On March 7, 2015 Japan released the first part of a two part suspense-mystery film based on the novel Solomon’s Perjury by author Miyuki Myiabe. Now, Korea’s turned that same book into a 12 episode Kdrama using the same name. If you enjoy mysteries this one needs to go on your “Kdramas I need to watch” list. The show was vague enough to keep me guessing until the very end.
The day after Christmas a young man is found dead, lightly covered in snow, on the grounds of a very prestigious high school. After a quick investigation, the police conclude the young man’s death was a suicide and the case is closed. However, a few days later, an anonymous letter is left at the home of one of the students whose father is a police officer. The note accuses the school bully of murdering the young man, explaining in detail what the writer of the letter witnessed that night on the school roof. When some students begin to doubt the police’s findings, the girl who received the accusation letter requests they hold an unofficial court at school to find out exactly what happened. The school’s administration is totally against the idea but decide to give into the students’ demand in order to save face. After all, they have nothing to hide, or do they? Will the students find the police were right or will they discover the death was a cold blooded murder?
Go Seo-Yeon is not only the class president, she’s also the number one ranked student in her class. Going to a good university is her top priority until she decides to find out why her classmate, Lee So-Woo died. She organizes a trial club with a group of five friends (and one stranger) and sets out to prove the person who wrote the letter accusing Choi Woo-Hyuk of murder really was an eyewitness. Now the schoolwork that was once her main focus takes a back seat to uncovering the truth of what really happened Christmas night as she steps into the pivotal role of main prosecutor.
The stranger that joins the trial club is Han Ji-Hoon, a very popular student from a prestigious arts high school. When he hears students will be putting Choi Woo-Hyuk on trial for the death of Lee So-Woo he decides to volunteer as the main defense attorney. He convinces the students in the trial club to let him join their efforts, pointing out it’s highly unlikely Choi Woo-Hyuk would get a fair trial from students at that school so having the main defense attorney come from an unrelated school is the reasonable thing to do. Ji-Hoon sincerely believes in his client’s innocence and personally promises Woo-Hyuk he’ll make sure the jury delivers a “not guilty” verdict.
Lee So-Woo is the young man who was found dead in the snow. He was a quiet student who kept to himself.
The defendant in the school trial is Choi Woo-Hyuk. When the anonymous letter accuses him of pushing Lee So-Woo off the school roof, it’s not difficult for anyone to believe he is capable of murder. He comes from a wealthy family and finds pleasure in terrorizing the student body.
Sixteen year old Kim Hyun-Soo began her career as a child model and then naturally went on to acting. She’s played small roles in several films and TV shows but her character in this drama (Go Seo-Yeon) is her first starring role.
Jang Dong-Yoon is 24 years old with an Economics and Finance degree from Hanyang University. He’s a model as well as being an actor. His acting debut was in last year’s TV show Game Development Girls. Like Kim Hyun-Soo, his character in Solomon’s Perjury (Han Ji-Hoon) is also his first starring role.
This drama’s writing is excellent. I was guessing throughout the entire drama, going from one character to another, trying to figure out “who done it” and never did. Was it suicide? Was it murder? And if it was murder, was it done by the accused or by someone else? Very clever writing, indeed.
If you’re in the market for a simi-quick drama Solomon’s Perjury is only 12 episodes long, at about an hour a piece, so it doesn’t take too long to watch.
Who was Solomon? Were they referring to the wise judge from the Old Testament? I really dislike it when drama titles are vague, misrepresent the plot, or have nothing at all to do with the show, like Mr. Baek – there was no Mr. Baek in that drama and there’s no Solomon in Solomon’s Perjury.
The music slips in now and then with barely a whisper. Because the plot and storyline are so compelling a lot of music isn’t really necessary. There’s some instrumental stuff and a few songs with words – one standing out above the others simply because it sounds so much like a song from the Hollywood film Titanic. I wasn’t able to find the name of the Solomon’s Perjury song I’m talking about but you’ll know which one I’m referring to the minute you hear it.
I’m guessing about 80% of the drama is filmed at the school so there isn’t a lot of scenery to talk about. We do get several shots in Han Ji-Hoon’s fancy apartment and Go Seo-Yeon’s house, as well as some other places around town, but that’s about it. The trial takes place at the school, the death takes place at the school, and pretty much everything leading up to it does as well so it’s not surprising the scenery’s focus is the school.
Are you in the mood for some suspense? Well, Solomon’s Perjury is a decent mystery that’s well written and worth trying to figure out. I couldn’t do it but maybe you’ll succeed.
Score: 6.5
The Good:
Decent mystery
Good writing
The Bad:
No big stars
Heart and Seoul 