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| A scene from the MBC's period legal series "Joseon Attorney" / Courtesy of MBC |
By Lee Gyu-lee
MBC kicked off its new period legal series, "Joseon Attorney," on Friday, but the viewership ratings for the drama's premiere fell somewhat short of the broadcaster's lofty expectations. Having scored an average nationwide rating of 2.9 percent, it faces a fierce battle with SBS' 'Taxi Driver 2' whose ratings soared to all-time high of 18.3 percent.
Based on the webcomic of the same name, it follows the revenge story of a lawyer named Kang Han-Soo (Woo Do-hwan) during the Joseon Dynasty. After his parents' tragic death, Kang becomes a lawyer to avenge those responsible for their murder. But as he takes on cases to defend people in need, he begins to learn the true meaning of seeking justice.
The series is led by Kim Seung-ho, who co-directed the hit romance series, "Twenty-Five Twenty-One" (2022), and is scripted by Choi Jin-young, who penned the 2017 period romance series, "Queen for Seven Days."
The Friday and Saturday episodes showed Kang moving to the capital city, Hanyang, to begin his job as an attorney and encountering princess Lee Yeon-joo (Bona), who is hiding her identity by living as a commoner. Lee asks to be Kang's assistant after seeing him save a shop owner suffering from abuses by its alcohol supplier.
The director shared that the series will have a heartwarming story that will appeal to viewers.
"Although it is a legal series, the courtroom is only the factor that sets the character's career, background, and revenge. Inside that, there's a heartwarming story, comedy, and other different relatable elements like friendship," Kim said during a press conference for the series, Friday, adding that the drama is about more than just a revenge story.
"'Joseon Attorney' is about personal revenge, but it's not solely focused on that. It starts with personal revenge, but later on it takes the steer to accomplish the greater good, which makes this series different from other (similar-themed) series."
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| From left, actors Cha Hak-yeon, Bona and Woo Do-hwan pose during the press conference for the series, "Joseon Attorney," Friday, held at MBC in Mapo District, Seoul. Courtesy of MBC |
Woo is making a small screen return three years after being discharged from mandatory military service last year.
"I'm returning after three years, and my mindset changed a lot. I've come to think that it is my responsibility as the lead character to put others before myself," he said. "As I lead the series with the director, I tried to look after each fellow actor as we create this piece together … (Since the hiatus) I've grown both as an actor and as a person."
He added that he's had the best working environment with the series.
"No offense to all the series I've done before, but this was the best cast I've worked with until now," he said. "Taking part in 'Joseon Attorney,' I've learned how I should behave on set and towards people around me."
Bona, whose real name is Kim Ji-yeon, noted the series will have a mixture of genres.
"When I first read the script, I really liked the character of Yeon-joo and how she is not passive but is righteous and assertive. Plus, I like legal series and I could read through the script so smoothly so I decided to take the role right away," she said.
"One of the reasons I enjoyed the script was that it had a variety of genres. It combines courtroom, revenge, and romance, so if you watch the first episode, you will be able to grasp what kind of series it is. Because it mixes in different genres, it will not be boring."
"Joseon Attorney" airs Fridays and Saturdays at 9:50 p.m.
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