"Lawyer! Please explain the trial results!"
"Lawyer! Please explain the trial results!"
"Are you satisfied with the verdict?"
"Is it true that Go Yunseong collectively assaulted Oh Sanghyeon?"
"Is it true that Go Yunseong tried to rape a nurse while hospitalized?"
He hadn't even finished a proper smoke after dinner when the reporters swarmed, blocking his path. He'd circulated an official request through civic groups for media attention to the trial, but their numbers exceeded expectations. They'd evidently been camping out in front of the courthouse for hours—their flushed, frostbitten skin betrayed as much in fleeting glimpses. He should have had Office Manager Oh pass out hot packs.
"The jury unanimously found Oh Sanghyeon not guilty, and the court concurred with that verdict."
His concise reply wasn't enough to satisfy them. They thrust microphones at him, trailing doggedly.
"It's been reported that courtroom evidence actually showed the defendant didn't assault Go Yunseong, but rather the reverse. Is that true?"
"That's correct. It came to light that a witness possessed the site's CCTV footage, which we submitted as evidence. The video clearly captures Wooshin Construction's Executive Director Go Yunseong and his entourage gang-beating Oh Sanghyeon, who had been portrayed as the victim. The prosecutor acknowledged the evidence, and it swayed the verdict."
"And what about Go Yunseong attempting to rape a nurse while hospitalized?"
"That's also true. The victim has expressed a strong desire for severe punishment of Wooshin Construction Executive Director Go Yunseong. Our office plans to pursue a separate lawsuit on that matter."
Han Youngsun, who'd wanted to keep it secret for fear her boyfriend would dump her if he knew, had cracked under Prosecutor Yang Hansuk's provocation in court and spilled everything. During the recess, she'd said that since it was out anyway, she wanted to see Go Yunseong punished through legal channels.
Now, with today's verdict, Go Yunseong faced charges of aggravated assault. Attempted rape of Han Youngsun would be added too. His lawyers would no doubt seek to merge the cases to minimize sentencing, but the slippery eel wouldn't escape this time.
"I heard the key witness who provided decisive evidence in this case recanted under what was essentially your own scripted ploy, Lawyer. What's the story there?"
One reporter shouted.
"While uncovering the truth is vital, wasn't that unethical for a lawyer? Your thoughts?"
That opened the floodgates. A few plants in the crowd chimed in.
"To claim we staged anything would be clear perjury by that witness. To ensure they take responsibility for their statements, we'll request a prosecutorial investigation."
"How can you assert it's perjury?"
The reporter pressed relentlessly. Most would pivot after that, but this one's persistence screamed planted.
Why wouldn't it? Outlets that parroted Wooshin Group's script verbatim were a dime a dozen. With the trial branding their thug son a clear perpetrator, they wouldn't let Cha Juhan's team—who'd flipped the script—off the hook.
"We didn't orchestrate any assault on that witness, so of course we can assert it's not perjury. The witness is already in custody anyway. A fair investigation will reveal all."
"Word is this trial switched to a citizen-participation trial just a month before, at your sudden request, Lawyer Cha. True?"
He'd pegged them as Wooshin scribes from the start, but this was them outing themselves. The case had flown under the radar until the media outreach—understandably so. Go Yunseong had only played victim to preempt any union-backed suit from Oh Sanghyeon. He'd wanted it buried quietly.
Any outlet sniffing around would've quickly spotted the investigation's fishiness.
Yet here, barely an hour post-verdict, they knew about the last-minute citizen-trial switch. Not from Cha Juhan's leaks, so straight from Wooshin.
"That's right."
"Citizen-participation trials still face skepticism. Critics say they exploit laypeople's legal ignorance and anti-chaebol bias. Your take?"
"We could've proven Oh Sanghyeon's innocence even without it—the CCTV evidence emerged today. A non-citizen trial would've meant rescheduling and delays, but the outcome would've been the same."
"That sounds like you knew about the CCTV from the start. If so, didn't you deliberately drag out the suit and obstruct proceedings?"
"I can't fathom that interpretation. It seems you didn't attend the trial, reporter."
"I did."
The reporter cut in sharply, perhaps fearing other journalists' ire for wasting time on half-baked questions.
"Then you should understand even better. The witness never disclosed the CCTV copy to us. Only when the prosecutor hounded them for perjury did they fear the truth being buried and come forward. Claiming we hid it knowingly is a wild leap."
Speechless, the reporter slunk away. Beyond smears on Cha Juhan's honor, they had nothing.
Others filled the gap, microphones thrusting competitively again.
"Despite clear CCTV proof, prosecutors never obtained it. Isn't that shoddy investigating?"
"Did Wooshin Construction hide the CCTV?"
"Talk of biased prosecution—your view?"
