'Law and the City' breaks away from K-drama clichés, opting for realism

Writer Lee Seung Hyun and director Park Seung Woo share Law and the City's journey to the screen.

Law and the City is a story about the joys, sorrows, and growth of five associate lawyers who work at law firms located in the Seocho Judicial Town. 

Ahead of the premiere, Lee Seung Hyun and Park Seung Woo tease prospective viewers about the show's charm and what makes it stand out from other law K-dramas.

Writer Lee Seung Hyun, who had been interested in writing film screenplays since his college days, recalled: "While working as a lawyer, the things I saw, heard, and experienced — as well as the emotions I felt and the thoughts I had — accumulated within me without even me realizing it. I wanted to fill the somewhat unfamiliar world of lawyers' with emotions and stories that anyone could relate to. I felt that such a story would be better told as a drama rather than a film, and that's how I began writing Law and the City." 

Director Park Seung Woo said, "Because the last two projects I directed had strong genre colors, I felt a desire to tell a story about ordinary, everyday life. That's when I came across Law and the City, and I was drawn to the fact that it's the real story of lawyers that the writer — who is a practicing attorney — wanted to tell." 

He also shared a behind-the-scenes story: "At our first meeting, I saw the writer walk in straight after work, dressed in a suit with an expression that conveyed he was worn out from the day's job, and I was convinced [about the project]."

He described Law and the City as "a drama about life and living." "It doesn't revolve around the sense of duty of the legal professionals or the struggle to defeat evil, but rather on the realistic conflicts and everyday concerns they face as office workers. We all worked hard to make the associate lawyers feel like regular people you see around you," he said, adding, "I directed the series with a focus on realism." 

Writer Lee Seung Hyun added, "Rather than having the protagonists be swept into the whirlwind of cases, I wanted the legal cases to exist within the characters' everyday lives. I think the biggest difference is that the protagonists are like the ordinary people you can easily find around you." He also shared: "In reality, it's impossible to find lawyers as good-looking and pretty as the actors. Every time a teaser was released, my colleagues would joke, 'Where in Seocho-dong do you find lawyers who look like that?'"

Lastly, writer Lee Seung Hyun and director Park Seung Woo shared key points for viewers to enjoy the realistic workplace life of associate lawyers. Lee Seung Hyun said, "Our project features a truly outstanding cast. I think viewers will enjoy seeing how each actor brings their character to life."

Director Park Seung Woo also expressed his anticipation for the cast's performances, saying, "This drama has not only the five main characters but also many outstanding actors who gladly joined. The joy of watching their performances will be a keyword that adorns Law and the City." 

He added, "We put a lot of effort into satisfying the viewers' five senses. If you can enjoy the [familiar] sounds of the city, the seasonal atmosphere, and even the food laid out on the table — things that are always around us — I would be more grateful than I could ever express."

Law and the City premieres on July 5. The K-drama will be available on Disney+ (select regions).

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