Hello my fellow k-drama fans! It’s been too long since I last came on here and officially gushed about a Korean drama. Therefor it seems only appropriate that today´s first look is dedicated to a drama starring my number one oppa, Lee Seung Gi. We are, of course, talking about “The Law Cafe”.
“The Law Cafe” is a romance drama centered around legal issues, with many of its main caracters being lawyers, prosecutors, or persuing some other occupation in the legal field. The story consists of 16 episodes, which aired in the later half of 2022.
The original story of “The Law Cafe” is based on a webcomic – count me in- and its literal title can be translated as “Love by Law”.
As mentioned already, the drama stars our handsome Lee SeungGi as protagonist; who is joined by the lovely Lee SeYoung as his counterpart. Many well-known names round out the cast, but I won’t name them all here. I must point out though that the talented Kim SeulGi is part of the main caracter’s close circle. Kim SeulGi has long since established herself as a versatile actress and one of my personal favorites.
The Law Cafe – Synopsis
Kim JungHo (Lee SeungGi) fist met Kim YooRi (Lee SeYoung) when he joined her class in high school. He quickly became the fourth member in her group of close friends consisting of Han SeYeon (Kim SeulGi) and Do JinKi (Oh DongMin). Due to his academic abilities, he soon became the best in their class, a title held until his arrival by YooRi.
The four of them continue their close friendship as they progress into university. SeYeon and JinKi started dating early on and eventually, JungHo and YooRi decide to become a couple as well.
While JungHo goes on to become a prosecutor, YooRi starts working as a lawyer for a mayor company. She is known to her clients as a dedicated advocate for their interests regardless of the opponent. As a teenager, YooRi witnessed in disbelief how her father’s name got slandered in court due to her family’s inability to properly defend themselves.
Based on her experience, her goal is to provide her legal services to those who cannot afford it. It is with this purpose that she decides to open up a cafe, where she will provide legal consultations on the side. This cafe shall be aptly named “Law Cafe”. While searching for a building to rent, YooRi finds just the place. To her surprise, the owner of the place is someone once very close to her: Kim JungHo.
Back in University, after having dated for a while, JingHo one day broke up with her out of the blue. He not only refused to give her a good reason for the break-up, but also proceeded to avoid her at all cost afterwards. Even during their mutual friends recent wedding he walked away once she spotted him.
YooRi however does not care about their shared past and proceeds to make a proposal to JungHo for the rental. She wants to use the downstairs of the building already furnished as a cafe. But JungHo adamantely refuses her offer. Living on the upper floor of the cafe, he fears running into her.
Despite his opposition, she eventually talks him into renting her the downstairs. Not before attaching a long list of rules she is to follow if she wants the contract to remain intact.
Although YooRi knows that JungHo left behind his succesful career as a prosecutor, she has never understood the reason why. Unbeknownst to her, she was part of the reason. JungHo discovered that his family was somehow involved in the wrong comitted against YooRi’s family in the past. Following this deiscovery, he distanced himself from her and quit his job as a prosecutor.
Finally having secured the cafe, YooRi proceeds to move in and slowly starts getting involved with her neighbours and her new surrounding community. Especially the two ahjumas operating a nearby convenience store and JungHo’s cousin, a psychiatrist, become a new constant in her daily routine.
Regardless of his earlier statement on the matter, JungHo keeps getting involved in YooRi’s day-to-day. With increased concern he notices that several of her new clients’ complaints are against Dohan Group, his relative’s company.
Aware what the group is capable of doing to win a case, JungHo is determined to protect YooRi. Unaware of the danger she is getting herself into and JungHo’s connection to Dohan Group, YooRi proceeds to do what she always set out to do: Help everyday folk get justice while serving them a good cup of coffee.
Trigger Warning: Topics of suicide, murder, rape are a ongoing theme of this show. Please look after yourselves.
While Han-Joon and Jae-Hui are trying to talk Gu out of setting fire to the place, Su-Cheol and Hye-Joon are waiting outside the house. Once they receive Han-Joon’s signal, Hye-Joon starts the machine in order to blow smoke into the inner yard. There her brother is convincing Gu that Kang Eun-Hye’s spirit is right next to him. Begging him to stop his evil deeds and pay for his crimes. Gu, believing him and responding to her spirit, says he is doing all this so they may be free together. Han-Joon answers that the way to set Eun-Hye free is to punish the one who killed her.
As Gu Tae-Su remains still, Han-Joon motions for Jae-Hui to safely apprehend him. Just as she is about to remove the lighter from his hand, Su-Cheol appears on the scene and punches Gu. There seems to have been a miscommunication or his timing is off. In the ensuing scuffle, Gu manages to turn on the lighter and toss it towards the nearest building.
Luckily Han-Joon manages to catch it just before it reaches any gasoline soaked material. At the same time Jae-Hui subdues Gu and puts him in cuffs. Her team of detectives arrive shortly after and take him into their custody.
A crying Park Jin-Sang arrives alongside the police and runs to hug his father. Questioning why his kidnapped father is also in cuffs, he is told that Park Dong-Gi is being arrested for drug trafficking. Hearing this has the old man complaining of a injury stating they need to go to the hospital first. Han-Joon, aware he is faking it, admonishes the man. He has just saved him from certain death and he is already about to shorten his life again. To keep the spirits happy and live a long life, he needs to confess and pay for his sins. Jin-Sang heartily agrees with the shaman, promising his father to look after him in jail.
Cha Seung-Won finds out about Park and Gu’s arrest and calls Auntie Im. While he is all freaked out, she remains calm, telling him she will take care of things on her end and all will be well. Seung-Won goes on to threaten her that he will take her at her word because if things go awry she will also not walk away unscathed.
Auntie Im, disguised as part of Park’s legal team, goes to see him at the detention center. Initially threatening to reveal all unless Seung-Won gets him out of there, he soon has a change of mind. Starting to have difficulty breathing, he realizes that the water bottle he just drank from was poisoned. Giving him the antidote, Auntie Im tells him to keep his mouth shut if he wants to live. The moment he starts talking his life will be over. A terrified Park agrees before being allowed to drink the antidote.
Meanwhile Jae-Hui and the detectives continue to take a closer look at the Jakdu-dong Land Development Project as all roads seems to lead there. Although at first glance it seems like a legit project, on close inspection there are several suspicious things about it. Not to mention some of the shady people involved.
As they are still discussing the case, detective Na shows them a newsclip. Mayor Lee Myeong-Jun of Sinmyeong is doing a news conference on the future site of the Jakdu-dong project, promoting the beneficial impact it will have on the city.
Unbeknownst to the police, Auntie Im and some high officials are present but standing off to one side. This is all part of Cha’s plan to move up the date of the ground-breaking ceremony, which will then allow them to start selling the apartments. Auntie Im also reassures the men with her that all is still going well, there is no risk of Park talking and they will soon see a manyfold return on their investment.
