Introduction
Law and the City is a 2025 South Korean courtroom drama that is unlike most courtroom thrillers for its subdued, reflective presentation of everyday lawyers’ lives. Premiering July 5, 2025, the show brings viewers into the mundane world of legal professionals—balancing work and life, workplace burnout, and the emotional tides of daily living. The courtroom drama is more centered on individuals than on sensationalized trials.
Cast & Crew
Lee Jong-suk stars as Ahn Ju-hyeong, a seasoned but emotionally closed-off ninth-year associate at a prestigious law firm.
Moon Ga-young stars as Kang Hee-ji, an assertive young lawyer who approaches the field of law with idealism and empathy.
Ryu Hye-young, Kang You-seok, and Im Seong-jae round out the principal cast, adding depth and contrast with kinetic energy to the central couple.
Directed by Park Seung-woo and based on a screenplay by Lee Seung-hyun, a practicing attorney, the show relies on both emotional truth and professional authenticity.
Plot Summary
At the center is a story not of messiah attorneys saving the world, but of commoners trying their best—sometimes magnificently, sometimes appallingly. The series chronicles the lives of five young associates at Johwa Law Firm, all navigating personal growth as they handle realistic cases such as housing conflicts, sexual harassment in the workplace, and labor rights.
Ahn Ju-hyeong is the embodiment of unobtrusive competence—logical, emotion-less, and unaffected by ambition. His life is altered when Kang Hee-ji, his junior and amiable co-worker with a shared history, joins the firm. Their careers intersect, and memories of the past are awakened, so that their bond increases. Each episode intertwines legal narratives with discoveries of the heart, most often through the simplest of meetings like lunch breaks, late-night conversations, or quiet contemplation at the office.
What Works (Positives)
Authenticity: The work feels lived-in, courtesy of the screenwriter’s legal background. The legal conundrums are small in scope but large in significance, echoing what real human beings experience.
Emotional Depth: Instead of melodrama, the show employs silence, quiet, and understated smiles to express inner conflict. It’s a drama that requires viewers to lean in and feel.
Natural Performances: Jong-suk’s restrained acting matches the liveliness of Moon Ga-young’s genuine sincerity to create a believable and authentic rapport. The supporting actors provide warmth and humor without upstaging.
Relatable Themes: Burnout, idealism v. pragmatism, and searching for purpose strike a chord in everyone—especially young professionals and early career professionals.
Visual Tone: Dull color and unhurried pacing are appropriate for the contemplative tone of the series. It’s not flashy, but it’s intentional and comforting.
What Could Be Improved (Things That Need Work)
Slow Pace: The series moves at a deliberate pace. To others who are used to high-octane tension or gigantic plot twists, it’s too sluggish.
Limited Sensationalism: The focus on smaller, everyday court cases may not appeal to those wishing for sensational courtroom battles.
Underdeveloped Supporting Cast: Although the leads are excellent, certain supporting characters aren’t developed much at the mid-point.
Is It Worth Watching?
If you like slice-of-life dramas, character studies, and contemplative storytelling, then Law and the City is worth your while. It doesn’t live on big spectacles or melodramatic sensationalism-it derives its loveliness from quiet strength, professional integrity, and human fragility.
But if you want thrillers, action, or surprise plot twists, then this show might be too low-key.
Rating: 8 / 10
Story: 8.5 – it’s well-rooted, substantial, and coherent
Acting: 9 – naturalistic, with great chemistry between the leads
Pacing: 7 – taken into account but sluggish
Cinematography & Direction: 8 – subtle, elegant, and cohesive
Final Verdict
Law and the City is a quiet gem—a K-drama that doesn’t hesitate to slow things down and hear the little, human things that can construct a person’s life. It doesn’t scream for your attention, but it earns your trust with good writing, realistic cases, and an ensemble that feels like co-workers instead of characters.
Recommended for audiences who wish to experience a more mature and grounded view of Korean legal dramas.