Partners for Justice ~ A Newbie Prosecutor Must Prove Herself

“Partners for Justice” is a Korean drama with two seasons, each with 32 episodes. Season 1 was released in 2018 and Season 2 was released in 2019. This K-drama series is categorized as Crime, Mystery, and Legal Drama, and the original cast members from the first season returned for the second season as well. (Alternate titles are “Investigation Partners” or “Investigation Couple”.)

♦ “Yes, I Can!” I Believe in Me.

In “Partners for Justice”, a newbie prosecutor is determined to prove her abilities and capabilities as a public servant for justice. Some might think that Eun Sol lived the charmed life of a princess because she is from a wealthy family. But from her point of view, she is not a valued member of her family. Her father wants her to work with her brother as a lawyer in a private law firm, and her mother wants her to marry into a prestigious family and give birth to an heir.

Eun Sol does not want to live the “charmed life of a princess” the way her parents have it planned. She wants to work! She studied hard, made it through law school with honors, and got the job in the public prosecutor’s office without using family connections or their support. Now her family is waiting for her to give up on her ambitions and her dreams.

What does that mean? That means, frankly speaking, she has to try harder than everybody to prove herself to her family and to prove to herself that she can make it on her own.

♦ I Know How to Try a Case Because I Watch a Lot of Legal Dramas.

Eun Sol is sincere, dedicated, passionate, energetic, and naive. She’s pretty sure she knows how to handle investigations and cases because she has watched lots of legal K-dramas and American dramas too. Imagine her surprise when she pranced across the courtroom for the first time and nothing happened the way it did on TV! It was a wake-up call. That’s for sure!

Working with Baek Beon was another wake-up call for Eun Sol. Her first encounter with the experienced forensic doctor was like rubbing sandpaper on a balloon. Only she didn’t pop! But she was taken aback. I mean … even if you are right, you don’t have to be rude!

The fact that she was a prosecutor meant absolutely nothing to Baek Beon. When they first met, he chewed her out for contaminating the crime screen. She couldn’t argue with Baek Beon because he was right. She walked into the room wearing high-heeled shoes and she did contaminate the crime scene. On top of that, she moved the position of the body! Baek Beon was furious with her! Rightfully so.

But Eun Sol didn’t stop there. She immediately started asking questions and jumping to conclusions about what had happened to the victim; at the crime scene and when she visited the autopsy room. Baek Beon asked her if she was writing a novel. In other words, he insulted her by indicating that she was clueless, did not have the facts, and would likely lose the case because she had already concluded what happened and how the case should be decided.

Baek Beon was right about that too. Nevertheless, Eun Sol approached the investigation with her own “ideas” and “ideals”; and when she presented her case in court, she had to revise the charge from “murder” to “special injury”. Baek Beon’s findings after completing the autopsy did not provide the evidence to support her conclusions. Her case crumbled because … well because he presented the facts. His testimony was objective, unbiased, and truthful and … and she was wrong!

That was her first case and her first experience working with an experienced forensic doctor. But it wasn’t going to be her last. Eun Sol decided that even though Baek Beon’s personality was abrasive, she was going to learn from him and learn how to work with him. She would never lose sight of the true goal, which is JUSTICE FOR ALL. Can she be a competent public prosecutor who rights wrongs and brings criminals to justice? Yes, she can!

Main Characters:

• Eun Sol (played by Jung Yu-Mi)
• Baek Beom (played by Jung Jae-Young)
• (S1) Cha Soo-Ho (played by Lee Yi-Kyung, “Marry My Husband”)
• (S1) Kang Hyun (played by Park Eun-Seok, “Doctor Prisoner”)
• (S2) Jang Cheol / Dr. K (played by No Min-Woo)

Where to Watch

Viewership and Rating:

• IMDb: 8.2 out of 10 stars for both Seasons
• My Drama List: 8.4 out of 10 stars for Season 1; 8.7 out of 10 stars for Season 2
• Google users shared public ratings of 4.7 out of 5 stars
• Viki viewers rated Season 1 ~ 9.3 out of 10 stars; Season 2 ~ 9.6 out of 10 stars

My personal rating is 9 out of 10 stars for both seasons.

The writers of this Korean drama series clearly paid attention to scientific details. So much so that the “Partners For Justice” Series Screenwriter Received an Award From Korean Journal of Legal Medicine. The titles for each episode were well-suited to each investigation and case.

Some say Season 2 was more intense than Season 1. I say it had to be because the rookie prosecutor was no longer a rookie. There had to be some growth in her character. Plus, the relationship between the prosecutor and the forensic doctor had to mature. Now that the relationship kinks have been smoothed out and she has some experience, they can devote their energy to solving crimes.

There is only talk of a possible Season 3. It was said that COVID-19 sort of interfered with its production and release.

LINKS OF INTEREST:

• First Impressions and Unfiltered Thoughts: Partners for Justice | Dramas with a Side of Kimchi
• K-Drama Review: “Partners For Justice” Scales New Crime Drama Height Through Indelible Plot & Portrayals | Hello KPop
• K-Drama Mid-Series Check: “Partners For Justice 2” Proves Why It Deserves A Second Season | Hellp KPop

TRAILERS/TEASERS:

KOCOWA TV. “Jung Yu Mi Goes to Work for the First Time with Positive Energy! [Partners for Justice Ep 1].” YouTube Video. YouTube, May 16, 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBLfgenGYFI&list=PLEPoYg6Tp6FagXeRo8gftAqCjfu-fmcuC.‌

iflix Malaysia. “Partners for Justice Season 2 | Trailer | Watch Now on Iflix.” YouTube Video. YouTube, September 25, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoOxFM3tGa8.‌