Chapter 34 – Can’t Beat a Single Broadcaster Like That

“Here it is!”

Office Manager Ju Yong-hae found the voice recorder stuck between the bookshelves and dusted it off.

“I should see if the consultation log is in the warehouse.”

As he stood up, Cha Ra-ri grabbed Ju Yong-hae.

“Why are you always like a sweet potato, Office Manager?

Why don’t you answer right away? It feels like you just throw out a drama teaser and end it!”

“Ah… yeah..”

At that moment, Director Kim Mi-yeong, who was passing by, casually tossed a word.

“If it’s a sweet potato, that’s a relief. Living with him, talking to a wall is better. That man has no words, none.”

Ju Yong-hae pretended not to hear and spoke.

“It’s Chuseok.”

“Why are we busy when it’s Chuseok? We rest during Chuseok too, don’t we? The court rests as well.”

“Chuseok isn’t the problem, the week after Chuseok is the problem.”

“The week after?”

Office Manager Yeom, who understood what he meant, spread the newspaper wide open and leaned back in his chair.

“After Chuseok, every household goes crazy. Whether they prepared the ancestral rite table well or not.

Your older brother did this, the younger brother did that, then they move on to badmouthing each other’s family, then a couple’s fight breaks out, and if I exaggerate a bit, our office door won’t close with people bursting in saying they want to get divorced.

In the past, couples really fought on the streets of Seocho-dong, kicked open the door of any lawyer’s office they saw, and said, ‘I want to file for divorce right now.’

We’ve experienced a lot of that too. But when you counsel them, it changes. From what they first said.”

“Oh my, that’s really true. They also say on the news that divorce consultations surge after Chuseok.”

“Of course. Besides, now that Lawyer Geum’s name is somewhat known, more will come.

Once word of mouth spreads that the retainer fee is cheap, they will flock even more. Originally, divorce has many introductions through word of mouth.”

“Then it’s going to be absolute peak season for us soon?”

“We’re not the only ones busy. The stenography offices also become hectic.”

“Stenography?”

“Yeah. They record all the couple fights, in-laws’ badmouthing, and swearing and bring it in.

But to submit that to the court, they have to turn it into a transcript. That’s why people line up there too.”

“Oh my goodness, it’s peak season after Chuseok!”

“That’s right.”

“Then, before it gets busy, I should go and bring in the Gankyeok lawsuit cases first!”

Cha Ra-ri quickly packed her bag and left the office.

***

The next day. In front of the Law Firm Teum building.

A car stopped noisily.

Screeech—!

“Oh my, is that so! Fine, let’s put an end to it this time!”

As soon as the middle-aged couple got out of the car, they raised their voices in the middle of the street.

“So is that why you dragged me all the way to the front of a lawyer’s office, you woman!”

“You woman? Are you calling your own wife ‘you woman’ right now?!”

“Then are you someone else’s woman!!!”

“Enough, let’s divorce! I’m sick of it, it’s absolutely horrible.

Go in quickly. Hearing from Min-jeong’s mother, they say this place divides everything cleanly down to a single ten-won coin!”

“Ha! Ten won my foot. Do you think I’ll lose even one won?”

As loud voices were exchanged on the street, passersby glanced back.

It was a typical scene of a couple on the verge of divorce, commonly seen in Seocho-dong.

“Excuse me! Is Lawyer Geum Nae-yeong here?”

The husband approached the information desk staff and asked.

“Yes, he is. You can go up to the third floor.”

“I see! Where is the elevator?”

“Go out and it’s at the end of the hallway on the left.”

“Hurry up, don’t dawdle and make me feel frustrated!”

The wife poked the husband’s side with her finger.

“Hey! I was asking a question! Sheesh… this woman, always nagging. I will settle this once and for all today.”

Thud-shwoosh.

When the elevator doors closed, far from stopping their fight, the couple clashed sparks again until they reached the third floor.

As soon as they arrived on the third floor, the wife, feeling thirsty, saw the water purifier and began to pour and drink a cup of water, while the husband strode toward the staff.

“Is Lawyer Geum Nae-yeong here?”

“Yes, that is correct. Did you make a reservation for a consultation?”

“Reservation? Did we make a reservation? …Hey. Ji-yun’s mother, did we make a reservation?”

“Good grief. I can’t even drink a cup of water, you frustrating man.

Yes. We made a reservation. Through Park Yu-jin’s introduction, today at 2 o’clock.”

“Yes, it has been confirmed. The name is here. Would you please wait in the consultation room for a moment?”

“Yes, yes, thank you.”

“He said to follow and wait.”

