Justice Script Reading
Seoul, a hotel seminar room.
The entire cast and key production staff of Justice, along with a pack of reporters there to capture the script reading on camera, had all gathered in one place. There were easily over a hundred people crammed in, turning the doorway into a madhouse.
'Kim Soolim's next project with Baek Woojin, and Lee Kang-sik's comeback after six years—his drama debut, no less.' The massive attention on that alone was reason enough, but the rest of the casting lineup was stacked with heavy hitters too. Naturally, the media frenzy was off the charts.
"Hello, I'm rookie actor Baek Woojin!"
As the youngest in the cast, Woojin kept jumping up from his seat to bow every time a senior entered. Guess I'm the baby again... He'd somehow built a shining three-year career since debuting, but apparently, it was still too soon to shake the "newbie" label.
"Woojin, how've you been? It's been forever, haha."
"I'll do my best. Looking forward to working with you."
He exchanged warm greetings with Woo Seung-hyun PD, whom he hadn't seen in ages, then took his seat. Moments later—
"Script reading starts now!"
The Justice script reading was set to cover all twenty episodes—five per day over four straight days. Even a rough estimate put each session at four or five hours. The starting gun had fired for this marathon.
"Nice to meet you all, I'm Kim Soolim."
The writer's low, steady voice instantly put the veteran actors on edge. The air shifted in that moment—a familiar sensation. It felt just like the vibe he'd gotten from Seo Min-kyeong back on Wanted. Teacher and student, through and through.
"As you know, we'll wrap the full script reading by the tenth. The next day, we'll have a group session for everyone to share thoughts on the script—anything goes. I look forward to your input."
A full read-through including the back half and ending, plus an open-forum discussion with the whole cast? This was uncharted territory. Were there even dramas that read all the way to the finale? Pouring this much effort into the reading alone screamed how razor-sharp the production team was. The weight of responsibility was mounting.
"Heh, is this how it is these days?"
Lee Kang-sik, seated next to Woojin, let out a kindly chuckle and murmured softly. His face beamed with excitement and joy at his return after six years.
"No, not to this extent. It's a first for me too."
"Dramas move faster than movies—way faster. I knew it intellectually, but experiencing it firsthand is something else."
"I'm getting nervous."
"Let's knock it out. This'll be fun."
Lee Kang-sik crossed his arms leisurely and turned to face forward. Across from him sat one person in particular. He locked eyes with Jo Seung-cheol, both waiting for the real reading to kick off.
"......"
Their gazes carried a single message: I won't lose to you.
Jo Seung-cheol was one of the actors hailed for his acting chops, right up there with Lee Kang-sik. With Woojin's scenes absent from episodes one and two, this was their stage—a showdown of performances. All he had to do was watch and learn.
Gulp.
In reality, bitter rivals tied by past grudges. In the drama, inseparable comrades willing to die for each other—Lee Kang-sik and Jo Seung-cheol. Woojin swallowed dryly as he watched them. At the same time—
"The Republic of Korea..."
Woo PD began reading the script's opening page slowly, deliberately.
Click.
Flashes from the reporters' cameras started popping off everywhere.
* * *
The story of episodes one and two of tvKR's Wednesday-Thursday miniseries Justice—the backbone framing the entire work—is as follows.
August 15, 1945. The Korean Peninsula erupted in joy and celebration at long-awaited liberation after 36 years of agony.
But that joy was short-lived...
June 25, 1950. The peninsula once more became a land of sorrow. Ideological clashes sparked war, splitting Korea irrevocably into North and South.
Post-war, North Korean terror operations via infiltrators—the '1.21 Incident,' 'Panmunjom Axe Murder Incident,' 'Uljin-Samcheok Armed Infiltration'—grew ever more brazen.
Yet the Republic of Korea always responded rationally, striving for peace on the peninsula.
But as if mocking those efforts, on October 9, 1983, the 'Burma Assassination Bombing (Aung San Mausoleum Terror)' occurred.
The government, pushed beyond endurance, vowed 'an eye for an eye.'
Matching the 31 southern infiltrators sent during the '1.21 Incident,' the ROK dispatched 31 northern operatives to assassinate high-ranking North Korean officials.
These 31 agents moved solely on loyalty to their nation...
But the moment they were sent, international meddling drastically altered the peninsula's landscape. The world demanded peaceful resolution over bloody revenge.
Thus, those who needed to hide the truth chose to discard their pawns—'kill the dog after the hunt.'
In the end...
The 31 northern operatives, who took the lives of several high officials and generals on national orders and returned safely—
Bang! Bang! Bang!
—were sunk one by one over ROK territorial waters, bullets piercing their hearts.
That night, as 31 gunshots rang out, Lee Jin-tae (Lee Kang-sik)—team leader and sole survivor—saw it clearly.
The emblem on the submarine carrying the sniper who killed them.
It was the Taegukgi.
"How could this be!!!"
