SBS’s new Friday-Saturday drama Phantom Lawyer is already emerging as a major weekend hit, breaking into double-digit ratings after just two episodes.
The show’s episode 2, which aired March 14, recorded a 9.2% viewership rating in the Seoul metropolitan area, with a peak rating soaring to 11.3%. The drama also ranked No. 1 among mini-series airing in the same time slot. The early success signals the arrival of SBS’s next “dark hero” drama, following popular series like Taxi Driver and The Judge from Hell.
The drama is also gaining traction globally. According to FlixPatrol, Phantom Lawyer ranked No. 7 on Netflix’s chart as of March 15th with 226 points, reaching No. 1 in both South Korea and Singapore.
Much of the buzz centers on Yoo Yeon Seok’s dramatic transformation in the lead role. He plays Shin I Rang, a once timid lawyer who opens a law office inside a converted shaman’s house. After discovering an incense burner hidden in a drawer, he suddenly gains the ability to see ghosts.
The twist? When Shin I Rang takes on the grudges of the dead, he temporarily absorbs their personalities. In one standout scene, he becomes possessed by the spirit of a violent gangster, delivering thick dialect lines and intense action sequences that have thrilled viewers.
Episode two also added emotional depth. In a touching moment, Shin I Rang relays the final feelings of a deceased father to his grieving daughter, blending comedy, action, and heartfelt storytelling.
The production team described the character as “someone who becomes the voice of the dead who can no longer speak, revealing their unresolved pain to the world.” They added, “Viewers can look forward to Shin I Rang’s extraordinary journey as he fights for those who have nowhere else to turn when the law and reality fail them.”
Phantom Lawyer airs every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 PM KST on SBS.
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