The new SBS drama Phantom Lawyer has officially arrived, and it brings a fresh mix of courtroom action and supernatural elements. The series, which stars Yoo Yeon Seok and Esom, premiered on March 13, 2026, and fans are already talking about the unique storyline. The first episode did a solid job introducing the main character, Shin Yi-rang, and the bizarre circumstances that lead him to take on a case for a ghost.
The show airs every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 p.m. KST on SBS. For global audiences, Phantom Lawyer is available for streaming on Netflix in selected regions, as well as on Viki, Kocowa, and Viu, making it accessible to viewers in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, India, and other parts of the world.
A Lawyer Who Canโt Catch a Break
The first episode, which runs for about an hour, starts by painting a clear picture of Shin Yi-rangโs struggles. Despite being a qualified lawyer, he faces constant rejection from every law firm he applies to. The reason for this is tied to his father, a former prosecutor who was involved in a troubling case a decade ago. Because of this family history, no one wants to hire him.
After a night of heavy drinking, Yi-rang decides to stop depending on others and opens his own small practice. He finds a cheap, rundown space in the Okcheon Building, Room 501. What he does not realize is that this place used to be a shamanโs residence. The previous owner hides this fact just to sell the property quickly.
Things take a turn when Yi-rang lights an old, mysterious incense stick left behind in the office. Suddenly, he starts seeing ghosts. The first spirit to appear is Lee Kang-poong, played by Heo Sung-tae. Lee Kang-poong has no memory of who he is or how he died. He immediately attaches himself to Yi-rang, causing chaos by possessing him whenever the lawyer gets emotionally charged.
Solving the Identity of the Ghost
Shin Yi-rang quickly learns that his life is no longer normal. Whenever he feels strong emotions, especially if the ghost likes or dislikes something, Lee Kang-poong takes over his body. During these possessions, Yi-rang acts completely out of characterโshouting, using rough language, and moving aggressivelyโbut he has no memory of it afterward.
To solve the mystery, Yi-rang follows a piece of advice: if he can find the ghostโs name and birth date, the spiritโs memory will return. He checks CCTV footage from the building and tracks down a woman named Kim Min-ju (played by Kim Si-eun), whose husband had visited the shaman. It turns out her husband is exactly the ghost who has been haunting himโLee Kang-poong.
Through flashbacks, the truth comes out. Lee Kang-poong was a normal family man and a devoted father. He died on the operating table due to medical negligence by a doctor. However, the hospital covered up the mistake, and his grieving wife was pressured into accepting a small settlement from the doctorโs legal team. The injustice of his death is what kept his spirit restless.
The Courtroom Showdown
Even though Yi-rang gets no payment for handling a ghostโs case, he cannot ignore the situation. Watching Kim Min-ju and her daughter live in isolation and grief reminds him of his own pain from losing his father. He decides to step in and stop the unfair settlement.
At the last moment, Yi-rang shows up in court and uses information from Lee Kang-poong to expose the shady dealings of the opposing lawyer, Byun Seung-joon (played by Lee Kang-wook). He manages to stop the settlement and files a proper lawsuit against the hospital and the doctor.
This leads to his first courtroom face-off with Han Na-hyeon (Esom), a cold and elite lawyer who works for a top firm. Han Na-hyeon is ruthless and will do anything to win. She brings up Lee Kang-poongโs past ties to organized crime and even falsely suggests he was abusive at home to destroy his character in court. Her strategy works, and the trial starts going badly for Yi-rang.
Yi-rang Gets Possessed in Court
Watching from the side, Lee Kang-poong becomes furious when he sees his grieving wife being painted as a victim of domestic violence. In a fit of rage, he possesses Shin Yi-rang right there in the courtroom.
What happens next is both shocking and funny. Yi-rangโs face turns red, and he starts shouting curses in a rough dialect. He charges at Han Na-hyeon, but she trips him, and he falls flat on the floor. She then throws water on him to snap him out of it. Lying on his back in the middle of the courtroom, Yi-rang cries out, โI really hate being a lawyer who can see ghosts!โ The scene ends with him laughing and crying at the same time, leaving viewers curious about what happens next.
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Strong Start for โPhantom Lawyerโ
The premiere episode of Phantom Lawyer got off to a solid start in terms of ratings. According to Nielsen Korea, the first episode recorded an average nationwide rating of 6.3 percent, with a peak of 6.6 percent. It also topped the ratings in the key 2049 demographic with an average of 2.0 percent and a peak of 2.5 percent. This put the show in first place in its time slot.
Fans of Yoo Yeon Seok are praising his performance, especially the way he switches between the timid, kind-hearted Yi-rang and the aggressive, foul-mouthed personality of the possessed Lee Kang-poong. The production team has shared that viewers can expect more action and comedy in the upcoming episodes, as Yi-rang will have to go undercover as a gangster to find evidence for the case.
The second episode aired on March 14. It showed Yi-rang sneaking into a gangstersโ hideout with his brother-in-law to look for proof that can clear Lee Kang-poongโs name. The preview clips showed Yi-rang looking terrified one moment and then boldly facing down thugs the next, hinting at more possession-driven chaos.
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