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Series poster for Diary of a Prosecutor (2019)

Diary of a Prosecutor

2019–2020
Ended • 1 Season • 16 Episodes
Director: Lee Tae-gon
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Overview

The stories of overworked prosecutors's daily lives in Seoul. A drama depicting the mundane daily routine of overworked prosecutors staying up all night to tackle all the different cases handed over by the police.

Seasons

1 listed
Status
Ended
Seasons
1 season
Episodes
16 episodes
First aired
Dec 16, 2019
Last aired
Feb 11, 2020
Episode length
65m
Network
JTBC

Latest episode: S1 E16 The Special Investigation Team (Feb 11, 2020)

  1. Season 1 poster

    Season 1

    16 episodes Dec 16, 2019

Cast

12 people

Reviews

5 min read

The Quiet Rebellion of Bureaucrats

I’ve spent years watching legal dramas where prosecutors are either crusading heroes or corrupt villains, their lives a relentless parade of courtroom showdowns and moral absolutes. Diary of a Prosecutor does something far riskier: it makes them boring. Not in the way that puts you to sleep, but in the way that makes you recognize your own life in theirs—the slow accumulation of small frustrations, the way work bleeds into evenings and weekends, the quiet camaraderie of people who’ve learned to laugh so they don’t scream. This is a show that refuses to glamourize its characters, and in doing so, makes them feel devastatingly real.

A dimly lit prosecutor's office at night, stacks of case files on the desk, a single lamp casting long shadows

The series is set in the fictional provincial city of Jinyoung, a place that feels deliberately unremarkable. There are no neon-lit skyscrapers here, no high-stakes political conspiracies—just a regional prosecutor’s office where the most dramatic thing to happen on any given day might be a misplaced case file or a colleague’s bad coffee. The show’s director, Lee Tae-gon, has said he wanted to avoid the "prestige and clout" of typical legal dramas, and he succeeds so thoroughly that it feels like a quiet act of rebellion.

This isn’t The Good Wife or Suits; it’s closer to The Office, if The Office were about people whose decisions could theoretically send someone to prison. The humor is dry, the stakes are low, and the emotional payoffs are so subtle you might miss them if you’re not paying attention.

Take the character of Lee Sun-woong, played by the late Lee Sun-kyun with a warmth that lingers long after the episode ends. Sun-woong is a prosecutor who cares deeply about his work but is constantly thwarted by the system—overworked, under-resourced, and often at odds with his more ambitious colleagues. There’s a scene early in the series where he’s assigned a case involving a drunk driver who killed a pedestrian.

Buzz & Rumors

Public reports

Behind the Scenes of Diary of a Prosecutor: Lee Sun-kyun’s Playful Chemistry and Hidden Easter Eggs

Diary of a Prosecutor (2019), the legal dramedy helmed by director Lee Tae-gon, may have flown under the radar for some international audiences, but its sharp wit and standout performances—particularly from the late Lee Sun-kyun—have kept fans buzzing. latestnetflix.com's take is that while the series itself blends workplace satire with procedural drama, a few behind-the-scenes tidbits and on-set moments have surfaced, offering a glimpse into the cast’s chemistry and the show’s creative choices.

Lee Sun-kyun and Jung Ryeo-won’s "Café Coupon" Moment

YTYouTube·[Epilogue] Lee Sun-kyun Coveting Jung Ryeo-won's…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QkHldtcNMo

One of the most talked-about behind-the-scenes clips involves Lee Sun-kyun, who played the earnest prosecutor Lee Sun-woong, and Jung Ryeo-won, his sharp-witted colleague Cha Myung-joo. In a lighthearted epilogue video , Sun-kyun is seen playfully coveting a café coupon Jung’s character had in the show. The clip, titled "Lee Sun-kyun Coveting Jung Ryeo-won's 'Cafe Coupon' (Ah~?)", captures the actors’ off-screen camaraderie, with Sun-kyun’s exaggerated reactions drawing laughs. While the video doesn’t reveal much about the show’s production, it underscores the easy rapport between the two leads—a dynamic that likely translated into their on-screen partnership.

**A Nod to *In the Mood for Love***

YTYouTube·"Diary of a Prosecutor" referenced to "In the Mo…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKeYTSDMIV8

For cinephiles, Diary of a Prosecutor dropped a subtle but deliberate Easter egg. A YouTube video highlights a scene where the series visually references Wong Kar-wai’s In the Mood for Love, mirroring its iconic slow-motion shots and muted color palette. The homage isn’t just a stylistic flourish; it reflects the show’s occasional melancholic undertones, contrasting with its otherwise comedic tone. Whether this was a directorial choice by Lee Tae-gon or a suggestion from the cinematography team remains unclear, but the reference adds a layer of depth to the series’ aesthetic.

On-Set Bloopers and Cast Dynamics

YTYouTube·이선균(Lee Sun-kyun)이 주운 [유척] 자랑했던 이성재(Lee Sung-Jae…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGYELZHxKYM

Another behind-the-scenes clip —this one from episode 8—shows Lee Sun-kyun playfully teasing co-star Lee Sung-jae (who played the seasoned prosecutor Han Min-ho) about a prop. The snippet, titled "Lee Sun-kyun Showing Off [Yucheok] to Lee Sung-jae (It’s Ruined;;)", suggests a relaxed set where the cast didn’t take themselves too seriously. While the context of the "Yucheok" (a term that could refer to a prop or inside joke) isn’t fully explained, the clip hints at the kind of playful banter that likely made long shooting days more bearable.

What We Still Don’t Know

Despite these glimpses, Diary of a Prosecutor’s production remains largely undocumented in English-language sources. There’s no confirmed word on:

  • Episode count or filming timeline: The SERP evidence doesn’t specify how long production took or how many episodes were shot.
  • Behind-the-scenes tensions: Unlike some K-dramas, there are no rumors of on-set conflicts or creative disputes.
  • Director’s vision: Lee Tae-gon’s background as an actor-turned-director suggests a hands-on approach, but details about his process for this series are scarce.

For now, the most compelling behind-the-scenes moments are the ones fans have pieced together from promotional clips and epilogue videos—small but telling windows into the show’s lighter side.

Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.

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