time. On top of that, there is now hope to reform them if the law teaches and educates them properly from the beginning. This is a huge shift from her past vision, when she thought that young delinquents were inherently bad and unsalvageable.
Once Upon a Drama 