Phantom Lawyer

 Like most of you, I like to think I am realistic.  "Phantom Lawyer" (2026) is not realistic, but it is very funny and perhaps makes a few realistic points.  Science fiction is said to use tools to make a point.  This is more a fantasy, inside reality to give another perspective.  The dead can't testify, although science allows some information.  This series is the one I felt most addicted to this year as I found waiting for the next episode very anxious.

This series allows a lawyer to get a different view of a crime and pursue new clues.  Another lawyer wants to know how come he knows some critical facts.  Ghosts are really a tool that are used in different ways in the 16 episodes.

I-Rang graduates from law school, but finds it difficult to find a law firm as his father died with a corrupt reputation.  I-Rang gets an office that used to belong to a shaman.  

He is greeted by a ghost that at first scares him.  Over the initial episodes we learn the ghosts tend to be above ground until after they contact the lawyer.  They can pass through solid objects, but cannot move objects.  At first they have a fuzzy memory, but it turns out they are usually involved with a crime.  Only I-Rang can see them and, at least once in an episode is possessed by them, often voicing their frustration with no memory recall afterwards.  Eventually his brother-in-law, his mother, a rival attorney and a priest all become aware, but unable to see.

The romance starts out as competition between two lawyers, both with good ethical standards.   Han Na Hyun is recognized as a very talented lawyer, but with a win at any cost boss at the Taebaek firm.  Na Hyun is stunned by how I-Rang is able to know things no one else does. 

The ghost tool is used cleverly to emphasize tricky situations.  The final episode (number 16) helps resolve another tricky situation and is very touching.

This series required some deft handling and here are some of the contributors that made the unbelievable engaging.

Jon Hun Shin was the director.  He has 2 directing credits, 11 for assistant directing and 1 for writing.

Kim Cheol-gyu was the writer.  He has 14 directing credits, 2 for writing and 3 for producing including "Flower of Evil" (2020),  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/10/flower-of-evil.html

Dapalan handled the music.  He had been a member of both heavy metal and electronic bands.  He has 70 music credits including "The Good the Bad the Weird" (2008), "The Thieves" (2012), "For the Emperor" (2014), "Assassination" (2015), "The Wailing" (2016), "My Name is Loh Kinan" (2024) "Killer Paradox" (2024) and "Romantics Anonymous" (2024). See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/10/romantics-anonymous.html  see also http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/03/a-killer-paradox.html

 Yoo Yeon-seok played Sin I-rang, the male lead.  He has 40 acting credits and 1 for the sound department including "Oldboy" (2003), "Werewolf Boy" (2012), "The Beauty Inside" (2015) and "When the Phone Rings" (2024).  See  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/01/when-phone-rings.html

Esom plays Han Na Hyeon.  She has 30 acting credits including "Because This Is My First Life" (2017).

Kim Mi-kyung played I-Rang's mother.  She has been involved with a theatre group.  Mi-kyung has 83 acting credits including "Secret Sunshine" (2007), "It's Okay Not To Be Okay" (2020), "Trolley"  (2022-23), "Doctor Cha" (2023) and "Welcome to Samdal-ri" (2023-24).  see  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/03/its-okay-not-to-be-okay.html  Also http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/02/the-trolley.html  and http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/06/welcome-to-sandal-ri.html 

Kim Kyung-Nam played the CEO of Taebaek, the opposing law firm.  He has 13 acting credits including "Strongest Deliveryman" (2017). 

Choi Kwang-il plays the co founder of Taebaek and father to the current CEO.  He has 54 acting credits including "The Glory" (2022) and "When the Phone Rings" (2025)

Jeon Seok-ho, played the brother in law.  He has been with a theatre group since 2003.  He has 40  acting credits including "Misaeng" (2014), "Hyena" (2020), "Love Next Door" (2024) and "Squid Game" (2024-25).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/01/squid-game-season-2.html

Son Yeo-eun played I-rang's sister.  She has 21 acting credits including "The King's Affection" (2021).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/12/the-kings-affection.htm

Jeong Seung-gil played a former shaman turned priest.  He has 56 acting credits including "Tunnel" (2016), "Agency" (2023) and "Our Unwritten Seoul" (2025).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/06/our-unwritten-seoul.html

 When you watch any film, in the back of your mind it is a pretend world, but you enjoy the well done ones.   Using ghosts as a tool there are more plot moves. see  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2014/12/my-favorite-ghost-movies.html  

"Phantom Layer" is available subtitled on Netflix.

As usual I have bolded the first mention of films I have seen.  Some of them are among my favorite Korean films and a big part of my Korean obsession.  If you follow the links you should be able to determine if any film is worth following up. 

