Joseon Attorney: A Morality (2023) Episode 7-8

So, the whole “Princess” thing? It’s a fake-out! Han-soo heard from the village elder that the person who intercepted the letter had been the princess, so he drunkenly mumbles that he has to find her and ask her about it personally. A flashback reveals that the young princess had simply been trying to be helpful, but Councilor Yoo had snatched the letter right out of her hands before she could deliver it to her father. Not long after, the king died.

Having witnessed the hug, Ji-sun advises Yeon-joo to stay away for her own safety. He’s aware of the circumstances surrounding Officer Kang’s death, and he’d rather she doesn’t get caught up in it. However, Yeon-joo won’t be swayed.

The next morning, Han-soo recalls his drunken antics. Not only did he mistakenly hug Yeon-joo, but he also made Ji-sun give him a piggyback ride, cheering him on as if he were his horse. Ha, Han-soo’s mortification is hilarious. (Also, how much do I love that Ji-sun actually played along?!)

Determined to meet the princess, Han-soo begins the trek back to Hanyang. However, Yeon-joo can’t help but fear what Han-soo may think if he finds out that she had a part to play in his father’s death. When they pass by a village festival, it’s the perfect opportunity to stall for time, and Yeon-joo fibs that it’s her birthday. Can’t they have fun just for today? Yeon-joo’s adorable pout gets Han-soo to give in, and they join in the festivities.

The main event is a wrestling competition, which naturally means we get an excuse to see Woo Do-hwan’s post-army abs. Bolstered by Yeon-joo’s enthusiastic cheering, Han-soo emerges as the champion, but he chooses the third-place prize. It’s a pair of flower shoes, for Yeon-joo’s birthday gift, and Han-soo bends down to put on the shoes for her. Aww, Yeon-joo is visibly affected by his thoughtful gesture.

Having gained strength from Yeon-joo’s comforting words that drunken night, Han-soo finally manages to overcome his water trauma. He tells Yeon-joo that her valiant rescue gave him courage to confront his fear of water, thanking her sincerely for her kindness. In return, Yeon-joo earnestly declares that her purpose in life will be to ensure that Han-soo can live a happy life, and her selfless sincerity clearly moves Han-soo.

This week, it’s Judge Choo’s turn to board the villain merry-go-round. His son CHOO DAE-SUNG (Jo Min-gyu) has just violently beaten a peasant to death in an aggressive and unreasonable outburst, after which Judge Choo framed his family servant for the crime.

Dae-sung is a real piece of work, but we also see that he suffers from tinnitus — brought on by a lifetime of hearing his father berate him for not being good enough. It’s no wonder Dae-sung grew up with an inferiority complex and a sense of elitism over the commoners his father looks down upon.

Back in Hanyang, Han-soo approaches Ji-sun for information about the princess, and Ji-sun puts off the conversation by assigning him the servant farmer’s case. It comes as a surprise to Ji-sun that Han-soo doesn’t know Yeon-joo’s true identity, and he’s trying to buy himself time to think his next move over by assigning a difficult case to Han-soo.

Needless to say, once Judge Choo finds out, he isn’t happy. A heartfelt conversation between Han-soo and Yeon-joo gets interrupted by a band of assassins, and our hero sustains several injuries. Thankfully, his life is saved by Yeon-joo — who valiantly stabs one of his attackers — and her bodyguard, who arrives in the nick of time.

Bloodstained but very much alive, Han-soo barges into Judge Choo’s residence. Slamming his bloody hand down onto the farmer son’s petition scroll, Han-soo boldly admits his true identity as Officer Kang’s son. Judge Choo can consider this a declaration of war — Han-soo will make him pay for his sins.

In a neat bit of editing, Han-soo flickers between his past and present selves. He’s doing this on the behalf of his younger self, but also to avenge the man he had to grow up into.

Afterwards, Yeon-joo tends to Han-soo’s wounds. They chide each other for jumping into the fray so recklessly, and in a moment of vulnerability, Han-soo confesses that he can’t bear to lose yet another loved one. After all this is over, he just wants to live a normal life. And get married. And have children. And — he kisses Yeon-joo, a quick chaste peck on her lips. He wants to do all that with her, so will she wait for him?

Clearly wanting nothing more than to reciprocate, Yeon-joo admits that she has something to tell him once this case is over. Will he wait for her, too? Of course, Han-soo agrees, smiling tenderly at the lady he’s grown to love.

