Juvenile Justice (2022)

Wasted potential, annoying mc, preachy tone

The reviews and average ratings on this site are way too high. This show is a waste of great production values, direction, music, and amazing acting. The story just doesn't live up to whatever it tried to be or could have been.

The first couple of eps are amazing, and then it goes downhill. Forcing myself to watch final episodes was a chore.
Let's meet the characters:

Sim Eun Seok, also known as Judge Sim. Judge Judy it is not. She hates underaged criminals, and that's 99% of her personality. She doesn't need to eat or sleep, and almost never gets tired in her pursuit of totally not personally motivated revenge against all and any such offenders. In her self-righteous crusade, she doesn't hesitate to do illegal things like conducting her own investigations, trespassing, and even blackmail, because these vile criminals just need to be punished. In the end, she is always proven right and always has her way.

Cha Tae Joo, is an empathetic judge who disagrees with Sim's takes. What could be a great character who might serve as a rival or antagonist to her ways, is nothing more than a useless extra beta male. Seriously, he's a pussy. Every episode it's the same story: he disagrees with something Sim says or does on empathetic grounds, then she calls him an idiot and a dumbass and other insults, he just takes and eventually apologizes and agrees with her like a puppy. He is nothing more than her yes man, and his only purpose in the story is to do her chores.

Kang Won Jung is their boss. He's a veteran judge with anger issues. He has ambitions to get into politics, and now you should figure out how it's going to end. Until that point, his role in the story is lashing out at Sim, then being proven wrong by Sim, rinse and repeat.

Na Geun Hee, also known as judge Na, is also Sim's boss. She's cold and has no personality beyond that. Her idea is to close the juvenile cases as soon as possible because there are just too many of them. Eventually, just like Cha and Kang she agrees that Sim was right about everything and her ways were wrong.

Juvenile Criminals, although composed of various different characters, should be treated as a character on their own. Because they share a collective consciousness, a nearly identical psychological profile. They make funny psycho faces, laugh at inappropriate moments, have no remorse, and are utterly unredeemable. Just as judge Sim described them. Who would have thought that she'd be right after all?

The Victims. Just like the criminals, they are a copy pasta of the same person. Always innocent, always scarred for life, always crying and begging judge Sim to take revenge on the young criminals in their name. Which she does with vengeful satisfaction.


And that's the gist of the show. You can predict what's gonna happen every single episode, and if you sprinkle it with melodrama, you get Juvenile Justice: a mary sue's crusade to prove the author's ideology right.

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It scratched the surface of juvenile justice without taking risks.

This drama handles criminal cases protected by the Juvenile Act. At the center of every ruling is a judge who is vehemently biased against juvenile criminals, Shim Eun Seok. Her colleagues who believe in remorse and rehabilitation constantly demands for her tolerance as he thinks her rulings are too cruel.

Juvenile Justice was dark, thrilling and suspenseful — dedicating approximately an episode and a half to cover each case from murders, domestic abuse, to sexual harassments, etc. The episodic nature hinders the narrative from delving deeply into many of the societal issues that lead to criminal acts. Personally, I was disappointed for it to be that way, that it didn't focus on Juvenile Act. Rather, it was more about the judges' struggles and trauma. I found that the victims, the perpetrators and the parents were more like some plot devices for the judge's stories, which I never was really touched by, the judges were the ones who need rehabilitation, in my opinion.

The actors were great, no doubt about this. The most admirable was Judge Shim Eun Seok, very well-portrayed by Kim Hye Soo. Her screen presence brought a unique shock and awe. Whoever is on screen with her, good luck being seen. Finally, I have no clue about the ending, honestly. Why is it that weird?! Nevertheless, if you like a serious law drama with a lot of thrills, you might find this one enjoyable.

-Dec 2023, Yovita
Find me on Instagram: @kdramajudge

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Could've been great

I love law dramas. Law dramas with dark cases even better. Yet, this one couldn't really grasp me the way I was hoping.
There were a lot of horrible cases yes, but they tried to make us feel for the prosecuted and that's were it fell flat. Yes most of the kids wouldn't have committed the crimes they did if they weren't abandoned, abused or worse. When they don't feel remorse until after they get sentenced it's hard to feel for them. There were a few kids that I did feel for, like Seo Yu Ri, but I think that was because the crime she committed versus the things she was exposed to causing the crime was not as bad. But it wasn't really until the traffic accident case (ep7-8) were I really felt it and that is way to late for a show that is 10 episodes.

