Pro Bono

Public Interest

Razor-sharp dialogue, brilliant character growth, and a deeply satisfying David-vs-Goliath dynamic.However The compressed 12-episode format leaves the final corporate conspiracy arc feeling slightly rushed, and a few early episodes lean heavily into melodrama.

The writing treats the audience with intelligence. It avoids easy, magical legal victories, choosing instead to showcase the grueling, bureaucratic reality of fighting for the marginalized.

A few of the episodes were absolute tearjerkers for me. I definitely recommend to watch not sure why they say it the genre is comedy

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A Meaningful Law Drama

The main reason I decided to give Pro Bono a try was Jung Kyung Ho. I’ve always enjoyed his acting and consistently liked his past dramas, so there was really no reason not to check this one out as well. Overall, Pro Bono is a fairly decent take on the legal system in South Korea. What stood out most to me was its focus on pro bono side of the legal world that many law kdramas don’t usually place at the center of the story. The various cases, usually spanning two or so episodes, were quite unique and sometimes unexpected, which did keep me engaged.
That said, the comedy didn’t always work for me. Some of the loud, exaggerated moments felt a bit forced honestly. They often came across as unnecessary and occasionally even annoying. But can be avoided by skipping through those scenes (atleast that's what I did).
Kang Dawit's transformation from a career-driven, self-focused lawyer into someone genuinely shaped by the clients he represented was the most compelling part of the drama. His growth felt gradual, believable, and well-earned.
Jang Yeongsil’s quieter arc was another highlight. Watching him grow into someone courageous felt very real. SPOILER STARTS: The scene where he confronts his estranged and abusive father, struggling to gather the courage to speak up, was raw and emotional. I found myself truly rooting for him in that moment, and the actor delivered it well. SPOILER ENDS

All in all, Pro Bono feels uneven at times, but it’s a drama I don’t regret watching. If you’re drawn to legal dramas that prioritize social issues over spectacle, this one is still worth your time.

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Careful ! I talk too much.

Last year, Jung Kyung-ho played a lawyer who defended (dead) workers. Stuck in this role, he defends the needy once again, and he almost makes us believe that this is what justice is for. Of course, it's fiction. He's still a guy with bad intentions, but he does good, as does his team of marginal lawyers, none of whom had the means to go to university.

All those pro-LGBTQIA+ signs in the office, spotted. I would have liked to see this support for rights translated more concretely in the series than just a small scene during Pride and these posters. And so, the beginning of episode 3 with the reference to a sadly infamous mediocre saga about stupid little wizards... not very coherent. If we could all agree to erase this thing from popular culture, we would all be better off. Thank you in advance.

I was very enthusiastic at first. The trial with the dog was great. I loved it. And I hoped that the whole series would be like that, the poor against the rich. Justice triumphing over the stupidity of the law.

That being said, I must admit that I feel uncomfortable with the trial concerning the disabled child. Ultimately, it serves to justify the denial of the right to abortion. "No life would be better off without the right to exist." Who can argue with that ? Who ? But it is a deeply dishonest argument. It brings the right to control one's own body, the right to abortion, into the realm of eugenics, when in fact no one could have known whether this child would be disabled. His disability is not the issue. It is the refusal of doctors to respect a woman's rights. The debate is being manipulated. (and this is a rhetorical technique used by anti-abortionists)
Then they add that the child would prefer to go to a "specialised" school, which shows that this was written by people who are not affected by the issue. These schools are segregation, and don't anyone dare argue with me about it, because I won't accept it. We claim to care about disabled people, but we just want to get rid of them/us.
Anyway... What disastrous episodes. But the worst thing is that they mean well. The solution here : the rich old owner of the hospital in question, who refuses to allow abortion, becomes the saviour of this little boy. And we are asked to nod along, with tears in our eyes, while his foundation continues to misinform vulnerable teenagers and refuse to apply the law. What a nightmare.