During their interrogation of Gu, neither Jae-Hui nor Detective Jang can get him to reveal anyone else involved. He vehemently sticks by his story that he is the sole perpetrator and did not act under anyone’s command. He simply punishes sinners. Jae-Hui’s insistence of similarities between his mother and Eun-Hye make him lose his composure for a moment. According to him they were completely different. Gu warns her that she will end up like her brother Jae-Jeong if she keeps mouthing off like that. He confesses to killing her brother, stating that he was an exception since he was a good person.
It is at this moment that the detectives on her team become aware of her relationship to Prosecutor Han. After this revelation many things are put in a different perspective for them. All three of them agree to not bring up the matter until she tells them personally about it.
After the interrogation Jae-Hui goes outside to calm down and is joined by Prosecutor Cha. Turning down his invitation to dinner, she is instead going to see Han-Joon to make sure he is alright. When she is about to leave, Cha grabs her wrist and asks her to stay. Because every time she is around Han-Joon, she gets hurt or is in danger. Jae-Hui is about to ask him if he has feelings for her but he beats her to it and confesses to liking her.
Seeing her awkward reaction he regrets telling her right after and tells her to forget about the whole thing. As he walks away, she calls out to him. She is grateful for his presence which has been such a source of strength to her but she only sees him as a friend and nothing more. Cha states that the next time they meet, he will be back to act within their boundaries of friendship and colleagues.
Han-Joon has gone to see Jae-Jeong at the columbarium to tell him that he finally caught his killer. He also admits to his friend about his feelings for Jae-Hui. A strong gust of wind and a vase shattering nearby makes him think that perhaps Jae-Jeong is not willing to give his blessing to their relationship.
Jae-Hui comes shortly after to also visit her brother’s final resting place. Noticing the fresh flowers she realizes Han-Joon must have been there recently. She goes to look for him at Cafe Minamdang but he is not there. Through Hye-Joon and Su-Cheol she is able to find out that he has gone to a remote camping ground. Hearing the location, Jae-Hui has an idea where he went and follows him.
She arrives just as Han-Joon is struggling to put up the tent. She realizes he has been holding on to Jae-Jeongs camping gear all these years, occasionally using them in memory of his friend. Afterwards they sit down and reminisce about the past. Jae-Hui remembers often going to that same spot with her brother who loved to camp. Han-Joon recalls having to remind his friend not to drag him to any of these remote places as he is not an outdoors person.
They end up going for a long walk just spending the day together like on a date. Sitting at the campsite at night, Han-Joon confesses to Jae-Hui that he likes her and they share their first kiss.
Insistent calls from CEO Lee and Jin-Sang prompt them to return the following day ahead of schedule. Su-Cheol and Hye-Joon almost get caught by Han-Joon since they did not expect him back so soon and were out all night. Na-Dan serves Han-Joon and Jae-Hui breakfast when he notices Hye-Joon scaling the building outside to get inside her upstairs room. With Jae-Hui’s help [who already knows about the couple] he manages to delay Han-Joon’s walk upstairs to wake his sister.
Everyone sits down together to discuss what they have found out so far and to speculate on the likely plan of the mastermind behind the Jakdu-dong project. Park Jin-Sang and CEO Lee have joined them as well. When they hear that investors of the project that are not part of Auntie Im’s inner circle might incur major losses, both seem worried. Han-Joon catches on to what is happening and tells both to immediately pull out any investment they have made into the project. Lee excuses herself first and leaves, pulling Jin-Sang along with her. [A/N: I’m so totally shipping these two. Plus their characters are such a surprising comic relief.]
The team continues to discuss how to stop the project before many innocent people end up losing money. Han-Joon decides it would be best to reveal information during the ground-breaking ceremony to warn people. So as to not get Jae-Hui or her team in trouble, he has prepared a anonymous package containing the info that will be delivered to the station. Prosecutor Cha will be in charge of obtaining the necessary warrants.
Later at Daeun station Jae-Hui and the detectives make a big show about receiving the anonymous box with a USB drive and a card inside. Their loud demeanor has other departments stop and watch them. The card says they have something to tell them about the Kang Eun-Hye case. Opening the USB drive reveals the video captured of Mayor Lee Myeong-Jun and Eun-Hye. When the chief sees the footage, he immediately commands them to get a warrant and arrest the mayor. He puts Jae-Hui and her team in charge of the operation and tells the other units to assist them.
The day of the Jakdu-dong Land Development ground-breaking ceremony has come, with many high officials in attendance. This includes the men from Auntie Im’s inner circle like Cha Seung-Won and Mayor Lee. Park Jin-Sang and CEO Lee are also present as guests and a smug Seung-Won taunts his cousin by bringing up his uncle’s recent arrest.
Auntie Im goes on stage to perform a ceremonial ritual to bless the successful completion of the project. She is interrupted by Han-Joon and Su-Cheol making a grand entrance as Shaman Nam and his assistant. Everyone watches on as the two walk to the front and unto the stage. Shaman Nam announces that Auntie Im’s prayers have been rejected by the spirits. He scolds her for trying to fulfill peoples greed in the name of the spirits. Su-Cheol goes on to present them as two teams in a contest. Han-Joon and Auntie Im go back and forth while both are keeping up their personas of shamans.
Hye-Joon, with help from Cha and Na-Dan has taken over the audio and video control room by tying up the person in charge. She now starts displaying compromising pictures of Mayor Lee, inclusive his shady dealings in relation to the Jakdu-dong project. Han-Joon goes on to expose not only Mayor Lee but also points at Auntie Im and Cha Seung-Won as accomplices.
Epilogue
We get an insight into a young boy possibly suffering an antisocial disorder being closely monitored and even given injections.
A teenage Cha Seung-Won is shown cheering on two younger boys beating each other, while repeatedly pressing the clicker on a pen.
Trigger Warning: Topics of suicide, murder, rape are a ongoing theme of this show. Please look after yourselves.
As Jae-Hui tries to escape from the burning trailer, Han-Joon runs towards the fire. Along the way he bumps into Gu Tae-Su and is able to incapacitate him after a brief altercation.
Racing against time, he manages to break open the chain on the door just as Hye-Joon and Su-Cheol join him. After carrying Jae-Hui outside and ensuring she is alright, Han-Joon collapses to the ground. He is taken to the hospital where Jae-Hui keeps watch over him.
Waking up, he proceeds to hug her admitting his fear that her rescue was all a dream. Han-Joon asks Jae-Hui to wait for him to catch Gopuri and get her brother’s permission to date her. Once he does this, he will be able to give her his entire heart. She agrees and they share a lovely moment.
Meanwhile, Hye-Joon and Su-Cheol wait outside the hospital room. As she is trying to log into Gu’s laptop salvaged from the trailer, they discuss recent events. Hye-Joon mentions her shock at seeing her usually calm brother in such a state while trying to save Jae-Hui. The memory has her remind Su-Cheol to be careful since she can’t live without him.
Their cute exchange is interrupted by loud voices coming from Han-Joon’s hospital room. He is giving Jae-Hui an earful about getting herself into a dangerous situation like that. [A/N: Thank You Han-Joon.] To him, nothing she brings up to defend her actions justifies her recklessness.