Unfortunately, Judge Choo is far from an easy adversary. Instead of putting up a fair fight, he plays dirty, postponing the trial indefinitely and poisoning the farmer’s food. Forced out of his usual method of winning in a court of law, Han-soo racks his brains for an alternative solution.

Meanwhile, Ji-sun pays Dae-sung a friendly visit. Since their fathers are close, Ji-sun offers his help in getting Dae-sung off scot-free. This has to be a ruse, right? Ji-sun reaches into his sleeve for the victim’s autopsy report, without which Han-soo cannot win his case — but his sleeve is empty. Oh no, perhaps Han-soo stole it? If he presents it to the king, then it’s game over!

The very thought sends Dae-sung sprinting after Han-soo in a desperate rage. Chasing him all the way to the house where he’s supposedly having a meeting with the king, Dae-sung demands he hand over the autopsy report. Except Han-soo’s hands are empty, and so is the house. Our cheeky attorney deliberately riles the furious Dae-sung up, egging him on until he smashes a vase and raises a shard to stab Han-soo.

Just then, all the windows fly open. Turns out the house isn’t so empty after all — having pried Master Jo with bribes, Han-soo had prepared an audience for his show. Countless ministers eye the shell-shocked Dae-sung with disdain, having witnessed firsthand the extent of his violent tendencies.

Unwilling to let his father be executed for framing an innocent man, Dae-sung would much rather pay for his crime than drag his father down with him. He turns himself in, and when Judge Choo catches wind of this, he races down to confront his son.

Utterly defeated and resigned to his fate, Dae-sung points out that he’ll never be able to pass the state exam anyway — he’ll never be able to make Judge Choo proud. Spiraling into a fit of self-deprecating laughter, Dae-sung tells his father that before it’s too late, he should just have another son. Oof.

Following Yeon-joo’s advice, Hyul gives Dae-sung a light punishment on the pretext of saving Councilor Yoo’s face. As expected, the Sarim scholars vehemently oppose, giving Hyul the justification he needs to hold Dae-sung accountable for his crimes. Dae-sung is hanged publicly, and Judge Choo bears witness to it in stunned silence.

Consumed by grief, Judge Choo accuses Councilor Yoo of abandoning him after everything he’s done for his sake. Councilor Yoo isn’t apologetic in the least, and he drives the point in by trampling on Judge Choo’s gat. He has no need for a man who makes trouble.

In case you thought Councilor Yoo couldn’t sink any lower, think again. He isn’t content with simply cutting Judge Choo loose, and he pays a visit to Dae-sung’s grave. When the mourning Judge Choo turns around, Councilor Yoo drives his blade into him, remorselessly tying up this loose end for good. Look, he’s doing Judge Choo a favor — if he hurries, he might just be able to accompany his son to the underworld. Collapsing next to his son’s grave, Judge Choo breathes his last.

And so, the last member of our Terrible Triumvirate bites the dust. In a way, he too brought his own downfall upon himself — had he treasured his son, or had he not buried his son’s crime, perhaps he and Dae-sung might still be alive. Dae-sung certainly isn’t blameless, but he was sympathetic in his final moments, because he was as much a perpetrator as he was a victim of the cycle of abuse.

Just when we might think only the big bad mastermind is left, though, the show surprises us with yet another reveal. Throughout this week’s episodes, we’ve seen a finely-dressed young lady lurking from the sidelines. It’s a grown-up Eun-soo (Han So-eun), and she reports to Councilor Yoo (!!) that she knows her brother is alive (!!!!). They’ve clearly been in cahoots for a while, and I’m already dreading to find out what lies he’s fed her all this time.

This week, we also see how much of a positive influence our leads have on each other. Not only is Yeon-joo willing to close one eye to rule-breaking if it means saving someone’s life, but Han-soo also behaves in a more considerate and empathetic manner towards the farmer and his family. Part of the latter can be chalked up to how Han-soo sees himself in the devastated young son of the framed farmer, but I do think that part of it is him learning from Yeon-joo, too.

Talking about our lovebirds’ relationship development, how much do I love that their first kiss is so understated, yet so sincere? So impulsive, yet so heartfelt? It perfectly encapsulates their dynamic, keeping in line with how they’ve been subverting tropes and expectations all this while. They’re such a lovable, heart-fluttering pair!