Jung Kyung-ho Shines in 'Pro-Bono', Dramatically Boosting Ratings with Powerful Courtroom Defense

The tvN weekend drama 'Pro-Bono' is seeing a significant surge in viewership, largely thanks to the compelling performance of actor Jung Kyung-ho.

In the 4th episode, aired on the 14th, Jung Kyung-ho, portraying lawyer Kang Da-wit, delivered a thrilling legal battle, taking on the nation and a conglomerate chairman for the sake of Kim Kang-hoon (played by Kim Kang-hoon).

This episode achieved a new personal best in ratings, recording an average of 8.1% and a peak of 9.4% in the Seoul metropolitan area, and 8% average with a 9.2% peak nationwide. It secured the No. 1 spot in its time slot across all cable and general programming channels, both in the Seoul metropolitan area and nationwide. The drama also topped the ratings for tvN's target demographic of viewers aged 20-49.

After an initial defeat in the first trial, Kang Da-wit expanded the scope of his legal fight during the appeal preparation. He held a press conference to sue the Republic of Korea on behalf of Kim Kang-hoon, protesting the constitutional clause that 'all lives should be equal and respected,' which he felt did not guarantee an equal life for his client. He also implicated Choi Woong-san (played by Yoo Jae-myung), the chairman of Woongsan General Hospital, as a responsible party.

Kang Da-wit further emphasized the urgency of the case during an on-site verification, guiding the judge and opposing counsel, Woo Myung-hoon (played by Choi Dae-hoon), to personally experience the daily inconveniences faced by Kim Kang-hoon using a wheelchair. He highlighted the long journey Kim Kang-hoon had to take to meet the Pro-Bono team, underscoring the desperation of the lawsuit.

Woo Myung-hoon countered by presenting Kim Kang-hoon's mother, Jeong So-min (played by Jeong Saet-byeol), as a witness, arguing that the child's suffering might stem from his upbringing rather than solely his disability. He also questioned why she, as his legal guardian, had permitted the lawsuit.

In response, Kang Da-wit summoned Chairman Choi Woong-san as a witness. Upon his appearance, Kang Da-wit systematically pointed out Choi's sponsorship of anti-abortion movements and its connection to the hospital's internal policies. He argued that even without direct orders, the events at Woongsan were inextricably linked to the chairman's beliefs, leading Choi to acknowledge a connection to Jeong So-min's pregnancy.

Chairman Choi, however, maintained his belief that any hardship can be overcome through effort and denied responsibility for damages, viewing Kim Kang-hoon's life not as a loss. But when Kim Kang-hoon himself spoke up, asking, "What effort must I make to live like other children?" after explaining his struggles with bullying and the rejection of a special school proposal, Choi was visibly moved.

After a moment of contemplation, Choi requested a postponement of the trial. Upon its resumption, he declared, "I cannot accept the conclusion that the birth of such an intelligent boy is a loss in itself." He then proposed dropping the lawsuit and offered to adopt Kim Kang-hoon's mother, vowing to show the world it's still a place worth living and promising to establish a special school for Kim Kang-hoon, marking a heartwarming turn.

However, as the Pro-Bono team celebrated their victory, a shocking anonymous text message arrived at Park Gi-ppeum's (played by So Ju-yeon) phone, alerting her to suspicions of bribery involving Kang Da-wit, setting the stage for future conflict.

Netizens are raving about Jung Kyung-ho's performance, with comments like "Jung Kyung-ho's acting is truly incredible," and "I cried so much thanks to lawyer Kang Da-wit." Many are expressing anticipation for the next episode, particularly highlighting the emotional impact of the courtroom scenes.