This review may contain spoilers
First 3/4 episodes : I was bored. The cast was great but I didnt understand where the drama was going, it was slow and there was no real storyline, I thought it was about the rivalry between two prosecutors but the drama didn't really develop that aspect either. From the 4th/5th episode : the drama is based on what working as a prosecutor looks like in reality and that's the only continuous storyline.
The underlying concept is showing a different side of society in each episode. Theres an episode about domestic abuse, one about fraud, one about school violence ... and so on.
And in every theme, you witness 4 sides : the victim, the assailant, the entourage and the prosecutor.
What are the hardships, the reactions and the motives of each one of them.
As soon as I started watching the drama as an observation of society rather than trying to look for a continuous drama-like storyline, I got completely hooked.
This drama takes a huge risk in trying to portray reality and using episodic stories which may seem slow or boring for the viewers but I think the drama was amazingly done within the concept chosen.
The acting was really on point. I definitely cried a couple times.
If you like realistic and emotional dramas, this one is for you, give it time ?
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Authentic! The people, the stories, the setting. Affectionate, humorous & true to life characters
"Diary of a Prosecutor" is an extremely delightful, unconventional and, despite all the sometimes snappy, sometimes cheerful, sometimes pitch black, sometimes heartful humor, it also offers a quite serious, profound examination of jurisdiction and practically handling the law. This embedded in the simple everyday work-life of ordinary people, told from the perspective of a provincial prosecutor. The script is based on the essay "Civil War Prosecutor", written by a real prosecutor and inspired by his personal experiences.So it is primarily about the everyday life on the office floors and behind the office doors of the public prosecutor's office. First and foremost, this is about profane workdays that often last until late, including dinner and drinks with colleagues. However, this is also about a noble task, the juggling with legal regulations, the ideals of a just society and the diplomatic basics in dealing with superiors in the strict hierarchy from the bottom to the top. And last but not least, this is a potpourri of different individual stories of quite ordinary people who face the challenges of their inconspicuous lives every day anew, and eventually grow from them - as it is in life...
In other words, you get: a variety of people you grow fond of as you get to know them better; a job-portrait that is subject to the highest expectations, but whose credibility in the country is still not easy. And a (fictional) outskirts - a town at the seaside, famous for its oyster harvest. The filming took place in Tonyeong-si in the very south of the country, where practically the entire crew (around 150 people, including cast) stayed during the five-month shooting period... Provincial life is thus breathing from every pore of the KDrama - everything is a bit more relaxed, closer to nature. Seoul is far away…
Conclusion: Authentic! The people, the stories, the setting. The dramaturgical 'trick': the greater narrative of the omniscient narrator. The humor that comes along with it. Sometimes ironic, sometimes satirical, sometimes bone dry. Bottom line: funny and complex at the same time. Affectionate, humorous and true to life personality portraits. In script and play. The cases and the ethical questions involved go deep at times. And yet it is people who deal with it. Colleagues. Eventually in competition at times. Imperfect people, with weaknesses, even if they wear robes. Yet, people who can excel themselves at times, too. Other than that, the days, weeks, months and years go by, case after case, team dinner after team dinner...
As far as Korean life and culture is concerned, with this KDrama you can get pretty close to the people and their everyday world in many ways. Because of this and a wonderful overall concept, whose good spirit works on all scales, I consider “Diary of a Prosecutor” highly valuable.
Maybe it's a bit unusual at first. Don't let it irritate you. Keep going. I´d say it is worth it...
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A good drama to watch if you love dramas which are more realistic
This is not a drama where a prosecutor fights for justice or to clear someone's name. No prosecutor runs to catch a criminal or do some great investigation to solve an unsolved mysterious case. This is just an ordinary story where you can see daily lives of prosecutors working while glued to their desks. I loved this so much because it exactly did what it said in the synopsis. It was like peeking into a prosecutor office of a small town. And I loved how they kept everything within the office and didn't get into the personal life of the prosecutors and turning it as a family drama. The only problem I had with this series was that it was very episodic. Thankfully, they didn't take each case to solve per week like a detective series but showed various problems / cases of the prosecutors in each episode. I loved those non-elite team of department 1 and how Prosecutor Cha mingled with them. The comedy was not overly done which would have spoiled the entire show for me and I loved the flow of the drama which was slow but not draggy.Things that I enjoyed:
1. Usually in these kind of dramas we always have an ML who is always right and wins all the time in an argument and FL who eventually learns from him. Here the scenarios were totally different. And I love how they portrayed Cha Myung Ju and Lee Sun Woong.
