The Judge Returns

THE JUDGE RETURNS

This is where it ends.

It's so unfair to die like this.

When I've only begun

to want to live

as the real Lee Han-young now.

EPISODE 1

The Seoul Metropolitan Council has passed the 18th ordinance of 2025

to expel all the homeless on the streets

for improved city aesthetics and public safety.

The ordinance, otherwise referred to as "The Urban Homeless Removal Policy"

allows the police and security guards

to evict any homeless

from key urban areas immediately.

This has left the homeless

to hide in underpasses, abandoned buildings, and sewers

angering human rights organizations that describe it

as "an erasure of people."

A family of three was found dead

in a semi-basement unit in Hanyang City.

Power and water had already been cut off from the unit

and all that was found was a pizza box

that the family seemed to have eaten from as their last meal.

The police speculate that the couple, struggling in poverty

killed their young son

before taking their own lives.

A stack of overdue bills and scrap papers was found

in the unit

and there was no money at all

in their bank accounts.

The public is in absolute shock

by the family's tragic story

caused by financial hardship.

KOREA IN 2035, WHERE EARNEST PEOPLE THRIVE S GROUP, THE GROUP OF EARNESTNESS

SEOUL CENTRAL DISTRICT COURT

Gojin Chemical must acknowledge its workplace injuries!

- Acknowledge them! - Acknowledge them!

Gojin Chemical must apologize to the nation!

- Apologize! - Apologize!

We demand that the Judiciary punish Gojin Chemical!

- Punish them! - Punish them!

Gojin Chemical must acknowledge its workplace injuries!

- Acknowledge them! - Acknowledge them!

Gojin Chemical must apologize to the nation!

- Apologize! - Apologize!

I know it's a tough world

but they can't do anything about laws.

The lawbreakers will be punished

and everyone here will have

their hospital bills paid for, along with compensation.

So, I need you

to stay strong

and take care of your health.

Do you understand?

Hello.

Hello, Mr. Attorney.

- Thanks for coming. - Hello.

It must be so rough.

Indeed. Please help us.

We demand that the Judiciary punish Gojin Chemical!

- Punish them! - Punish them!

Gojin Chemical must acknowledge its workplace injuries!

- Acknowledge them! - Acknowledge them!

They're all bark, and no bite.

This isn't our first time. Don't worry.

We demand that the Judiciary punish Gojin Chemical!

- Punish them! - Punish them!

Gojin Chemical must acknowledge its workplace injuries!

- Acknowledge them! - Acknowledge them!

No dog can bark in court.

Gojin Chemical must apologize to the nation!

- Apologize! - Apologize!

Out with S Group!

- Out! - Out!

Guarantee our rights to survival!

- Let us live! - Let us live!

Out with S Group!

- Out! - Out!

Help!

Father?

PRESIDING JUDGE LEE HAN-YOUNG

- Ready? - Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

Everyone, please stand.

COURT

THE JUDGE RETURNS

CHIEF JUDGE, SEOUL CENTRAL DISTRICT COURT

Block all entrances at arrival, from underground levels to the rooftop.

If we overlook a single piece of paper

they'll strike us back.

And it'll be over for us.

Got it.

I don't have time to chit-chat.

So, this crazy bitch is serious about causing a scene?

They should be on standby by now.

GENERAL MANAGER OF S GROUP, HAN JEONG-HUN

They'll be there any minute.

Yes, sir.

Thank you, Mr. Baek.

Mr. Han!

This is an official duty.

Please step aside.

I don't remember Korea being an anarchy.

What are you doing?

This is the search-and-seizure warrant

for the Chairman's Office and Future Vision Office at S Group.

Sure, let's follow the law.

The Chairman's Office is on the 52nd floor and the Future Vision Office on the 47th!

- Yes, sir! - Yes, sir!

That's not working, either?

How childish.

Over here!

Only the Chairman can use that.

Oh, no.

I don't have the key, either.

Let's take a break.

Aren't we in big trouble if we miss even a piece of paper?

It's fine.

You got any cigarettes?

What?

NO SMOKING

Wait, I thought the prosecutor was a woman?

30 MINUTES AGO

We will begin the session for Case 2035N9722

regarding the workplace injury claims against Gojin Chemical.

Twenty-four employees

including Plaintiff Han Na-yeong, at the Yeoju branch of Gojin Chemical

have been diagnosed with acute leukemia and brain tumors.

Not only that, but nine people have already passed away

all of whom were in their twenties and early thirties.

Counsel

is there anything new other than what we know?

Pardon?

Your Honor

all air flow is blocked off

at Gojin Chemical's work stations

to block out toxic chemicals.

SONG NA-YEON LEGAL CORRESPONDENT AT DAEJIN DAILY

Exposure to Benzene or Formaldehyde

even at the slightest, can cause leukemia.

The Plaintiff is making a one-sided claim.

Yes, both parties are valid.

Counsel for the Defendant

you requested an evaluation of the factory's conditions

and their correlations to the employees' diagnoses of leukemia

is that right?

Yes, Your Honor.

I'd like to recommend

Dr. Kim Seok-hyeon of Hanguk University for the task.

I'd like Gwangmin Law Firm to take this case.

Oh, no.

I'm the partner at Haenal Law Firm.

I know very well that your son-in-law is a judge.

I also know

that Haenal uses Gwangmin, its shell company

in all cases he's a part of.

This case will determine Gojin Chemical's fate.

Sure, a former judge is great

but not as great as a working one.

Gojin Chemical is

quite the lucky company.

The case involves

nine deaths and twenty-four leukemia diagnoses.

We agreed on a partial win for the Plaintiff

so slap on some fine and close the case.

Yes, sir.

A partial win for the Plaintiff?

Yes.

Just enough punishment to show

Gojin Chemical's effort.

It'll damage the company's reputation

and the revenue will drop.

But if the Plaintiff's claim is dismissed

the court will be to blame.

The extra charge is 300 million won in bearer bonds.

Even bolder than your father-in-law.

Make it an express delivery.

By the way

is this really okay? You're a judge.

It's okay because I'm a judge.

Thought he was a puppet for his in-laws.

But no, he's a snake.

If a CEO can take its employees' lives

why can't a judge do this?

According to the research experiment

the toxic chemicals found at the Yeoju factor were

within the acceptable range.

PLAINTIFF

Dr. Kim

was the experiment conducted

in the exact conditions at the factory?

No, we can't say

the conditions match exactly 100%.

But I can confirm as an expert

that all factors were considered as appropriately as possible.

Could there have been procedural errors or other variables?

That's less than 1% likely.

What's going on?

What?

What are the prosecutors doing here?