Cafe Minamdang Episode 13
Hye-Joon walks right into the room and yells at them to stop. She then scolds her brother for acting immature when he is supposed to be older than her. This has Jae-Hui jumping in to defend Han-Joon, saying that Hye-Joon is being to harsh on her brother. Her words then prompt Su-Cheol to defend Hye-Joon, even slipping up and calling her his girl but quickly correcting this to his sister. They continue bickering among the four of them.
************
The following day, Han-Joon is getting ready to be discharged, Detectives Jang, Kim, and Na enter the room. Focusing solely on Jae-Hui, they exclaim their relief at her being okay as well as their concern for her quick discharge from the hospital. Han-Joon, feeling ignored, questions why they are not worried about him. This has the three of them assure him how grateful they are for saving their team leader.
They proceed to discuss Gu getting away after attempting to kill a police officer [Jae-Hui]. Detective Jang especially has some choice words to say about the matter but she interrupts him by showing a picture she took from the trailer. Showing it to Jang, he proceeds to take out an identical photograph although with burned edges. It is the one he retrieved while recently returning to the scene of that old house fire. Jang mentions that he was not sure until now but this confirms that Gu Tae-Su is actually Lim Yeong-Ju. [A/N: To avoid confusion, I’ll continue referring to this character as Gu Tae-Su.]
Cafe Minamdang Episode 13
Hearing the name Lim Yeong-Ju, Han-Joon asks surprised if the detective knows him. Jang explains that Lim was the suspect of committing arson in his first case. He recounts the young Lim Yeong-Ju’s story of being abandoned by his mother and left with an alcoholic and abusive father. He is believed to have killed his father, set the house on fire and ran away. The young boy went missing after that.
The photograph of him with his mother was taken shortly before she left the family. They notice the white shoes the woman in the picture is wearing. To them, this and Eun-Hye’s resemblance to Gu’s mother was the reason he placed similar shoes on her body. They ponder that they need to find out what happened to Lim Yeong-Ju after running away.
In the midst of this Han-Joon receives a call from Na-Dan at the coffee shop wondering if Cafe Minamdang is closed for the day. Turns out they forgot about opening the shop with everything going on.
Cafe Minamdang Episode 13
Later that evening at Cafe Minamdang, Hye-Joon reveals to her brother, Jae-Hui and Su-Cheol she was able to access Gu’s laptop. Among its content are images of burial shrouds with Do Jung-Ah and Han Jae-Jeong’s names on them. Video clips of explicit nature involving various female victims are also found.
Based on what they know, Han-Joon guesses that it is a two-person system involving Auntie Im and Gu Tae-Su. While she makes the prophecies, Gu makes them happen through blackmail and intimidation. Thus convincing her clientele of her psychic abilities and making them susceptible to following her commands.
Taking a closer look at one of the videos, the team notices the name N.Joy Club in the background. The initials match up with ones found on the video file names. Hye-Joon recognizes the name as belonging to a nightclub currently extremely popular with the rich and famous.
Prosecutor Cha joins them at this moment, confirming that there is definitive a relation between the club and their case. He presents financial statements showing dividends paid to the cartel from the club. These dividends seem to be too high which would collaborate ongoing rumours of drug dealing happening at the club. Money from the drugs are then laundered through these payouts.
Although dealing narcotics is a felony, the team fears the club would simply state they had no knowledge of it happening. Going in for an arrest would at best catch a few small fish. Because the real power behind it would still get away. What they need is real proof and not just circumstantial evidence. They decide to do an undercover mission at the club the following evening to find said proof.
Cafe Minamdang Episode 13
Afterwards, Han-Joon offers to accompany Jae-Hui home and the two end up going for a leisurely walk around the neighbourhood. They discuss the past as well as each of their choices in profession. Both admit to not regretting their choice despite the hardships it caused them. Their conversation then turns to the future and how they look forward to a time when their hunt for Gopuri is over. When they can simply enjoy life and dating each other as any regular couple would do.
During their walk a couple coming from the opposite way accidentally bumps into them. Despite Jae-Hui’s attempt to pull Han-Joon out of the way, she is not fast enough. After regaining his balance he takes an extra look at the couple’s back but quickly discards his suspicion. Meanwhile the couple, Hye-Joon and Su-Cheol, swiftly continue on their way. They had gone for an evening stroll and did not expect to run into her brother. As far as they knew, Han-Joon was walking Jae-Hui to her place and that location is in the opposite direction. Luckily for them, they managed not to be detected by Han-Joon once again.
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The following night the team goes to N.Joy Club all dressed up. They let the girls enter separately while the men follow shortly after. Once inside, Na-Dan and Cha are made to wear waiter outfits by Han-Joon, much to the laters dislike. Himself and Su-Cheol dress in all black like the onsite security guards. All six are wearing earpieces to secretly communicate with each other.
While Hye-Joon and Jae-Hui hang out on the dance floor, they witness what appears to be a drug deal and inform Han-Joon. Under the guise of bumping into him in a drunken state, they proceed to mark the dealer with a glow-in-the-dark palm print on his back. The guys hope to follow the man to his boss.
Cafe Minamdang Episode 13
Meanwhile Cha and Na-Dan walk into the area of VIP private rooms and witness someone spiking his female companions drink while she is outside. Despite Na-Dan’s attempts to stop him, Cha walks into the room and warns the girl not to consume the drink as it contains drugs. The female leaves in anger even though her male companion denies everything.
The man and his two companions direct their attention at the two waiters, wondering why they ruined things after selling them the drugs themselves. Na-Dan tries to sooth them and leave but is not successful. He promises to call other girls to join them but is made to do so while still in the room.
Shortly after Hye-Joon and Jae-Hui walk into the room where they find both Cha and Na-Dan beaten up and on their knees. An enraged Jae-Hui and Hye-Joon make short work of tossing about the three VIP men. [A/N: Who else is in love with this duo?]
At the same time, Han-Joon and Su-Cheol are able to confirm that Gu Tae-Su was the person that dealers at the club answered to. They discover Gu owned a ledger to keep track of all the transactions which he would store in a safe. The safe is said to be located inside the top suite of the hotel attached to N.Joy Club.
Cafe Minamdang Episode 13
Without her knowing, Han-Joon has contacted detective Jang on Jae-Hui’s behalf in order for police to raid the club. While Jae-Hui and the detectives enter the club thus distracting security, Han-Joon and Su-Cheol plan to sneak into the top suite. They are however interrupted by Park Jin-Sang and CEO Lee who have been hanging about in the buildings lobby.
Remembering that the hotel is owned by Jin-Sang’s Father, Han-Joon uses the directors faith in his psychic abilities to their advantage instead. He reminds Jin-Sang of the dark aura surrounding his father that he mentioned to him previously. Those dark forces seem to be coming from the top floor of the hotel. Jin-Sang exclaims that Director Gu is the one in charge of the Royal Floor.
Continuing the pretense of Shaman Nam, Su-Cheol and Han-Joon make mention of a safe located on that floor. Inside of the safe is the root of all the evil that could potentially ruin the Park family if it is not eliminated. If Jin-Sang wants to save his father, he needs to find out the location and password of the safe.
