This review may contain spoilers
Must watch Korean drama shedding light on the realities of issues in Korean law and society
This is one of the best Kdramas of 2022. If not THE BEST and will always be a top tier kdrama in my heart along with Mystic Pop-up Bar, Flower of Evil, and Move to Heaven. This Korean drama has amazing writing, pacing, and dialogue brought to life by top-tier acting and music we have a kdrama that sheds light on juvenile offenders, the leniency they receive, the ubiquitous repeated offenders, and other issues in law and society.Characters
We have a cold hearted and emotionless judge, who despises juvenile offenders with the philosophy that the law is too lenient towards young offenders. Contrast to that we have her colleague, Cha Tae-Ju who is a warm hearted and has a philosophy of rehabilitation of offenders. Each with opposite ideals but the same goal: serving justice, but in their own way.
Examples of the many ways it sheds light on Korean society
My favourite episode of this kdrama were episode 3 and 4 where it focused Seo Yu-Ri's case. Seo Yu-Ri was part of a runaway gang and has a history of minor crimes including theft. But when we get to know more about her, the kdrama teaches and important lesson which is a re-occurring theme throughout the show as we see more juvenile offenders: you're a product of your environment.
This child dealt with horrific abuse from her father. But what I loved most about this story is the grandmother. She is good hearted but she discouraged her granddaughter to report the abused because "he's her father", how she tried to convince her son to stop, and when she confessed to the police that she raised her son wrong and how his father was also abusive; which led to her son continuing that cycle down her granddaughter.
I know this sound shitty of the grandma but this really touched me because this is exactly the problem with Asian society in general. Hitting your child as a form of discipline is normal (not to that extent) and it is why child abuse is so common. The sentiment of "respect your parents" and "respect your elders" is also the standard in Asia.
I've never seen a Korean drama talk about truly deep and sensitive issues about Korea like Juvenile Justice does which is why it's my favourite. It doesn't just talk about issues in Korea that everyone is okay with talking about like corruption, or beauty standards; It sheds light on genuinely critical societal issues that most don't want to talk about such as academic pressure and competition, child abuse, forced prostitution, gang violence, juveniles being unafraid of the law because of how lenient their sentences will be and fucking scary they are because not even the law is stopping them.
It's not like some other dramas about law where justice is ALWAYS served (cough, cough, While you were sleeping). It shows the reality and how the law doesn't always protect the victim and those perpetrators do get away or get extremely lenient sentences.
Conclusion
This kdrama is on the darker side of things but if you're okay with it I strongly recommend it! I finally found a kdrama to be on my top tier greatest of all time kdramas through the stories important stories it tells.
10/10
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A little heavy on the melo, but an original take on juvenile justice
It is a common fault for writers to try too hard. To think that the more emotion they put into the writing, the more the viewer will feel it. Paradoxically, it is the opposite.The art of moving a viewer is to leave enough space for a reaction to arise within them through their own volition. The more the viewer is told how to think and feel, the less they actually will think and feel. This is not just because we all hate being told what to do, but because it is coming overwhelmingly from the outside, pushing against us and closing down the available space for our own response. We need only enough to peak our empathy, then we will naturally do the rest. And because it is not the emotion of the actor but our own emotional response arising from our own understanding, we will feel it twice as much. Knowing where the trigger point is and just how much is enough for any particular audience,is the thing that separates a brilliant director from an average one.
Here, the director (Hong Jong Chan) did the writer (Kim Min Sook) no favours in overplaying the melodrama. Trauma does not automatically lead to excessive and noisy crying. It can lead to anger, denial, confusion and often numbness and silence. This range of responses can also be utilised by a good director to emphasise the horror of a situation but they were not featured in this drama. By the time we reached episode 9, character after character was either crying or wailing in a string of consecutive scenes that became less and less effective as they rolled by. The result was to distance me rather than draw me in. Which is a pity because this was a powerful drama and had the potential to be more so.
Music also plays an important part in evoking emotion, and here the swelling orchestral music was way too heavy. There was far too much of it, it was far too loud and far too emotive. I found it oppressive.
Having said all that, there was much to appreciate in this production. The characters of the two leads are interesting and well fleshed out. Kim Hye Soo and Kim Mu Yeon gave convincing performances. They represented opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of their attitudes and judgements. It was a wise choice not to have them as adversaries but genuine colleagues who maintained respectful regard for each other. This gave an opportunity for a more rounded viewpoint of the case scenarios, and highlighted the ambivalence that is always present. It meant that the focus remained on the ethics and morals of the action and was not diverted by inter-personal conflict. As a result, there was plenty for the viewer to reflect on.