Our Unwritten Seoul

Another Korean romance.  If you are in to them they are among the best.  In "Our Unwritten Seoul" as a tool they use identical twins so similar their mother can't tell the difference.  In addition another tool for romances is the misunderstandings that here are compounded by identical twins.  First reaction might be to expect a comedy, but it is more dramatic.

Looking at the photo all the apparent differences are cosmetic--they are the same actress.

The two women, Mi-Ji and Mi-Rae are in different circumstances and have different personalities.  Mi-rae is in a big corporation in Seoul and feels uncomfortable with corruption.  Mi-ji is more at loose ends, but staying with her mother so she could help her grandmother.  Getting together the twins cook up a scheme to switch roles.  They do have only a rough outline of the other's situation.  They cover it up, but leave a little wondering doubt.

The romance comes from their new job situations.  Mi-ji working in the corporate environment deals with an old acquaintance, Ho-su, a company lawyer she went to high school with.  Ironically he had a fixation on Mi-ji, but pretending to be the sister she is truly surprised.  They both are upset with a move to push out small businesses for a new shopping mall.  One lady resists and she at first is suspicious of both of them and all feel caught in the middle.  This dilemma has more complications and a few twists.  

Mi-Rae moves back home and her mother thinks she is strange, but still accepts her as Mi-ji.  The grandmother is the one not fooled, but keeps it quiet.  Mi-rae takes a job at a strawberry farm.  Eventually we learn that the owner, Se Jin had once been a financier, but gave it up because he was upset about corruption.  They rub each other the wrong way.  When he reveals his background he is surprised she even recognizes his name and she has to lie to not reveal how she knows it.

Both men are lied to, but gradually the truth comes out.  Most romance followers can anticipate sparks, but there really is more to the story.  The two sisters are quite different, although at times the viewer will be confused.  

The quality of the series is top notch.  Here are some of the contributors.

Park Shin-woo is the director.  He has 10 directing credits including "It's Okay Not To Be Okay" (2020) and "When The Stars Gossip" (2025).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/03/its-okay-not-to-be-okay.html and  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/02/when-stars-gossip.html

Lee Kang was the writer.  She has 5 writing credits.

Nam Hye-Seung was the music director.  She is noted as a multi instrumentalist.  In the early days she was involved with children's programs, but was careful to not to copy Disney that was common at the time.  She has 20 composing credits and 49 for the Music Department including "Crash Landing on You" (2019), "It's Okay Not to be Okay" (2020), "Queen of Tears" (2024) and "When the Stars Gossip" (2025). see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/05/queen-of-tears.html and  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2020/02/crash-landing-on-you-very-addicting.html

A quote that perhaps other composers would also feel and illustrates her dedication to music in films: "All scenes deserves a touch up or entirely new music because a different scene might need more detailed music work. Audiences might not catch it all the time but it is needed to deliver the message to their heart as close as I can do because I know the importance and how much minor things can do to the whole picture." 

Park Bo-young had the difficult role of playing identical twins Mi-ji and Mi-rae.  While in middle school she was in a short film.  At high school she had done a tv. commercial.  She has 25 acting credits including "A Werewolf Boy" (2012) and "Daily Dose of Sunshine" (2023).     See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/11/daily-dose-of-sunshine.html

Park Jin-young played the lawyer Ho-Su.  An early interest was dancing and later was part of a boy group.  Jin-Young came to this role after his army release.  He has 62 acting credits and 2 for soundtrack.  

 Kim Sun-young played Ho-su's step mother who had stepped in despite contrary advice when her husband killed in auto accident that also seriously injured Ho-soo.  She has had an extensive career in theatre.  She has 47 acting credits including "When The Camellia Blooms" (2019),  "Crash Landing on You" (2019), "Broker" (2022) and "Queenmaker" (2023).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/05/queenmaker.html

Jang Young-nam played the mother of the twins.  She has a strong background in theatre that includes the solo role in "Vagina Monologues" (2006).  She has 85 film acting credits including "A Werewolf Boy" (2012), "It's Okay Not To Be Okay" (2020) and "Love Next Door" (2024).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/10/love-next-door.html

Im Chul-so played a handicapped and corrupt lawyer.  He has 19 acting credits including "Signal" (2016) "Crash Landing on You" (2019), "Vincenzo" (2021), "Queen of Tears" (2024) and "When the Phone Rings" (2024).   See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/01/when-phone-rings.html

Ryu Kyung-soo played the former fund manager turned to strawberry farmer.  He has 19 acting credits including "Itaewon Class" (2020) and "Broker" (2022).  See  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/07/broker-japanese-korean-collaboration.html  

Kim Mi-kyung played the elderly restaurant owner.  she has 80 acting credits including "Secret Sunshine" (2007), "Glove" (2011), "It's Okay not to be Okay" (2021), "Trolley" (2022- 2023), "Doctor Cha" (2023) and "Agency" (2023),  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/06/agency.html 

"Our Unwritten Seoul" is available on Netflix subtitled and dubbed.  A brilliant series.