Through Jin-Sang the men manage to learn how to access the top floor via a private elevator. Hye-Joon’s attempt to hack into the hotel’s CCTV is foiled however by an unsteady WiFi. This results in the control room catching sight of them inside the elevator on their camera system. Having been found out by four guards, Su-Cheol volunteers to keep them at bay while Han-Joon proceeds towards the location of the safe. Unbeknownst to them, Gu Tae-Su has come inside the building as well and is aware of their presence. He is talking on the phone while hiding in a nearby hallway, saying that he will retrieve the files and go.
Cafe Minamdang Episode 13
Han-Joon locates the safe and is attempting to unlock it with Park Jin-Sang feeding him different possible numbers over the phone. He hangs up once he finds the right one and starts looking through the contents. With his back turned towards the door, he is barely in time to block Gu Tae-Su’s attack. Regardless, Gu manages to gain the upper hand on him, rendering him slightly incoherent by striking him with a lamp. Su-Cheol’s arrival has Gu scrambling to grab the files and run away. Little does he know that Han-Joon managed to hide one of the files underneath an area rug.
Han-Joon’s team plus Jae-Hui and Cha return to Cafe Minamdang, where she makes a fuss about his injuries. They also go over the big picture of how someone put key-players like Gu and Auntie Im in place to facilitate narcotics trafficking and subsequent money laundering. The upcoming land development project of Choekang Constructions seems to also be part of a bigger plan to scam innocent peoples money. Han-Joon mentions noticing an investigation file in the safe with Cha Seung-Won’s name on it but it was taken by Gu. The team assumes said file is now in the hands of the master behind it all but they still do not know who that person is.
Cafe Minamdang Episode 13
Meanwhile, Auntie Im with Gu and Cha Seung-Won are sitting inside the laters office. The tension filled silence is interrupted by the ringing of Gu Tae-Su’s phone. Showing the caller ID as belonging to Park Dong-Gi, he receives a nod from Seung-Won permitting him to answer the call. Through the speakerphone, Park’s voice can be heard asking about the police raiding the safe at the hotel. Gu assures him that he managed to take the ledger and all the files and has them with him. The call is disconnected by Park after instructing Gu to not hand the files to anyone else. He appears to be unaware of anyone besides Gu being present.
Cha Seung-Won picks up the investigation report with his name on it and throws it while angrily yelling at the other two. What have they been doing while his uncle [Park] has obviously been planning to stab him in the back. Instead of giving an answer, Auntie Im redirects the conversation towards the complications a police investigation will cause for their construction project (read: scam).
Seung-Won instructs her to speed up the sale of the unfinished apartment buildings and to ensure they receive the construction fee. According to their contract, the company will still get to keep half of the fee even if the project ends up failing. He also requests that she take care of his uncle. Noticing her hesitation, he states that he has no interest in what she is up to otherwise but warns her not to mess with his plan. Visibly intimidated by his threat, she promptly agrees.
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Prosecutor Cha brings up that since some time ago, dividends from N.Joy Club started to also be paid to KM Leaders. This appears to be a paper company created by Auntie Im overseas. Han-Joon remembers the name as having been on one of the files inside the safe. Recalling the Jagdu-dong Land Development project he voices his suspicion that Auntie Im might be planning to steal the investment money taking advantage of all these VIP clients’ trust in her. Furthermore, he predicts Seung-Won will try to get rid of Park Dong-Gi since him and Auntie Im are likely in this together.
A phone call to Park Jin-Sang confirms that Gu Tae-su did just pick up his father. Hye-Joon hacks into the CCTV and discovers that Gu has moved the car to an area without surveillance. Cha is instructed to stay behind and keep Auntie Im from leaving the country while the team goes in pursuit of Gu. Working under the assumption that Gu is under Auntie Im’s influence, they try to guess where he would take Park to. They settle on Gu’s childhood home and Jae-Hui calls Detective Jang to obtain the location. With Hye-Joon at the wheel, they experience quite the adventurous ride. The sun has already set by the time they arrive at their rural destination.
Gu drives a unsuspecting Park Dong-Gi to his dilapidated childhood home. Upon their arrival, he injects his victim with a tranquilizer before taking him inside and taping his hands and feet together. With Park sitting on a chair, Gu wraps the burial shroud prepared by Auntie Im around him and proceeds to start choking him. he is interrupted by the flash of approaching headlights.
Cafe Minamdang Episode 13
Jae-Hui and Han-Joon carefully enter the old house, immediately spotting the unconscious Park tied to a chair in the room across from them. While busy trying to free him, a scraping sound coming from the inner yard of the house can be heard. Turning around they see Gu standing there, a gas tank in one hand and a lighter in the other. Han-Joon starts talking to him in an attempt to negotiate/distract him. But Gu warns that he is on to him and will not fall for his tricks. He is ready to do anything including die for the master.
Han-Joon counters that whoever this master is does not care for him or he would not have taken away someone Gu cared for. Naming Kang Eun-Hye he reveals knowing that Gu cared for her since he gave her shoes resembling those worn by his mother. When Han-Joon scolds Gu for not protecting Eun-Hye, the man seems to be stunned. Is he having a sudden realization?
Epilogue
A young Gu (Lim Young-Ju) walks away from his burning house and continues along a country road before collapsing on the ground. A car pulls up alongside him which is revealed to be a younger Auntie Im. Looking at his body severely hurt by burns, she states that he must be cursed since he is covered in flames. A boy around Gu’s age exits the car behind her. After seeing Gu, he makes reference to a story of a crow and a magpie and declares from this day onwards, Gu will be his magpie. [A/N: Kudos to this young actor for giving me the creeps.]
A never before seen angle at Han Jae-Jeong’s murder shows that Gu was not the only perpetrator at the scene that night.
Trigger Warning: Topics of suicide, murder, rape are a ongoing theme of this show. Please look after yourselves.
Cha observes his brother Seung-Won joining the VIP table and notices Gu walking away from that area.
Gu and his men take an unconscious Han-Joon and Su-Cheol away while Hye-Joon looks on via surveillance. She proceeds to call Jae-Hui to tell her about the men’s kidnapping. She in turn calls detective Jang to have the team assist.
Park Jin-Sang and CEO Lee happen to witness the men being taken away in the parking lot and take a video. When Jae-Hui and Cha run up to them, they provide her with the recording which caught the cars license plate.
The police team drives into the parking lot just then and goes in pursuit of the kidnappers after collecting Jae-Hui and Cha.
Café Minamdang Episode 12
Hye-Joon is still able to connect to Han-Joon’s eyeglasses camera and forwards that info to Jae-Hui. Shortly after the connection stops but in the last image Hye-Joon can make out part of a sign reading ‘IEND’ in the background. She gives this information to Jae-Hui.
Having arrived at their remote destination, Gu notices Han-Joon’s glassses, takes them off him and steps on them. With Han-Joon slowly coming to, he and Su-Cheol are roughly thrown unto the concrete floor of what appears to be an old warehouse.
Gu demands to know what the men heard and why they are looking into this. Han-Joon counters that Gu is going to kill them both regardless of him telling what he knows or not. Su-Cheol is still lying on the ground semi conscious, not really aware of their current situation.
