Unbowed 2011

In 1995, an untenured professor of mathematics named Kim Ahn Sung-ki exposes a flaw in the College Scholastic Ability Test, triggering the public humiliation of the professors who drafted it. This bold move sets off a chain of consequences: despite the strength of his research, Kim is denied tenure and forced to resign. He moves to the United States for a time, chasing opportunities abroad, but returns to South Korea when laws are amended to allow rejected professors to file wrongful dismissal lawsuits. The clash between merit and institutional protection becomes the central tension of his career and life.

By 2007, with his case exhausted and his appeal dismissed, Kim decides to confront the appeals judge outside the judge’s residence, bringing along a sporting cross-bow that mirrors a personal hobby. A physical struggle follows and Kim is arrested. The judge, initially appearing uninjured, disappears briefly and reemerges with a minor abdominal puncture, prompting a hospital visit. An assault on a judge is treated as a grave crime, drawing widespread media and public attention and turning Kim into a focal point of a broader debate about justice and accountability.

Park Park Won-sang, a debt-ridden lawyer, is approached by Kim’s wife to take on the case. He hesitates due to his own struggles, including alcohol problems, and the scenario becomes more complicated when Kim’s wife changes her mind about his involvement. Kim’s trial proceeds with a different legal advocate, but Kim ultimately pleads No Contest in response to what he sees as prejudice and dishonesty from the trial judge. While in prison, Kim files for an appeal and, at the suggestion of a journalist named Jang, he hires Park to rebuild his challenge to the prosecution’s narrative. What unfolds is a relentless legal wrestling match in which Kim, though incarcerated, repeatedly cites constitutional rights and relevant laws to challenge the integrity of the proceedings. He also scrutinizes the prosecutor’s evidence and the victim’s testimony, highlighting inconsistencies and procedural gaps that raise serious questions about the case.

As the hearings progress, the appeals judge resigns rather than render a ruling that would favor Kim. A new appeals judge steps in, but this replacement appears determined to obstruct the process and shield the prosecutor, even though it becomes evident that Kim never fired the weapon that caused harm. The victim’s account is contradicted by the timeline—reports indicate the victim stabbed himself soon after Kim’s arrest, and blood-stained clothes were procured by his relatives much later—raising questions about the investigations and the reliability of the testimony. Public sentiment oscillates between protests demanding Kim’s innocence and institutional calls for a verdict aligned with the prosecution’s narrative. In a moment of protest, Park contemplates pouring water on the appeals judge, a move that could lead to his imprisonment, but journalist Jang intervenes and confiscates the water bottles, attempting to maintain order amidst growing tension.

Kim’s ordeal takes a brutal turn when he is raped in prison by another inmate, a harrowing experience that underscores the systemic vulnerabilities faced by prisoners arguing against powerful institutions. Despite these setbacks, the appeal is denied, but Kim receives a comparatively lenient sentence of four years instead of ten. While serving time, he continues to argue his case with guards and guards’ behavior, staying true to his analytical approach to law. Upon release, he emerges as a lifelong advocate for judicial transparency, dedicating his efforts to ensuring that the legal system remains open, accountable, and fair for future generations.