Character posters for "Phantom Lawyer", starring Yoo Yeon-seok and Esom, are out―teasing hidden layers in their stories.
SBS’s new Friday-Saturday series "Phantom Lawyer" (written by Kim Ga-young and Kang Cheol-gyu, directed by Shin Joong-hoon) follows a “possessed lawyer,” Shin I-rang (played by Yoo Yeon-seok), who helps the dead settle their grudges, and Han Na-hyun (played by Esom), a cold-blooded elite attorney who will do anything to win. It’s a strange yet heartwarming ride about righting wrongs from beyond the veil.
The character posters released on the 25th contrast each lead’s “public face” with their “cracked truth.” The key visual: those fractures mark the moment their fates begin to shake.
First, Shin I-rang’s poster stamps in the line, “Do I still look like a lawyer to you?” A clean-cut lawyer’s face in a sharp suit starts to crack, and other images seep through the gaps: a bandage on his cheek, a gown instead of a suit, an idol pin on his chest, a shaman-like necktie and fan. Clashing pieces that somehow coexist in one man. They hint at a character who hears the dead―and sometimes becomes possessed―explaining his unpredictable behavior both in daily life and in court.
But he wasn’t always a “possessed lawyer.” After his prosecutor father died dishonorably, his family fell apart. He grew to hate even the word “law,” yet couldn’t leave Seocho-dong as he watched his mother, Park Kyung-hwa (played by Kim Mi-kyung), stay rooted there. He vowed to become a top attorney to finally ease his mother’s pain. Ironically, he now finds himself helping the dead resolve theirs. Curiosity is rising over the cases Shin I-rang will take on.
By contrast, Han Na-hyun’s poster shows a different kind of fracture. Her unwavering gaze, perfectly tailored suit, and cool, commanding aura as ace of the major law firm Taebaek stand out first. But the crack running across her face signals a break within. Her confession―“Being a lawyer was my sister’s dream”―instantly reveals the backstory she kept hidden. Being a lawyer wasn’t her own dream, but a choice to carry someone else’s unfinished one.
The guitar case and diary behind her are vital clues. Han Na-hyun carries a painful past. In her school days―once bright with dreams―she survived an accident on the way to a show with her sister and has lived with survivor’s guilt ever since. The diary she found later, with the promise “Let’s become the best lawyer,” completely rerouted her life. She ultimately fulfilled her sister’s dream instead of her own.
Charging forward on that rigid track, Han Na-hyun meets Shin I-rang, a lawyer who breaks all the rules―and the cracks begin again. After that shift, fans will want to know what lies behind her icy exterior.
The production team shared, “These posters symbolize that the two aren’t just courtroom partners―they’re forces that will shake each other’s worlds. One is thrown into chaos as other people’s stories seep in; the other locks herself away under the weight of someone else’s dream,” adding, “A crack isn’t destruction―it’s the start of change. Look beyond the shattered glass to see how they face each other’s fractures, and what exhilarating justice they’ll deliver. Please look forward to the premiere on Friday, March 13.”
"Phantom Lawyer" premieres Friday, March 13, at 9:50 p.m.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)