Chapter 75
[These days, the country's really in a mess. The whole nation is buzzing over Presidential Chief of Staff Ji Myeongho's sex-for-favors scandal. It feels like the entire Republic of Korea is suffering from a massive outbreak of the measles.]
The radio blared from the car heading to the office, filling his ears. Early March 2009, and Korea was still noisy as ever. Major news stories poured out daily, leaving the public sighing in dismay at the state of the nation.
Yesterday had been the ruling date for the damages lawsuit filed by victims of the "Jangmyeong High School Lee Hyeokmin" case. Just a few months ago, the whole country had been talking about it, but yesterday's verdict got only a short boxed article in Iljungilbo.
He wasn't particularly resentful. News stories always followed the classic arc—introduction, development, climax, resolution—with interest fading steadily. By the resolution, hardly anyone remembered the details. Cases buried other cases, as always.
For those tired of the Ji Myeongho Gate saga, let's switch topics for a moment. Though this might be exhausting too. It was a hot potato last winter, right? Anyway, the Jangmyeong High School case. Do our listeners remember? Lee Hyeokmin, at the center of the exam leak scandal and school violence, received Disposition No. 10—equivalent to juvenile detention—in the juvenile court last month. Ten News covered it in depth. But the story isn't over.
Yesterday, March 2—the nationwide school opening day—two victims of Lee Hyeokmin's school violence won their damages lawsuit. Plaintiff A was awarded five million won, Plaintiff B eleven million. The best the law could offer, but for those kids, no amount could heal the scars. Let's hear from listeners. 9612 says: "We need to revise the school violence law. It's full of problems as is."
Indeed, this case fell under the School Violence Prevention Act, fully revised in 2008. But it still feels insufficient. Especially shocking since it involved the Seoul Education Superintendent's son, with the principal turning a blind eye. 2091 says: "My kid's in high school, and seeing that news made my heart drop."
Oh, I bet it did. I have a high school nephew myself...
In the midst of the Ji Myeongho Gate frenzy, he hadn't expected any broadcast to mention Lee Hyeokmin's civil trial outcome. For Lee Hyeokmin's side, who probably thought their story was finally buried thanks to Ji Myeongho, it might even be unfortunate.
Lee Hyeokmin hadn't shown up to yesterday's civil ruling, but word was he was behaving impeccably in juvie. Not out of remorse, most likely—just playing for early release. And before the civil trial, the Education Superintendent had fired the Jang Yeong Law Firm defense team a week before their appeal hearing. Probably deemed them incompetent after his son got Disposition No. 10.
Jang Yeong had smeared their own reputation for nothing. They'd probably be catching hell in legal community forums again.
He parked in front of the office and was heading into the first-floor café when his phone rang.
"Yes, this is Cha Juhan."
"Prosecutor Cha—oh wait, ex-prosecutor. You doing well out there on your own?"
A cheerful woman's voice. It was Lee Ye-jin, the prosecutor from the office next door during his days at the prosecutor's office.
"Long time no see, sunbae."
"Yeah, too long. Sigh, our Cha Pro—no, Cha Lawyer. I didn't even send flowers for your opening. Sorry. And it's been almost a year since we talked. Time flies. I kept meaning to call but forgot. Anyway."
"No big deal. I didn't even have a proper opening ceremony."
"Still. Actually, there was a rumor the chief wouldn't let anyone send flowers to your opening. So I played it safe. Forgive me this once?"
"Really?"
He opened right after taking the Kim Hyeongjun case—before striking at his old firm. Guess the chief had been grinding his teeth even then. Though he'd already butted heads a bit before leaving.
"That guy's so petty," Lee Ye-jin whispered.
Cha Juhan chuckled despite himself. In his previous life, serving Hwang Youngchan wholeheartedly, he'd never seen that petty side because it wasn't aimed at him. He'd thought digging into Wooshin had sharpened his people-reading skills, but starting his legal career under Hwang Youngchan had made him too trusting. The regular calls from Changwon Branch, even visits with meals—had that touched him? After losing his father, with nowhere to lean...
"Anyway, Cha Pro—you're becoming quite the celebrity. Gonna live long at this rate. Eating a truckload of hate. Now sniping the Education Superintendent too."
"I wasn't sniping the superintendent. I was targeting his son, Lee Hyeokmin."
"Come on. People in the know get it. Yun Se-yeon, who prosecutors treated like the plague, and you made a perfect team to stir this up. They're hushing it, but yeah."
"Think what you want."
"My husband's been talking about you too. He's at Jang Yeong."
"Right, yeah."
"He knew the guy defending the superintendent this time. After getting fired, he apparently got reamed by the boss and ranted about killing you."
