Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
A Scholar Cast Out
A mathematics professor exposes a testing error and suffers professional humiliation. After being denied tenure, he leaves the university and later returns to pursue legal remedies.
Key Events
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Exam Error Exposed — A mathematics professor exposes an error in the national aptitude test, humiliating the professors who drafted it.
Location: South Korean university
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Tenure Denied — Despite strong research, the professor is denied tenure and forced to resign.
Location: South Korean university
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Return From America — After living in the United States, the professor returns when rejected professors gain the right to sue.
Location: South Korea
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Wrongful Dismissal Loss — The professor loses the wrongful dismissal case, and the appeal is dismissed.
Location: Court
The Crossbow Case
The professor confronts an appeals judge and is arrested after a physical struggle. The judge's unexpected abdominal puncture turns the incident into a major criminal case.
Key Events
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Apartment Confrontation — The professor confronts the appeals judge outside the judge's apartment with a sporting crossbow.
Location: Entrance to a judge's apartment
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Physical Struggle — A physical struggle occurs, and the professor is arrested.
Location: Apartment entrance
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Judge Hospitalized — The judge later appears with a minor abdominal puncture and is taken to the hospital.
Location: Apartment entrance and hospital
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Public Scandal — Because assaulting a judge is a serious crime, the case attracts widespread public attention.
Location: South Korean media
A Defendant Studies Law
After a troubled trial and a no contest plea, the imprisoned defendant appeals. He studies the law intensely and works with counsel and a journalist to challenge the prosecution.
Key Events
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Lawyer Consultation — A heavily indebted lawyer is approached about the case, but the initial arrangement collapses after concerns about alcoholism.
Location: Law office
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No Contest Plea — With another lawyer, the defendant pleads no contest because the trial judge appears prejudiced and dishonest.
Location: Trial courtroom
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Appeal From Prison — From prison, the defendant files an appeal and hires the previously approached lawyer on a journalist's advice.
Location: Prison
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Self Taught Defense — The defendant reveals extensive legal study and argues with counsel about how to present the case.
Location: Prison and law office
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Appeal Hearings Begin — During hearings, the defendant challenges the judge and prosecutor over alleged violations of law and constitutional principles.
Location: Appeals courtroom
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Evidence Loopholes Found — The defense identifies loopholes in the prosecution's evidence and the victim's testimony.
Location: Law office
Evidence Against Authority
The first appeals judge resigns, while a replacement obstructs the proceedings. Defense arguments expose weaknesses in the physical evidence and testimony.
Key Events
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Appeals Judge Resigns — The appeals judge resigns rather than appear to favor the defense.
Location: Appeals courtroom
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Proceedings Obstructed — A replacement appeals judge obstructs proceedings and protects the prosecutor despite the evidence.
Location: Appeals courtroom
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Self Inflicted Wound Revealed — The evidence indicates that the victim stabbed himself and that blood-stained clothing was procured later.
Location: Hospital and police investigation
Punishment and Persistence
Public protests grow as the appeal is denied and the defendant suffers a prison assault. Reduced imprisonment and continued legal resistance lead to lifelong judicial-transparency activism.
Key Events
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Public Protest Escalates — Citizens riot and protest for acquittal while a judges' association demands the opposite verdict.
Location: South Korean streets
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Protest Plan Abandoned — The defense lawyer plans to pour water on the appeals judge, but the journalist confiscates the bottles.
Location: Outside the appeals courtroom
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Prison Assault — The defendant is sexually assaulted by another male inmate during the night.
Location: Prison
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Appeal Denied — The appeal is denied, but the defendant receives a four-year sentence instead of ten years.
Location: Appeals courtroom
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Prison Legal Battles — While imprisoned, the defendant continues citing the law and arguing with prison guards.
Location: Prison
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Lifelong Activism — After release, the defendant becomes a lifelong activist for judicial transparency.
Location: South Korea
