Good Partner – K-drama Episode 9 Recap & Review

A Half Apology

Episode 9 of Good Partner begins with Eun-kyung at Choi Sa-ra’s doorstep, both threatening and weeping until Yu-ri’s mother arrives to take her to Yu-ri’s place. Yu-ri’s mother comforts Eun-kyung, reassuring her that this difficult time will eventually pass.

The next day, Yu-ri and Eun-kyung are assigned a case involving a client who is involved in an affair with a married man and a new parent. The client shows no remorse for her actions, claiming she is the victim, seduced by the man. Eun-kyung struggles to keep her temper in check, trying to remain professional while arguing against the client’s delusional sense of justice as she disparages the man’s wife, who was pregnant when the affair began.

As the woman recounts her story, the show reveals how Ji-sang and Sa-ra first met when Sa-ra was running an errand as Eun-kyung’s secretary. One thing led to another, and that’s how their affair began.

Aware that Eun-kyung is on edge due to the cases, Yu-ri enlists Woo-jin’s help to cheer her up by taking her to eat tteokbokki. They decide to delay informing the court about Sa-ra’s pregnancy, prioritizing Jae-hui’s feelings.

Elsewhere, Ji-sang discovers Sa-ra’s role in Jae-hui learning about the pregnancy, leading to a heated argument where Ji-sang finally ends their relationship, despite Sa-ra’s emotional blackmail. Meanwhile, Eun-kyung and Jae-hui’s relationship begins to mend as they spend quality time together, with Eun-kyung picking Jae-hui up from her classes.

The next day, Yu-ri receives a letter from the plaintiff—the man’s wife—who reveals how her husband cheated on her because she “couldn’t satisfy him” while pregnant. Through the letter, Eun-kyung realizes that more than compensation, the plaintiff wanted an apology from their client.

During the mediation process, Eun-kyung suggests that the plaintiff deserves an apology since no amount of money could change the past. The client attempts a half-hearted apology, which the plaintiff accepts. Though the apology lacks sincerity, Eun-kyung tries to convince the plaintiff that her client is genuinely remorseful, not for the client’s reputation but to help the plaintiff move on with her life.

When Eun-kyung and Yu-ri ask her why she’s still with her husband, she replies that she’s waiting for an apology from him so she can finally let go, find closure, and move on. This conversation makes Eun-kyung realize that she might have stayed with Ji-sang for the same reason—waiting for an apology.

After the case, Yu-ri feels particularly upset, unsure how to help Eun-kyung as her client because she knows that the apology Eun-kyung is waiting for may never come. She confides in Eun-ho after they go drinking with Eun-kyung. Woo-jin joins Eun-kyung instead, and she shares that she only wants what’s best for Jae-hui.

The next day, Eun-kyung brings Choi Sa-ra to the office, where Sa-ra kneels and apologizes to Eun-kyung. It seems like Sa-ra is doing it to reduce the compensation she owes since Eun-kyung had sued her earlier. However, Yu-ri later reveals that there was no agreement and that she only asked Sa-ra to apologize to Eun-kyung so Sa-ra could be a proud mother herself. Though Eun-kyung doesn’t accept Sa-ra’s apology, it provides her with some closure, allowing her to reassure Jae-hui that she received Sa-ra’s apology. Eun-kyung thanks Yu-ri for what she did.

As the episode ends, Eun-kyung and Jae-hui cook together. Jae-hui apologizes to Eun-kyung, revealing in Yu-ri’s voiceover that she’s been blaming herself for her parents’ unhappiness. Eun-kyung embraces her and apologizes as well, signaling that their rocky relationship is finally on