2. There's no unnecessary or forced romance between the leads just because they are leads.
3. Supporting actors were amazing and they made the drama much better
4. Love scenes between Jung Woo and Mi Ran were super cute though it was short.
5. Being a life genre drama I worried about some draggy melo parts but there were none. The comedy aspects of the drama (though it's very little) made the drama very refreshing.
Things that I didn't love:
1. I know it's not a thriller and didn't expect a fast paced story but sometimes the drama felt too slow
2. There isn't any structure that connects the whole story and it mostly felt episodic. So, as the drama progressed there were times that it felt aimless.
3. Could have given the supporting characters more time and explored them even more.
4. The power battle between the leads was entertaining at the beginning but felt annoying at some point.
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I have to say, as a someone who also work as a prosecutor I have always laughed over how people potray us. But this drama... reall... This really slapped me on my face with how realistic they potray a prosecutor work in the office. You may have enough watching us fighting over a case in trial, but have you ever wonder how was those prosecutor did before that?
They potray the work of prosecutor here really well, although with every episode being episodic and some case haven’t been solved yet until the drama ended, but I have to say that the execution with the acting on every cast and the writting is really good here.
I’m also glad that they also took upon the story of female’s prosecutor here and the way they potray tge struggle is SO FREAKIN REAL.
I hope they are making a second season of this drama!
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A drama about mediocre people living mediocre lives.....maybe ;-)
A slightly different legal drama that puts less emphasis on legal issues but more on day to day life -or struggle- of the prosecutor, as the title appropriately suggests. You won’t get the upper class cases like Hyena nor humanist cases like Ms Hammurabi nor a wicked personality like Legal High. DoaP is ordinary in every sense but that is the strength of this drama.It can be dull for some people. Trust me, it is far from boring. The story is relatable to many of us, even if we are not prosecutors (I suspect, this is closer to reality than many other dramas). Let me share with you the reason I enjoy Diary of a Prosecutor.Have you ever felt disappointed living your life because you are mediocre? Don’t. There is nothing wrong with being mediocre. It doesn’t mean that we don’t produce good work. It doesn’t mean we can’t be happy.
Imagine a small city, far away from the capital. So remote that the high level officials from the capital forget to visit your branch. Everyone knows everyone. The problems you are facing are not that newsworthy. However, these problems are important for those who are experiencing it. Even people in a small town need to be heard, they need justice, they need to have prosecution service. This may not require an extraordinary talent to do but this is still hard work, one that requires a prosecutor to be emphatic, to understand law and to endure office politics. I like this message. The topic is getting heavier closer to the end of the drama. Corruption and integrity are important principles for me, it hits too close to home.
You won’t be disappointed with the acting. You are being entertained by senior actors and I don’t regret watching this drama even if it is only to watch them act. The chemistry is there and it feels effortless. Disclaimer, I could be biased towards Lee Sun Kyun. I’d say, two younger actors that capture my attention are Jeon Sung-Woo and Ahn Eun Jin. I’d like to see more of their drama in the future. That side storyline about these two is unexpected but it works.
In particular, it is difficult to watch episode 8. It is about the role of women in the workplace in a patriarchal culture. I need to control my emotions. However, the flow of this episode is very apt. How the morning is started from a different POV, every ML and FL in the drama. It doesn’t sound preachy, just enough for us to reflect about our own bias. I like it.
Ah, the soundtrack! So proper. So fresh. Even if it’s not my taste, it’s perfect to describe a remote place with their small town habit. Good choice of music that strengthens the storyline.
Here is my fave quote “Even if the world doesn’t revolve around you, if you can protect something precious to you, wouldn’t that life be meaningful too.”