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Due to the kidnapper’s threat, Han-Joon agrees to spill what he knows. He proceed to say that Gu was his target but that he since discovered the bigwigs behind him as the real people in charge. All the while he keeps secretly trying to wake up Su-Cheol by pinching him and stepping on his hand. (A/N: Poor Su-Cheol!!)
He proceeds to name mayor Lee Myeong-Jun as rapist and murderer of 18-year-old Kang Eun-Hye. Han-Joon admits to have thought Auntie Im as being the mastermind behind Gu. But turns out Cha Seung-Won of Choekang Constructions seems to also be involved in what ever they are scheming. A mayor, an assemblyman and a high-ranking prosecutor, all getting together for a land development project.
Gu replies that this is not a game someone like Han-Joon would understand. Han-Joon mocks him asking if that’s what Auntie Im said to him. He states that Gu is just a disposable prawn to them and they will get rid of him once the project is finished. The later Han-Joon overheard earlier while eavesdropping on the VIP table. Without anything further, Gu gives the command to his men to get rid of both Han-Joon and Su-Cheol before walking off to the side.
Café Minamdang Episode 12
While Jae-Hui and Cha arrive where Gu dropped Han-Joon’s glasses, he is desperate to get both himself and his friend out alive. Resorting to extreme measures, he hits Su-Cheol over the head with a piece of wood, which unbelievable finally brings him back to his senses. Thinking it was Gu’s men who hit him, Su-Cheol is eager to make them pay. Leaving his men behind to fight, Gu takes his leave.
While Jae-Hui and the team run towards the sounds of the fight, Detective Jang notices Gu walking by on the other side of a nearby door and follows him. Cha decides to go after Jang.
Jae-Hui arrives at the scene of the fight just in time to knock out the bad guys. Her obvious worry for his wellbeing has Han-Joon going all heart eyes
Jang catches up to Gu and a fight ensues. Just as Gu is about to win and get away, Cha cuts him off. However, Gu manages to grab Jang in a chokehold threatening to kill him if Cha doesn’t let him go. When Jang asks Gu if he is Lim Yeong-Ju, the man seems surprised, lets go of Jang and runs away in his nearby van.
As they sit on the ground trying to catch their breath, Cha asks Jang if he knows Lim Yeong-Ju. Jang says he is not sure abut will tell him once he confirms a few things.
Café Minamdang Episode 12
Now at the Daeun Police Station, they listen to the recording obtained by Han-Joon’s team. Things get awkward when Cha Seung-Won’s voice is heard since Prosecutor Cha is also still with them. He assures them to not mind him. Even if Seung-Won is his brother, he has to be punished if he was involved in something bad.
After several members of the team voice their disgust at the casual manner in which the men at the VIP table discussed Eun-Hye’s death, their focus turns to Auntie Im. Knowing first hand how shrouded in mystery she is, has Han-Joon thinking that she does not trust others. It is also likely that she has something on all these officials to ensure they won’t dare to betray her. For starters, they need to get whatever information Gu has before she gets to him. They decide to see if there is any evidence of a connection between the name Lim Yeong-Ju and Auntie Im.
Jae-Hui offers to drive Han-Joon and Su-Cheol home with the pretext that she lives in the same area. A worried Hye-Joon awaits them both but to their surprise runs towards Su-Ceol instead of her brother. Despite him putting on a show about her injuries, Hye-Joon’s focus is on Su-Cheol. She asks Jae-Hui to take care of her brother before exiting the room dragging Su-Cheol with her.
Han-Joon and Jae-Hui proceed to have coffee in the siblings upstairs living quarters. On a tour of the house, Jae-Hui discovers a little figurine she gave him years ago on his nightstand. When he follows her into the room, she teases him about not remembering her but holding on to her gift. A almost-moment between the two is interrupted by Han-Joon suddenly feeling the pain from the earlier fight in his back.
Café Minamdang Episode 12
Although previously refusing, he now accepts Jae-Hui’s help to place plasters on the many bruises on his back. One thing leads to another and the two are about to kiss when Han-Joon’s phone receives an incoming call from CEO Lee. Displeased he gives his phone a evil stare but does not answer the call.
Instead he starts wondering aloud where Hye-Joon has gone. This prompts a conversation between them about his protectiveness over his sister. Jae-Hui remembers her brother used to be the same way towards her. She admits to having been annoyed by his nagging before but now that he’s gone she misses it.
Han-Joon’s offer to consider him as a brother going forward is met with rejection. He teases if she would instead like to consider him as her boyfriend or husband. Jae-Hui states that she does not see him as anything at all and to get over himself.
Despite her denial, Han-Joon continues to tease her by reminding her that she used to have a major crush on him. She admits that used to be the case but only for a very short time in the past. She definitely has no special feelings for him currently.
In disbelief and with a slightly hurt look, he questions if her heart really does not beat faster at the thought of him. Looking at her up close she can’t hide the fact that she is affected by him. But before anything further can happen, Han-Joon’s phone ringing startles both of them.
Café Minamdang Episode 12
Meanwhile Hye-Joon is hanging out at Su-Cheol’s apartment where he is preparing them something to eat. Despite trying to deflect her advances to him, Su-Cheol is not match for a determined Hye-Joon. After she confesses realizing how deeply she cares for him after the days scary events, she kisses him. Rendered defenseless by her words and show of affection, Su-Cheol finally admits to liking her as well, returning her kisses.
Back at the Nam residence, Han-Joon and Jae-Hui fell asleep on the couch leaning on each other while waiting for his sister to return home. Han-Joon wakes up and after a half-hearted attempt of waking Jae-Hui, he proceeds to adjust her sleeping position to a more comfortable one. Carefully placing her head on his lap, Han-Joon watches over her as she sleeps. (A/N: Why is this always so cute in dramas/movies but in real life would feel a bit creepy?)
Café Minamdang Episode 12
The next morning Su-Cheol drives Hye-Joon back to Café Minamdang. Holding hands, they share a brief kiss and talk, with Hye-Joon reminding him to stop his nervous hiccups so as not to alert her brother. Walking inside, they find said brother and Jae-Hui asleep together on the couch. Giggling in a teasing manner, they are quick to document the moment in photographs.
Startled awake by the noise, both are instantly in defense against any teasing about them spending the night together. A look at the time then has Jae-Hui rushing out the door after exclaiming that she is late.
Within seconds of her departure, Han-Joon turns the spotlight from himself to his friend and sister, asking about their own whereabouts. He especially puts pressure on Su-Cheol, suspicious of what happened. Hye-Joon states she spent the night at an internet café and ran into Su-Cheol in front of Minamdang just now as she came home. At both their insistence, he has no choice but to drop the matter.
Jae-Hui walks into the police station where detective Na hands her the contact number for the real Gu Tae-Su’s family. It appears he was adopted overseas and on bad terms with his family at the time of his disappearance. When calling them, Jae-Hui is told they haven’t had contact with him since he moved to Korea and to not call them again.
The team discusses how being estranged from family and without friends made Gu a perfect target for identity theft. They wonder about the fake Gu Tae-Su and why his prints did not flag his real identity in the system. Perhaps he never registered in the first place.
