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Beyond the Bar

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Beyond the Bar
Promotional poster
Hangul
에스콰이어: 변호사를 꿈꾸는 변호사들
Lit.Esquire: Lawyers Who Dream of Being Lawyers
RREseukwaieo: byeonhosareul kkumkkuneun byeonhosadeul
MREsŭk'waiŏ: pyŏnhosarŭl kkumkkunŭn pyŏnhosadŭl
Genre
Written byPark Mi-hyun
Directed byKim Jae-hong
Starring
Music by
  • Kim Min-ji
  • Yoo Min-ho
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes12
Production
Executive producerPark Ki-yeol
Producers
  • Kim Ji-won
  • Jang Won-seok
  • Kim Gun-hong
  • Seo Young-hee
  • Hong Sung-chang [ko]
  • Kwon Nam-jin
Running time70 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkJTBC
ReleaseAugust 2, 2025 (2025-08-02) –
present

Beyond the Bar (Korean: 에스콰이어: 변호사를 꿈꾸는 변호사들) is a 2025 South Korean television series written by Park Mi-hyun, directed by Kim Jae-hong, and starring Lee Jin-wook, Jung Chae-yeon, Lee Hak-joo and Jeon Hye-bin. The first season aired on JTBC from August 2, to September 7, 2025, every Saturday and Sunday at 22:40 (KST). It is also available for streaming on Netflix. The series was renewed for a second season.

Synopsis

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An office drama about Kang Hyo-min, a rookie lawyer at Yullim Law Firm, who is upright and confident but awkward in social life. With the help of her partner, the cold but experienced and talented lawyer Yoon Seok-hoon, she flowers into a full-fledged lawyer.

Cast and characters

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Main

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A cold but experienced and talented lawyer.
  1. Kang Hyo-min: A rookie lawyer at Yullim Law Firm.
  2. Kang Hyo-ju: Hyo-min's older twin sister.

Supporting

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Yullim's Lawyers

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Production

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Beyond the Bar is directed by Kim Jae-hong, who co-directed Revenant (2023), Love Scout (2025) and directed Flex X Cop (2024), and the script is written by Park Mi-hyeon. It is a co-production between SLL, BA Entertainment, Studio S and Story Allum Corporation.[8] Kim Min-ji and Yoo Min-ho was assigned for the soundtrack of the series.[9]

On April 1, 2026, Xports News [ko] reported that a second season was in development. In response to these reports, SLL stated that while a second season was discussed, specific details regarding the production schedule and returning cast members have not been finalized.[10]

Release

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The series premiered on JTBC on August 2, 2025, and aired every Saturday and Sunday at 22:40 (KST).[11] It is also available for streaming on Netflix.[12]

Viewership

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Beyond the Bar : South Korea viewers per episode (millions)
SeasonEpisode numberAverage
123456789101112
10.9871.1531.5311.9051.7391.7921.6222.0501.7162.2191.7101.9811.700
Source: Audience measurement performed nationwide by Nielsen Korea.[13]
Average TV viewership ratings
Ep. Original broadcast date Average audience share
(Nielsen Korea)[13]
Nationwide Seoul
1 August 2, 2025 3.703% (1st) 3.965% (1st)
2 August 3, 2025 4.714% (1st) 5.175% (1st)
3 August 9, 2025 6.727% (1st) 7.208% (1st)
4 August 10, 2025 8.318% (1st) 8.987% (1st)
5 August 16, 2025 7.168% (1st) 7.537% (1st)
6 August 17, 2025 7.701% (1st) 8.001% (1st)
7 August 23, 2025 7.044% (1st) 7.215% (1st)
8 August 24, 2025 8.681% (1st) 9.298% (1st)
9 August 30, 2025 7.141% (1st) 7.400% (1st)
10 August 31, 2025 9.101% (1st) 9.889% (1st)
11 September 6, 2025 7.541% (1st) 8.027% (1st)
12 September 7, 2025 8.439% (1st) 9.078% (1st)
Average 7.190% 7.648%
  • In the table above, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.
  • This drama aired on a cable channel/pay TV which normally has a relatively smaller audience compared to free-to-air TV/public broadcasters (KBS, SBS, MBC, and EBS).

