Yoo Yeon-seok Goes Full 'Ghost Lawyer' in 'Phantom Lawyer'; Episode 3 Kicks Off an Even Stranger Closure Adventure

‘"Phantom Lawyer"’ star Yoo Yeon-seok is officially stepping into “ghost specialist lawyer” mode.

In SBS’s new Fri-Sat drama "Phantom Lawyer" (written by Kim Ga-young and Kang Chul-gyu; directed by Shin Jung-hoon), last episode ended with Shin I-rang (Yoo Yeon-seok) screaming as another restless spirit appeared―sealing the fate of this lawyer with a sixth sense. Starting with Episode 3, Shin I-rang dives even deeper into cases, moving toward life as a full-on “ghost specialist lawyer.”

Here are the key points to watch as "Phantom Lawyer"’s closure adventure gets even stranger.

# “Why Me?!” Red Beans, Garlic, and a Cross ― Yoo Yeon-seok’s Tear-It-Up Ghost-Busting Gag

Shin I-rang just wants to be a normal lawyer, and he’s tried everything. But his “everything” isn’t cramming statutes. It’s scattering red beans around the office, hanging strings of garlic, and even putting up a cross. “Now even a ghost grandpa couldn’t get in,” he sighs in relief.

Except… a new “client” is already there. A schoolgirl ghost floats with her feet off the ground, eyeing the talisman and asking, “Mister, can you see me?” I-rang collapses on the spot and wails, “Why me?!” Once again, he proves he’s a magnet for ghost clients. Fans are bracing for more of his hilariously painful reality.

# Too Soft-Hearted to Say No ― Is Yoo Yeon-seok Becoming a True “Ghost Specialist Lawyer”?

In a pre-release clip, I-rang finally makes a choice. If he can’t dodge ghosts, he’ll turn it into a business. “No one but me can help you,” he says, sliding over a lawyer-client contract loaded with ghost-unfriendly terms. But the moment the ghost asks, “Are we sure I’m dead?” his resolve melts.

He ends up striking out the clause that says, “If a ghost endangers the lawyer, the contract ends immediately,” and adds, “I’ll take on a little risk.” He couldn’t even pass a street vendor grandma without helping―earning a “softie” scolding from his mom, Park Kyung-hwa (Kim Mi-kyung). That warm heart might be what crowns him a true ghost specialist lawyer.

# A Trainee Idol’s Fatal Fall ― Suicide or Murder? And Where Is the Missing Phone?

Episode 3 centers on the tragic death of a trainee idol, hidden behind the glow of the stage lights. The ghost who sought out I-rang was seen dancing in a practice room, then plunging in terror. Newly released stills show I-rang working to recover the ghost’s memories. But the truth looks anything but simple. The agency insists it was suicide. Yet the final moments the ghost remembers don’t line up with what people are saying.

Han Na-hyun (Esom), who again teams up with I-rang in an unexpected alliance, raises the possibility of murder through her own investigation. The victim’s phone is missing from the scene. How will a lawyer who hears ghosts, Shin I-rang, and the tenacious evidence-hunter Han Na-hyun work together―or clash―on this case?

The production team shared, “Episodes 1-2 introduced Shin I-rang’s special ability and his family, building the world of the series. Starting with Episode 3, the office begins receiving petitions from the wronged dead, and I-rang fully accepts ghost clients―launching his closure adventure. Stranger cases and the human stories within them will deliver a thrilling catharsis.”

Riding high in both ratings and buzz, "Phantom Lawyer" Episode 3 airs today, Friday the 20th, at 9:50 p.m.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)