Later, we learn how Judge Kang, the protagonist, sentenced a boss to prison after a serious accident at his company. And the boss killed himself. The series makes us believe that Kang is the real culprit in this story. That's the central theme of the series. Kang took revenge... and that's wrong... enforcing the law is wrong... For once, a boss has to take responsibility for endangering his employees, and we're supposed to feel sorry for him ! No, never. My eyes are dry. And then it will be nuanced and in the end, it wasn't so bad, the judge went too far but he wanted to avenge his mother, but still, it's not right. We respect the law. Blah, blah, blah.

It's sad, but I actually quite liked the series despite its objectively centrist discourse. It claims to defend positive values on difficult subjects, but when you look closer... not really. What we're really dealing with is a system that explains to us how bad it is, but that it's better than nothing. Even lawyers without degrees can join and help poor disabled people in court, just think about it! All we need to do is reform the justice system and everything will be fine in the best of all possible worlds.
It was written by a former judge: Moon Yoo-Seok. That explains everything. It's his third series, his third story about judges and attorneys. He wants to denounce the flaws in the Korean legal system, but he does so from his position as a privileged man. (a privileged man who denies women the right to control their own bodies, therefore)

The series manages to remain entertaining and light-hearted. I also appreciate the effort made to include a female autistic character (a tertiary one) without making this her main characteristic. She doesn't appear very often, which is probably what saves her. We also have a happy deaf couple who own their own bakery. I want more inclusivity like this. Disabled people exist. We exist.

Everything starts off so well, but then unfortunately gets bogged down. It tries too hard to please everyone and ends up saying nothing revolutionary. The comedy works like a charm, but the tragic parts are a failure, in my opinion. This is a series with many longueurs, like this pointless review of mine. It is saved by its actors as much as possible. As for the flashbacks, I say no, let's stop that. It must stops.

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complex characters with growth that its possible to enjoy

First, I will mention that I think that despite people calling the show "woke" I don't see it. I watch a lot of different shows and out of all of them I wouldn't call this one woke.
I will say that I really appreciated the complexity of the main characters Da Wit in particularly his imperfections, the way that he felt human. It was those flaws that made him more relatable, when you compare it to some of the other courtroom dramas I have seen. It allowed me to connect with him on a deeper level, feel him be human and not just a high end judge/lawyer/CEO or other shows I have seen lately. If he had been portrayed as flawless, I doubt I would have found him compelling enough to root for as the lead, if that makes sense. Additionally, the supporting characters were well-developed, each with their own distinct personalities and engaging character arcs. This made me want to get to know more about them than I normally would for a show I will watch as it airs, the characters are some where I would love to get to know more about their stories and their ambitions. These nuances added richness to the story and helped create a more immersive experience, highlighting how everyone grapples with their own challenges and growth throughout the narrative.
So, if you like some good complexity in your MLs then I can remmed this one.

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One of the Best Legal Dramas in 2025!!

Jung Kyung Ho really seems to be settled in, portraying characters from the legal field!

This was my second time watching him in a legal drama after “Oh My Ghost Clients” and I really loved watching him spout legal expertise in both shows. Of course, both shows portray him with an antagonistic vibe and a redemption arc. Although I’m a huge fan of Jung Kyung Ho, I went into the show with zero expectations. It was mainly because I had never heard of pro-bono lawyers. In short, they are lawyers who represent low-income class victims with low or, in most cases, zero fees. I’m not sure if it happens in most Asian countries, because the legal field never offers anything for free. It is as cutthroat as other fields. So, watching this show was like a fresh breath of air. I have lost count of the number of times, I cried whenever any of the team members made a convincing overture to prove their client’s point in court; impoverished victims looking for someone to represent them and seek justice. The entire legal team in this show gels well; they do have their disagreements initially, especially Kang David who isn’t impressed with joining a pro bono team that makes no money. But slowly they evolve together, he begins to train them to win cases, albeit using his time & tested tricks. They learn to respect him, despite the shady choices he makes at times, because David’s heart is at the right place.

Read the complete article here-

https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2026/01/13/pro-bono-series-review/

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A intriguing courtroom drama with unique perspective

I've seen many courtroom dramas in all sorts of languages but this one definitely gave me a new perspective after watching it.

