An interesting feminist take on the legal profession in South Korea, Good Partner (2024) featured a great starring and ensemble cast and many interesting legal cases were represented, most on the subject of divorce law. It was directed by a female, Kim Ga Ran (Nevertheless), and written by female newcomer screenwriter Choi Yu Na. Rumors abound that a sequel is in the planning stages (Update: Sequel confirmed in late 2025) and the same mostly female creative team will be its producers and main stars again. I very much look forward to a part two! I felt a few plot points were left hanging a bit, even at sixteen episodes but I hope any loose ends will be resolved by the end of part two!

Our two main stars were the always brilliant actresses Jang Nara (The Successful Story Of A Bright Girl) and Nam Ji Hyun (100 Days My Prince). They worked well together and were fun to watch. Supporting them were male actors Kim Jun Han (Hospital Playlist), Pyo Ji Hoon (Hotel Del Luna), and the dynamic Ji Seung Hyun (who played the North Korean soldier so brilliantly in Descendants Of The Sun).

Jang Na Ra won the Grand Prize at the 2024 SBS Drama Awards for her performance, while Nam Ji Hyun won the award for Best Acting. Newcomer screenwriter Choi Yoo Na won the Best Screenplay Award at the 10th APAN Star Awards 2024. She is a divorce attorney in her own life as well, that's why she was so accomplished at portraying interesting legal cases in the series.

Trailer

The Story:

Cha Eun Kyung (Jang Nara) is an elite lawyer with seventeen years of experience at the Daejeon Law Firm. She specializes in divorce law. While working on divorce cases, she soon faces a crisis related to her own potential divorce from her husband Kim Ji Sang (Ji Seung Hyun), who works as a medical consultant in Daejeon.

The Main Cast

Han Yoo Ri (Nam Ji Hyun) is an anxious to please new lawyer at the firm. She and Cha Eun Kyung are completely different personalities from each other and at first have problems relating to one another. Han Yoo Ri does not tolerate injustice at all while Cha Eun Kyung believes that the interests of the law firm and its clients are paramount, no matter what circumstances prevail in their differing cases and their personal lives.

Due to differences in values and experience, they have disagreements on all issues. Both are going through big changes in their lives. But eventually they learn to compromise with one another and resolve differences. That process is fun to watch.

Male lawyer at the firm Jung Woo Jin (Kim Joon Han) is the chief lawyer in the divorce team and the "junior" whom Cha Eun Kyung always seems to trust and support the most in his cases. After the divorce crisis in the personal life of Cha Eun Kyung, he also undergoes great changes in his career and personal life. Will those threaten the promising growing romantic relationship between them? We also meet Jung Eun Ho at the firm, an optimistic lawyer who promotes having a good "work-love balance"; he eventually becomes a loyal assistant to new lawyer Han Yoo Ri. Could it grow into a romantic relationship over time?

Fair warning: if you've been divorced yourself some of the divorce cases featured in this drama may prove too disturbing for you, especially when they broach the topic of physical and mental abuse. The best part of this legal drama is the growing friendship and professionalism between the two female lawyer lead characters. That creativity and humor is probably what will mostly keep you interested in pursuing Good Partner until the end! Enjoy!

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