“I heard it too, okay? I’m not deaf!”

A little later.

The couple was guided into Geum Nae-yeong’s office.

“Hello, I am Geum Nae-yeong.”

When Geum Nae-yeong greeted them, the husband, recognizing his face, spoke in a free-and-easy manner.

“Ah, nice to meet you. I saw you on TV! The quiz-solving one.

When I saw you answering that cloud or whatever it was, I said, ‘Wow, that gentleman is smart!’”

“Why are you talking about useless things!”

The wife scolded the husband while poking his side.

“I’m just greeting the attorney, greeting!… What a personality…”

With the two bickering in front of him, Geum Nae-yeong asked professionally.

“What kind of matter do you want to consult about?”

“Yes, we want to divorce. We came to get counseling because there are also some property issues entangled.”

“Divorce?”

“Yes.”

Geum Nae-yeong nodded firmly.

“You both want to proceed with a divorce. However, I cannot represent both of you at the same time.

An attorney cannot represent parties with conflicting interests together, as this violates the Attorney Act.

Therefore, only one of you can receive counseling.”

“Only one person?”

The couple’s eyes shook at the same time.

‘A lawyer this famous should still be on my side… Min-jeong’s mother said the retainer fee is really cheap and he only takes a success fee…’

‘Looking at the quiz show, the man was very smart. If it’s someone like this, he’ll extract even one won more, right?’

The same thought flashed through both of their minds.

“Then, please do me. Since I am the one who got the introduction.”

The wife quickly made the first move.

“Look at this woman? What does the introduction have to do with it! I drove all the way here!”

“Oh my, does anyone else not have legs? I came along in the car because I was in a hurry! If not for me, we wouldn’t have even gotten the introduction here!”

“Don’t make me laugh! I know him too! I saw him on TV, okay? These days, even if you just search the internet, the office location comes up, so why are you trying to take credit for a measly introduction!”

“Since the reservation was also made in my name, he should naturally be my lawyer.”

“Don’t make me laugh! Then let’s see who stepped foot into this office first! Huh?”

“Since I spoke to the first-floor employee first, I am first!”

At the wife’s words, the husband’s voice grew louder.

“I spoke to the third-floor employee!”

“No, since it has come to this, let’s ask the attorney to decide!”

“Fine! Good!”

The husband readily agreed to the wife’s proposal.

“Attorney, please make a ruling! Who should receive counseling.”

The couple looked at Geum Nae-yeong at the same time, and Geum Nae-yeong watched their faces silently for a moment.

‘Hmm… A ruling. Who had a clearer intention of divorce first, that’s what’s important.’

‘The person who directly revealed the will to consult is the person who truly wanted to consult with me.’

Finally, Geum Nae-yeong spoke.

“The button for the elevator coming up here to the third floor. Who pressed it?”

At Geum Nae-yeong’s question, the couple, who had been raising their voices just now, paused at the same time. They watched each other’s expressions and searched their memories.

“Let’s… see…”

“Going into the hallway on the left…”

“I said, ‘Hurry up and get in, you woman!’…”

“And I said, ‘I’m getting in right now!’”

“And you asked, ‘Which floor did they say?’”

“And I said, ‘How do you forget that immediately! It’s the third floor… press.’”

“It’s me!!! It’s me!!!”

The wife, retracing her memory, raised her hand high and shouted with joy.

“…Aw, man.”

The husband let out a sigh.

Geum Nae-yeong calmly continued speaking.

“Then the wife should consult here.

Divorce first goes through mediation procedures in court, and if an agreement is not reached there, it leads to a trial.

Therefore, I must listen to the story from the wife’s perspective now.”

At Geum Nae-yeong’s firm words, the man stood up with a bitter face and trudged out of the office.

Once the husband left, the woman began to pour out her story excitedly.

“We’ve been married for about 20 years. During that period, I raised the kids well as a full-time housewife, and at first, my husband was an ordinary salaryman who went to work diligently.

But as we got older, there was no conversation and no fun, so we grew distant, and later we ended up scraping at each other, swearing… well, that’s how it became.

Then, from one day, this human cut down the living expenses he gave, and our relationship got worse because of that.

As Chuseok approached, whose hometown we should go to first, we started fighting about this again… and that’s how we ended up here.”

Geum Nae-yeong, who was writing down the woman’s consultation details, asked a few questions.

“How many children do you have?”

“Two. One is twenty, and the other is a high school freshman.”

“Approximately how much is your husband’s monthly salary?”

“Well… he doesn’t state it accurately. I think it would be around five million.”