But I'll admit that it was an interesting take to watch a law show where all the crimes where committed by kids. It's interesting to see how horrible of crimes kids can commit and what leads them to make such decisions.

Now there wasn't really any bad acting but I was finding myself not caring for most of the characters, even the leads. The female lead is a character that hates juvenile offenders and we never find out why until the last 2 episodes. There is maybe 1 or 2 hints before then that hints why but that is not enough, causing us to have a lead that is harsh towards everyone for seemingly no reason making it hard to like her. She does show some sort of kindness towards some of the kids which is in my opinion her only redeeming aspect of her character.

Now the male main lead doesn't really do much, he is just there and is kind to everything and everyone. He sees the best in all of the kids and maybe that's what we need in this show. If he also would've been harsh to all of the kids, it would probably be even harder to like this show. I do think that he was one of reasons though why I felt the Traffic accident case so much. I'm not saying I didn't like his character but rather that I don't think he did very much for being a main character.

My favourite character was probably Kang Won Joong, the character that would have been the villain in any other Kdrama. The first couple of episodes he even falls into the cliché path of his type of character that causes them to be the villain. The difference is that he deep down is a good person and even though he does some wrong choices later on, he does in the end the right thing and never truly becomes the so called villain.

Na Geun Hee that doesn't show up until the last 4 episodes is not a likable character at all. She does show some redemption in the end but still too late in the show and not enough time to be able to like her character.

The music is really good, not a whole lot of soundtrack with lyrics but that is not a bad thing, I'm just used to have Kdrama have like 5-7 song with lyrics in its soundtrack.

Now because I don't find most of the characters that likable I don't see myself rewatching this one in the future. I would probably still recommend this one for people that like law dramas though.

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Just way too much of everything

So my first thought was about what kind of messed up society Korea must be that they made a drama like this??? A lot of K-dramas seem to insert some type of social commentary here and there but this show brought down the house with it. I get it. From what I understand, the lack of any meaningful laws against juvenile crimes is a serious problem over there. But the problem is that the writer and/or director took everything to such an extreme, you basically get numb to it all.

Here are some of my thoughts after finishing it. Mainly about the main character, really.

1. Main character should be likable or at least relatable. They failed at this completely. Kim Hye Su is basically an emotionless robot who’s not afraid to proclaim her hatred for juvenile criminals.

2. Can’t comment on Korean justice system but based on the show, it’s pretty loose. Anything and everything is basically allowed.

3. The main character is a judge except that she also investigates, chases people down to arrest them all night and shows up to work early. She goes to creepy parts of the city at night looking for bad guys alone. She has no fear and she physically recovers like she’s an anime character. Toward the end of the series, she gets a serious beating and stabbed in her arm. Instead of going to an ER, she somehow goes back to her office to confront her boss… with blood gushing from her arm and all. What’s funny is that her boss actually tries to patch her up without calling an ambulance. I don’t think she eats, either. Can’t make this up.

4. Not only she’s a judge, she’s always right. In fact, she is so right, part of her MO is to make her superiors kneel and admit that she was right all along.

5. The last episode was so nuts. You need to watch to believe it.

6. The way Korean and its people are being portrayed in K-dramas, how accurate is it? It’s not flattering how violent and shallow normal everyday people are in these show.

7. It’s as if every scene, every conversation and situation was designed to hammer us with lessons and overwhelm us with emotions. Its just too much. Let the viewers read between the lines and give us some room to breathe and feel. We’re not idiots. We just need a nudge. Constant onslaught of what I should learn and how i should feel completely failed to connect with me.

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Juvenile Crime Drama with Adult Undertones

LIKES: The production was well done, no shaking camera moments to add drama because the acting was pretty good. Good zoom ins, camera angles, etc. Directing was also well done for the most part. There were some evening and dark area scenes, that had just the right amount of lighting, which made me applaud the director. Acting was well done for the most part and some of the supporting characters in each episode could outshine the main leads. The OST was suitable and not too loud or overbearing. Also while this crime/court drama did show some of the procedures, the good and bad of laws, it didn't get too bogged down by that. The first 5 episodes were really good, but the last 5 seemed a little less engaging. I wasn't as excited about the next episode, like I was in the first half of the series. For the most part I really liked how Kim Hye Soo delivered the character of Judge Shim Eun Seok.

