Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Denying the Employment Relationship
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"...The plaintiff bases this claim on our country's Labor Standards Act. According to Article 9 of the 'International Private Law,' the parties may choose the applicable law for the establishment and validity of a legal act by their intent; if their intent is not clear, the law of the place of the act applies. Therefore, it is only natural that our country's laws govern the employment contract between the plaintiff's employer, U.S. Corporation A, and the defendant's Business B. Accordingly, all statements have been submitted on that basis."
Hwang Jae-eun stated her position firmly to the opposing side without a single falter or twitch.
Seok Ji-hoon even crossed his arms as if it were laughable, not even bothering to glance their way.
That was right.
Everyone here was a professional. This was no longer a sloppy brawl among ragtag amateurs.
Moreover, Hwang Jae-eun's remarks carried weight.
A clean, stable defense that made it seem unnecessary to even counter meaningless objections or offer lengthy rebuttals.
It was an implicit statement that fighting Kang Hyun's team was pointless against such feeble opponents.
"..."
Woo Si-hyung's face twisted slightly. Their disdain had pierced his skin.
Whether the judge sensed his feelings or not, a flush of excitement lit up his face as he praised her endlessly.
"Excellent. The case contract was signed in 2000, so aside from applying the pre-amended Private International Law instead of the specialized one, it's 99% correct."
An unusual remark from him.
It was proof that her defense was so flawless it drew pure admiration.
"Thank you. Then, continuing: The plaintiff, while subject to the defendant's company's work rules, provided labor under the defendant's company's directives. The defendant company..."
A peripheral argument spanning over 20 minutes.
"...The defense rests."
"Well heard."
At the judge's response, Hwang Jae-eun finally offered a faint smile.
She continued her argument calmly without any sign of fatigue, wrapped it up smoothly, and returned to her seat.
'There's a clear gap in skill compared to the other teams so far.'
The difference in capability and depth—even as things flowed without incident, it felt like they were being pushed back.
Yet this brought no pressure to Kang Hyun.
'This is fun.'
It only brought him pleasure.
Kang Hyun grinned brightly.
The competition was starting to feel more and more like a real trial, which invigorated him even further.
Woo Si-hyung, the main arguer for Kang Hyun's team, also delivered his opening statement and argument smoothly.
Claims regarding procedural flaws in the records, demands for clarification on mismatched timelines, and the like.
In a plainly conducted trial, these would have been enough to sway the tide.
However, they fell short against the opposing team's strategy of steadfastly asserting the solidity of the 'Labor Standards Act contract.'
'I misjudged. Assuming they'd go aggressive was a mistake.'
Kang Hyun glanced at Dan Cho-rok.
She was a person with the temperament of a 'spear.' Yet she hadn't moved a single time, even as Woo Si-hyung's peripheral argument concluded.
Even without stepping forward, everyone could feel they were winning.
'I didn't expect them to be this defensive...'
Kang Hyun's team hadn't anticipated this direction, having heard plenty about her sharp offensive skills. In short, they'd fallen into the trap.
"We'll take a recess. Resuming in 10 minutes."
The second break arrived.
Though they could discuss freely, Seok Ji-hoon and the other three from the opposing team sat motionless, watching Kang Hyun's team like spectators at a show.
It was as if they were saying, 'Go ahead, do your worst.'
Despite their piercing glares, Kang Hyun pulled the two aside to start a conversation—to calm Woo Si-hyung and Yoon Chan-rim's unease.
"Sorry. My oversight. I should've anticipated they'd play it like this..."
"No, bro..."
Even with Yoon Chan-rim's comfort, Woo Si-hyung was uncharacteristically deflated.
Then, perhaps from the shock, he spoke in a nearly tearful, stammering voice.
"...Now Senior Dan Cho-rok's turn... Ah... If only I'd built up something for defense... Sorry, Hyun-ah."
He spoke as if he'd botched everything, like a soldier who'd returned alive after stirring up the battlefield but failed.
But Kang Hyun reassured him.
"No, you did great. Senior Hwang Jae-eun's statements were full of traps. Steering clear and leading without falling for them was excellent. I'll take it from here. We've still got a shot."
"But..."
They'd fought hard, but being outmatched in power was unavoidable. Kang Hyun knew that too.
"You really did well, Si-hyung."
As Woo Si-hyung started to bow his head slightly, Kang Hyun steadfastly encouraged him. He hadn't lost, so there was no need to be downcast.
"Chan-rim. Prepare the evidence on the submitted records for U.S. Corporation A and the B Business contract."
"Yes?"
Yoon Chan-rim instantly grasped his intent and bit her lip.
"Bro, that's... dangerous."
Dangerous. There was a reason.
Kang Hyun was gearing up for an attack.
Discarding the defense they'd prepared earlier to launch an offensive against Seok Ji-hoon's team.
"It might backfire even more. Better to wait for an opening..."