Café Minamdang Episode 12
Detective Jang goes to the site of an old house partially destroyed by fire. Looking through the rubble, he locates the picture of a woman with a small boy standing next to her.
Han-Joon and the team are hanging out in Café Minamdang. While Hye-Joon and Su-Cheol are secretly flirting with each other, a suspicious Han-Joon does not manage to catch them. Discussing the case, he instructs Hye-Joon to look through Gu’s earlier credit card statements to try and find his possible hide-out. Her search reveals that he used to frequent a restaurant named Forte. Han-Joon seems to be familiar with the place and goes to take a look at it by himself.
The police is unable to find any CCTV that could trace where Gu went the night before. Jae-Hui instructs her team to look into public transportation and taxis in the area to see if he used that method to get away. In the midst of this, Han-Joon calls to request they meet face-to-face at Forte restaurant inside Sinmyeong Hotel.
Café Minamdang Episode 12
After a quick stop at her place for a outfit change, Jae-Hui goes to meet up with Han-Joon. Although he keeps insisting they are there to strictly investigate, his actions make it obvious that he called her out for a date. He even got her flowers. Hye-Joon and Su-Cheol are able to witness the whole thing through the restaurant’s CCTV.
To Han-Joon’s dismay, Cha calls Jae-Hui asking to meet and she tells him to join them at Forte. Upon the prosecutors arrival, the three proceed to ask the restaurants bartender about Gu Tae-Su. The man recognizes Gu from the picture shown as a regular but says he has not come by for the past few weeks. He elaborates that Gu would usually come the fourth Thursday of the month at 8 pm and always appeared to be alone.
When Han-Joon pulls out a picture of Cha Seung-Won to ask the bartender if he has ever seen that man, Cha excuses himself to make a call. He tries to find out through his brother’s secretary if his brother frequents Forte but is told he cannot reveal Seung-Won’s schedule under any circumstances. The secretary does inform him that his brother will be at the office late tonight and suggests Cha come speak to him in person. After ending the call, Cha then calls Jae-Hui to inform her that something came up with a case and he has to leave. She promises to call him if they find out anything.
Café Minamdang Episode 12
Further conversation with the bartender reveals the possibility of Gu owning a trailer and staying at different campsites. Han-Joon calls Hye-Joon to have her do a search of campsites but is informed that she is already doing so. Surprised about how she knows, she readily admits to placing a bug and GPS tracker on his person due to his recent kidnapping incident. After disconnecting the call, Han-Joon checks his outfit in an attempt to find said bug.
Meanwhile Cha arrives at this brother’s office and walks straight in to speak with him. Without delay he asks him about Gu Tae-Su, his involvement in Choi Jeong-Cheol’s murder, and the VIP table assembly at the recent party. Seung-Won’s reply that the meeting involving those high officials was regarding business elicits a sarcastic laugh from Cha. He questions if Kang Eun-Hye’s death was also just business to him. In regards to Auntie Im, Cha wonders if she was the one who under their father’s order made Seung-Won’s previous case go away.
Seung-Won angrily shouts at his brother to shut up as he doesn’t know anything. Cha retorts by asking Seung-Won if he really is willing to go that far to become the president of Choekang Constructions. In response Seung-Won accuses him of always looking down on him when in fact Cha is not any better than himself. Cha counters that he at least got to where he is through hard work and not by cheating .
Café Minamdang Episode 12
As their discussion continues, he warns his brother to stop whatever he is up to or he will come after him as a prosecutor. Declaring that it was their father who ruined Seung-Won by always cleaning up after him, Cha departs from his brother’s office. A angry and shaken Seung-Won grabs his head in pain before taking some pills from a nearby box. These seem to calm him down.
Meanwhile the team has tracked down Gu’s trailer to the Samcheon Campsite. Jae-Hui forwards the location provided by Hye-Joon to her Team so they may join her and Han-Joon there. The two of them plus Su-Cheol and Hye-Joon arrive at the campsite first.
The manager of the campground recognizes Gu from a picture and confirms he does park his RV there. He appears to move it back and forth between their two big parking lots and he does not know the spot it is in at this moment. They are a free campsite so no registration is required and people can park their campers wherever. This also means that although he recently saw Gu leaving in a sedan, there is not record of the license plate.
They split up in order to faster locate the RV. As nighttime falls, Jae-Hui comes across a camper slightly isolated from the rest. After a brief check indicates no one to be inside, she proceed to break the lock.
Café Minamdang Episode 12
Unbeknownst to her, she is being watched by a camera installed on the outside of the camper. The person watching her via his mobile is none other than Gu Tae-Su, currently at a nearby gas station. After hesitating for only a moment, Gu pays the attendant with his credit card instead of cash for a container of gasoline just obtained.
Jae-Hui’s team calls her to advise of Gu’s credit card being used just now at a gas station near her location. She instructs them to head in that direction instead to confirm it was in fact Gu who made the purchase. Jae-Hui also informs them that she believes to have found his camper, and will update them after having a look around.
Entering the camper, Jae-Hui discovers pictures and other items like white heels and a stack of folded burial shrouds. She calls Han-Joon to inform her of her find and indicates the RV’s approximate location to him. Taking a closer look at a picture depicting a woman with a small boy by her side, she thinks to herself that the mother resembles Kang Eun-Hye.
A noise outside alerts her and has her running towards the door. The door has been chained close from the outside. A terrified Jae-Hui can only look on as Gu Tae-Su proceeds to splash gasoline all over the outside of the camper. Looking straight at her, he lights it on fire and walks away.
Café Minamdang Episode 12
Han-Joon notices the fire and runs towards it while calling Su-Cheol, telling him Jae-Hui is in trouble and to come help. Nearing the burning camper, he bumps into Gu and after a brief altercation has him pinned to the ground. Looking at Han-Joon and then the burning trailer with a sinister smile, Gu asks him what he will choose. Save Jae-Hui, or apprehend him.
Epilogue
Gu Tae-Su enters an elevator. Just before the doors close, Kang Eun-Hye enters as well and proceeds to greet him. Her smile seems to elicit a memory in Gu. A flashback shows a woman wearing white shoes sitting in a chair and beckoning a smiling little boy to join her. A photographer then takes their picture. The picture that was found by detective Jang inside the burning building earlier in the episode.
Café Minamgdang Episode 12 END
Authors Note
Wow!! This was yet another rollercoaster. Each episode so many things happen that I feel my head spinning. My only complaint about this episode was Jae-Hui’s reckless behavior. Come on Girl, you’re a experienced police officer!
Just like the title indicates, this will be our first impression of the currently airing, high-ranking K-Drama Extraordinary Attorney Woo. Korean title: 이상한 변호사 우영우 which translates to Strange Lawyer/Attorney Woo Young Woo.
The plan, as usual, is to keep this spoiler free, but who knows. Once the brain activates my inner fangirl, it’s like that plan never existed in the first place.
This partial review reflects our thoughts based on the first 6 episodes of the drama. And that’s enough babbling, let’s get on with it.