DISLIKES: Some over-acting when doing emotional scenes, but no one too annoying or too often doing that. The second half of the episodes and conclusion, weren't as interesting as the strong beginning. I didn't feel like there was true character growth for any of the leads, but that might be due to the limited episodes and hence time. Also when trying to give the back story of Eun Seok, the drama of the ex-husband and his mother (parts) really weren't necessary.

Over all it was a decent story, interesting and I watched the whole thing in one sitting. I would recommend watching it and rewatching it, because it makes us think about our choices and actions in respects to how it can effect others. A solid 7/10.

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Maybe from this drama what I can appreciate is only the type of case,, other than that there is nothing,, in my opinion, the storyline of each case is very slow and boring, even though the duration is no more than 1 hour, it feels very slow,,use speed 2x is not enough

The use of professional terms is not understood, although it is often discussed, the way the law works in this drama seems unclear in my opinion, a bit difficult and dizzy when watching, especially subtitles with words that are difficult to understand, a bit dizzy

In this drama, it tells the weakness of the law, not the strength of the law, the punishment is not proportional to the savagery of the perpetrator

In the case of domestic violence, will prove that who will be imprisoned is the perpetrator, not the victim, the one year sentence was not enough, when the perpetrator was released, it would happen again and even worse.

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an unethical legal drama

By an ethical point of view I find this drama truly terrible. I would have not minded if the story was centered on the existence of young criminals, why they commit crimes and how they should be judged but at the end it felt like it was just a propaganda to enforce the punishments for juvenile crimes. What people don’t understand is that even if the judge is the main character that doesn’t automatically mean she is in the right. The premise itself is cringe: “I hate young criminals” it’s not a glorious and smart statement, it just sounds silly that an adult holds grudges against minors she doesn’t know anything about ... it doesn't matter if the kids have serious mental problems or if they steal out of hunger, they are treated ruthlessly because they are "nullities". It’s just a very classist mindset bc the majority of young criminals are poor and live in abusive environments. The scene that made me definitely drop the drama was at the end of episode 5:"it’s true that juveniles are influenced by their family and environment. But in the end it’s themselves who chose to commit a crime.” It’s a tone deaf phrase that she said to 15-year-old girls who, having no money to buy food, had decided to prostitute themselves. How is it entirely their fault? Isn’t society itself the problem? It couldn’t protect them from their abusive families, it didn’t help them find a job.. then why are the girls depicted as evil? These girls are not criminals they are victims,it’s the society that failed them. But the viewers don’t perceive the judge’s statement as bad bc the script is quite sneaky: it depicts the young girls as rude and violent making the viewers think “well, maybe with this attitude they deserved all of it.”
That’s why I cannot appreciate this drama. It’s objectively well done with good actors but I can’t accept the message behind it.

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You can stop at episode 8

This show starts all right, a bit over the top, but that's to be expected.

I don't even wanna write a review for it, it's that disappointing. However I feel like I need to, because I was tricked by the overall rating.

If you're watching it expecting a serious social commentary that portrayed horrific events in a realistic and respectful way, then don't watch it. The depictions are cartoonish and over the top, teens (as much as I despise them, too) are depicted as animals lacking in any moral compass, like they need to be taught why murder or rape are not okay.
I assume since we are all humans, and the children in Korea don't have their moral network extracted, then put back in again once they reach adulthood, that this is exaggerated and ridiculous. Thus providing no meaningful social commentary and is instead something to watch so the amazing supporting cast can make you cry.

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Juvenile Court room drama

Binge all 10 episodes of this court drama went from 0 to 100 in its 1st episode and hasn't stop ?

Kim Hye Soo character Judge Shim does not hold back during her ruling in juvenile court even going out on her own to investigate to the chagrin and some level of respect from her Presiding Judge.
We see cases unfold under the ruling of Juvenile Law in need of restructing....

Each episode hits you in the feels, you'll see cases on Premeditated murder, domestic violence, underage prostitution, school cheating scandal and juvenile defense victim blaming.
This series is heavy, HEAVY - Brace yourselves with this one.