As usual I have bolded the first mention of films I have seen.  Some of them are among my favorite Korean films and a big part of my Korean obsession.  If you follow the links you should be able to determine if any film is worth following up.

Welcome to Samdal-ri

After a few years of watching Korean drama series, they seem to fit a pattern.  The first episode is confusing with some things seeming to not make sense.  You may have encountered that sort of thing when you meet a group of new friends.  You don't know their history and it is very easy to make assumptions that turn out differently.  Very often nobody really understands what makes the other group members tick.

Life is full of misunderstandings, some are comical and others tragic.  "Welcome to Samdal-ri" (2023) that has both plus lots of conflicts to spice up the plot.

It may not be apparent near the beginning, but relations that started with the previous generation are very tied to the lead male and female actors.  Three sisters form a support group for each other as well as their mother.  The leading man's relation to the sisters' mother is unique.

Romance stories require some sort of conflict and this one has an unusual history.  Among a group of 5 close friends there are two would be lovers for the leading lady.  There are a few other minor romances to follow.  

An interesting sub plot has to do with dolphins.  Jeujeu Island where most of the action is set, is an island where sea life contributes to the economy.  Dolphins are a concern and one minor character  advocates for the dolphins and becomes a minor romance.

The mysteries gradually unravel and you will find yourself engaged with the plot and character development.  Some of the contributors are described a bit below.

 Cha Yeong-hoon was the director.   He has 10 directing credits and one for director assistants.

Kwan Hye-joo wrote the script.  He has two writing credits.

Ji Chang Wook played the leading man, Cho Yong-pil, a weather forecaster.  He started in musical theatre and is known to do most of his own stunts.  He has 28 acting credits.

Shin Hye-sun played the leading woman, Cho Sam-dal.  She has earned a nickname, "Diction Fairy" due to her precise speech.  She has 23 acting credits including "See You in my 19th Life" (2023).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/08/see-you-in-my-19th-life.html

Kim Mi-kyung played Ko Mi-ja, a diver and mother of the three sisters.  She has 76 acting credits including "Secret Sunshine" (2007), "Glove" (2011), "It's Okay not to be Okay" (2021), "Trolley" (2022- 2023), "Doctor Cha" (2023) and "Agency" (2023),  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/06/agency.html 

Kang Young-seok played Bu Sag-do, the close friend who also loved the leading lady.  He has 9 acting credits.

Shin Dong-mi played the sister who had been divorced, Cho Jin-dal.  She has 38 credits including "A Hard Day" (2014).

Kang Mi-na played the sister who was a single mother, Cho Hae-dal.  She has played in a number of popular girl bands.  She has 9 acting credits.

Yang Kyung-won played Jeon Dae-yeongthe ex husband of Cho Jin-dal, .  He started with musical theatre.  He has 10 acting credits including "Crash Landing on You" (2019-2020) and "Vincenzo" (2021). See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2020/02/crash-landing-on-you-very-addicting.html

Sazal Kim played a store manager and friend to the group.  He was born in Bangladesh and adopted by a Korean couple.  He has 10 acting credits.

Yoon Seo played Bang Eun-ju who created false rumors that forced  Cho Samdal to retreat to Jeujeu.  She has 12 acting credits.  

Available with subtitles on Netflix.  If you like romances, without gratuitous sex and like an interesting plot you will find it worth your while.

Doctor Cha

At the beginning I thought "Doctor Cha" (2023) would be a comedy,but in reality it should be classed as family drama.

At the beginning we meet Cha Jun-sook a married woman who actually has a medical degree, but has never practiced  We learn that she had been taking care of children and the household for twenty years.  A fluke emergency reveals that she is out of touch with medical practices, but rekindles an urge to practice.  Gradually we learn her husband is an important doctor and apparently loved another woman before marriage by again another flukey event got       pregnant and married  her.  As it turns out his first love returns with a daughter (his) and has a supervising job at the same hospital.  Seems like a lot, but it is only a setup for more complications which are not all funny.  

A good cast and crew made this easy to watch.