Scribble, scribble—

“The asset is the house you currently reside in. Is this all the assets you know of?”

“Yes, one apartment. It should be worth about 500 million won. There probably won’t be any savings. Because that human likes to play.”

“Do you fight often during holidays?”

“Yes, of course. When we go to the in-laws’ house, we always have a massive fight before coming back.”

Geum Nae-yeong spoke with a calm expression.

“Then, make sure to go to your in-laws’ house first this holiday.”

“Yes? Why would we go when we’re going to fight?”

“You have to get alimony.”

“Alimony…?”

“Yes. Since you’re going to divorce anyway, if you want to get even a little more, record the swearing or character insults as evidence and bring it.

Based on current standards, the property division is expected to be roughly 50-50, totaling about 250 million won.

Child support would be 1.4 million won per month, and let’s claim about ten million won in alimony here.”

“Oh, is that so? In that case… I guess I should go spend the holidays.”

‘Wow, he really knows his stuff, just as they said he’d tell me the method properly.’

Just as the woman was about to return satisfied with the consultation, Geum Nae-yeong added.

“However, if your husband also went to consult elsewhere instead of here, he would have heard the exact same thing, ‘Record your wife swearing.’”

“Ah… that would be true.”

“So, even if your husband provokes you, do not fall for it. Of course, your husband will have heard this same advice from another lawyer, though.”

“Ah… yes, I understand.”

“Perhaps… this holiday might pass quietly, unexpectedly.”

Geum Nae-yeong raised his clenched right hand with an expressionless face. And he shouted softly to the wife.

“…So, fighting.”

***

Geum Nae-yeong finished all his consultations for the day and set out on his way home.

The cell phone vibrated inside his inner pocket.

Buzz—

“Yes, hello?”

“Yes, hello. Is this by any chance Lawyer Geum Nae-yeong’s cell phone?”

“Yes, it is, but… who is calling?”

“I am the writer in charge of the program , which sheds new light on criminal cases.”

“Ah, I see.”

“We contacted you after seeing you expose the fake coin issue on the quiz program.

We are preparing a Chuseok Special Live Broadcast this time.

We would like to invite you to that corner.”

Geum Nae-yeong fell into thought for a moment.

‘Even if it’s a crime program, what they handle are cases where the investigation is already finished.’

‘There is no practical benefit to gain by changing the trial schedule.’

“I’m sorry, but I have a lot of trial schedules, so it will be difficult for me to appear.”

A firm rejection.

But the writer immediately laid out the conditions.

“We invite you to a solo segment. It’s practically the main part. The promotional effect is also certain.

Since it’s a live broadcast scheduled for the Chuseok special, viewership is guaranteed. I’m confident. And since we’ll also receive viewer tips, the buzz will be great too.”

“…Hmm. Is that so?”

“And the broadcast time is short. Because it’s a live show.

Also, among the panelists, there is comedian Park Kyeong-gu, and he hates long recordings more than anything in the world, so our team also moves according to his routine. The waiting time is also short.

We will send you the script in advance, and everything will be finished within the Chuseok holiday without any separate pre-meetings.”

At the writer’s rapid explanation poured out without catching her breath, Geum Nae-yeong nodded.

“Is that so? …Well, then it’s fine.”

was a program with the purpose of experts and panelists tracing past crimes and shedding new light on them from new perspectives.

It had many regular viewers, so its popularity was quite high.

As he was cast in such a program, Geum Nae-yeong began to gradually widen the scope of his broadcasting activities.

***

And a few days later.

“…You’re saying a person died? Yes, it’s an unsolved case. They still haven’t found the culprit…”

On the TV screen, the preview for the Chuseok special flowed between commercials.

“Then, shall we examine this case from a legal perspective?

Panel: Comedian Park Kyeong-gu, Lawyer Geum Nae-yeong, Psychologist Oh In-uk, Video Analyst Kim Woo-jin.

Chuseok Special is coming to you live!”

Click-

As the screen turned off along with the sound of the remote control button, the corner of Noh Si-an’s mouth went up.

“Ha… Seo Gi-ryong even asked me for a favor, saying he can’t beat a single broadcaster like that? This is extremely interesting.

I should get a taste of what kind of personality he has.”

Beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep.

He held his cell phone and pressed the numbers.

“Hey, John! Have you been doing well? Yeah, I’m always the same. We should go grab a drink like we did back then… Hahahaha.

You’re still the same. You still work at the broadcasting station, right? …Ah, already a director? Yeah, as expected. I’m telling you, there’s no guy like you, John.

But you see. There is a program I’m a bit interested in… Could I make an appearance once?”