The SBS fantasy legal drama Phantom Lawyer continues its strong run, crossing the 10 percent viewership mark for the first time. The show, which premiered on March 13, 2026, has become one of the most talked-about Korean dramas this season.
According to Nielsen Korea, the series scored an average nationwide rating of 10.0 percent for its fourth episode on March 21. This made it the most-watched miniseries of that week, taking first place in its time slot across all channels. The drama also ranked first among viewers aged 20 to 49, a key demographic for advertisers, with an average rating of 3.5 percent.
The show airs every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 PM KST on SBS. Global audiences can stream the episodes on Netflix and Rakuten Viki in multiple regions including the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Oceania, India, and Southeast Asia.
Episode 6 Brings a Clever Shaman Trap and a Full Confession
Episode 6, which aired on March 28, delivered one of the most intense moments of the series so far. Shin Yi-rang (played by Yoo Yeon-seok) used an unusual method to catch the real culprit in the case of Jeon Sang-ho’s death.
The episode opened with Shin Yi-rang clearing his name after forensic results showed that the fingerprint on a key piece of evidence had been left during the discovery of the body, not during the crime itself. This finding reset the entire investigation.
Instead of backing down, Shin Yi-rang pressed forward. He defied his mother Park Kyung-hwa’s concerns and continued acting as a “ghost-specialist lawyer,” choosing once again to confront the voices of the dead who seek justice.
The case deepened around the death of Jeon Sang-ho. Through possession, Shin Yi-rang allowed the spirit to confront his wife and reveal memories only the two shared. Kim Soo-jung’s hidden story came to light during this process. Her confession was not meant to protect the real criminal, but was a desperate attempt to save her sick mother.
Han Na-hyun Uses Shin Yi-rang’s Ability as a Weapon
Han Na-hyun, played by Lee Som, made a calculated decision in Episode 6. Instead of rejecting Shin Yi-rang’s unusual gift, she chose to use his abnormal perception as part of the investigation strategy. She approached the case with precision rather than emotion.
All evidence pointed to senior researcher Goo Hyo-jung. Sedatives hidden in chamomile tea, irregular attack patterns found during the autopsy, and behavioral traits linked to impaired vision all matched a clear criminal profile. Combined with internal workplace conflicts and personal motives, the case quickly narrowed to one suspect.
Then came the turning point. Shin Yi-rang built a psychological trap, turning the laboratory into a staged haunted space. Disguised as a shaman, he pushed the suspect to the edge. Fear became his main tool. Under mounting pressure, Goo Hyo-jung finally broke and delivered a full confession.
The scene reached its highest tension when Jeon Sang-ho’s emotions surged once more through possession. His anger, born from injustice and betrayal, brought the story to its most powerful moment.
A Quiet Ending That Brings Closure
The resolution offered a calmer, emotional release. Jeon completed a medical treatment as his final act, leaving hope for his family. The medicine ended up saving Kim Soo-jung’s mother, allowing Jeon to leave in peace.
Shin Yi-rang also changed through this case. He came to recognize the value of the people who stand beside him, showing clear personal growth. But the calm did not last long.
The episode closed with a new disturbance. A strange presence detected on a rooftop signaled the start of another case, pushing the story into unknown territory once again.
Ratings Success Continues for the Fantasy Legal Drama
The show’s ratings have climbed steadily since its debut. Episode 1 opened with 6.3 percent nationwide. Episode 2 jumped to 8.7 percent nationwide and 9.2 percent in the Seoul area, with a peak minute rating of 11.3 percent. Episode 3 recorded 7.8 percent nationwide. Episode 4 then pushed the series into double digits with 10.0 percent.
The drama also topped Netflix Korea’s daily chart shortly after its premiere, holding the number one position for multiple days. On Viki, the show holds a strong 9.6 out of 10 rating from over 700 user reviews.
Yoo Yeon-seok’s Transformation Drives the Show’s Success
Much of the credit for the show’s performance goes to Yoo Yeon-seok. The actor, known for his roles in Hospital Playlist and Dr. Romantic, takes on a very different character here. His Shin Yi-rang is a clumsy and soft-hearted lawyer who never wanted to see ghosts. But after moving into an office that was once a shaman’s house, he gains the unwanted ability to communicate with the dead.
At the drama’s press conference, Yoo said he approached this project as if his career depended on it. He performs multiple roles within one character, changing his voice, body language, and personality every time a different ghost takes over his body. In one scene, he even appears wearing a female hanbok and makeup, dancing to a K-pop girl group song.
The production team explained that Shin Yi-rang is not a typical hero with special powers from the start. His personality is what drives the story. He simply cannot turn his back on people who need help. That softness, which his mother calls foolish, is what leads him down this unusual path.
“Shin Yi-rang is neither a character with special abilities nor a hero from the outset. It’s his personality — he simply can’t turn his back on people — that ultimately leads his life down a different path.” – Phantom Lawyer Production Team
Lee Som Brings Strong Counterbalance as the Logical Lawyer
Lee Som (also known as Esom) plays Han Na-hyun, an elite lawyer from a major firm. Her character is the opposite of Shin Yi-rang. She is cold, logical, and will do anything to win. But early episodes show her suffering her first career loss, which cracks her perfect image.
Han Na-hyun carries deep guilt over her sister’s death. She became a lawyer to fulfill her sister’s dream. This backstory adds emotional weight to her character. Her partnership with Shin Yi-rang is tense at first, but they slowly learn to work together, combining evidence-based law with supernatural methods.
The supporting cast includes Kim Kyung-nam as Yang Do-kyung, the CEO of Taebaek Law Firm; Yeon Ji-hyung as prosecutor Kim Hyun-woo; Kim Mi-kyung as Shin Yi-rang’s mother Park Kyung-hwa; and Jeon Seok-ho as Yun Bong-su, Shin Yi-rang’s brother-in-law.
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Where to Watch Phantom Lawyer Outside Korea
International viewers have several options to watch Phantom Lawyer. The show streams on Netflix in multiple regions. It is also available on Rakuten Viki for audiences in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Oceania, India, and Southeast Asian countries including Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
New episodes air every Friday and Saturday on SBS in Korea and become available on streaming platforms shortly after the broadcast.
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