I would recommend this for anyone who likes slow-paced drama, has interest in social-cultural issues and doesn't have much time because DoaP can be watched one at a time. (Or if you fans of LSK).
Watch: July 2021
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Underrated Drama
I watched this drama few months ago so my memory might be kind of blury. but i still remember really enjoying it. I started this drama bc I was fan of both actor and actress and since I genuinely like this type of drama. First few eps didn't really pull me in so I really thought of dropping but it get better and interesting. I like how the drama is realistic and speak up themes like how women are handled at works and home. Many cases are interesting to watch and the chemistry between the characters are great too. This drama isn't too heavy or too light. Just middle ground...perfect drama for me. Even tho this drama is about prosecutors it isnt like the drama "Stranger " where you have heavy cases like murders. They just have simple cases like thefts, fights or scams type of cases which are still interesting to watch. I definitely recommend you to watch. Just head up: There isn't any romance between the characters.Was this review helpful to you?
I love ensemble dramas, and this one did not disappoint. Like a true family, the merciless amount of teasing and making jabs does not go unseen. And like a true family, they also show their support for one another in ways that just make you internally "aww". I have no complaints whatsoever about the casting (Lee Sun Kyun kills it as the #1 petty king of the office), and I enjoyed seeing the dynamics play out. It makes you wish you worked with a team like them.
You know a show is funny when you actually find yourself laughing out loud at scenes- which I unexpectedly did, many, many times while watching it. Sometimes it's something absurdly funny, and other times it's simply the expressions on their faces that make it comedy gold. That being said, they do manage a nice balance of serious scenes as well reminiscent of Misaeng, though Diary of a Prosecutor is a bit lighter in tone.
I love shows that break the fourth wall! Bonus points for that as well.
Like others have mentioned, the show is more episodic and there isn't much of a continuous, in-depth plot. However, I think it's fitting given the subject. It manages to highlight and show the day-to-day life of prosecutors, which may not be particularly glamorous or rewarding at every given moment, but is valuable nonetheless.
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Keeps Me Hooked
The drama is based on a real story of a prosecutor. Unlike most romantic dramas, this drama highlights the relationship between colleagues, namely relationships between bosses and employees, competitors vs competitors. Yet, this drama will for sure make you laugh, cry or bite your nail just as much as when you watch any other rom com. The comic relief and the unhappy events are at their best and will make you experience the full range of emotion. After episode 10, I start weeping like a fool because of how serious the story becomes. Overall, this drama is a must watch! I would recommend this drama to anyone who needs a change in kdramas or needs to take a break from all the romcom.Was this review helpful to you?
Tomorrow, won't the world be a little better than today?
Slice-of-life drama about a team of prosecutors in the South Korean province, whose office branch is so insignificant that the top-most official forgets to visit them.This show is not at all flashy or fast. It delves into the everyday lives of some prosecutors, shows how they struggle to make the best possible case before they go into court.
Whoever was responsible for the sets did a great job in underlining the day-to-day of office life. I noticed that the paperwork in the offices never looks the same over time.
Regarding the cases, there are some which seem very mundane (but are important to the victims), and I liked that they are taken very seriously by the team. Usually, there are several cases which belong to a similar topic per episode -- there's no trial shown though, so we usually don't know what the sentence is going to be. The focus is on the process that comes before the trial.
Having said that, the drama is not all serious and sombre. There are a lot of hilarious scenes, that had me chuckling or even laughing loudly. The humour more prominent in earlier episodes but it's still there until the very end, unlike in some other K-dramas.
I loved that all of the team (and other people in the branch) get their own character and their own share of time during the drama -- at the end, I felt that I'd grown close to all of them.
I've seen comments on VIKI which called them a family -- it's not quite that, I think, just a very good team with people who like to spend the odd evening together, who are interested in the ups and downs of their lives -- but normally don't get actively involved in each other's private or family lives.
(If there is one flaw in this show, it's that the family lives are only brought up in one episode per prosecutor -- which is especially noticable in the case of the mother, who has altogether too much time to hang out with her colleagues, considering she has two small children at home.)