As bullets lodged in the hearts of his 30 precious comrades, two words sharper than anything etched into Lee Jin-tae's heart: revenge.
Having barely survived, he took the newborn son of Yoon Jong-su (Jo Seung-cheol)—who died taking the bullet meant for him—and fled the country illegally.
As he left the ROK, he vowed one thing:
"I will return to this land and exact vengeance in blood."
29 years later.
A 30-year-old youth set foot in the ROK for the first time.
Lee Jin-tae's one and only son, Lee Jung-hyuk (Baek Woojin).
Lee Kang-sik and Jo Seung-cheol led the episodes one and two reading with ferocious intensity. Their raw, visceral performances ripped every emotion from the gut, leaving mouths agape. The climax sea scene was so harrowing it squeezed tears nonstop.
Lee Kang-sik's earlier comment about awkwardness with Jo Seung-cheol? Completely forgotten.
[This is Seoul's Hillis Hotel seminar room, where vivid acting magic is unfolding! - 'Justice' Script Reading Press Conference Highlights ①]
With the open site allowing live coverage, photos hit the wires in real time. Flashes exploded relentlessly, typewriter clacks echoed constantly. But the actors, undeterred, poured out top-tier focus—their performances gaining momentum with every line.
The potent text from a masterful writer naturally elevated their state, emotions flowing seamlessly.
"The chemistry between Lee Kang-sik and Jo Seung-cheol is way better than expected, right?"
"Totally. It's surpassing what I envisioned while writing. Almost feel bad killing off Yoon Jong-su after just two episodes... Might need to slip in some flashbacks later."
Woo PD and Kim Soolim whispered opinions while watching the reading.
Episode two wrapped, and episode three rolled right in. Jo Seung-cheol bowed out; it was Woojin's turn to shine.
Thud, thud.
In the drama, Lee Jung-hyuk emerged from Incheon Airport's arrivals hall. The sunlight of Korea—his first ever—dazzled blindingly. Clear skies, vibrant blue. He looked up and cracked an enigmatic, suspicious smile.
Then,
"Nice to meet you, Korea."
He murmured it short and sweet, smoothing the brief frown from the sunlight in his eyes. Just six words.
"......!"
But Kim Soolim saw it exactly as she'd pictured Lee Jung-hyuk in her mind. Her gaze locked on Woojin.
Ring, ring.
"Yes, Father."
-You arrive?
"Just landed."
-Long flight must've worn you out.
"No, I'm fine."
-Sent you some files. Call back once you've seen them.
"Yes, Father."
Sparse words, a cold father-son exchange heavy on detachment. Yet laced with an indescribable bond. The natural delivery and breathing screamed authenticity.
The stage that opened with 'Lee Kang-sik VS Jo Seung-cheol' now shifted to 'Baek Woojin VS Lee Kang-sik.'
* * *
"If it were you for real, what do you think you'd do?"
The Justice script reading—from start to finish—was soul-shaking, a word that captured it perfectly. Four days of tightrope-walking tension. In the car heading home after the final day, Song Jun-an hyung's question hit with an oddly profound vibe, leaving Woojin speechless at first.
What would I really choose...?
Lee Jung-hyuk was a profoundly tragic figure. His biological father coldly discarded by the state; the man he thought was his bio dad was actually adoptive; and the one who ruined his normal life was the adoptive father he believed to be blood.
He'd been separated from his sole blood relative—his mother—without even remembering her face, thanks to that adoptive father. Unaware of the truth, he bore the crushing burden of one man avenging himself against a nation.
His adoptive father demanded bloody retribution, but he rejected 'blood calling for blood.' As the story unfolded, it pivoted from 'revenge on the nation per Lee Jin-tae's will' toward 'Lee Jin-tae VS Lee Jung-hyuk.' Like the Korean Peninsula's past tragedies born of ideals clashing with reality, Lee Jung-hyuk would endure every human emotion between those walls.
Just as he couldn't fathom Yeonsan's heart back then, Lee Jung-hyuk's was the same—unimaginable.
"Honestly... I don't know."
It was honest—at that moment, when Jun-an hyung asked.
But now—
Scribble, scribble.
That night back home after the reading, Woojin poured his analysis of Lee Jung-hyuk onto the diary page, glowing faintly red.
[Accept the mission?]
He hit 'Yes.'
[Enter?]
'Yes' again.
Another Korea, where Lee Jung-hyuk's footsteps would tread. He was heading there now.
[May this encounter prove helpful to you.]
With those words, the diary flipped open in mid-air with a rustle. Random thought, but watching it unfurl like that was starting to feel kinda cool...
Whoosh.
The light pouring from it enveloped Woojin.
> [Teleporting in 5 seconds.]
Thump, thump.
Right before slipping into the virtual world, excitement always bubbled up.
"What would you do?"
May this be the experience to answer that question on the spot.
Woojin closed his eyes.
Moments later—
Flash.
He arrived in the world beyond the diary, where answers awaited.