Pro Bono


Pro Bono is a 2025–2026 South Korean legal drama television series written by, directed by Kim Seong-yoon and, and starring Jung Kyung-ho, So Joo-yeon, Lee Yoo-young, Yoon Na-moo, Seo Hye-won, and Kang Hyung-seok. The series follows a high-achieving but arrogant judge who is forced to become a public interest lawyer. It aired on tvN from December 6, 2025, to January 11, 2026, every Saturday and Sunday at 21:10. It is also available for streaming on Netflix.

Synopsis

Kang Da-wit, a former judge turned public interest lawyer, had it all: fame, a perfect image, and a huge following on social media. But his life, driven by ambition and materialism, took an unexpected turn, forcing him to start over in a humble role.

Cast

Main

Supporting

Pro Bono Team Members

O&Partners People

Guest appearances

  • as Baek Han-byeol, the granddaughter of Baek Joong-seop, who runs a dog café.
  • Lee Moon-sik as Shin Jung-suk, Chief Justice
  • Kim Jung-young as Kim Sung-rye, Kang Da-wit's mother whose hand was severed due to excessive overtime in Yoo Jae-bum's father's factory and then passed away suddenly when Da-wit was a high school student
  • Yun Je-wook as Yoo Jae-bum, a conman who pretended to be Kang Da-wit's elementary school classmate in order to take revenge against Da-wit by framing him for receiving a bribe
  • Lee Kang-wook as Kim Do-hoon / Goo Ji-hwan, a journalist who is friends with Kang Da-wit and a lawyer who earns money by taking on cases through illegal means
  • Sung Dong-il as Choi Ho-jip, Chief Judge who is notorious for his prickly nature in the legal community
  • Yoon Sang-jung as Ji So-yun, the rescuer of the puppy Byuli
  • Lee Chun-moo as Kim Kang-hoon, a 12-year-old child on wheelchair due to paraplegia and wants to sue God for damages
  • Jung Sae-byul as Jung So-min, Kang-hoon's mother who is pushed to the limits of life while raising her disabled son alone
  • Yoo Jae-myung as Choi Woong-san, Woongsan Group and hospital's chairman who advocates anti-abortion hospital policy due to his religious beliefs
  • Choi Hee-jin as Kim Jin-oh, a visually impaired judge
  • Lee Dae-yun as Kook Young-joon, the appellate court judge
  • Jung Hoe-ryn as Kaya, an immigrant from Myanmar who wants a divorce due to her father-in-law's sexual assault
  • Sung Yu-jin as Goo Ji-won, the judge who grants Kaya's divorce case and allows her to maintain her residency status
  • Lee Jong-won as Jo Kang-ryul, Chief Judge who believes in South Korea being a country of freedom and justice
  • Jung Ji-so as Elijah, popular singer/idol who has been continuously harassed by cyber-bullying activist Ma Young-sook and by some fans obsessed with her
  • Oh Min-ae as Cha Jin-hee, Elijah's domineering and manipulative mother who is the CEO of her agency 'EK Entertainment'
  • Jang Duk-soo as Kang Min-ha, employee at a luxury brand store taking the stand as a key witness against Cha Jin-hee
  • Kim Yong-joon as Yoon Baek-man, Yoo Jae-bum's father who owned a paper factory where Kang Da-wit's mother worked
  • Song Young-chang as Jang Hyun-bae, a powerful conglomerate chairman who was sentenced to a heavy prison term by Kang Da-wit for habitual assaults on employees and a forced sexual assault on a domestic helper

Production

Development

Pro Bono is written by Moon Yoo-seok, directed by Kim Seong-yoon, planned by Studio Dragon, and co-produced by Sequence One, Lotte Cultureworks, and Studio Flow.

Casting

On February 19, 2025, it was reported that Jung Kyung-ho would star in the series. On March 26, Lee Yoo-young was reported to be cast as the lead. Jung Kyung-ho and So Joo-yeon were officially confirmed to star on April 28. On April 30, Choi Dae-hoon was set to make a special appearance. On October 30, Yoon Na-moo, Seo Hye-won, and Kang Hyung-seok were officially revealed to have joined the cast as part of the pro bono team alongside Jung and So.

Music

The OST singer lineup, which includes K.Will, Gyeong-gye, John Park, Namjong, and Yangpa, was unveiled by Curiosity Studio on December 1, 2025. The music director of the series is Park Sung-il.

Release

On November 1, 2025, a teaser video was released, and the series was confirmed to premiere on tvN on December 6, airing every Saturday and Sunday at 21:10. It also streams on Netflix.