Let's start with the positives:
1. The script- I think this is one of the most well written scripts I've seen in this genre. Sometimes concept dramas often fall into the trap of having dialogues that sound like textbooks. Like the character is speaking directly to the audience to deliver a message. But this drama perfectly balanced the message delivery with hints of realism that it mostly felt natural
2. The characters- I liked that we had an imperfect character. Without his imperfections, I don't think I would've liked him as the lead. Even the background characters had distinct personalities and interesting character arcs.
3. The acting performance- Jung Kyung Ho pulled off such a complicated character with such realism and ease that I felt like he was a real human being. Even the other main characters and supporting characters (special shout out to the minors and extra actors) did such an amazing job is portraying complex emotions.
4. The different legal concepts- This show delt with new and interesting legal issues that is often overlooked like animal abuse, medical autonomy, crime against immigrants, filial crimes etc in a sensistive and bold way. Other shows often focus on sensational topics and major crimes that it felt refreshing to see these topics that are often overlooked.

Now let's move onto the negatives
1. The revenge arc- I was looking forward to Dawit's revenge arc the most and it was interesting but it did feel slow compared to the other episodes. They focused too much on the moral dilema and backstory, whereas I wanted to see more of the legalities surrounding the case
2. The pacing- The first half had amazing pacing. The balance was right for me, nothing felt too fast or too slow but the second half definitely felt slower.
3. The tone shift in the second half- I understand that the cases delt in the second half were more serious but the reason why I was hooked in the first few episodes was because of the humor and lightness irrespective of the case seriousness. It kind of dried up in the second half and even the comedic relief chracters didn't have humorous scenes which was a little disappointing

Overall, I liked this drama and would recommend to anyone who likes this genre or even a beginner who wants to explore courtroom dramas. 8 stars 🌟

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I can't stress it enough, watch this!

It's been a while (sadly) that I've been able to watch something and totally enjoy it. I was starting to think I'd never get out of my drama slump. I watched this, mainly for Jung Kyung Ho, who is always a treat. He was exceptional, as always, but I loved the rest of the cast as well. This drama was well-written, and I loved that each story line, for the most part, just had an episode or so. I felt invested in most of the stories. There were funny parts, which weren't forced, and heartfelt moments that had me tearing up. The ML was a complete jerk at the beginning, and his transition from that to a caring lawyer was a joy to watch - especially since you never quite knew where he stood. It had a great ending, and, I never say this, but I wouldn't complain about a second season.

I'm a dyed-in-the-wool romantic, but I was so glad they didn't try to force that on us. This drama, for me at least, felt "clean" for lack of a better word. It didn't have any extraneous stuff that just wastes time and has you reaching for the remote to fast forward. It's been a long time since I felt, "Okay, I can do with less sleep, I'll just watch one more episode."

I did have a couple of issues, things that probably wouldn't bother the masses.
1) It's rated MA, and that's got to be for the language. I hate cursing and find it completely unnecessary and jarring. Plus, when you hear it, and see it written out as well, just not a fan. Has anyone, in the history of tv/movies, ever said, "I loved that show, I just wish it had more cursing in it."? It's become so commonplace that the masses are de-sensitized to it.
2) I loved ALL the actors, but after you watch enough shows, you see the same actors, and you know immediately who the bad guys are.
3) This is not a problem with the show, but with the subbing. It's kept moving from the top to the bottom of the screen and it was white wording, which was often on a light background and hard to read. If I could just get a handle on the Korean language, this wouldn't be an issue for me.

So, at the end of the day, I have sincere thanks for everyone involved in this drama for getting me out of my slump.

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Beautiful stories

This was the perfect ending. I don't know what else to say. I had the time of my life watching this show. It was amazing to watch a show that made me laugh, cry and scream. I literally got to watch the characters go through so much growth, and what can I say, man, the main character was so well written. Honestly, all the characters were exceptionally well-written. I loved watching each story unfold, and it's just beautiful to watch people getting their well-deserved justice. There are new characters every episode, and yet the main characters will still always have your heart. Just perfect.

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