Lively and smart new legal drama Law and the City focuses on everyday life and empathy.
At the press conference held July 1 in Seoul, the cast and crew introduced a legal series with a heartbeat that’s more about lunch breaks and life lessons than legal jargon and dramatic verdicts.
Not Your Average Legal Drama
Law and the City tells the story of five associate lawyers—salaried employees at a large law firm—who clock in daily at the famous law town in Seocho. They’re strangers at first, but a shared ritual of lunch breaks slowly turns them into a tight-knit group. Each episode follows their professional missteps, personal heartaches, and unexpected joys—serving up slice-of-life stories through the lens of those working behind the courtroom curtain.
Director Park Seung-woo, known for genre-driven dramas, described the show as “a series about people who keep showing up. While other dramas glorify revenge or victory, this one honors endurance—how we quietly protect our lives and relationships in the face of daily challenges.”
The “Lunchtime Five”: More Than Just Colleagues
Leading the cast, Lee Jong Suk plays Ahn Joo-hyung, a long-time associate who’s stayed at the same law firm for nine years—a record in a cutthroat, fast-moving field. Often called the “encyclopedia” of his firm, Joo-hyung is the guy everyone turns to when they’re lost in legal chaos.
Making his drama comeback three years after Big Mouth, Lee shared, “I usually go for stories about life and death, but this time, I wanted something grounded—something warm and simple, like hanging out with friends. That’s what drew me to Seocho-dong.”
He added with a laugh, “Last time I played a lawyer, I was in prison most of the time. Now I get to be a lawyer in action!”
Moon Ga Young takes on Kang Hee-ji, an idealistic first-year associate determined to make a difference in people’s lives. “It’s my first time playing a character with a real profession,” she said. “There was so much to learn—lines, legal terms—but it was all exciting.”
Rounding out the team are Ryu Hye Young as Bae Moon-jung, the dependable team leader; Kang You Seok as Jo Chang-won, the group’s lively mood maker; and Im Sung Jae as Ha Sang-gi, a practical soloist with a capitalist twist.
Kang You Seok, who’s riding a wave of success after Doctor Cha and Bokssak Cheotda, said with his signature charm, “In Hospital Playlist, I played a clumsy first-year resident. This time, I’m bringing a more seasoned energy. But let’s be honest, 99% of the greatness here comes from everyone else!” He grinned and added, “Still, can we put my name first in the credits, just for fun?”
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Life, Not Just Law
One of Law and the City’s biggest strengths? Authenticity. The drama was written by Im Jin Ah, a practicing lawyer herself. The actors shared how her real-world insights helped them craft nuanced performances that reflect the emotional and moral complexity of real lawyers, not the dramatized version we usually see.
Ryu Hye-young, who previously played a law student in Law School, said, “This feels like a continuation of that universe. But this time, I’m a working professional, and it feels much more personal.”
Moon Ga-young noted, “Because the writer is a lawyer, we were able to ask things like, ‘What tone should I use here?’ or ‘How would this feel in real life?’ It made everything feel warmer, more human.”
Even the team dynamics reflect reality. Their “Lunchtime Five” moments aren’t just comic relief—they’re where genuine connections form. From shared rice bowls to whispered worries, these scenes breathe life into characters who could easily be reduced to cold legal machines.
Lee Jong-suk summed it up well: “This isn’t about justice served on a silver platter—it’s about making a living, building trust, and being human.”
Something New, Something Comforting
In a drama landscape overflowing with plot twists and adrenaline-pumping narratives, Seocho-dong offers a gentler kind of high. “It’s the kind of show that feels like a warm drink on a busy day,” said Im Sung-jae. “One word? Warmth.”
Ryu Hye-young added, “These feel like stories I’d tell a friend over coffee—small, real, meaningful things.”
Kang You-seok hopes viewers will relate to the characters as people, not professionals. “By the end, I want them to be curious—not about how the story ends, but how we’re living in Seocho-dong.”
As Moon Ga-young put it, “This is really about personal growth. Every character is going through something, and I hope viewers see a little of themselves in us.”
Lee Jong-suk concluded with a smile, “In a world chasing dopamine, this drama lets us just… breathe. And maybe laugh. And maybe think.”
Law and the City premieres July 5 on tvN. International fans can watch it on Disney+. Expect fewer legal showdowns—and more heartfelt, human moments worth tuning in for.
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