"Guess the sparks flew my way innocently enough. Shouldn't have defended a guy like that to begin with."
"What kind of lawyer quibbles like that? Anyway, must be nice being your own boss. Let's meet up soon. With Kang Lawyer too."
"Sure, sounds good."
"Your treat. You've made bank. Need to see your face for some peace of mind. Ugh, why are my kids so ugly? Really pissing me off. No motivation to go to work. Gotta drop by to see your face when I'm bored." It almost felt like her voice echoed for a moment.
"Oh, gotta head in. Cases are piled sky-high. Dying of boredom here. We'll set a date later."
"Sure thing. Take care."
He hung up and headed upstairs, where Kang Minjae—already in—stared blankly at the wall calendar. Not noticing his entrance, Cha Juhan clapped right by his ear.
"Ah shit, you scared me! Damn, what the hell."
"What're you so lost in thought about?"
"Oh, Lee Ye-jin sunbae called earlier, wanting to meet. The three of us. I was checking the calendar."
She'd called Kang first, apparently.
"We can figure that out later."
"True. But our top priority now is deciding lunch."
Kang Minjae grinned mischievously. With Park Jincheol's case fully wrapped, the office had no major focus.
They'd handled consultations and a few cases during Jincheol's, but nothing heavy. Clients had hesitated to entrust even those, swayed only by Kang's persuasion. Still a small neighborhood firm, potential clients Googled them first and got intimidated.
They all said the same: "Smaller than I thought," "Just you two? Expected a big staff," "Must be pricey here, right?"
Kang always grabbed their pant legs, insisting they took small cases too. Afraid he'd only chase big fish, but nope—any paying case was fine.
"Time to drum up business again. Man, it'd be great if we landed corporate advisory gigs."
"You know anything about that?"
"Nah, but I can study. Already know some. And we nailed copyright without experience."
"Yeah, grow into a full-stack lawyer and fly the nest someday."
He shook his head, and Kang exploded.
"Again! I thought you'd stopped that! Telling me to leave now?"
"No, just saying follow your big dreams."
Kang glared, booted his laptop, and pretended to work—probably Minesweeper. "Lunch—wanna hit that kung pao chicken I mentioned?"
"Day drinking?"
"Why, hate it?"
"Nah, love it. Call Taesik too? He helped a ton on the Eobin case."
"Give him a ring."
Dialing, Kang froze.
"Lawyer, know a Jeong Yeongjun?"
"Jeong Yeongjun? Go Sang-gyeong's son-in-law."
"Go Sang-gyeong? Isn't that Wooshin Group?"
"No, Go Sangjun's brother at Wooshin. Yangjin Group's his."
"Ah, that commoner-turned-chaebol son-in-law guy?"
"Yep."
Kang's eyes widened in shock. Confirming his expression, Cha Juhan checked the date: March 3, 2009. Right after Ji Myeongho Gate blew up.
Which meant...
"Jeong Yeongjun's sex tape is about to drop."
He didn't recall the exact date, but spring 2009, Go Sang-gyeong's son-in-law's video scandal rocked the news. Jeong got booted from Yangjin barehanded. Stuck in his mind since Yangjin was Wooshin-related.
"How'd you know? Article dropped two minutes ago!"
Kang gawked; Cha shrugged.
"Lucky guess."
"...How do you guess this? Says the video was circulating underground before the article. You watched it, right?"
He had. Ten years ago.
"Nah, haven't."
"Liar. They say it's insanely hot."
"..."
"Lemme read the comments."
Sounded about right. Hadn't watched fully—just glanced when Oh Gyeongjang showed it, asking if it was him. Whip or something, maybe.
"Lawyer, you're a perv."
"What're you on about?"
"Watching that stuff. All that 'pure world' act was fake. Guessing it? Yeah right. You saw it circulating early. Pure hypocrite."
Absurd. He stared in disbelief; Kang clutched his forehead, bowing.
"Everyone's raving, so I'm dying to know. But I'm a legal professional. Watching's secondary victimization. Don't look. Don't look."
He chanted like a mantra.
"I'm not like my perv lawyer. This could be using Jeong to bury Ji Myeongho Gate and divert attention. I'm Kang Minjae, upright lawyer upholding morals and law."
After muttering, he stood refreshed.
"Gonna call Taesik."
Looking down with a smirk, eyes narrowed, staring intently. Cha sighed, turned away, opened a book—but felt the heat of that gaze.
"Said I didn't."
"Yes, sir."
Kang replied robotically, stepped to the balcony. Door shut, and muffled laughter erupted inside.
Irritation surged.