Seoul Central District Court
The courtroom buzzed with anticipation an hour before the hearing began. Camera crews filled the back while reporters occupied the first three rows.
At the defense table, Heeyeon Hwang reviewed her notes, her red hair neatly tied back in a bun. She kept glancing at the empty seat beside her.
Across the room, three prosecutors in dark suits spoke quietly among themselves at their table. Occasionally, one of them cast a satisfied look toward the defense.
Crystal Choi entered through the main entrance and the room went silent. She wore a black dress and moved with a composed bearing that did not match her swollen, reddened eyes. She walked slowly, as if keeping herself upright took every bit of effort she had. When she sat, her hands trembled until she pressed them together on her lap.
Byeon Kim entered behind her. His red sunglasses caught the fluorescent light and the scars across his face drew eyes around the room. He sat two places away from Crystal and folded his hands deliberately in his lap.
"All rise for the Honorable Judge Park Seonwoo."
Judge Park was an imposing man in his late fifties with grey hair and wire-rimmed glasses. He entered the room and took his seat with the expression of someone who had already reached his conclusions. He opened the case file and read in silence for a long moment.
"Be seated." He did not look up from the page. "This is the preliminary hearing for Case Number 2026-CR-4721. The People versus Baki Hanma, charged with first-degree murder."
Three guards escorted Baki into the courtroom. He wore an orange jumpsuit and his wrists were cuffed in front of him. He kept his gaze on the floor and did not acknowledge Heeyeon as he sat down beside her.
Heeyeon leaned close and whispered something to him. The corner of his mouth curved upward.
"Attorney Hwang, does your client understand the charges?"
Heeyeon stood. "Yes, Your Honor."
"And how does he plead?"
"Not guilty, Your Honor."
Whispers rippled through the gallery. Judge Park kept his eyes on Baki.
Prosecutor Kim Daeshik rose from his seat. "Your Honor, the prosecution requests that the defendant be denied bail. The evidence is significant and incontrovertible. Charles Choi was a key figure in this country's economy. This crime was calculated and brutal. It left Mr. Choi's body unrecognizable."
Crystal Choi pressed her hand over her mouth. Her shoulders shook once before she pulled herself still.
Judge Park's expression softened for a moment as he glanced at her. Then he looked back at Baki and the softness was gone.
"Does the defendant wish to speak?"
Baki met his gaze. "No, Your Honor."
"Bail is denied." Judge Park made a note. "The defendant will remain in custody until trial. Are both sides prepared to present opening statements?"
Heeyeon's grip tightened around her pen.
"The prosecution is prepared, Your Honor."
Heeyeon adjusted her jacket. "The defense is ready."
"Proceed, Prosecutor Kim."
Kim moved to the center of the courtroom. "Your Honor, this case is straightforward. On the night of January 8th, 2012, the defendant Baki Hanma killed Charles Choi. We possess video evidence that is clear and unequivocal."
He paused.
"You will see the defendant deliver repeated blows to Charles Choi, breaking his body apart. You will see Mr. Choi attempt to plead for mercy. You will watch him succumb to his injuries while the defendant stands over him without a trace of remorse."
Kim's voice sharpened. "The defense will likely describe events that allegedly occurred before the footage begins. But the video does not lie. Baki Hanma committed extreme brutality against Charles Choi. This is murder."
He returned to his seat and left the room completely still.
"Defense, your opening statement."
Heeyeon stepped forward. She focused on Judge Park. His expression had already told her where he stood, and she kept that in mind as she spoke.
"Your Honor, my client does not deny that he killed Charles Choi."
Murmurs broke out across the gallery.
"However, killing is not automatically murder. The law recognizes circumstances that allow for the lawful taking of a life in defense of another."
She gestured toward the prosecution table. "The prosecution has video evidence showing the final moments of Charles Choi's life. But that video does not show the full story. It captures a moment. It does not show what led to it."
Her voice steadied. "Today I will prove that Charles Choi was engaged in a violent attack on a police officer. My client intervened to stop that threat. This is not murder, Your Honor. It is a lawful defense of another."
