The Attorney (2013) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A successful lawyer's defense of students tortured and charged with sedition transforms him into a public advocate for free speech and the rule of law.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

A Lawyer on the Rise

Song moves to Busan and opens a law firm despite being looked down on by other lawyers. By taking cases his colleagues avoid, he becomes wealthy and respected.

Key Events

• Song Opens a Busan Law Firm — Former judge Song moves to Busan and opens his own law firm. Characters: Song Woo-seok Location: Busan
• Colleagues Look Down on Song — Other lawyers look down on Song because he passed the bar without attending university. Characters: Song Woo-seok Location: Busan law firm
• Song Takes Shunned Cases — Song accepts real-estate and taxation cases that colleagues avoid. Characters: Song Woo-seok Location: Busan
• Song Gains Wealth and Respect — The profitable cases make Song rich and earn him professional respect. Characters: Song Woo-seok Location: Busan
• A Purge Is Ordered — Leadership orders a purge of alleged communists, permitting fabricated cases. Location: Busan
• Medical Officer Assigned — A medical officer is sent to oversee the health of victims subjected to torture. Characters: Medical Officer Location: Military base near Busan

A Missing Student

In 1981, Song enjoys his success while student protests and political repression form the wider backdrop. Park disappears, and Choi's desperate search ends with the discovery that he and other students face sedition charges.

Key Events

• Song Buys a Sailboat — In 1981, Song buys a sailboat and hopes to compete in the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Characters: Song Woo-seok Location: Busan
• Dinner with Classmates — Song dines with his high school classmates at his favorite restaurant. Characters: Song Woo-seok Location: Song's favorite restaurant
• Argument with a Journalist — Song fights with a journalist who sympathizes with student protests and criticizes mass media. Characters: Song Woo-seok Location: Restaurant
• Park Goes Missing — Choi's son Park goes missing after authorities detain him with other students. Characters: Choi Sun-ae, Park Jin-woo Location: Busan
• Choi Searches for Her Son — Choi searches for Park for nearly two months and closes her restaurant. Characters: Choi Sun-ae, Park Jin-woo Location: Busan
• Students Face Sedition Charges — Choi learns that Park and other students are to face trial for sedition. Characters: Park Jin-woo Location: Court

The Torture Trial

Song takes the students' case after recognizing that their confessions were obtained through torture. He challenges constitutional violations and the prosecution's claims, but a witness's testimony is undermined when authorities frame him for desertion.

Key Events

• Song Takes the Students' Case — Recognizing that the confessions were extracted through torture, Song agrees to defend the students. Characters: Song Woo-seok, Park Jin-woo, Choi Sun-ae Location: Busan
• Constitutional Violations at Trial — Song notices constitutional violations but is told national-security cases do not follow normal laws. Characters: Song Woo-seok, Park Jin-woo Location: Court
• Book Presented as Evidence — Prosecutors argue that the students' study of What Is History? supports the sedition charge. Characters: Song Woo-seok, Park Jin-woo Location: Court
• Consulate Note Challenges Claim — Song presents a British consulate note identifying E. H. Carr as a British ambassador. Characters: Song Woo-seok, Park Jin-woo Location: Court
• Torture Denied in Court — A detective denies that the defendants were tortured and claims their injuries were self-inflicted. Characters: Song Woo-seok, Park Jin-woo Location: Court
• Medical Officer Testifies — The medical officer testifies that the defendants were tortured and offers details of the methods. Characters: Medical Officer, Park Jin-woo, Song Woo-seok Location: Court
• Witness Framed for Desertion — Authorities frame the medical officer for desertion, nullifying his testimony and sending him to prison. Characters: Medical Officer, Park Jin-woo Location: Court and prison
• Students Receive Prison Terms — The case is lost, but the judge limits the students' sentences to no more than two years. Characters: Song Woo-seok, Park Jin-woo Location: Court

A Public Stand

The students receive prison terms of no more than two years, but the case changes Song. By 1987 he is a protest leader, and dozens of lawyers attend his hearing after his arrest on a sedition charge.

Key Events

• Song Becomes a Protest Leader — By 1987, Song has changed and become a protest leader. Characters: Song Woo-seok Location: Korea
• Song Arrested for Activism — Song is arrested for his activities and charged with sedition. Characters: Song Woo-seok Location: Korea
• Lawyers Attend Song's Hearing — Ninety-nine of Busan's 142 lawyers attend Song's hearing to express support. Characters: Song Woo-seok Location: Hearing

Story Breakdown

• Busan Legal Success — Song builds a law practice despite professional disdain and rises through profitable cases others avoid.
  • Unconventional Credentials — Song is looked down on because he passed the bar without attending university.
  • Profitable Cases — Song accepts real-estate and taxation cases that colleagues shun, becoming rich and respected.
• Political Repression — Authorities pursue an anti-communist purge that can rely on fabricated cases, while a medical officer is assigned to oversee victims' health.
  • Purge Orders — Leadership orders a purge of alleged communists, even if fabrication is required.
  • Medical Assignment — A medical officer is sent to oversee the health of victims who will be tortured.
• Park Disappears — After Song's dinner and argument with a journalist, Choi's son goes missing and she searches for him.
  • Restaurant Argument — Song argues with a journalist who sympathizes with student protests and criticizes mass media.
  • Choi's Search — Choi searches for Park for nearly two months and closes her restaurant.
• Sedition Prosecution — Park and other students are revealed to be facing trial, with confessions Song recognizes as extracted through torture.
  • Charges Revealed — Choi learns that Park and the other students are to face a sedition trial.
  • Song Takes the Case — Song agrees to defend the students after recognizing the coercion behind their confessions.
• Courtroom Resistance — Song challenges the prosecution's arguments and the disregard for constitutional protections, while official testimony disputes the torture allegations.
  • Constitutional Violations — Song notices violations but is told normal laws do not apply in national-security cases.
  • Book and Consulate Note — The prosecution cites What Is History?, and Song presents a note identifying E. H. Carr as a British ambassador.
  • Torture Denial — A detective denies torture and claims the defendants caused their own injuries.
• Witness Silenced — The medical officer's testimony supports the torture allegations, but authorities neutralize it by framing him for desertion.
  • Officer Testifies — The medical officer tells the court the defendants were tortured and offers to describe the methods.
  • Desertion Frame-Up — The officer is framed for desertion, his testimony is nullified, and he is sent to prison.
• Song's Public Stand — Although the students' case is lost, its consequences lead Song toward protest leadership and a new sedition charge against himself.
  • Limited Sentences — The judge gives the students prison terms of no more than two years.
  • Lawyers Show Support — In 1987, 99 of Busan's 142 lawyers attend Song's hearing after his arrest for protest activities.

Directed by

Yang Woo-seok

Key Cast

• Song Kang-ho — Song Woo-seok
• Kim Young-ae — Choi Sun-ae
• Oh Dal-su — Park Dong-ho
• Yim Si-wan — Park Jin-woo
• Kwak Do-won — Cha Dong-yeong