These characters are first and foremost --- people.
People have strengths and weaknesses, they might be warm-spirited or cold-faced, all of them struggle in some way or the other.
But what counts is how you face your struggles: Will you bend to pressure? Will you keep your moral compass? Will you learn from your experience? What will make you compromise? Will you be able to look at the humorous side of things?
There are no heroes; there are only people trying to do what they think is right. And if you can say "Tomorrow, won't the world be a little better than today?" (cf. ep. 16, 1:08h), I think that you've lived your life well.
I had hoped to be able to add this show to my "No Romance!" collection -- but there is just enough of a romance arc (barely) that it doesn't fulfill my rules. Still, even so, the romance is cute, nicely developed, and really only a very minor part of the whole drama.
Very much recommended!
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Slice of life done right
I wasn't planning on watching this drama. I had put this drama on my list a while ago but I never went around it for quite a while. But since I had seen most of the good dramas available and due to the scarcity of the dramas left I finally thought of going over to this drama. And after completing this drama I don't know that whether I should be happy for watching such a great drama or feel sad for not going over it earlier.Firstly I would like to commend the writers for writing such a beautiful drama. I was hooked into the drama from the very first episode. The plot was like a roller coaster ride of emotions. I was laughing at one moment and crying at other. This drama is a pure depiction a slice of life done right. It made me happy see the daily life of the prosecutors filled with struggles and joy. Division 2 has my heart. The synergy they brought out when they were together was outstanding and a joy to be hold.
This drama has a long list of veteran actors. Lee Sun Kyun stole the show for me in this drama. Jang Ryeo Won’s character felt pretty obnoxious at the beginning of drama. But it was nice to see her character getting the growth it required towards the end of the drama. Kim Kwang Gyu, Lee Sung Jae, Lee Sang Hee and Jeon Sing Woo were Pleasant to the eyes.
It is funny how I was never planning to Watch this drama but now I have come to love it. It truly is hilarious. Don't make the same mistake as I made. And Just watch this gem of a drama. I assure you that you won't be wasting your time.
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You can't miss this comedic gold. Trust me.
I came across this drama when I searched for Lee Sun Gyun after watching his movie "All About My Wife" (I recommend that movie too btw hehe). I don't think I've ever been interested with this drama before, it's never been in my watchlist, but when I read reviews about it, why don't I give it a try? After watching both seasons of Stranger with dark and mysterious vibe, serious cases of prosecutors and police officers, I think I needed some bright-comedy drama, and this drama was like the answer to my prayers!No, I didn't expect any comedies in this drama, I just thought it was something light, but never did I expect something this funny. From my personal experience, the 1st till the 4th episode of every drama tend to be boring because it's still the 'introduction' of the characters and also the main problem of the story, but Diary of a Prosecutor is just different. It gets funny right from the very first episode, and the story develops excellently. However, I have to admit that the mid-episodes get a little boring but as you get to the scenes where the team is on the act, it's very entertaining. What I like about the story is that it's very realistic - it has no forced romances, prosecutors are not perfect, etc. I liked how the drama didn't just focus on Lee Sun Gyun and Jung Ryeo Won's character but the team as a whole. Each episode shows every character in-depth, explaining their stories in detailed.
The acting - do I really have to say this, it's pretty obvious that everyone, especially the main characters played their role perfectly. I have to say, I'm obsessed with Lee Sun Gyun's deep and husky voice. Jung Ryeo Won's character may seem a little irritating at first, but once you get to the later episodes, you'll empathize with her somehow. She's unpredictable, but sometimes clumsy. She acts like she doesn't care, but deep down she has her soft spot. She's just fierce and amazing for me, although I hated her so much at first hahaha. Watching this drama made me wish for a working environment like this - you get a very supportive boss, surrounded by amazing friends who's also supportive, you'll have lunch and dinner together everyday.
The music, fits in so well with every scene. When you get to a funny scene, the music gets quirky. When you get to a super relaxing scene (chilling at a ship watching the waves), the music gets jazzy. Great drama with great acting and great music!
