Pro Bono Episode 5 Recap: Ki-ppeum Questions Kang Da-wit’s Ethics

In the Pro Bono episode 5, it revealed growing tension between the two lawyers. The relationship between Kang Da-wit and Park Ki-ppeum hit a rough patch. Things got complicated fast.

Park Ki-ppeum received an anonymous video. The footage showed something disturbing. Kang Da-wit appeared drunk in the clip. He was smiling while accepting an apple box. That box contained 1.2 billion won in cash. The anonymous sender warned her not to trust Kang Da-wit.

This changed everything for Park Ki-ppeum. She started questioning her colleague’s character. The video kept playing in her mind. She couldn’t shake off what she saw.

Kang Da-wit noticed something was off. He bragged about his past achievements without realizing the problem. “I detained sitting ministers without batting an eye,” he told Park Ki-ppeum. He seemed proud of his track record. His confidence was sky-high.

Park Ki-ppeum asked him a simple question. “You’re a good person, right?” Her voice carried doubt. Kang Da-wit didn’t understand why she asked. He showed her his social media followers. He thought popularity meant everything.

But Park Ki-ppeum wasn’t impressed. She tried to leave the conversation. Kang Da-wit stopped her. “I hate when people start saying something and don’t finish,” he complained. Park Ki-ppeum only wanted confirmation. “I just hope you’re a good person,” she said quietly.

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The Divorce Case That Divided Them

A new case arrived at the pro bono team. A local human rights organization sent it over. The case involved Kaya, a married immigrant woman. She wanted a divorce from her Korean husband. Kaya cited personality differences as her reason.

Kang Da-wit didn’t want to take the case. He thought it was too simple. “This is just another international marriage scam,” he said bluntly. He believed Kaya married for a visa. Now she wanted to stay in Korea after the divorce. He saw this pattern before.

Park Ki-ppeum disagreed strongly. “Kaya is married to a Korean and lives here,” she pointed out. Her tone was firm. She believed everyone deserved legal protection. It didn’t matter where they came from.

“Is Kaya not part of Korean society?” Park Ki-ppeum challenged him. She thought public interest meant helping everyone. Not just Korean citizens. Her values clashed with Kang Da-wit’s view.

Sarcasm, Silence, and a Cracked Trust

Kang Da-wit refused to back down. He focused on benefits for their team. “There’s nothing to gain from this case,” he stated coldly. Park Ki-ppeum shot back with sarcasm. “You mean nothing to gain for your popularity,” she said. Her words stung.

The tension escalated quickly. Park Ki-ppeum made a pointed comment about family trees. “Do we need ancestry from Dangun’s era to get legal protection?” she asked. Then she added something sharper. “Or should they bring money in apple boxes?”

Kang Da-wit caught the reference immediately. “What did you just say?” His face changed. Park Ki-ppeum brushed it off. “Just saying,” she replied casually. But the damage was done.

Kang Da-wit confronted her directly. “You’ve been cold to me lately,” he observed. He wanted to know if she had heard something about him. Park Ki-ppeum played innocently. “Is there something you’re hiding?” she asked.

He denied everything loudly. “I have nothing to be ashamed of,” Kang Da-wit insisted. His reaction seemed defensive. Park Ki-ppeum didn’t push further. She changed topics instead.

Truth Behind the Case Unfolds

The team eventually took Kaya’s case. They met her at a soccer match. She wore a cheerleading outfit she made herself. Kaya danced to trendy music. She caught everyone’s attention.

Kaya explained her situation to the team. Her husband suspected her constantly. He accused her of having another man. He cursed at her and checked her phone. She wanted freedom as Korean women had.

Kang Da-wit remained skeptical at first. He noticed Kaya wore designer clothes. He questioned her sincerity about being poor. Jang Yeong-sil discovered the truth. The designer items were fake. They were cheap market copies.

The case grew more complex. Kaya’s husband was the local mayor’s son. He had intellectual disabilities. The team visited their home for fieldwork. They helped with farm duties.

Kang Da-wit’s suspicions increased during the visit. He saw a wreath from the chief justice. The husband’s behavior raised red flags. He dragged Kaya into a room. He locked all the windows. “It’s just us two,” he said ominously.

Everything changed after that incident. Kang Da-wit agreed to take the divorce case. The law firm opposed his decision. But CEO Oh Jung-in supported him surprisingly.

Oh Jung-in revealed something shocking. Park Ki-ppeum had shown her the bribery video. They negotiated using that footage. Kang Da-wit felt betrayed. Park Ki-ppeum never asked him directly about it.

Truth Behind the Assault

The divorce case went to court. New evidence emerged constantly. Kaya’s mother-in-law accused her of abuse. She claimed Kaya took birth control pills. Photos showed bruising on Kaya’s neck. She hid strangulation marks with a scarf.

The case turned into attempted murder. Kang Da-wit realized something important. The husband was left-handed. He couldn’t have strangled her that way. The real attacker was someone else.

The father-in-law became the suspect. He had strangled Kaya that night. DNA evidence confirmed sexual assault. He was arrested immediately. The marriage couldn’t continue after this.

But the opposing lawyer changed everything. Woo Myung-hoon took over the case. He claimed Kaya had hidden a previous marriage. She allegedly gave birth before coming to Korea. This was fraudulent marriage territory.

Woo Myung-hoon filed for marriage annulment. He demanded 100 million won in compensation. Kang Da-wit faced losing the case. He confronted Kaya about the secret. “Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked desperately. Deportation was now possible.

The episode ended on this cliffhanger. Park Ki-ppeum still questioned Kang Da-wit’s past. The bribery video remained unexplained. Their professional relationship hung by a thread. Trust issues dominated their partnership now.

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