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A courtroom drama focused on juvenile crime and punishment
Netflix's South Korean legal drama Juvenile Justice follows Sim Eun-seok, a judge who openly dislikes juvenile offenders before being assigned to a juvenile criminal division at a court known for handling a high number of youth crime cases. As she takes on different cases, the series explores the tension between her personal feelings, ideas of justice and questions about punishment.
The drama premiered on Netflix on Feb. 25, 2022, and consists of one season with 10 episodes. Directed by Hong Jong-chan and written by Kim Min-seok, the series marked Kim's screenwriting debut. The show combines crime and courtroom drama elements while focusing on the Korean juvenile justice system.
Judges at the center of difficult cases
Kim Hye-soo stars as Sim Eun-seok, a judge serving in the juvenile criminal division. Kim Moo-yeol plays fellow judge Cha Tae-joo, while Lee Sung-min portrays chief judge Kang Won-joong. Lee Jung-eun appears as Na Geun-hee, a judge who later succeeds Kang and previously handled a major apartment brick-throwing case five years earlier.
The story also features court officials, prosecutors, police personnel and youth rehabilitation workers who become connected through the cases handled by the court.
Multiple youth crime cases shape the series
The drama follows a range of fictional cases involving young offenders, including a child murder case, repeated theft, domestic violence, leaked school exam questions, underage driving incidents, group sexual assault and an apartment brick-throwing incident.
The personal lives of the judges also become intertwined with the cases. Kang Won-joong's son becomes involved in a school exam leak case, while Sim Eun-seok's family is connected to the earlier brick-throwing incident. A youth recovery center is another major setting, highlighting efforts to address the lives of teenagers involved in the justice system.
Netflix release brought the Korean courtroom series to global audiences
Released worldwide through Netflix, Juvenile Justice introduced international viewers to a Korean courtroom drama centered on juvenile law, a subject that differs from many traditional crime series by focusing on the responsibility of both offenders and the institutions that judge them.
The series received recognition in South Korea, with writer Kim Min-seok winning the screenplay award at the 58th Baeksang Arts Awards in 2022.
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