Cast
Park Eun-Bin as Attorney Woo Young Woo
Kang Tae-Oh [5urprise] as Lee Jun-Ho
Kang Ki-Young as Attorney Jung Myeong-Seok
Baek Ji-Won as CEO Han Seon-Young
Ha Yoon-Kyung as Attorney Choi Su-Yeon
Joo Jong-Hyuk as Attorney Kwon Min-Woo
Jin Kyung as Tae Su-Mi
Jeon Bae-Su as Woo Gwang-Ho
Joo Hyun-Young as Dong Geurami
Extraordinary Attorney Woo
Single father Woo Gwang-Ho (Jeon Bae-Su), [who honestly deserves every father-of-the-year award out there] raised his daughter Woo Young-Woo (Park Eun-Bin) by himself. Gwang-Ho, after graduating with a law degree, did not take the bar exam in favor of looking after his daughter. He instead opened a small restaurant to be able to spend time with her.
Worried about Young-Woo’s delay in speaking, he takes the child to the hospital. There the doctor tells him that his daughter has autism spectrum disorder and what this entails. Understandably upset by these news, the loving father is in for another surprise. While watching her father fend off the attack of a jealous neighbour, a distraught Young-Woo starts reciting the legal repercussions this could have for the offender.
It quickly dawns on Gwang-Ho that his little daughter has been reading and memorizing the extensive collection of his law study books lying around their residence. The proud father goes on to encourage his daughter’s dream of becoming a lawyer.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo
The single thing more fascinating to Young-Woo besides the law are whales. She has an extensive knowledge of all the different species and could talk about them for days. Anything can prompt her to bring up the topic of whales. Thinking of whales helps her to focus and relaxes her in stressful situations.
Young-Woo graduates from university at the top of her class, a place she has maintained throughout her years of study. Despite her excellent specs, law firms reject the application of the young woman due to her condition.
Until one day her father’s old school friend Han Seon-Young (Baek Ji-Won) and current CEO of the prestigious Hanbada Law Firm offers her a place as intern. Although at first hesitant about Seon-Young’s real intentions, Gwang-Ho ultimately accepts to let his daughter work for Hanbada.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo
Young-Woo’s entry into the law firm is all but smooth sailing. Senior Attorney Jung Myeong-Seok (Kang Ki-Young) responds rather negatively to the late addition to his team. However, CEO Han quickly shuts down his arguments. She tells him matter-of-factly to give Young-Woo a chance before dismissing her based on her disorder.
Kwon Min-Woo (Joo Jong-Hyuk) and Choi Su-Yeon (Ha Yoon-Kyung) are the two other trainee attorneys under Attorney Jung’s care. Min-Woo is ambitious and smart in his own right, but also seems to feel threatened by any success on Young-Woo’s part. Su-Yeon is no stranger to Young-Woo as the two graduated from the same university. She is all too familiar with her former classmate’s extraordinary mind and knows better than to underestimate her.
Lee Jun-Ho (Kang Tae-Oh) works as legal aide for Hanbada law firm and gets assigned as Young-Woo’s guide. He will accompany her to court but also to random places part of her investigation into current cases. Jun-Ho’s friendly manner makes him popular among the firm’s employees especially the female staff. Everyone vies to catch his undivided attention, only to be politely and gently refused.
Since day one, Jun-Ho notices Young-Woo’s odd behaviour due to her autism. In line with his usual behaviour, he proceeds to help her out when seeing her facing difficulties. However, he does so in a way that will help her deal with these things on her own going forward and without making it a big deal.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo
Young-Woo learns swiftly that she can trust and rely on Jun-Ho. Plus, he is also willing to listen to her talk about whales without complaining and even seems to enjoy it. Both Young-Woo and Jun-Ho soon start questioning if their initial friendship perhaps has led to feelings of deep affection.
While navigating this new chapter in her life, Young-Woo counts on the advise of her childhood friend Dong Geurami (Joo Hyun-Young). Although the two could not be more different on the outside, they share a close sister-like bond since high school. When a bullied Young-Woo was helped by the loner Geurami, she repaid her by offering the brash girl her company. This arrangement between the unlikely pair would bloom into a beautiful friendship.
Facing all these new challenges as attorney in training and on a personal level causes Young-Woo to reflect on different aspects of her life. They help her to become more independent and self assured as a person and a professional.
Author’s Note
I don’t always feel this way about popular dramas but Extraordinary Attorney Woo so far is well deserved of all the praise it has been receiving. The characters are extremely well written and each add their own flavor to the overall taste of the drama. Be careful not to discard or trust anyone too soon, as the writer seems to have some twists up his/her sleeve.
Individual characters also represent different feelings/opinions and reactions towards different social issues or persons considered societies outcasts. Every one or two episodes a new case becomes the highlight of the drama, introducing temporary characters or cameo appearances. The main character’s plot still manages to develop throughout each story.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo
Kang Ki-Young finally receiving the role of a smart and put together character has me experiencing all sort of happy feelings. The actor has long since captured my attention even though he would usually play minor supporting characters. Unless you are new to the K-Drama world, I’m sure you can also list off the top of your head several dramas where he portrayed the goofy friend/colleague/relative of the main character. Savvy King of High School, W-Two Worlds, and Weightlifting Fairy come to mind.
The drama’s writer Moon Ji-Won appears rather new to the Korean drama world but I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on her. Her only other work currently listed is the 2019 movie Innocent Witness (lit. title Witness) which sounds like a good watch as well.
Additionally, I found out the director of Extraordinary Attorney Woo is Yu In-Sik, who also directed some other favorites of mine. To name a few: You’re all surrounded (2014), Mrs. Cop 1 & 2 (2015-2016), and Vagabond (2019).
Trigger Warning: Topics of suicide, murder, rape are a ongoing theme of this show. Please look after yourselves.
Café Minamdang Episode 11
Jae-Hui finally reveals to Han-Joon that she is Han Jae-Jeong’s sister. Han-Joon counters that Jae-Jeong’s sister is called Jang-Mi and moved to the States as a child. But Jae-Hui tells him that she moved back and proves her identity with a photograph. It is a copy of one he saw before at Jae-Jeong’s house of their family.
Finding out she is his friends sister, Han-Joon doesn’t want her to work with him even more. She threatens to disclose the truth behind Minamdang and proceeds to lead him away cuffed to her. After not getting any help from his three teammates, Han-Joon has no choice but to agree and let her join.
Subsequently the team also finds out Jae-Hui’s real identity. Meanwhile Han-Joon voices his thoughts about how a cute kid like Jang-Mi ended up becoming the violent Jae-Hui. His reference to Jae-Hui being cute earns him some teasing from his sister and Su-Cheol.
However, they soon move on to discussing their next step in finding the killer. Han-Joon states that they need to take a closer look at Park Dong-Gi, Jin-Sang’s father. Park might be the one who hired Gu Tae-Su.
Jae-Hui takes her leave, but not before warning the team to do anything behind her back.
Han-Joon tells Hye-Joon and Su-Cheol that he cannot in actuality let Jae-Hui help with catching Gopuri. How is he going to face Jae-Jeong if something happens to her?! He then goes to his room and reminisces about the past and his encounters with Jang-Mi. He continues denying having any feelings for her, despite his thoughts and facial expressions indicating the contrary.