The treatment of the young people also aimed at more realism than is common in k-dramas, especially in terms of their language, behaviour and attitudes. At times there was confronting material to watch but it was never gratuitous.
This was a deliberately victim-centred presentation and constantly emphasised the impact of anti-social and violent behaviour. As most court and crime dramas are heavily focused on the perpetrators this was a refreshing take on things.
A lot of the dialogue was educational in tone. Some of it out of character for the professional environment it took place in, but not so much that it was irritating. It was forgivable in the circumstances as the juvenile court is rarely depicted and little understood. As a piece of social commentary the show was very successful. As a drama, slightly less so but well worth watching.
What my rating means: 7+ A watchable drama, but nothing exceptional. Good enough to qualify for the race, but finished with the pack. The sort of thing that promises more than it delivers.
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(+) penulisan dan penceritaannya apik tenan! hubungan dari kasus satu hingga kasus terakhir mulus banget, pengungkapan backstory para main lead juga alus. detil sebab akibat dari segala sudut pandangnya lengkap. cakep dah pokoknya, rapih.
(-) dua episode pertama udah kece dan solid abis dengan pace yang satsetsatset, tapi sayang kesananya pace udah mulai kendor jadi berasanya agak lama gitu.
(-) sinematografinya oke, tonenya juga cakep, tapi ada satu yang cukup mengganggu karna sempet kenotis; cgi waktu lagi di mobilnya keliatan banget ššš
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This review may contain spoilers
Sometimes law can be so crucial not for the criminal but for the victims
The concept was really new to the kdrama world so people should watch this to know more about young offenders if you are going to watch this drama for thriller so i will not suggest you to watch this because more than a Thriller juvenile justice more focus on the concept of how a crime committed by young offenders can really Break the victims but law are there to protect the criminals not the victims the show was really goodThe first case really broke me like how can a child murder another child this brutally and the other cases were also really emotional
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Exposure of delinquent juveniles
Juvenile Justice showcases the reality of underage kids doing crimes and escaping harsher punishment. The drama emphasizes on the requirement of strict law when it comes to underage kids involved in heinous crimes.The drama uses the premise and it's characters very well. Each episode, or rather, each story was built amazingly and the ending for each of them had a very important message in today's society. This crime courtroom drama deserves an appreciation for not only bringing this case to the limelight, but also making the show intriguing with twists and turns, and entertaining as well as educating it's viewers.
My Rating : 8.5/10
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Juvenile punishment or reform?
Likes1. Heavy drama about juvenile offenders. Bullying, murder, gang rape. Should they be punished or help them reform? Can they really change? This drama will make you think and this is not just applicable to SK. It's an issue around the world.
2. Realized it's very important for kids to grow up in a loving and stable family/environment since their childhood trauma remains even when they grow up as adults.
3. Liked each of the cases although not always how these were resolved. It also made me think how far should we do our jobs. As judges they weren't supposed to investigate but they crossed the line. Coz if they dont do it who will? Or maybe they need everyone or the system (prosecutors, police, workers) to effectively work together.
Dislikes
Couldn't connect with or care for the two main leads despite their background stories.
Rating: 8/10
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One of the best crime-law series I've watched. Simple concepts yet so deep.
I love this drama for several reasons and I'll tell you each of the reason why you should need to add this on your watchlist.1. Very deep meaning using relatable situations for almost everyone. One of the things I really commend about this series is the fact that they used common scenarios that can be understood easily. They also didn't add a lot of law technicalities so even if law genre doesn't interest you or you don't know anything about law, you can still enjoy it.
2. The colorful characters. In most dramas we identify who's the main leads and who are the villains however in Juvenile Justice, it's difficult to draw a line. Everyone has a fair share of good and bad in them that it's really hard to tell whether they're a good or bad person. Personally, I can't stop myself loving all the characters.
3. The actors and actresses. Of course, this series won't be successful without the casts outstanding portrayal. Kim HyeSoo did not disappoint and she perfectly embodied a judge who is strict and serious but at the same time uses logic and compassion to teach the juvenile offenders a lesson. Her portrayal is certainly outstanding. On the other hand, Kim MuYeol, another actor who's known for versatility. His character here is a lot more passive than the previous shows/movies I've seen which is why I'm a bit sad. His portrayal as an associate judge who's very emotional and show empathy to all the juveniles is on point but I guess his character as Judge Cha TaeMu is a bit plain. Compared to Judge Shim's character, who's very fierce and aggressive, Judge Cha's saint-like personality has been outshined by Judge Shim's unique way of handling her cases.
Actually there's a lot more to expect from this series and it's definitely worth the watch. I hope you try watching this and fall in love with its heart-wrenching show filled with a lot of lifelong lessons.