She sat down. Baki watched her with something close to amusement.
Judge Park wrote in his notes. "Prosecutor Kim, call your first witness."
"The prosecution calls Commissioner Jang Hyunwoo."
Commissioner Jang took the stand in full uniform, his medals catching the light.
"Commissioner Jang, how did you learn of this case?"
"On January 11th, around 3:00 AM, we received an anonymous package containing a USB drive with video footage."
"What did the footage show?"
"It showed the defendant killing Charles Choi."
"Can you describe the video in detail?"
"The footage runs about forty seconds. It shows a rural outdoor area in heavy rain. The defendant and Charles Choi are in a violent altercation. The defendant overpowers Mr. Choi and delivers brutal blows. Mr. Choi attempts to escape. The defendant pursues him. The clip ends with Mr. Choi lying motionless and the defendant standing over him."
Crystal Choi drew a sharp breath. Byeon Kim placed a hand on her shoulder. She shrugged it off without looking at him.
"What steps did you take after viewing the footage?"
"We confirmed its authenticity. The forensics team established that it had not been altered. We obtained an arrest warrant and apprehended the defendant."
"Did the defendant resist arrest?"
"No. He was waiting for us. He seemed to expect us."
Kim turned toward the defense table. "Thank you, Commissioner. The prosecution submits the video footage as Exhibit A."
"Any objections, Attorney Hwang?"
Heeyeon stood quickly. "No objection to its submission, Your Honor. The defense reserves the right to provide context regarding the content."
Judge Park's expression made clear he found that reservation unimpressive. "Noted. The video is admitted. Bailiff, prepare for playback."
The lights dimmed. A screen descended.
The footage was grainy but readable. It showed a clearing near a farmhouse, soaked in rain and mud.
Charles Choi lay in the mud. One leg was bent at the wrong angle. Blood was smeared across his face. He could barely move.
Baki stood over him. Blood ran from a wound above his left eye.
Charles tried to speak. His mouth moved but nothing carried over the rain.
Baki grabbed him by the collar and hauled him up. He pulled his fist back and drove it into Charles's face. The impact spun Charles off his feet and sent him face-down into the mud.
He did not move again.
Baki stood over the body. Rain washed the blood down his face. He mouthed something, then walked out of the frame.
The footage ended. The lights came back up.
No one in the gallery spoke. Several reporters had their hands over their mouths.
Crystal Choi sat with both hands pressed to her face, her shoulders moving. Byeon Kim stared at the blank screen. His red sunglasses reflected the overhead lights.
Judge Park had gone pale. "That was..." He stopped. "The brutality of that attack is undeniable."
Baki covered his mouth with his cuffed hands and yawned.
Judge Park's voice turned cold. "Does the defendant find this amusing?"
Baki met his eyes without hurry. "No, Your Honor. Just tired."
"You will have plenty of time to rest in your cell. Continue, Prosecutor Kim."
"Commissioner Jang, based on the video, did you have probable cause to arrest the defendant?"
"Yes. The video clearly shows an act of extreme violence."
"No further questions."
"Your witness, Attorney Hwang."
Heeyeon walked to the stand. "Commissioner Jang, that video runs forty seconds. What happened in the minutes before it begins?"
"I cannot say. The video doesn't show that."
"You mentioned the footage was sent anonymously. Have you identified who sent it?"
"No. The investigation is ongoing."
"So someone with unknown motives provided footage showing only a portion of the events that night." Heeyeon kept her voice even. "Did you investigate the location where it was filmed?"
"Yes. We examined the scene thoroughly."
"What did you find?"
"Evidence of the altercation. Blood and structural damage. We also found indications that other people were present."
The gallery stirred.
"What kind of indications?"
"Footprints from at least two other individuals. Blood that did not match either Mr. Choi or the defendant. Personal belongings left at the scene."
"What belongings?"
Jang paused. "A police badge belonging to Officer Jichang Kwak. And the property itself belonged to an elderly farmer named Noh Bakugo."