Café Minamdang Episode 11
Meanwhile Jae-Hui is also at home thinking about past events when she punched Han-Joon. She gets all shy recalling their accidental kiss, and holding his hand during the hypnotic session.
Time for some product placement as Jae-Hui checks her appearance before leaving the office to go see Han-Joon. This results in teasing from the detectives in her team. (A/N: Everyone’s such an avid shipper in this drama. HaHaHa. I love it!!)
Upon arriving at Café Minamdang, Han-Joon greets her at the door. Cha is also there wanting to join the team and is backed by Jae-Hui. Initially completely opposed to the idea, Han-Joon relents when Cha offers up a exchange. He has the list of Joyce Entertainment’s secret investors and will share if they let him join.
Park Jin-Sang is sitting in his office wondering why he has not heard from Shaman Nam for a while despite sending him several texts. A reply from Nam comes in at that very moment, much to the delight of the director.
When he goes to see Shaman Nam, the same tells him that a evil spirit is haunting his father due to someone around him. Jin-Sang guesses this to be Gu. Nam confirms that the master leading both Gu and Park Dong-Gi is not human. This prompts Jin-Sang to reveal the name Auntie Im (Auntie M). He describes her as a powerful fortune teller well known among society’s upper 1%. Shaman Nam accepts to help get rid of the evil surrounding Park’s father. The director offers’ up a large sum of money as repayment and tearfully thanks the shaman.
Café Minamdang Episode 11
Han-Joon and his team celebrate in anticipation of their payment from Park. Though hearing Hye-Joon’s subsequent statement that she cannot find anything about Auntie Im anywhere, has Su-Cheol wondering if maybe they celebrated too soon. However, after a brief moment, Han-Joon seems to have come up with a plan.
At the police station Jae-Hui and the detectives continue investigating Gu and his associations. They find that five years ago, he testified as a witness in the case of a accidentally discharged firearm. A eager detective Kim and Na together wit Jae-Hui and Jang go to see the victim who runs a lodge in the mountains.
Prosecutor Cha and his team are looking into all the businesses associated with Joyce Entertainment. When Jae-Hui updates him about their trip to the mountain he rushes out to join them. This causes his team to venture if perhaps he is dating Lieutenant Han.
They arrive at the lodge and ask the owner if he remembers the name Gu Tae-Su. His answer is not at all what they expected. The owner tells them that Gu Tae-Su went missing on the mountain 5 years ago. Human remains recently discovered were unable to be identified due to their advanced state of decomposition. Based on some items on the remains though, it is believed to have been Gu. Showing them a group photo, he points out Gu Tae-Su to the team. However, the person they know as Gu is identified by the owner as Gu’s friend, Lim Yeong-Ju. A stunned and somber team drives back discussing the fact that Lim likely stole his friend Gu’s identity.
Café Minamdang Episode 11
Meanwhile Han-Joon and the team are holding an event for shamans, in a attempt to find out about Auntie Im. Several people present tell them not to mention Auntie Im, calling her a quack and a scum. One woman seems especially angry and reveals they were under the tutelage of the same godmother. She believes Im killed the godmother after a disagreement disguising the murder as a accidental fire.
A heated discussion between two guests turns the entire room into chaos. Thanks to Na-Dan’s quick thinking and some impromptu karaoke the team manages to calm the crowd down.
Unbeknownst to the team, one of their guests was Auntie Im’s informant in disguise. He took a picture of Han-Joon and the team to show to her, confirming they have been looking into her.
Café Minamdang Episode 11
Prosecutor Cha invites Jae-Hui to join him for a party held for the signing of a construction agreement between Mayor Lee and Choekang Construction. He was invited due to his family connections. Initially wanting to include Han-Joon, Cha dissuades her from this and instead they decide to have her police team on stand-by. The event is being held on the grounds of a traditional historical Korean site
As planned earlier, Han-Joon and Su-Cheol have infiltrated the party under the guise of waiters. Of course without informing neither Jae-Hui or Cha. Hye-Joon is able to do surveillance thanks to a hidden camera worn by her brother. All three are surprised when they notice Jae-Hui enter the premises. After at first not recognizing her due to her glamorous appearance, the two men quickly try to hide when realization strikes.
It is too late however and they have already been detected by Jae-Hui. Luckily for them, CEO Lee of the S&H Group tries to save them by presenting Han-Joon as her fiancé. But he reminds her that he refused her proposal.
This prompts a stare down between Jae-Hui and Lee, with the former taunting her about being rejected. Park Jin-Sang, who arrived with CEO Lee, stands by looking confused. While he is trying to pull away Lee, a call-out for all the waiters to line up at the entrance has Han-Joon and Su-Cheol scrambling away.
Café Minamdang Episode 11
The commotion is all due to the arrival of Cha Seung-Won, CEO of Choekang Construction. Han-Joon and Su-Cheol recall him from Lim’s funeral and proceed to observe his interactions with the other guests. Prosecutor Cha approaches with Jae-Hui and introduces Seung-Won to her as his brother. Han-Joon interrupts the interaction by ‘accidentally’ spilling a drink on the prosecutor.
When Han-Joon follows him to get cleaned up, Cha calls him out for spilling the drink out of jealousy. Han-Joon denies this, claiming he cares for Jae-Hui like his younger sister and as such wants her kept away from Cha Seung-Won. Who although being Cha’s brother, he deems a psychopath and dangerous.
Café Minamdang Episode 11
Murmurs start going around event participants in anticipation of the appearance of Auntie Im. Han-Joon secretly relays this to Cha and Jae-Hui before continuing his disguise of waiter. Right after he leaves, Jae-Hui spots Gu Tae-Soo walking by one of the open gates nearby.
Gu meets up with Auntie Im to accompany her to the event. He informs her of Han-Joon being present, having donned the disguise of a waiter, and inquiring how to proceed. She had guessed he would make an appearance and ominously replies they should make sure it is his last day on earth.
Han-Joon and Su-Cheol meanwhile subdue two chefs and take their uniforms. After placing a recording device underneath one of the food plates, they go to serve them to the VIP table. This table is off to one side under a tent-like shade and surrounded by privacy screens. Among other VIP guests, Auntie Im can also be found seated at said table.
Looking at Han-Joon, Auntie Im warns him not to mess with the spirits or he might find his life cut unexpectedly short. Others at the table jokingly say she will scare him with her sudden revelations, not realizing who Han-Joon really is. He pretends to be shaken and joins in their laughter, while continuing to serve them.
Café Minamdang Episode 11
Han-Joon and Su-Cheol hide nearby while listening in on the conversation at the table. Talks revolve around Kang Eun-Hye’s murder and Gu Tae-Su. They are then joined by Cha Seung-Won. Before he can say anything though, Auntie Im silently instructs them to be quiet and reveals to them the listening device.
Hye-Joon warns her brother and Su-Cheol that someone is heading their way, but it is too late. Gu and his gang have snuck up on the two men from behind and render them unconscious by beating them over the head.
Epilogue
Prosecutor Cha observes from afar how his brother Seung-Won joins the VIP table. What he sees puts a troubled look on his face.
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