Yoon Chan-rim tried to dissuade the surprised Kang Hyun, but he stated firmly.
"We need to flip this in the strategy battle."
He reaffirmed his resolve even more solidly.
"Their team will keep meticulously building their core principles and focus solely on defense from here on. Why? Because Senior Hwang Jae-eun's claims have no points we absolutely need to counter. She hasn't laid a real foundation. Even if Senior Dan Cho-rok steps up, she'll just continue with abstract analysis or emotional appeals."
He shot them a gaze filled with conviction.
Eyes like they were aflame.
This was a look neither Woo Si-hyung, who'd gone through Cheon Ung-jae's debate class with him, nor Yoon Chan-rim, who'd endured the Yoo Dong-hee incident alongside him, had ever seen.
"...Got it. I'll prepare."
"I'll be ready for re-argument too, so signal if it's tough."
Touched by his determination, Woo Si-hyung and Yoon Chan-rim nodded firmly in support.
Exactly 10 minutes.
Having decided in just 10 minutes, Kang Hyun took his position for the rebuttal argument where the real counterattack would begin.
At that moment, the gavel sounded, and the red light on the judge's microphone lit up as usual.
"Resuming immediately. Plaintiff side, ready?"
"Yes, ready."
Dan Cho-rok stood primly.
"Then, begin."
She rose with a slight frown, an expression mixed with dissatisfaction, as if this approach didn't suit her style—but soon her face armored itself in calm, just like Hwang Jae-eun's.
"Plaintiff A is a foreign laborer, not a South Korean national—a 'socially weak' individual."
They were shifting to consolidation.
Laws are judged by law, but rulings are made by people.
It was a more defensive posture, aiming to steer the courtroom atmosphere toward a vantage point even slightly favorable to their judgment.
A style utterly opposite to hers.
So it probably wasn't a satisfying argument for her.
But they were a team.
Undoubtedly following Seok Ji-hoon's strategy.
"Those employed by specific employers and realistically performing labor must be guaranteed rights under labor relations laws based on the three labor rights."
Yet even in this defensive argument, her style shone through.
The gestures, hand movements, and expressions as Dan Cho-rok argued were dynamic and forceful—clearly intending to deliver 'checkmate' before final arguments.
In other words, to starkly demonstrate the gap in level.
"...As per these records, the plaintiff faced language barriers, lacked proper legal protection, and couldn't even leverage the union linked to Defendant B's business. This contradicts our belief that the law must protect the weak. Your Honor."
The judge listened intently until she finished, then spoke quietly.
"Of course, this is a separate issue from the plaintiff and defendant's circumstances, but well heard."
At the judge's reply, she nodded leisurely.
Leisure born from their strategy working.
"Thank you."
With an expression as if the competition had ended anticlimactically, she turned her head slightly toward Kang Hyun's team.
...
Up to this point, Kang Hyun hadn't offered a single rebuttal—he'd simply listened.
Sensing something off, the judge turned on his mic and addressed Kang Hyun's side.
"If you're not ready, I'll give you more time. Plaintiff side, any objections?"
The judge's tone sounded generous, but it also carried no expectation that Kang Hyun's side had anything to sway the judgment.
The judges, who'd been conferring nonstop, also turned at his words.
Gong Hyun-jeong in her white suit stared straight ahead expressionlessly. Even they seemed to view the outcome as decided.
Silence blanketed the room.
"Kang Hyun..."
"Bro..."
Woo Si-hyung and Yoon Chan-rim expected, as always, that Kang Hyun would charge ahead swiftly. But this time, unlike usual, there'd been no reaction even as Dan Cho-rok's statement reached its end.
Seok Ji-hoon, seated opposite, watched Kang Hyun with a faint smile.
A do-or-die moment.
"That's all."
Just as Dan Cho-rok wrapped up and moved to sit, Kang Hyun's hand shot up.
All eyes focused, prompting every single judge to lift their heads.
For Kang Hyun, this was only the beginning.
Sweat beading lightly on his forehead and hands, heart pounding just right, mind primed to fire thoughts like arrows—his mouth was already twitching in anticipation.
"Rebuttal commencing."
He pushed back his chair and stood.
"All of the plaintiff side's claims are contradictory. Because the plaintiff and defendant did not form an employment contract under the Labor Standards Act."
Murmurs erupted.
The room grew instantly noisy with gasps and doubts.
Even the court reporters in the center halted their typing to look up at Kang Hyun—the impact said it all.
-What?
-Even if they're losing, what kind of claim is that?
Over a hundred—no, at least 150 people—were now hanging on his every word in response to his counter.
With online observers added, the number easily surpassed a thousand, making the attention squarely his.
...
Despite the trial being watched by so many, all reacting with doubt and criticism, Kang Hyun brimmed with even more composure.
More dramatically.
More powerfully, more logically.
He felt he could do it all.
And at last, his mouth opened.