The JTBC weekend drama Beyond The Bar is on a hot streak, breaking its own ratings record with every episode—and fueling heated speculation over whether Lee Jin Wook and Jung Chae Yeon will share a romance on-screen.
The series follows Kang Hyo Min (Jung Chae Yeon), a righteous and determined rookie attorney at law firm Yullim. Through her partnership with Yoon Seok Hoon (Lee Jin Wook)—a cold, seemingly unapproachable partner lawyer whose skills are unmatched—she grows into a fully fledged attorney.
Episodes have tackled everything from a lawsuit against a corporate CEO who used wealth and influence to cover up child abuse, to a mother fighting for her son after a non-contact traffic accident left him unable to walk. In each case, Yoon and Kang push past corporate interests to fight for justice, often finding ingenious, unexpected solutions that land emotional punches.
The drama’s formula has drawn comparisons to ENA’s breakout hit Extraordinary Attorney Woo, which peaked at 17.5% nationwide.
Premiering August 2nd with a solid 3.7% viewership rating, Beyond The Bar has climbed steadily: 4.7% for Episode 2, 6.7% for Episode 3, and 8.3% for Episode 4 (Nielsen Korea, nationwide). With momentum building, audiences are not only hooked on the courtroom drama but are dissecting every scene between Lee Jin Wook and Jung Chae Yeon for signs of romance.
The two actors’ 16-year age difference has become a hot talking point. While Beyond The Bar is billed as a growth drama rather than a romance, scenes showing Kang Hyo Min blushing around Yoon Seok Hoon have added fuel to the fire.
Online reactions are split. Some viewers are rooting for their romance, while others fear a romance arc could bog the show down. Comments range from, “I hope it ends as a one-sided crush,” to “The drama’s perfect—just add some romance,” and “They look amazing together.”
The backstory makes the debate even spicier: Yoon Seok Hoon is a man deeply sensitive about children and animals. His marriage ended in divorce after his wife, with whom he had agreed to remain child-free, terminated a pregnancy without consulting him. With Kang Hyo Min’s rookie status in contrast to Yoon’s seasoned career, even the hint of their relationship turning romantic is enough to split the audience into opposing camps.
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