A fast-paced, often amusing legal drama focused on public defender cases, boasting an exceptional cast, Pro Bono (tvN, 2025-2026) delighted and intrigued me continuously; especially in the first two episodes I laughed like a hyena at the physical and verbal antics of our male lead attorney character, played flamboyantly well by the exceptional actor Jung Kyoung Ho, who was actually in the very first Korean drama I ever watched, two decades prior, the classic I'm Sorry, I Love You (2004) with So Jisub and Su Jeong Im. He had played the second male lead character in that masterpiece drama, and for years afterward, no matter what else I saw him in, like the Hospital Playlist series or Crash Course In Romance, he remained the character of Yune to me from that very first drama I had enjoyed him in. If I saw his name in a cast list I'd smile and say, "Yune!" I have to admit, though, that his performance here in Pro Bono has surpassed his prior work in multiple ways, even when in past roles he played lawyers or doctors. There's no denying that he is this series' biggest highlight, giving a simply outstanding. unforgettable performance. I hope he wins multiple acting awards for this role! He deserves them!

Actor Jung Kyoung Ho in I'm Sorry, I Love You (Left)
and in Pro Bono (Right) Twenty-One Years Later!

Our first female lead is the delightful So Ju Yeon from the enjoyable lively dramas A Love So Beautiful and Seasons Of Blossoms. Here she plays a rookie attorney who has a lot to learn about how to approach the law rationally and not emotionally, though she ends up learning the most from dealing with Jung Kyoung Ho's character. All I have to do is see her face in a drama to start smiling immediately. She is an irrepressible actress and always fun to watch. I enjoyed her character's personal growth in Pro Bono.

With a fascinating script by Moon Yoo Seok and deft direction by Kim Sung Yoon (Love In The Moonlight, Itaewon Class) this drama is more interesting to watch than some other legal K-dramas I have seen in the past, ones that focused on the privileged classes. Be patient while watching Pro Bono, though, because there is a lot of personal growth in the supporting characters. You will be rewarded by the end to see it all unfold. Other fine actors featured in the cast playing lawyers are Lee Yoo Young (Law And The City, Tunnel, Dr. Brain), Kim Kap Soo (who played the Dad in the very first Korean film I ever watched, A Tale Of Two Sisters), Choi Dae Hoon (When Life Gives You Tangerines, Curtain Call), Yoon Na Moo (The History Of Us, Vagabond), Seo Hye Won (Love Scout) and Kang Hyoung Suk (Lost, Second Shot At Love).

The Story:

At the heart of our story is the wildly popular media star attorney / judge Kang Da Wit (Jung Kyoung Ho) who actively promotes himself on social media sites as a major Influencer in the law profession in South Korea. The story begins with a corruption and abuse case that the populace has been following for awhile because it has been repeatedly delayed by various complications and they are quite frustrated by its long duration. Kang Da Wit steps in, intervenes, and seems to miraculously resolve the case with his abundant legal wisdom, impressing the public once again. Despite his legal successes Da Wit still struggles with deep grief over losing his mother (Kim Jung Young) earlier in his life and this grief humanizes him.

However, despite his many successes, soon he's caught up in a scandal that diminishes his career as a judge and this causes him to resign his former for-profit legal job to become a Public Defender lawyer for a struggling non-profit organization called the Pro Bono Team linked to the law firm Oh And Partners.

There he meets Park Gi Peum (So Ju Yeon) who is a rookie public interest lawyer, one who becomes emotionally fixated on the cases she works on. She believes that a lawyer's mission is to protect human rights and to fight for social justice. Kang Da Wit and Park Gi Peum unite to defend victims in desperate situations and seek justice for them. Sometimes there is strife between them and the other lawyers on the Pro Bono team as they work on cases together or separately.

Some of those cases helping the underprivileged involve the fate of a stray dog's fate (my favorite), a case of a boy with a disability, a domestic abuse case where the woman is from a different country, a story about an old friend Da Wit thought was dead, a case about an elderly couple hurt by injustice, and a case of a once popular singer on the decline professionally and financially who yearns to restore her career. Along the way all the team lawyers grow closer, especially when they have to join together to defend Da Wit himself in court!

In a public interview about Pro Bono Director Kim stated, “The script’s warmth and societal insight moved me to tears — a first in my career. It reminded me of the stories people long to hear. The cast’s performances, handling dense legal dialogues and lengthy takes, are the drama’s backbone. Their dedication, captured in nearly single-take courtroom scenes, will make all our past months of hard work together worthwhile.”

Jung Kyoung Ho, who plays Judge-turned-Public Defense lawyer Kang Da Wit, shared, “Kang Da Wit differs vastly from my real personality. I focused on embodying traits I wouldn’t normally display. Collaborating with the writer and director helped shape my character’s tone and voice. It was a highly rewarding role for me.”

If you enjoy legal dramas and would especially love to see one where the underprivileged classes are helped out, then definitely put Pro Bono on your Korean Drama To Watch List. You won't be disappointed! Such a marvelous cast. Hopefully it stays on Netflix for a long time to come. Enjoy!

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