An Idealistic Lawyer Serves Up Legal Advice In K-Drama ‘Law Cafe’

Neither Kim Yu-ri, played by Lee Se-young, nor Kim Jeong-ho, played by Lee Seung-gi, became exactly who people expected they’d be—and yet somehow they find themselves living in the same building. That’s the premise of the Korean legal rom com The Law Cafe.

Yu-ri, an attorney working at a reputable law firm, is so focused on pro bono cases that she costs the firm money. Her idealism in championing worker’s rights leads her to resign and open a law cafe, where she hopes to solve problems—before people head to court—all for the price of a cup of coffee.

Jeong-ho quit his job as a prosecutor intending to write novels. He also owns a building, one floor of which he inadvertently rents to Yu-ri for her law cafe. When he finds out the identity of his new tenant, he tries to cancel the contract. He calls her entrepreneurial ideas impulsive and poorly thought out, but that’s not the real problem. This couple has some history, which makes things awkward between them, and caused him to start avoiding her. He would happily keep avoiding her, but Yu-ri is never inclined to back down—whether she is representing her own interests or that of her clients.

Both characters talk directly to viewers, with monologues that attempt to offer some insight into why they do what they do. That does not mean they necessarily understand their own feelings or even those of others. Yu-ri does not seem to suspect Jeong-ho’s real feelings for her. Now that he can no longer avoid her, she may have to recognize the obvious evidence.

The legal rom com is based on the hit web novel The Law Cafe and also stars Kim Nam-hee, gifted comedienne Kim Seul-gi, Oh Dong-min, Ahn Dong-gu, Kim Do-hoon, Jo Han-chul and Jang Hye-jin.

Lee Se-young, who recently played a tragic heroine in the historical drama The Red Sleeve, brings plenty of comic energy to her role as the brash quirky attorney, while Lee Seung-gi delivers his signature charismatic charm while playing Jeong-ho. Together they spark comic and romantic chemistry. The actors previously worked together in the drama Hwayugi aka A Korean Odyssey, where he played a great sage and she played a zombie living in his house.

Lee Se-young is also known for roles in the time-travel drama Kairos and the historical drama The Crowned Clown. Lee Seung-gi recently appeared in the thriller Vagabond and the crime drama Mouse.