ANOTHER UPDATE: I want to make sure someone unfamiliar with Korea is not deceived by this show or some of the information on this board. It seems I also have to define what "dramatized" means. The Korean legal system has a special set of laws for kids under 14. That is the main issue the show is trying to tackle. Some of the crimes depicted in the show did happen. However, the show has purposely lowered the age of the criminals to make it more shocking and fit the narrative of "under the age of 14." Lastly, "NO," judges in Korea do not go chasing after suspects. When you take an actual event and embellish it with outrageous details, that's dramatization.
UPDATED REVIEW: I've managed to watch a few more episodes. Unfortunately, I am lowering my rating from an 8 to a 6. While the subject matter is interesting and the acting remains strong, the show fails to deliver on many ends.
The drama attempts to tackle a very serious issue that has been at the center of controversy in Korea for a while. The show is stacked with a solid lineup of veteran actors who have demonstrated their acting skills in dozens of works and I have no doubt that they will not disappoint here. Having viewed the first couple of episodes, I do find that the story is somewhat over dramatized. Perhaps the show runners felt that taking a more realistic approach may lessen the entertainment value. I think a more subtle approach may have been more effective in bringing the issue to the forefront of discussion.
UPDATED REVIEW: I've managed to watch a few more episodes. Unfortunately, I am lowering my rating from an 8 to a 6. While the subject matter is interesting and the acting remains strong, the show fails to deliver on many ends.
The drama attempts to tackle a very serious issue that has been at the center of controversy in Korea for a while. The show is stacked with a solid lineup of veteran actors who have demonstrated their acting skills in dozens of works and I have no doubt that they will not disappoint here. Having viewed the first couple of episodes, I do find that the story is somewhat over dramatized. Perhaps the show runners felt that taking a more realistic approach may lessen the entertainment value. I think a more subtle approach may have been more effective in bringing the issue to the forefront of discussion.