Beyond the Bar Episode 7 Review: Raw Emotions

Beyond the Bar Episode 7

Director: Kim Jae-hong

Date Created: 2025-08-23 20:30

Editor's Rating:
3

Episode 6 of Beyond the Bar tackles a complex case of consent and scars left by love, while power struggles shake Yullim and Min-jeong’s painful past resurfaces, hinting at a budding bond with Jin-woo.

Beyond the Bar Episode 7 has a runtime of 60 minutes.

Beyond the Bar Episode 7 Recap

Episode 7 opens with a chilling incident that occurred two years earlier. A young boy cycling home is struck by a car in a hit-and-run. Instead of stopping to help or call the authorities, the driver flees, leaving the child fatally injured. From her apartment window, Cha Yeong-sun witnesses the accident. She quickly scribbles down the car’s registration number, determined to identify the culprit.

However, Yeong-sun suffers from Alzheimer’s, and her condition soon causes her to forget why she left her apartment in the first place. When her husband returns home, the sound of approaching sirens momentarily restores her clarity, yet it is already too late. The boy dies after being left on the roadside for almost an hour.

In court, Seok-hoon finds himself on the defence team for the driver. He calls Yeong-sun to testify, but instead of honouring her as a credible witness, he exploits her illness in front of the jury. By focusing on her memory lapses and confusion, he successfully plants doubt over her reliability. This moment is crushing for Yeong-sun, who had poured her limited energy into seeking justice for the child. The court proceedings highlight not only the rigidity of the law but also the harshness of using her illness as a weapon.

Meanwhile, changes are stirring inside Yullim. Na-yeon introduces a new salary and bonus system that rewards performance rather than tenure. While the younger lawyers see this as a fairer, merit-based approach, the senior advisors are outraged. They view it as a threat to their privileges and are determined to undermine her leadership.

Seok-hoon defends her vision, pointing out that the current structure encourages senior staff to slack off, leaving juniors to carry the workload. He also stresses that this imbalance contributes to high staff turnover. Despite the backlash, Na-yeon pushes forward, but the seniors begin plotting her downfall. They decide to target Seok-hoon, hoping to find dirt that could damage both him and Na-yeon by association.

This subplot connects to the cliffhanger of the previous episode, when a photographer captured Seo Hye-jin entering Seok-hoon’s home at night. The senior advisors manipulate this into a scandal, spinning the story that Seok-hoon is romantically involved with a junior lawyer and abusing his position to gain inside information on an ongoing case against MGC Securities. The smear campaign is set in motion, further tightening the noose around Yullim’s leadership.

Attention then returns to Yeong-sun’s story. At the airport, Seok-hoon notices police approaching her husband, Chung-hyeon. Yeong-sun has died, and her husband is accused of assisting her suicide. Her younger brother filed the complaint, claiming foul play. Although Seok-hoon offers his help, Chung-hyeon refuses, burdened by grief and shame.

Through flashbacks, viewers see that Yeong-sun had long planned her death. Fully aware of her deteriorating mind, she wished to end her life in Switzerland, where assisted suicide is legal, so that her husband would not have to watch her decline. Chung-hyeon, torn between honouring her wishes and fearing the law, eventually stood by her decision. Seok-hoon takes on the case, partly out of guilt for his earlier courtroom tactics against her and partly because he empathises deeply with their struggle.

The trial reveals complex motives. If Chung-hyeon inherits, Yeong-sun’s estate, valued at 1.7 billion won, would go entirely to him. However, if he is convicted, it would pass to her younger brother, who lodged the complaint. Suspicion grows when it is revealed that Chung-hyeon once had an affair and even filed for divorce shortly after Yeong-sun’s diagnosis. Yet he withdrew the divorce when confronted with the seriousness of her illness, ending the affair and devoting himself to her care.

In court, Chung-hyeon delivers a poignant metaphor about love being like a rainbow, with each colour representing a stage in their relationship. His words are moving, showing the depth of his devotion despite past mistakes. However, the law does not bend to sentiment. Assisted suicide remains illegal, and although his actions stemmed from compassion, the court sentences him to one year in prison. The decision devastates Seok-hoon, who had hoped to secure his release.

This case stirs personal memories for Seok-hoon. He recalls his failed marriage with Yeon-a, which ended with her coldly calling their love “dry and loveless”. Inspired by Chung-hyeon’s rainbow analogy, Seok-hoon reaches out to Yeon-a, acknowledging that their relationship had shifted from passion to a quieter companionship. Yeon-a agrees, but their time has passed. Seok-hoon decides to sever ties completely, asking her not to send him gifts anymore and formally closing the chapter of their relationship.

Parallel to this, Jin-woo and Min-jeong share tender moments that hint at growing affection. Jin-woo’s protective nature emerges when Min-jeong is confronted at Yullim by her ex-husband and mother-in-law, who demand she repay all expenses from their marriage. Their intrusion is humiliating, but Min-jeong stands her ground, dismissing them as “trash” and having security remove them. Jin-woo watches proudly, though Min-jeong remains cautious about opening up to him.

Elsewhere, Hyo-min provides lighter moments when she roleplays a conversation in Seok-hoon’s office, only to discover he is listening in real time. Their late-night chats over hot drinks deepen their bond, as she advises him to give himself time to heal from past wounds.

The episode closes with tension within Yullim. An emergency partners’ meeting is called, where the senior advisors raise accusations against Seok-hoon, alleging ethical misconduct linked to the fabricated scandal. As Seok-hoon and Na-yeon arrive, the firm appears to be standing on a knife’s edge, with trust and loyalty tested to the limit.

Beyond the Bar Episode 7 Review

Episode 7 of Beyond the Bar dives into the grey areas of love, consent, and power. Hae-in takes on a difficult case where a model sues her ex-boyfriend for the scars left by their sadistic relationship, questioning whether love-driven consent can truly hold up in court. At the same time, Han-seok’s bold approach toward Hae-in unsettles her, adding tension beyond the courtroom.

Meanwhile, the series peels back layers of personal pain with Min-jeong’s heartbreaking past and her encounter with the woman who once destroyed her marriage. Her resilience, paired with a growing connection with Jin-woo, balances the darker themes with hope. Internal conflicts within Yullim Law Firm, as Attorney Yoon’s mentor returns to power, further enrich the drama, making this episode a sharp mix of emotional scars and shifting loyalties.

Also read: Bon Appetit Your Majesty Episode 1 Review: Secrets on the Plate