Chapter 112
Chapter 112
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: Professor Park Min-ha Arrives
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Professor Park Min-ha couldn't find a single flaw in either of them. She was nothing short of amazed.
This wasn't undergraduate level.
They felt like professionals prepping for a mock trial competition.
To prepare for a mock trial, you fundamentally need someone to decide the winner and loser, along with high-level feedback. That determines the next steps.
That's why you always need a faculty advisor.
But not in this room.
No professor was required here.
Their reputation for winning the national competition without one wasn't for nothing.
And on this team, there was already someone filling that role.
Kang Hyun.
"In this case, the key dispute is whether the principles of the National Tax Basic Law apply directly to tax treaty interpretation, or if the restrictions set forth in Article 10 Paragraph 2, Article 11 Paragraph 2, and Article 12 Paragraph 2 should be applied."
He spoke like a judge with a final ruling already prepared, piercing through everything with his gaze, deciding the outcome, and delivering flawless feedback.
"...Therefore, in a case where the tax authorities assessed corporate withholding tax for the relevant business year at a 25% rate under the old Corporate Tax Act, excluding the application of the treaty, Company A cannot exclude the limited tax rate based on Article 27 Paragraph 2 of the intergovernmental tax treaty."
"Wow!"
"...I lost completely."
"But that was good. It was a sharp rebuttal. Just check Case No. 2010du11900, and you can shore up that earlier weak point."
The immersive mock trial finally wrapped up, drawing everyone in like a vortex.
Then, clap clap clap.
Park Min-ha, who had been sitting off in the distance, stood up and applauded enthusiastically.
Only then did the three snap out of it and turn to her in unison.
"Hello. That was impressive. I'm Park Min-ha."
She bowed politely.
"..."
The sudden visitor left the three frozen in place.
Who was this woman?
And when did she even come in?
Woo Si-hyung and Yoon Chan-rim, flustered by her abrupt appearance during their focused practice, stared blankly at each other.
"Who... are you?"
"I'm Park Min-ha."
"Uh... how did you get in here?"
"I had a bit of trouble reaching you students, so I came straight to you."
"Sorry, but..."
Woo Si-hyung fumbled his words, a far cry from his sharp debate performance just moments ago.
Even if this hat-wearing, bespectacled woman was a professor, why barge in here? And this wasn't a place just anyone could enter.
At that moment, Kang Hyun stepped forward and addressed her.
"Ah! Hello. You're the one Dean Kim Jong-hwan recommended, right?"
"Oh, Kang Hyun! Yes, that's me. Nice to meet you."
As she greeted Kang Hyun warmly, Yoon Chan-rim turned to him.
"Hyung, you know her?"
"Yeah, sort of... First time meeting her today. I heard from Dean Kim Jong-hwan that he'd assign us an advisor, but I didn't expect her today."
"Advisor?"
Having not heard the news, the two exchanged glances awkwardly before pulling themselves together to greet her.
"Ah, hello."
"Nice to meet you. Sorry for the intrusion."
They greeted her, faces still a bit stiff. But Park Min-ha just beamed, oblivious or not.
"No, no, it's fine. Next time, I'll knock louder."
She seemed satisfied now that introductions were done.
"Anyway, since this is an international competition, I'll put my all into helping out. Let me know if you need anything, anytime! See you!"
"Huh?"
The moment she finished speaking, she bolted out like she was fleeing.
Click!
But then she flung the door open again, waving her phone.
"We still need numbers, right? 010-XXXX-XXXX. Call me!"
She shouted her number loudly and vanished in a flash. The others were left dumbfounded, too stunned to chase after her, managing only dry laughs.
"Whoa, she really just said hi and left..."
"Tsk. Hyun-ah. I don't know if I trust her."
"...Me neither. She's, well, extremely quirky."
The two stared at the door, baffled by her oddity. Kang Hyun spoke up.
"Don't judge a book by its cover. She's actually pretty famous, appearances aside."
"Huh?"
"For what?"
"As a mock trial expert. Only those in the know get it."
"Really?"
Kang Hyun nodded.
The day Kim Jong-hwan had informed him that Park Min-ha would be their advisor.
Kang Hyun had looked her up on the mock trial advisor list from a previous event.
The results were astonishing.
"She's someone who placed as both a student and an advisor at Bismuth."
"Whoa."
The two looked suitably impressed.
Honestly, their first impression was scatterbrained and eccentric. But with credentials like that?
"She's the real deal."
"That's what I think too."
Kang Hyun smiled faintly in agreement.
But he kept one lingering question to himself. He figured it was something to mull over alone.
'Why hide her resume like that?'
Whether she was trustworthy would require more observation.
The awkward first meeting with Professor Park Min-ha ended just like that, but as Kang Hyun said, things changed after.
