Parole Officer Lee – K-drama Episode 1 Recap & Review

To Catch a Thief …

Episode 1 of Parole Officer Lee starts with the release of a convict, Ji Myeong-seob. Myeong-seob shows off his parole letter to Officer Lee, who is in disbelief since he thinks that Myeong-seob cannot be released as he has not fully paid for his crimes.

Meanwhile, Ji Myeong-seob’s father, Chairman Ji Dong-man of Ojung Group, is informed about his son’s release on parole by Director Son. A flashback scene shows that Myeong-seob was imprisoned after drugging and killing a girl in a club, then driving drunk and causing an accident. 

Next, Chairman Ji is found guilty of embezzlement and breach of trust and sentenced to three years. Outside the courthouse, two groups gather those protesting and saying he is innocent, and another group angry about the embezzlement.

When talking to the reporters, the angry mob starts throwing eggs at Chairman Ji, and Officer Lee, now Attorney Lee, shows up in the nick of time to shield Chairman Ji with his umbrella.

One year later, even though Chairman Ji is imprisoned, he receives executive treatment from the wardens, including scheduling spa sessions. He has a makeshift office where he meets with his attorneys and Ojung Group directors, including Attorney Lee.

Chairman Ji is unhappy about the state of the company and the lack of progress in his case. Chairman Ji wants Leo to visit him, and Attorney Lee is eager to please the Chairman and promises to make sure he gets Leo to see him.

Unbeknown to Attorney Lee, Leo is a pet dog currently in the custody of Chairman Ji’s ex-wife, Choi Won-mi. Attorney Lee approaches Won-mi, requesting that she let him take Leo to Chairman Ji, but she sternly refuses.

Attorney Lee decides to sue Won-mi for custody of Leo. Won-mi chooses to give in, seeing that the custody case would not be in her favour since the food and veterinary visits are paid for by Chairman Ji. Won-mi agrees to let Attorney Lee borrow Leo for half a day. 

Attorney Lee learns that Chairman Ji is not approved for parole because the Classification Chief refuses to add him to the parole list. Even though Chairman Ji has bought out all the wardens in prison, he has to get through to the Classification Officer to be approved for parole.

However, his attorneys have been unable to get through to the Chief with neither favours nor blackmail. Attorney Lee sees his chance and asks Chairman Ji to give him a chance to talk to the Chief. Attorney Lee asks that Chairman Ji makes him a parole officer if he succeeds. 

Attorney Seo is confident that he can do better than Attorney Lee. Still, Director Son mentions that Attorney Lee was once a correction officer and worked with the Classification Chief. Attorney Lee has an advantage and might manage to convince the Chief. However, Attorney Lee and Chief Park are estranged, and he does not listen to Attorney Lee during their first meeting.

Meanwhile, Director Son has someone tail Attorney Lee and take pictures. He learns that Chief Park is still unrelenting, so he takes drastic measures. Director Son sends his man to frighten Chief Park’s wife and son. Chief Park’s son suffers from a serious illness, and experiencing a sudden frightening situation would push him over the edge.

However, Attorney Lee’s paralegal Ji-soon overhears Attorney Seo ranting about Director Son’s gangster tactics and their intention to harm a child. Ji-soon calls Attorney Lee and rushes over to the scene just in time to help Chief Park’s wife with the situation. 

Elsewhere, Chief Warden Hae-sung tries convincing Chief Park to add Chairman Ji to the parole list, arguing that the Chairman is not a felon who killed someone. Chief Park gets the call and rushes to the hospital.

Regardless, Chief Park still refuses to approve Chairman Ji’s parole. Attorney Lee tells him that the incident was planned by Chairman Ji’s people, who wanted to use his son’s condition to their advantage and force Chief Park to agree to parole.

At first, Chief Park is even more furious and more determined to not approve Chairman Ji’s parole, seeing that he is a person willing to harm children for his own selfish goals. However, Attorney Lee asks Chief Park to trust him this once and agree to his son’s surgery. Finally, Attorney Lee gets through to Chief Park. 

Attorney Lee heads to the prison to inform Chairman Ji that he will be approved for parole in the next list. When Chairman Ji asks why Attorney Lee wants to become a parole officer, He says that it is because he wants to prevent the release of a certain inmate on parole.

To explain his reasons, we flashback to 2014 when Attorney Lee worked as a correction officer with Chief Park and Chief Cheon. It was around this time that Chairman Ji’s son Myeong-seob was imprisoned for murder. Then, Chief Cheon refused to approve Myeong-seob’s release on parole, so Chairman used his connections to orchestrate false accusations, and Chief Cheon was arrested.

Before leaving, the Chief told them to wait for his comeback since he was innocent, but never returned. At the end of the episode, Attorney Lee reveals that the inmate he is after is Chairman Ji. 

The Episode Review

The beginning of the episode was a little confusing, but the story soon caught up to speed, and the flow ended up rather smooth. It was baffling that Attorney Lee would go to great lengths just to become a parole officer, but the end of the episode reveals the reasons behind his determination, which is even more surprising.

He plays all the cards right, sucking up to Chairman Ji since he has the power to help him get what he wants. It sets an exciting premise for the next episode. Attorney Lee’s behaviour will most likely change from that of a submissive subordinate willing to do anything for Chairman Ji.

How will Chairman Ji reason after finding out about Attorney Lee’s objectives? If he is appointed the parole officer, it shows that Chairman Ji’s influence is extensive. Will Attorney Lee overcome Chairman Ji’s influence and stop his release?