 

 Two directors were Dae-jin Kim and Kim Jung-Wook.

Based on a book by Yo Kura Kabe.

Uhm Junghwa plays Cha Jung-sook.  She has 29 film credits including "Our Blues" (2022), Check:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/07/korean-mini-series-to-watch.html

Kim Byeong-cheol plays Seo In-ho and has 22 film credits including "Squid Game" (2021).  He is caught in an awkward situation.  Circumstances force him to bypass his true love to marry a woman he impregnated and then he impregnated his first love and ironically as the story begins both women work in the same hospital.  He plays a bit of a goof sometimes, but is supposed to be pretty smart and with a guilty conscience.  Check http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/10/squid-game.html

Kim Mi-kyung plays the mother of  Cha Jung-sook.  She has 71 film credits including  "It is Okay Not to Be Okay" (2020), another of my favorites and she was a big factor although only a supporting role and "Trolley" (2022-2023).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/03/its-okay-not-to-be-okay.html  

Min Woo-Hyuk played a surgical specialist who became attracted to the older Cha Jung-sook.  He has been involved with the musica stage.

Myung Se-bin  played the first love.  She was a textile graduate and was spotted by a singer, Chin Seung-han in a department store.  He put her in a music video and for there she did some modeling and in turn was able to get into films.  

The plot is conventional, but with a few twists.  It is easy to get caught with the various inter relations.

The Trolley

This blog started when the Korean series "Trolley" (2023) became available.  But one episode near the end so upset me that I thought of throwing all my investment of time away as I found it very difficult to accept one unexpected development.  Thinking on it further, it reflects a lot of society.

The trolley dilemma is shown as a cartoon enactment in each episode introduction and I confess I could not understand the connection, but it becomes clearer.  If you do nothing 5 people will die, but if you pull a switch only one, a different person will die.  And it is not just numbers, but actual people (or issues you care about).  One truth can hurt others.  There are many truths to be exposed and we might get to better understand how politics works and the dilemmas endured by imperfect people trying to make the world a better place.  Traditionally we think Asians have a stronger sense of shame and are more prone to suicide, but a sense of shame and proneness to suicide are among us all,

Suicide is an emotional topic and it seems likely it is viewed differently in other cultures.  At one time I had written a term paper on suicide for a sociology class.  Sociology owes its beginnings to a study by Emile Durkheim on suicide.  By this series there is a different perspective.  In a few cases a person is considered guilty for driving someone to suicide and this seems to dog one family.  There is an effort to require further investigation of a suicide even after the perceived perpetrator kills himself.  The sex assault accuser should not be assumed to be guilty of murder.

A national Assemblyman gets involved with revealing a sex crime and the alleged perpetrator commits suicide and he is blamed for it.  This calls attention and ironically other suicides are blamed on accusers.  The Assemblyman doesn't know that his own wife has been haunted by such an experience and fled her home town and changed her name to hide the fact.  The story gets more complicated involving politics and personal relationships.

 He wants to pass an amendment  regarding sex crimes for heavier punishment, but has to deal with political opposition and then with personal problems.  There is no solution that leaves everyone better off.

Recently Canadians have been shocked to learn a politician with a reputation of sobriety has resigned because of a sexual mistake.  His agenda will be taken over by others.  Whether this is a disaster, an opportunity for progress or a very slight variation on the status quo the future has been altered by a human weakness.  This series displays a moral dilemma where decisions that effect everyone are distracted by political power struggles and personal relations.

There is not a lot of information accessible on the cast and crew, but as one becomes more familiar with Korean dramas you are likely to come across their names and appreciate their talent.

Kim Moon Kyo is the director.  This is only the second series he been listed for.

This is only her fourth series that Ryu Bo-Ri.has written for.

 Kim Hyun-joo plays the Assemblyman's wife Kim Hye Ju, and carries the most range of any role.  She has 28 films under her belt and won 5 awards.

Hee-soon Park plays the Assemblyman  He has 43 film credits and won 3 acting awards.

Seo Jung-yeon plays a close friend, Seo Jung-yeon who operates a cafe.  She has 38 credits including "Live Up to your Name" (2017) which was an unusual favorite.  see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/07/live-up-to-your-name.html

Mu-Yeol Kim plays a political operative, Mu-Yeol Kim who is protective of his boss, the Assemblyman.  He is calculating and at ties seems cold hearted.  He has 26 film credits to his name.