Music to his ears. He wanted to answer everything, dodging nothing unfavorable, to project unflappability. These gems kept landing because, well, he was human.
"We don't know if Wooshin hid the CCTV or if the prosecution was biased. What pains us is that an innocent defendant suffered as the perpetrator for so long. At least the truth is out now."
Job done. Articles were probably flooding portals, peaking around 9 p.m. when the three major networks aired news. Till bedtime, netizens would roast Go Yunseong's antics.
Civil suits were all that remained.
Go Yunseong's trial was set two months out. As expected, his defense requested merging the aggravated assault and rape-attempt cases, which was granted. Naturally, indictment triggered his temporary suspension from duties.
Wooshin Construction's union plastered verdict copies like posters across headquarters and demanded a formal apology. Wage arrears issues had simmered too, so the Centre Apartments site union struck immediately.
Construction workers were typically managed via subcontractors, but Wooshin skimped even there, placing them under direct union oversight. The sit-in started at HQ, joined by Site Director Chui-wook and the recovered Oh Sanghyeon.
Oh's department had no arrears, but he'd been dispatched by the union. He'd become a symbol of sorts.
Labor matters fell to specialists, so the team kept distance—but monitored closely.
"Lawyer!"
Like the day they'd first taken the case, he dropped by nearby courts on trial days. Today included.
"You've been through a lot."
"Nah, you're the ones working hard."
Oh Sanghyeon spotted them first and approached. The protest bandana and vest suited his sturdy build. Seeing him hale after casts and bandages underscored Go Yunseong's brutality—the gulf was staggering.
"Where's the site director?"
Kang Minjae scanned around. They'd come together last time.
"He stepped away for a call... Ah! There he is."
Oh pointed to the parking lot, escorting them like a bodyguard.
No need to interrupt a call, but the director had finished and was smoking—looking deeply troubled.
"Director, the lawyers are here."
"Ah! Lawyer. You came again. Thanks for keeping tabs on our strike—really."
The director forced a smile, extending a hand. Cha Juhan shook it lightly, sensing trouble.
Post-Oh's acquittal, they'd worried about Wooshin retaliation. The director's CCTV had been pivotal proof. With him still employed there, reprisals loomed unknown.
One reason they'd watched the strike.
"Something wrong?"
"...No, nothing."
"Doesn't look like nothing."
"Aw, come on. I said nothing."
He waved it off awkwardly, oblivious to the [Lie] hologram glowing above his head.
"Oh Sanghyeon, mind giving us a moment?"
Oh assented and jogged back to the union tent. Somehow, Kang Minjae and Cha Juhan had flanked the director.
"Director, something's up. Spill."
Kang kneaded his shoulders persistently. The director sighed, checked Oh's distance, then showed his phone's call log.
Go Yunseong's secretary.
"Trouble with Go Yunseong's secretary?"
"...As you probably guessed, they paid me to stay quiet. Team Leader Kim Eui-cheol got his for testifying."
But neither had. The director spoke up; Kim vanished from witness lists.
Cha Juhan had probed gently; answers dodged.
"We've offered refunds, but silence. Then yesterday, the secretary calls: internal probe uncovered me taking bribes from a subcon, splitting with Kim Eui-cheol—discipline incoming. Ridiculous! I'm just a site director—why bribe me?"
Cha Juhan had wondered when—not if—retaliation hit. Wooshin never disappointed.
"Where's the money now?"
"With me. Untouched. Same for the team leader. It's driving me mad. Not chump change, and post-trial..."
He sighed deeply.
"Why not say sooner? We could've brainstormed."
"Personal matter."
"Total amount?"
"...250 million won. I got 150, team leader 100."
"Wasn't Kim originally at 50?"
"Yeah. But when he backed out of testifying, they upped it. He took it, flipped again... eventually didn't show."
"Hmm."
Cha Juhan crossed his arms.
"Total wage arrears from site workers now?"
"About 100 guys, roughly 1 billion won."
"Whoa. So Go Yunseong dipped into his pocket for a quarter of that?"
"Pardon?"
The director tilted his head, baffled. Kang Minjae caught on instantly.
"Exactly! Looks like the punk's showing some remorse, huh!"
"What do you—"
"Director, that 'bribe' from the subcon? Nah—it's Go Yunseong prepaying part of the arrears out of pocket. Explain it that way. Why haven't you? Right, Lawyer?"
"Beats me."
The director stared blankly, then clapped as realization dawned, bursting into relieved laughter.
"Oh! Yeah! Split the cash with the workers, submit as proof. No bribe—just advance wages. As site director!"
"Bribe? First we've heard."
"Yeah, when'd you two ever take dirty money?"
Kang shrugged innocently. The director roared with glee.
"Right! Never happened. Just our back pay, prepaid. Haha! Thank you, Lawyers. Truly!"