JTBC Esquire 2025: Lee Jin-wook and Jung Chae-yeon Star in New Legal K-Drama
JTBC's weekend drama "Esquire: Lawyers Who Dream of Being Lawyers" premiered on August 2, 2025, at 10:40 PM, bringing a fresh take on Korean legal dramas with its authentic workplace storytelling.
The drama centers on Kang Hyo-min (Jung Chae-yeon), a righteous but socially awkward rookie lawyer at Yulrim Law Firm, who grows under the mentorship of partner lawyer Yoon Seok-hoon (Lee Jin-wook), a cold but highly skilled legal expert.
Main Cast:
- Lee Jin-wook as Yoon Seok-hoon - A perfectionist partner lawyer with exceptional skills
- Jung Chae-yeon as Kang Hyo-min - An idealistic rookie lawyer learning the ropes
- Lee Hak-joo as Lee Jin-woo - A capable associate lawyer bridging senior and junior staff
- Jeon Hye-bin as Heo Min-jung - A late-starter lawyer who brings strong leadership
Director Kim Jae-hong emphasized the drama's authenticity, stating that the script felt "real" due to its detailed and realistic litigation cases. Unlike typical legal dramas, each episode focuses on cases themed around different forms of "love," showing lawyers who carefully embrace people hurt by various relationships.
Written by a Practicing Lawyer
The drama's credibility stems from writer Park Mi-hyeon, who is a practicing lawyer at DR&AJU Law Firm, specializing in energy and infrastructure law. This professional background ensures accurate legal procedures and terminology throughout the series.
Esquire directly competes with tvN's "Seocho-dong," which has been airing since July 5, 2025, in the same Saturday-Sunday time slot. Director Kim distinguished the two shows, explaining that while "Seocho-dong" focuses on legal town life, "Esquire" explores the inner workings of a major law firm.
Director Kim Jae-hong previously worked on "The Good Bad Mother" and brings experience from multiple legal dramas. He describes "Esquire" as "a drama that deals with law but ultimately tells stories about people".
Writer Park Mi-hyeon is a foreign attorney (New York, Australia) and head of the Energy & Infrastructure team at DR&AJU Law Firm, bringing real-world legal expertise to the screenplay.
Lee Jin-wook found the legal terminology challenging initially but became comfortable by mid-filming. He praised Jung Chae-yeon's professionalism, noting their same-agency connection helped build natural chemistry.
Jung Chae-yeon admitted struggling with legal terms but approached the script "like studying" and changed her daily routine to better embody her character.
"Esquire" airs every Saturday at 10:40 PM and Sunday at 10:30 PM on JTBC, continuing JTBC's weekend drama tradition following "Good Boy."
Why Watch Esquire?
- Authenticity - Written by a practicing lawyer with real legal experience
- Character Growth - Focus on rookie lawyer development in corporate environment
- Human Stories - Each case explores different aspects of relationships and love
- Strong Cast - Proven chemistry between Lee Jin-wook and Jung Chae-yeon
- Workplace Drama - Realistic portrayal of law firm dynamics and office culture
The 12-episode series promises to deliver both legal intrigue and emotional depth through its case-per-episode format, making it essential viewing for K-drama fans interested in workplace stories with substance.