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A disturbing watch but an eye-opening one: "It takes an entire village to raise a child"

This was a truly heavy and disturbing watch, but a much-needed and eye-opening one. I remember, as a 16 yo when I started my K-drama journey , thinking of South Korea as the safe heaven, I realized later that as any country in the world, it has its own set of problems. As a 23 yo, still this drama still shook me in many instances, especially with the type of crimes it tackles. I didn't know much about the teen runaway gangs, young offenders using the law to commit horrible crimes and avoid the consequences, the heinous world of teen prostitution, the fragility of life, or how anyone can be a victim yet the court can't take a firm stance... The last scene truly resonated with me: "It takes an entire village to raise a child. In other words, a child's life could be ruined if the entire village neglects the child". As someone who questions, "How am I supposed to bring a child and raise them well in a messed up world?" this watch was scary and haunting and makes me dig even deeper and re-think that over.

Technically, it was a well-made show. The pace was on point, each episode is poignant and impactful without dragging. Maybe the 10 eps format is the best for this genre instead of dragging it for no reason. The casting was stellar across the board, with a standing ovation for the veterans Kim Hye Soo and Lee Sung Min and Lee Yeon from the kids (kudos for portraying a 11 yo guy for a 28 yo woman...lol even the math isn't mathing, but she was impeccably believable). The background music was haunting, and the ending score was calming esp after each scary episode. Character-wise, Shim Eun Seok will def go to my fav female characters: she was poised, extremely intelligent, capable, and competent for her job without losing her humanity. The scenes where she said: "No matter how many young offenders cases I take, I never get used to them," and when her co-worker was telling her to give up on the case to not be disciplined, she went on: "Is that what scares you. The type of adult these young offenders will turn into if we don't deal with them rightfully is what scares me," pierced through my heart. I wish we had more screentime with Kang Won Jung instead of just being an ill-tempered boss and ending his character arc prematurely. His journey to change "the juvenile act" would be a great sequel to this. Cha Tae Joo's character fell flat, like someone with no substance other than a supporting lead with a fitting melodramatic background, but he didn't add much for being the friendly judge bc Sim Eun Soak was already a morally sound and humane character at heart, him being there just to balance her was not needed. Honestly, I didn't understand Na Guen Hee or her character arc or her motives. She was like any bureaucrat wanting to end things fast, but a little character building would've let me understood her better.

Overall, a well-paced, well-written, and well-acted show with a serious topic that was eye-opening for me, but I won't rewatch it or recommend it unless I know the viewer can handle and be invested in it well: 8.5/10

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Mostly good!

I quite like the different cases as well as the characters, buuuut there are just a handful of things that annoy me...

1) I did not like the episode about the leaked exams, I know it was probably the whole point, but I did not feel bad anyone lmao. These kids and parents are already rich and privileged and then just decide to be even greedier, and then complain about having to face the consequences of their entitled actions. And I am supposed to feel bad, or have some empathy? No. Same with Eun Seok being the "whistleblower" for ratting out the previous head judge. Like, if SHE doesn't do it, the coward wouldn't have done it either since his own life mattered more. For years he was known as an impartial judge, but NOW that it concerns HIM, suddenly he wants to bury the case since he wouldn't benefit from it because he wanted to go into politics. Sir, you should have been more decent to your son!

2) The fact that Cha Tae Joo just always stands there while Eun Seok is getting CHEWED the fuck out? Sir? Either, she tells him to leave, or he really just stands there, while someone yells at her? His submissive nature is kind of annoying seven episodes into the show like say something man!

3) Eun Seok victim blaming the girl in that one episode. Listen, yes, the girl(s) should not have run away, but blaming the 14yo girl that was forced into prostitution that this is the consequence of her not following the law after she got assaulted and nearly raped was kind of very much unnecessary and heartless in that scene , i don't know. On one hand, the girl was a culprit because she did previously beat up another girl, but on the other hand she was a victim as well. It's just two different situations. But being forced into selling her body as a minor (by girls that are hardly older than her) to grown ass men and then blaming her lowkey while she's still shocked and bloody, is just wrong.

4) Lack of character development. In my opinion, the characters more or less stayed the same. I also thought that Eun Seok's speech at the end was contradictory. She says she will not be biased in court yet admits that she still despises juvenile offenders. That's.... biased lmao, but whatever.

Other than that, the quality of the show is great as well as the acting and the cases are interesting and quite diverse.

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