'Phantom Lawyer' Esom Confronts Her First Loss ― And It Changes Everything

Esom’s real story in "Phantom Lawyer" kicks into gear after her character’s first-ever courtroom loss ― and viewers are hooked.

On SBS’s Friday-Saturday drama "Phantom Lawyer" (written by Kim Ga-young and Kang Cheol-gyu; script by Shin Joong-hoon), Esom’s Han Na-hyun has stood out as a cold, elite attorney who will do anything to win. Her diary, packed with case numbers and “Win” after “Win,” symbolized a spotless career. But in the latest episode, for the first time, “Loss” was written in that diary ― a result of a different choice she made after crossing paths with Shin I-rang (played by Yoo Yeon-seok), even though the case was winnable.

That shift began when she faced Lee Ji-woo (Ahn Chae-heum), daughter of victim Lee Kang-pung (Heo Sung-tae). After a sensational article framed him as a “violent patient making false claims” by exploiting his past as a gangster, Ji-woo collapsed from shock. As Shin I-rang rushed her into the ER, Han Na-hyun froze at the entrance, unable to go any farther. In that moment, her past overlapped with the present ― a childhood memory of crying outside an emergency room after an accident. For the first time, complex emotions seeped into her usually icy gaze.

Later, at a drug ring hideout, Han Na-hyun secured a hard drive containing an EMR (Electronic Medical Record) that recorded a surgeon’s malpractice. Destroying it would virtually guarantee a win for her side, the hospital’s defense. But images of Shin I-rang, who had taken hits in her place, and the ailing Ji-woo flashed through her mind. She chose not to destroy the evidence. And just like that, a crack formed in her perfect streak.

A scene at the end of the broadcast hinted at Han Na-hyun’s hidden backstory. Inside her diary was a childhood photo labeled “Han So-hyun.” There was also a snapshot in front of a courthouse and a note: “I want to be a lawyer who gives people confidence. I must always be a lawyer who wins.” It raised fresh questions about why she’s been so obsessed with victory ― and what past ties her to it.

Finally, she filled the diary’s blank space with three words: “First Loss.” It wasn’t just a verdict. It marked the beginning of a shift in the values Han Na-hyun has lived by.

Throughout, Esom sold the character’s turmoil without big displays of emotion ― just her eyes and the slightest changes in expression. Critics say her delicate portrayal of the human fracture behind a steely exterior deepened the drama’s immersion.

The production team teased, “Han Na-hyun is someone who hides a fiery instinct behind cool logic ― she even goes undercover as a prosecutor to infiltrate criminals’ hideouts in search of evidence. That instinct starts to stir again with her first loss, and Han Na-hyun’s story begins in earnest. Watch to see why she became a lawyer who ‘must always win,’ and how her relationship with Shin I-rang will change.”

"Phantom Lawyer" airs Episode 3 on Friday, March 20 at 9:50 p.m.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)