Law and the City (서초동)

Law and The City

CHARACTERS, ORGANIZATIONS, EVENTS, AND PLACES IN THIS DRAMA ARE FICTITIOUS

-Hello. -Hello.

Hello, ma'am.

-Clocking in? -Yes.

Episode 11 Being an Adult

Geez.

Wait.

When did they all become one firm?

Please leave, sir.

-Gosh. -Mr. Lee!

Okay, goodbye.

-I said I'll give you a piece of the land. -Yes, if you get it.

Come back if you really get it.

You should head out for today.

-Let go of me! -Goodbye!

I can let myself out!

For crying out loud!

My goodness.

You think smiling like a weasel solves everything?

You don't even know what this is about.

Goodness. Geez!

Hello.

Attorney Cho.

Come to work earlier. Why should I handle this stuff?

Damn it.

Excuse me.

What was that about?

Well…

Yes, I understand what you're saying,

but we're so busy that we can't.

-Please try elsewhere. -Come now.

You're not the only lawyer here!

Just hand it off to another lawyer!

-It's because we're a small firm. -My goodness!

Even though I'm offering you a piece of the land?

I'm so sorry.

Geez!

NOW SERVING

Hello. How can I help you?

I'd like to get a replacement for my old card.

While you're at it,

would you like to try our newly launched debit card?

It's a great cashback card for savings, so it's very popular.

Sure, I'll go with that one.

Okay, please wait a moment while we make your card.

Okay.

SHINHYUP SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT PLAN

You have support programs for small businesses too?

Yes, that's right. We offer various services.

Like low-interest loans and financial education.

Okay. Here's your card.

We'll also give you some stickers to decorate it.

They're cute. Thank you.

Attorney Kang.

Seoul Central District Court called to ask if you can take

a court-appointed case on May 12.

What should I tell them?

-Tell them I'm available. -Okay.

So your first court-appointed case?

Yeah, I'm finally doing one.

What's the case?

I'm not sure yet.

They just checked if I was available first.

Did your boss sign off on it?

I applied after getting her approval before,

but things got awkward during that inheritance case.

I might check with her again.

Hey, did you also have that weird old man visit this morning?

He visited you too? I heard he had some weird paper with Chinese characters,

saying acres of land were his or something.

Yeah. It looked like a document from the National Archives.

As if you've ever been there before.

-Have you? -Of course, I have.

I once had a case involving a national honoree.

Well, I heard from my boss earlier.

And it sounds like he's been around everywhere.

He said he couldn't pay the retainer.

Our firm probably turned him away.

Most likely.

I bet your boss would've taken him in though.

My boss isn't that much of a pushover either.

-I see. -I see.

Come on. Lunchtime's not even over yet.

-What is it? -Our boss called, so we have to go.

I'll clean up. Go ahead.

Thanks. Let's go.

Bye.

Let's go to a cafe. I need some caffeine.

-No, I have to go too. I'm busy. -Come on.

I can't go either.

-Want this instead? -Okay.

-Want one too, Sanggi? -Thank you.

Here.

What a lifesaver.

Hey, clean up before you leave!

I'd like you two to handle this real estate case.

-We're taking that old man's case? -You know about it?

Yes, we heard from the other attorneys.

It's not like you to take on a case like this.

What kind of case is this?

I heard they can't pay the retainer.

If we win the land back for him, we'll get a share of it.

It's a pretty big area.

In return, we're covering all of the legal costs.

But if things work out, it's a jackpot.

I'll be counting on you.

This is it?

Yes, that's all he had.

What are we supposed to do with just this?

Are you really going to do something like this?

What's with everyone lately?

So many complaints.

Let's just stick to how we've always done things.

Okay?

Yes, Attorney Kang? What is it?

Ma'am.

I just got word I'm going to be assigned a court-appointed case.

Is it okay if I take it?

Of course.

There's no need to ask about that.

I just wanted to double-check.

I told you before it was fine.

Right, thank you.

Please set up a system where new case assignments

can be logged and shared right away by each firm.

That way, they can avoid ending up on the same case.

Also,

let's get a dedicated tax accountant for each floor,

so they can manage their own books.

Chairman, will you still be working from here?

It must be tough to go back and forth from the foundation. I'm sorry.

Not at all. I'm fine with it.

But a few people are saying you're only focused on this place.

Both from the foundation and the company.

The staff and the directors have done such a great job,

so I've been really thankful.

But I guess I've been neglectful.

Thank you for telling me. I'll try to pay more attention to them.

Well…

This law group is neither a charity nor a business.

Do you mind if I ask why you're so invested in it?

Yes, that's great.

Then, I'll do these two.

-Could you take care of the rest? -Okay.

And one more case just came in.

It seems like a real estate contract issue.

The client's young. Could you do a consult?

Yes, ma'am.

And…

Have you thought about what I gave you?

The PhD program.

Yes, about that…

I appreciate you looking out for me, but I've decided not to do it.

Why?

They won't accept me if I work and study at the same time.

The school said that?

Yes.

I mean, I have to stay here and work.

I can't just go and leave you behind.

I am going to return to my office and get some work done.

All right.

If you're a lawyer, you can't just be sitting around all day.

You have to go out and hit the streets.

Or at least listen carefully to what people have to say.

So you're saying this land was taken by others

after Korea was liberated and the Korean War, right?

That's right.

Suddenly after the war,

the land ended up in the hands of the Kwak family.

But with this one document, there's not much we can verify.

If not one, then what?

Would two make a difference?

There was only ever one to begin with.

It's the lawyers' job to dig up the rest.

All right, now.

Look here. Okay?

"Doheung-myeon."

Now, it's Doheung-eup. Okay?

"Lot 580."

Yeah. Here.

That's around 32 acres.

" Taisho 3."

Taisho is an era name from the Japanese occupation period.

And here!

-Han Insu… -We know what it says.

But we're saying we can't tell what happened just from looking at this.

This lot number doesn't even exist anymore.

What is your relation to Han Insu?

We're family.

So how exactly are you related?

We're more like family than family.

Family isn't just about blood.

-So you're not related at all? -Come now.

Look at this. I'll show you.

Getting this land back isn't about me. Look at this.

These are Han Insu's great-grandchildren.

HAN SUCHEOL HAN SUKJA

Then, you're not related at all. Why are you trying to reclaim it?

Everyone in the neighborhood knows