“Good Partner”: A Powerful Reflection on Marriage
Inspired by true events, the Korean drama Good Partner (KBS) exposes the hidden struggles behind divorces while offering profound lessons on marriage. Spoiler Alert: This article contains details about the show.
Good Partner, a 16-episode series, delves into the careers and lives of star lawyer Cha Eun Kyung (played by Jang Nara) and her young associate Han Yu Ri (Nam Ji Hyun). Together, they tackle various divorce cases, shedding light on the hidden reasons behind marital breakdowns. The script also reveals the personal pain of these two female lawyers, offering viewers important lessons on marriage.
From the very first episode, the screenwriter stirs viewers’ emotions with the story of a husband who has maintained a mistress for decades, completely disregarding his wife’s suffering. The wife confides to the lawyer, “He has cheated six times since Min Joon was just five years old.” This shocking revelation sparked widespread discussion across Korean online forums.
Min Joon, the couple’s son, finds himself trapped between a cheating father and a jealous mother, feeling like he might “explode” under the pressure. Despite knowing his mother has been betrayed, he lies on the stand to help her escape the hellish marriage as quickly as possible.
Though Cha Eun Kyung has successfully helped many others through their divorces, she finds herself unable to escape her own troubled marriage. Discovering her husband’s affair with his secretary and even witnessing their blatant interactions, Eun Kyung remains silent, masking her pain with a facade of indifference.
In episode 3, the series focuses on a prolonged divorce case that leaves lawyer Cha feeling frustrated. Despite five consultations where the wife complains about her alcoholic husband who beats her when drunk, she cancels the divorce at the last minute, citing reasons like, “My daughter is getting married soon, and he has to walk her down the aisle,” or “If I leave, who will cook for him? He’ll die without me.”
Children often become the reason many couples hesitate to divorce, despite the toxic environment. However, growing up in such circumstances can cause psychological harm to the children, affecting their long-term development—as seen with both Min Joon and lawyer Cha.
Lawyer Yu Ri, who grew up in a broken family due to her father’s affair with a neighbor, harbors deep resentment toward her father and a strong bias against adulterers. Whenever handling a divorce case, she fiercely condemns the unfaithful party and supports her clients in moving on.
However, at home, Yu Ri is withdrawn, hiding her traumatic past from her only remaining family member, her mother. This creates a growing distance between them. Yu Ri feels increasingly frustrated and confused when her mother speaks casually about her unfaithful husband. Despite her mother’s attempts to care for her, Yu Ri continues to push her away, avoiding the blind dates her mother arranges.
The screenwriter emphasizes that open communication is the best way to overcome challenges, especially within families. It helps family members understand each other better and prevents conflicts and misunderstandings.
The drama draws from real-life experiences to demonstrate that marriage is a “science” that needs to be learned. The screenwriter suggests that while no one hopes for a failed marriage, it’s important to have the strength and clarity to walk away if it happens. In the end, Cha Eun Kyung chooses to use the law to seek justice. The show is expected to include more life lessons, especially since the screenwriter Choi Yoo Na is a divorce lawyer in real life.