There are also tons of life lessons you can pick up from this drama, I personally love Episode 8 (mostly talking about women empowerment) and Episode 13 (about fraud). But for me, Episode 12-END is just excellent. If I were to compare this with Stranger, I just love how Diary of a Prosecutor ends with Lee Sun Gyun coming back to Jinyeong, and everything goes back to where it begins, while it doesn't end the same way with Stranger ;( But that asides, both are very amazing dramas I recommend for all of you. If you want something serious, mysterious, full of angst and tensed scenes, I prefer you watch both seasons of Stranger. But if you want something light, something funny, relaxing and bright, I prefer you watch Diary of a Prosecutor.
Overall, a 9.5/10. Loved it and will totally rewatch! Amazing casts, amazing story and amazing music. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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An undiscovered treasure.
This drama is wonderfully unique and the only other drama I can think of to compare it with is “Misaeng”; but set in the public service rather than the corporate world. It begins as a quintessential comedy of manners; beautifully observed and very funny. There is no slapstick, forced humour or conscious jokes it is all situational comedy requiring an appreciation of what-is-not-said from the viewer. The smile hardly left my face for the first 5 episodes and I often had to stop streaming because I was laughing too much to read the subs.This is the type of drama that someone who has worked for a while can really appreciate. The office politics are just wonderful and understanding them is 50% of the humour. If you have worked in a setting that interfaces with the public, or community/social work, then the scenarios in this drama will be delightfully reminiscent of how reality can often be more absurd than fiction. The storyline was taken from a book by a rural prosecutor about his experiences and it has retained a very firm grip on reality.
The skilled and acute observation of the writer, the subtle portrayals by the actors and the understated direction tell a very human story, on one side of fraught repressed emotions, petty rivalries, oneupmanship, self delusion, bullying, jealousy and misjudgement; and on the other side, of compassion, dignity, forgiveness, generosity, loyalty, friendship and support.
The story features the relationships and strategies that most people adopt in order to make life easy enough to bear and is mostly about people for whom climbing the ladder is not the most important thing in their life. They just want to keep their heads down, ensure that their salaries drop into their bank accounts every month, and do enough of a good job to keep themselves from being noticed. But underneath there lies a streak of obstinate courage.
The drama starts with everyone just muddling along in comfortable complacency when the supercharged tornado of Cha Myeong Joo breezes in from Seoul to shake up their world. Ambitious, arrogant, abrasive, smug and beautifully played by Jung Ryeo Won, she divides opinion but completely rubs Lee Sun Woong up the wrong way. He is brilliantly portrayed by Lee Sun Kyun and is the notional protagonist. Over the course of the sixteen episodes, through various scenarios of conflict, competition and grudging co-operation, we see the heart that lies beneath the surface of both of these characters. Essentially though, this is an ensemble piece and all of the leads are praiseworthy with no weak links. Each one has their own story and is featured at some point in the show.
The drama presents a variety of case scenarios, sometimes using the lives of the main characters. They vary from the truly tragic to the totally ridiculous and the action can switch from comedy to pathos in a heartbeat. The vein of social commentary that lies underneath brings a serious and compassionate note to the drama adding another layer of richness. As with most Kdramas, corruption rears its head and the resultant cost to everyone is movingly revealed.
The production values on this show are pretty standard and the music is upbeat in the main, borrowing some latin-style rhythms. What sets it apart is a fabulous script and some really top notch performances.
As the show is episodic in nature there is no need to binge it. On the contrary, it is something to be savoured. It has short plot lines that can be munched through a couple of episodes at a time. So curl up on the sofa with your favourite tipple and enjoy the feast along with the cast who eat their way through a mountain of food. A perfect show for a Sunday night.
I was really surprised at the low viewing figures and the lack of reviews in English for this show on MDL. I totally fell in love with it and have rated it really highly for its entertainment value and delicious humour. If you are finding it hard to find, then on VIKI at least, search for it under the title “War of Prosecutors”. It comes highly recommended.
What my rating means: 9+ A drama I totally fell in love with and is endlessly re-watchable. It ticked all the boxes and had some serious wow factor. It would go on my personally recommended list.
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