The murmurs in the room grew louder.
"So there were witnesses. Did you attempt to locate them?"
"Yes. Bulletins were issued for both men. Neither has been found since the night in question."
"Have you considered that they may be in danger? That someone may not want them to testify?"
"Objection. Counsel is speculating."
Judge Park's voice cut through the room. "Sustained. Attorney Hwang, stay with the established facts."
"No further questions."
Kim called the medical examiner next.
Dr. Lee Minho was a slender man in his sixties with grey hair. He delivered his testimony in a flat, clinical tone.
"Dr. Lee, you performed the autopsy on Charles Choi. Can you summarize his injuries?"
"Multiple fractures throughout the body. Both legs broken in several places. Several ribs fractured, with some fragments driven into the lungs. The spine fractured in three locations. Skull fractured. Severe internal bleeding. The cause of death was massive trauma to the brain and vital organs."
"Would you categorize this as excessive force?"
"Objection. A medical examiner cannot make legal conclusions."
Judge Park barely glanced up. "Overruled."
Dr. Lee gave a small nod. "From a medical standpoint, the injuries far exceeded what would have been necessary to incapacitate someone. A significant number of blows were delivered after Mr. Choi could no longer defend himself."
"Thank you, Doctor."
Heeyeon approached. "Dr. Lee, did you find any evidence that Mr. Choi had been engaged in violence just before his death?"
"His knuckles showed fresh bruising and abrasions. Skin found under his fingernails did not match his own DNA or the defendant's."
The gallery murmured again.
"Whose skin was it?"
"We could not identify a match. However, it indicates physical contact with at least one other person that night."
"Could that contact have been violent?"
"The bruising patterns suggest he was striking someone or something with force."
"Thank you, Doctor."
Kim called his forensics expert. The expert confirmed the video was unaltered, the metadata was authentic, and the footage was genuine.
Judge Park checked his watch. "We will break for lunch. Court reconvenes at 2:30 PM. At that time, the defense may present its case."
He looked at Heeyeon directly. "I assume you have witnesses ready?"
"Yes, Your Honor."
"I trust they offer more than speculation about missing persons. This court operates on facts."
Baki made a sound that was close enough to a laugh.
"Something to add, Mr. Hanma?"
Baki smiled. "No, Your Honor. Clearing my throat."
"The defendant will show proper respect, or he will be held in contempt. Is that understood?"
"Perfectly clear, Your Honor."
The guards moved in to escort Baki back to holding. He stood, rolled his shoulders, and stretched his neck. "He really doesn't like me," he said quietly.
"Looking at how you're behaving, I wouldn't either," Heeyeon replied, keeping her voice low. "He's already decided you're guilty. And that video is worse than I expected."
"There isn't a jury yet."
"I know." She snapped her briefcase shut. "But right now every person in this room sees a monster who beat a respected businessman to death in the rain."
Baki's smile widened slightly. "Respected is a strong word."
"To them, he is." She looked him straight in the eye. "Where are Kwak and Bakugo?"
"If I knew, I would tell you."
"Aren't they part of your plan?"
"They are."
The guards led him out. Heeyeon watched him go, then turned and noticed Kim Daeshik at the prosecution table, sorting his files with quiet precision while his assistants smiled at each other.
Crystal Choi stood and moved toward the exit, her steps mechanical and distant. Byeon Kim followed at a respectful distance. Just before he reached the door, his gaze drifted to Heeyeon. When their eyes met, he gave a small nod. She could not tell if it was respectful or mocking.
Heeyeon slipped out through a side door into a hallway packed with reporters.
"Will Baki Hanma testify?"
"Do you have witnesses?"
"How do you defend someone after footage like that?"
She pushed through them and found an empty conference room. She locked the door, dropped into a chair, and pulled at her hair with both hands. "Damn it," she muttered to the empty room. "He doesn't trust me at all. Why did I think I could work with him? He makes everything impossible."
Trial resumed in ninety minutes. She had to build a defense for a man the entire courtroom had just watched kill someone on camera.