Kim Mi-Kyung  plays a politician, Woo Jin Seok who generally supports the Assemblyman.    She has been in 70 films including  "It is Okay Not to Be Okay" (2020), another of my favorites.  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/03/its-okay-not-to-be-okay.html

Jung Soo-Bin plays Kim Soo-Bin a girlfriend to the son who dies tragically.  She appears suspicious and sure enough it is awhile before we find  out the true story and it is a bit complicated.  This is only her third film credit.

This series is full of emotions, misunderstandings pointing to moral dilemmas for a few of the characters.  It doesn't really have a happy ending for any of them.  Much like life.  The acting is credible.  Korean culture underneath all the similarities is different, but both aspects are worth understanding better.

It's Okay Not to be Okay

I am not sure where the phrase comes from, but the Koreans latched onto it and turned it to a very popular tv series.  In the romance category "It's Okay Not to be Okay" was a winner across Asia, including Australia and seems to have had an impact in North and South America.  The New York Times declared it one of the best international shows.  It is lauded as a "Healing film." The core of the series is the development of a threesome.  Korean fashion designers did well off the dresses and jewelry of the female lead.

It is modeled as a romance, but set in a psychiatric hospital.  The leading male is a psych ward caretaker.  The leading lady is an anti social children's book author.  An autistic older brother is a key character.  A female psych nurse who spent a significant part of her youth with the other three is tied into a love triangle.  There is a mystery that slowly unravels and relationships that develop and intertwine with others.  The supporting cast is well developed.  

Sex is underlying in almost all films, but in Korea there is a television code that only allows suggestive sex, not actually simulated or nudity.  It is charming as the viewer can easily imagine the sexual tension that is eventually released with a kiss and even lying in bed together.  It is danced around in this series in a delightful manner.  If you crave nudity and more simulated sex you had better avoid Korean tv. dramas, but might be surprised by Korean movies.  But if you crave romance and all the tensions involved this will be very engaging for you.

Animation is well used.  Flashbacks from different perspectives advance the story and understanding.    They also like to substitute a younger version on one actor in action with a current actor so the viewer cqn appreciate the signficance. 

Jo Yong with only her second script based it on her own love story with a man with a personality disorder.  She acknowledges she didn't handle it well.  She studied autism through talking to siblings of autistic children.   From the series she has been encouraged by Park Shin Woo, the director and the illustrator Jam San to publish five books that were used for the script. 

Park Shin Woo, director had now done nine television series.

Nam Hye-Seung, composer and musical director took a music degree from Yonsei University.  She has been very prolific with films including one of my favorites "Crash Landing on You" (2019).  Read more; http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2020/02/crash-landing-on-you-very-addicting.html 

Kim Soo-Hyun plays the psyche ward caretaker.  At the beginning he did not seem like a typical male lead (too youthful and leaden), but as the series progressed one could appreciate his versatility and understand his enormous popularity.  His role called for a emotionally depleted younger brother of an autistic man.  He has won numerous Korean awards and is popular all over east Asia.  Some of his films include, "The Thieves" (2012), "Miss Granny" (2014) and a cameo with "Crash Landing on You" (2019).   He came to this film after his obligatory military service. 

Seo Ye-Ji plays the children's book author and frankly she plays a bitch in some ways right up to the end.  But she is glamorous and also shows a wide range of acting.  She has appeared in numerous tv. series since 2013 plus a few movies including "The Throne" (2015).

Oh Jeong-Se plays the autistic older brother and is very key.  Has appeared in "Swing Kids" (2018) for which he won a best supporting actor award.  He has been in films since 2003.  In "It's Okay Not to Be Okay" he describes himself as younger than he looks.

Park Gyuyoung plays the nice girl who you root for and completes the foursome that are inter acting with one another.

Kim Mi-Kyung plays the mother of the nice girl and manages to advise and console almost all of the other characters.  Been in many television series and movies including "Secret Sunshine" (2007).    

Kim-Joo Heon plays the publisher who starts out as the boss bribing people to protect the book author but becomes more likable towards the end of the series.  He has appeared in numerous tv. series and films including "Train to Busan" (2016). 

Jang Young-Nam plays the head nurse at the psychiatric hospital and perhaps provides the biggest character range of any.  Keep a close view.  She has won several awards including for "A Werewolf Boy" (2012).

Kang Ki-Doong played the friend who also grew up in the same town and operated a small restaurant.. 

I have now seen over ten Korean tv. series and can recognize patterns, but also have seen a lot of unique ideas.  They are addicting.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2020/04/an-addiction-to-korean-tv-mini-series.html

As usual I have bolded movies I have seen and would add they are all worth watching. 

A more recently viewed series:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/04/heavens-garden-cheonsangui-hwawon.html