"I won't take much of your time. Once a week. Just practice the assignments I prepare. Here."
"A casebook... in original English cases?"
"We need international law. Bismuth traditionally roots in the ICJ, but now it covers international civil procedure, criminal law, public law, and even domestic laws related to international law across countries."
"Ah..."
"So, a ton, right? No time to cover it all. Just do mine. It sticks to past questions."
At first, it was half belief, half doubt.
Park Min-ha had shown up confidently with an English-translated international law casebook, hoping to steer them toward a completely different approach.
But realizing their previously haphazard mock trial prep now had structure didn't take long.
"When analyzing case files, focus on breaking it down chronologically. That gives you room to apply evidence and reasoning systematically."
"So, organize by timeline?"
"Not always mandatory. You three have overflowing talent, so you've managed without structure so far—the flow never broke. But international competitions are different. Even when an unexpected counter comes flying, your argument stream can't falter."
Thud.
"Of course, interpreters are on standby during the event, but they can't perfectly convey the nuances of our arguments. Even if you're strongly criticizing the opponent, they mostly just translate the content literally. Plus, it's often advantageous to use the judge's native language, even if imperfectly. Can you all handle English?"
"We manage to some degree."
"Good. Then today, let's do a mock trial in English, slow pace is fine."
Weekly curated packets of materials.
Endless competition tips. Preparing to her standards for what wasn't that tough an international event turned out surprisingly challenging.
As initially sensed, Park Min-ha's style differed sharply from theirs.
To them, technical fluency came from improv. She proposed a 'structural framework' that worked in any situation.
It felt a bit alien and required more prep than expected.
One could argue it invited complaints or rebellion.
Imposing a new method on Korea's top team left any coach open to criticism.
But the three viewed quickly absorbing others' skills as a talent.
So they accepted her proposals without protest, even applying her methods in solo practices later.
And as time passed, they realized it.
Their level was steadily rising.
They gained confidence they could hold ground as courtroom debaters against any logic or statute thrown at them.
And one more quirky thing.
Professor Park Min-ha strictly separated work and personal life.
"Professor, you haven't even had dinner..."
"I'm good! I'll eat at home. Enjoy!"
Whoosh!
"...Should we eat without her?"
Watching her vanish without even a shared meal, Kang Hyun scratched his head and nodded.
Late afternoon.
In front of Standing Avenue's student union cafe, the three headed out for food.
"Not easy, huh."
"What?"
"Figuring people out."
Woo Si-hyung chimed in at Yoon Chan-rim's words, turning to Kang Hyun.
"Who'd have thought Professor Park Min-ha was that sharp? I was skeptical even after you vouched."
"Good thing she is."
"Her systematic, solid guidance proves she's a mock trial pro."
Even so, Woo Si-hyung eyed Kang Hyun with a hint of worry.
"But... I heard something."
Woo Si-hyung was surprisingly attuned to rumors.
"She's close with Gong Hyun-jeong, the law center director."
"No way."
Kim Jong-hwan had handpicked her himself.
Those two were longtime rivals. No chance.
"Just a rumor?"
"Probably. Especially with Gong Hyun-jeong's past scandals."
Kang Hyun walked in silence for a while, lost in thought, as Woo Si-hyung brushed it off and Yoon Chan-rim pretended not to hear.
Weeks passed like this, and the competition loomed closer.
Scheduled for April.
As Korea's international mock trial event, Kang Hyun could feel the growing excitement around him.
- Kang Hyun, the genius dubbed Korea University's legal prodigy, has thrown his hat in the ring for Bismuth, the international mock trial Olympics, starting next month. Details from reporter Han...
Park Min-ha's involvement eased prep burdens, but they didn't slack.
Bismuth.
Winning the international title at undergrad level meant unmatched prestige in the field.
Kang Hyun was sprinting full throttle to shine one last time in university 'mock trial competitions.'
He steadily devoted half his remaining time to it, then ramped up several-fold with just over 20 days left.
Sleepless nights piled up, even startling Yoon Haneul, who occasionally studied with him in the reading room.
Tap, tap.
Early dawn, Standing Avenue lights still burning.
In the quiet reading room, Yoon Haneul nudged Kang Hyun beside her and whispered.
"It's 4:30 a.m."
"Already?"
"Even med students don't go this hard."
She stretched, packed her bag.
Kang Hyun grinned, gathered his materials, and they left together.
The spring campus wasn't chilly even at dawn.
"Gonna get busier?"
"Yeah. But it'll end soon. Sorry I can't help with your studies."
"It's fine. Just having you here is enough."
She made a cute face, hands behind her back, acting nonchalant like she wasn't trying.
"After the competition, wanna go out again?"
"Where?"
"Han River Park?"
"Just us?"
"...Yeah."
Blushing, she walked ahead.