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Interesting for the juvenile crimes approached, tedious for the adults storylines
This legal K-drama provides an interesting take on the justice system in South Korea by focusing on the treatment of juvenile crimes. The format remains quite standard for the genre, each case being handled over the course of 2-3 episodes. Some stories are more captivating than others but overall I found the show pretty compelling when the focus was on the young offenders. However, my interest dropped a lot regarding the storylines involving the adults: the intrigue became a bit tedious to follow when they were concerned because of too much pathos and some plot devices a bit too coincidental.Regarding the casting, it is overall pretty good. There is no obvious weak part and the main actress does a suitable job. Most of the young actors playing criminal or victim roles are convincing. It is thanks to their skills that some of the cases were so gripping to follow. I would have loved to see the script centred more around them and their psyche than the adults characters who did not show enough growth and evolution and were often unlikable.
The music was good with one particular song fitting really well with the thematic of the show. The filmmaking was dark and well-done with some scenes tough to watch...At the same time, it was for some aspects more consensual with some "moralizing" scenes than I expected given the context of the story. In my opinion, it would have been even better if the screenwriter and the director had take an even darker road. There are grey areas approached but not that much and a bit in a superficial way.
I would recommend this to people that love legal shows and are looking for a new take on the genre with cases not often seen. It is clearly not a binge-able drama because of the difficult topics approached as well as its format and structure. It might be very triggering given its inner nature, so be mindful.
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Minor Law that too simple
This is the story about the judge who doesn't like if the criminal is a child that is underage which is the law can't punish them because they are underage. That's why in this K-Drama, the main character (The Judge) wants to strengthen the law for underage so that they didn't do the same mistake and understand how serious the law is. For example, is what punishment should be given to a child that killed someone and destroy the victim's family? The law for minors is really easy and that didn't make the child understand what He/She has done. That's why when they grow up, they can do the same things as a criminal even worse than before.The effect of this K-drama is not much but it is more realistic than what happens in real-life cases.
If you love the law, then you might like this one!
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'Anyone can be a victim'
Now I get why this drama is said to be underrated because its first episode did not disappoint.This might a fresh plot for law-related dramas since it sheds light on the juvenile cases or delinquency. How crimes committed by young offenders are something to still be tolerated rather than be corrected from the start.
You might hate Judge Sim for being a maxim court judge and her skeptical attitude but going through the episodes you will know why her personality is vital in keeping the courthouse impartial.
This drama really talks about the pressing issues on adolescence, the conditions or household that pushes them and facilities that rectify their mistakes.
I recommend you to watch it and learn from it that having a child is a responsibility for anyone who chose to have them.
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My Review for Juvenile Justice
For a drama that relates to Juvenile Delinquency, I was not expecting the story to be this good. As mentioned from the synopsis, we can see at the start that Sim Eun Seok hates juvenile offenders, and is often harsh when handling cases. This drama has her cover on each case that deals with many juvenile offender issues from different aspects in South Korean society. Impressively, each case have managed to top the others previously, building not just the story but the characters involved.After watching the final episode, the season finale is as jaw-dropping as when the first episode debut. Many times while watching, I had goosebumps from how unsettling a case was and the question of true justice is often posed to us viewers. The writing is superb and there is so much attention to detail that goes into each case (the cinematography is often quite symbolic as well). Definitely a recommend for anyone who is interested, as it manages to tell such a meaningful story in a short 10 episode-run.
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Children donāt have a developed enough brain to be able to understand the consequences of their actions. But then what if that action involves a loss of a human life? Or when the action is horrificā¦ inhumane? How do we balance understanding the perpetrators as well as the victims? How do we determine the appropriate punishment for a juvenile in order for them to understand the pain and suffering their actions have caused and to deter them from doing something similar or even worse in the future?
That is what each of the cases in Juvenile Justice address. I think the series does a wonderful job of presenting cases where the juveniles are a product of their environment, are still redeemable and can be saved. And then the juveniles who are so horrific that they need to be caught and appropriately punished. While the series is extremely dark and horrific, they do so in a respectable manner. They show just enough of the events that you can use your imagination to fill in the rest of the scenes. I wish more shows would do this.
I think the only drawback the series has is that it addresses the issues AFTER a juvenile commits a crime but not so much on the prevention of it in the first place. I think one of the stories attempts to do that, and I hope that message got across to viewers. That the quality of family life is important. That running away and homelessness can be dangerous. And that we need better social safety nets to protect the vulnerable.
The MC said one thing in the beginning that took me aback and to be honest, turned me off. āI hate juvenilesā. But by the end, I understood what she meant with a broken heart that is terribly sad for her character.
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