Oh Ruem: “The law should be unbending towards to the strong and merciful to the weak”
Judge: “But what is considered strong and what is considered weak?”
Ep 12 was so incredibly perceptive and thought provoking. South Korea has the 17th highest alochol consumption in the world (WHO) and the 1st in Asia so choosing this ep to feature the problems society has to deal with over-drinking was very reflective. Whenever I watched Hello Councelor I’d get so frustrated because even though alcholism was a concern 80% of the time most people would nudge it aside as being acceptable despite it having adverse affects on the children and society.
I identify with Ba Reun’s belief that one cannot get away with crimes by blaming it on alochol, because you are responsible for your own actions and alochol serves merely as a trigger. Others tried to highlight that drinking is part of the culture that revolves around “masculinity”, “respect towards elders” and “pride” but he threw it back at Oh Ruem by calling her out and stating that “I’m old, poor and a man” is not and could not be used as an excuse because merely tolerating it gives them the unfair “power” that she so hated.
I loved how Presiding Judge Han talked about overcrowding within prisons and how 1 year itself had detrimental effects to mental health and how Oh Ruem was so introspective:
Perhaps that’s what poverty is. It’s close to us, but it’s invisible to those who aren’t poor.
DAMN that hit me hard because of how often people choose to ignore the desperate. Not to mention the elderly all clamped up in a depressive neighbourhood. I wanted to give that old halmoni who wanted to speak to young people, a hug.The fact that the drama considered the human aspect and rehab was also commendable as was the unfairness of the rich having so much power that even the law is deflected( Life On Mars recently touched this too.) I wanted to give everyone a hug, especially Ba Ruen
I’ve written so much because MH despite it’s road-bumps with it’s clunky writing at times is still splendid and honestly, opens my eyes to the human motivations so rarely covered. It deserves to be dissected because of how amazing it’s heart is.
YES! Absolutely adored this episode! And the way Ba Reun is with is Omma is totally precious! Also when he broke down in the end when comparing the two 5 year sentences was HEARTBREAKING!
Yeaah! He’s one of the best ‘gruff-on-the-outside-mushy-on-the-inside’ characters I’ve seen in a while. Plus L plays him so well – I’m genuinely impressed!
“I identify with Ba Reun’s belief that one cannot get away with crimes by blaming it on alochol, because you are responsible for your own actions and alochol serves merely as a trigger.”
So curious – what was the crime and was the accused let off?
The crime was an old harabeoji had been violent under intoxication. So he hit the ahjumma from the shop with a soju bottle and had 26 such previous convictions related to drinking.
I love how this show tackles important issues that are still relevant today. I just heard a piece on NPR: people with mental disabilities charged with misdemeanor crimes are put in jail instead of providing treatment.
fencejumper
July 3, 2018 at 4:08 AM
Ms.Hammurabi’s Amazingness
Oh Ruem: “The law should be unbending towards to the strong and merciful to the weak”
Judge: “But what is considered strong and what is considered weak?”
Ep 12 was so incredibly perceptive and thought provoking. South Korea has the 17th highest alochol consumption in the world (WHO) and the 1st in Asia so choosing this ep to feature the problems society has to deal with over-drinking was very reflective. Whenever I watched Hello Councelor I’d get so frustrated because even though alcholism was a concern 80% of the time most people would nudge it aside as being acceptable despite it having adverse affects on the children and society.
I identify with Ba Reun’s belief that one cannot get away with crimes by blaming it on alochol, because you are responsible for your own actions and alochol serves merely as a trigger. Others tried to highlight that drinking is part of the culture that revolves around “masculinity”, “respect towards elders” and “pride” but he threw it back at Oh Ruem by calling her out and stating that “I’m old, poor and a man” is not and could not be used as an excuse because merely tolerating it gives them the unfair “power” that she so hated.
I loved how Presiding Judge Han talked about overcrowding within prisons and how 1 year itself had detrimental effects to mental health and how Oh Ruem was so introspective:
Perhaps that’s what poverty is. It’s close to us, but it’s invisible to those who aren’t poor.
DAMN that hit me hard because of how often people choose to ignore the desperate. Not to mention the elderly all clamped up in a depressive neighbourhood. I wanted to give that old halmoni who wanted to speak to young people, a hug.The fact that the drama considered the human aspect and rehab was also commendable as was the unfairness of the rich having so much power that even the law is deflected( Life On Mars recently touched this too.) I wanted to give everyone a hug, especially Ba Ruen
I’ve written so much because MH despite it’s road-bumps with it’s clunky writing at times is still splendid and honestly, opens my eyes to the human motivations so rarely covered. It deserves to be dissected because of how amazing it’s heart is.
zgs1994
July 3, 2018 at 4:15 AM
YES! Absolutely adored this episode! And the way Ba Reun is with is Omma is totally precious! Also when he broke down in the end when comparing the two 5 year sentences was HEARTBREAKING!
fencejumper
July 3, 2018 at 4:26 AM
Exactly! Him asking his mom to clean his ears was so adorable. His mom is such an angel.
zgs1994
July 3, 2018 at 4:28 AM
I knowww! They’ve got such a good dynamic!
fencejumper
July 3, 2018 at 4:34 AM
And the fact that he always buys her a treat is sweet too. He’s so mushy.
zgs1994
July 3, 2018 at 7:58 AM
Yeaah! He’s one of the best ‘gruff-on-the-outside-mushy-on-the-inside’ characters I’ve seen in a while. Plus L plays him so well – I’m genuinely impressed!
greenfields
July 3, 2018 at 4:22 AM
“I identify with Ba Reun’s belief that one cannot get away with crimes by blaming it on alochol, because you are responsible for your own actions and alochol serves merely as a trigger.”
So curious – what was the crime and was the accused let off?
fencejumper
July 3, 2018 at 4:26 AM
The crime was an old harabeoji had been violent under intoxication. So he hit the ahjumma from the shop with a soju bottle and had 26 such previous convictions related to drinking.
Carolina
July 3, 2018 at 7:56 AM
I love how this show tackles important issues that are still relevant today. I just heard a piece on NPR: people with mental disabilities charged with misdemeanor crimes are put in jail instead of providing treatment.
bam 🐢🐌💖~
July 3, 2018 at 9:41 AM
My GOSH. I want to cry. That’s the MH I know and love.