Notes

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  1. ↑ Content production division of Management Allum[1]

References

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  1. ↑ "WHO WE ARE - 매니지먼트 오름". Management Allum. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Kim, Kyung-hee (June 26, 2025). 이진욱-정채연, 변호사로 변신 '에스콰이어' 통해 오피스 성장 보여준다 [Lee Jin-wook and Jung Chae-yeon portray lawyers in workplace growth drama Beyond the Bar]. iMBC (in Korean). Retrieved April 1, 2026.
  3. ↑ Son, Bong-suk (July 11, 2025). 김강민, '에스콰이어' 지국현 역 출연 확정 [Kim Kang-min confirmed to appear as Ji Gook-hyun in Beyond the Bar]. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 1, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025 – via Naver.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 등장인물소개 | 에스콰이어: 변호사를 꿈꾸는 변호사들 [Character Introduction | Beyond the Bar]. JTBC (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 6, 2025. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  5. 1 2 Kim, Soo-yeon. '에스콰이어' 김여진X홍서준, 믿보배들의 출격 [Beyond the Bar Kim Yeo-jin X Hong Seo-jun, the trustworthy treasures' sortie]. Star Today (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 1, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2025 – via Naver.
  6. ↑ Jeong, Hee-yeon (July 11, 2025). 권아름, 정채연 룸메이자 절친 됐다...'에스콰이어' 합류 [공식] [Kwon A-reum and Jung Chae-yeon become roommates and best friends... Joining 'Esquire' [Official]]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 1, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025 – via Naver.
  7. ↑ Son, Byong-sook (July 7, 2025). 배우 강상준, '에스콰이어: 변호사를 꿈꾸는 변호사들' 출연··· 이진욱X정채연과 호흡 [Actor Kang Sang-jun to appear in Beyond the Bar...Working with Lee Jin-wook and Jung Chae-yeon]. kyunghyang (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 15, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2025 – via Naver.
  8. ↑ Ha, Soo-jong (July 30, 2025). 이진욱X정채연 '에스콰이어', 감독·작가 밝힌 관전 꿀팁 [Lee Jin-wook and Jung Chae-yeon's Beyond the Bar, Director and Writer Reveal Watching Tips]. OSEN (in Korean). Retrieved July 30, 2025 – via Naver.
  9. ↑ Jang, Woo-young (August 1, 2025). 이진욱X정채연 '에스콰이어', 첫방 하루 앞두고 OST 전곡 선발매 [Lee Jin-wook and Jung Chae-yeon's 'Esquire' pre-releases all OST songs a day before its premiere.]. Osen News (in Korean). Retrieved August 1, 2025 – via Naver.
  10. ↑ Jo, Hye-jin (April 1, 2026). [단독] 이진욱X정채연 '에스콰이어' 시즌2 온다..."제작 논의 단계" [[Exclusive] Lee Jin-wook X Jung Chae-yeon Beyond the Bar Season 2 is coming..."In production discussion stage"]. Xports News (in Korean). Retrieved April 1, 2026.
  11. ↑ Kim, Kyung-yoon (June 24, 2025). 변호사로 돌아온 이진욱...JTBC, 8월 드라마 '에스콰이어' 방송 [Lee Jin-wook returns as a lawyer...JTBC to air drama Beyond the Bar in August] (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. Archived from the original on July 8, 2025. Retrieved June 26, 2025 – via Naver.
  12. ↑ "Video: "Beyond the Bar" - Official Trailer - Netflix" (Press release). Netflix. July 20, 2025. Retrieved April 1, 2026 – via The Futon Critic.
  13. 1 2 Nielsen Korea ratings:
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