The title was so intense that I couldn't help but look at the book. I hate people! It's definitely a negative sentence, but I didn't think the underlying meaning was negative either. Through the book flap, I learned that the author was a lawyer, so I could guess the meaning of the sentence a little bit. I thought I could hear why he hated people.
This book was full of surprises in many ways.
First of all, it was unexpected when the author declared this in the preface. "Lawyers are writers." For many people, as it was for me, the image of a lawyer was simply someone who could speak well. But since searching through legal books to find laws related to the case and drafting legal documents to submit before trial are the main tasks, it made sense to say that they are a kind of writer and interpreter.
I was also surprised when I saw words in the table of contents that I never imagined would be there. Familiar titles from Wong Kar-wai films of the past - In the Mood for Love, Fallen Angels, Chungking Express, Ashes of Time - were divided into four parts. I wanted to read the main text as soon as possible just to know why they were grouped together like this.
But how complicated and sad are the stories lawyers experience?

 
Before entering the main text, a notice caught my eye that all stories were adapted to protect information according to the Lawyer's Act. However, the descriptions were so detailed and the emotions were so genuine that it was hard to feel that they were adapted.
“Clients demanding unconditional empathy and support. The professional obligation to step back, take an objective look, and respond coldly. It collides. This conflict is more tense than you think. It sometimes becomes so serious that it threatens the relationship itself. Sometimes I see lawyers who get so emotionally involved in the case that they explode like they are the parties involved. It's like watching a play. Of course, there are also performance-type lawsuits where the goal is to vent, regardless of winning or losing. But they only get a moment of relief by spending money and time. I don't recommend it. Even if the client is upset, I try to refrain from defaming the other party as much as possible. Emotional appeals are left for last. It's an effort to avoid giving a bad impression. Of course, it's not satisfying. But isn't it a true winner when you can smile after receiving the verdict? That's what a real lawyer does.” - From the text

 
Fortunately, I haven't had to find a lawyer yet, but I thought I'd like to have one like this if I ever had to hire one. This is because I've often thought that appealing to emotions is a trap that Koreans are especially prone to fall into. In court, showing emotion or seeking empathy will naturally reduce your chances of winning. Emotions are often just a vent for problems that have nothing to do with a solution, and they won't get you to your destination.
‘Brokers don’t eat hamburgers’ was a very interesting part. Lawyers’ brokers, they are beings I’ve never heard of, but it was amazing to learn that they exist. Why do they exist, and how do they move? It's just that the world is wide and human beings are diverse and there are many things we don't know. I wonder if lawyers and brokers are like crocodiles and oxpeckers. However, the fact that such a symbiotic relationship can be abused and become toxic to users is something to remember.
Son Soo-ho, the writer, or rather, the lawyer, says, "You never know when you'll get stabbed." "It's hard to live right in this world." Nevertheless, he tries not to lose a glimmer of hope. That's why he's still struggling in the field. Did this writing make his heart a little lighter? I hope so. This world, filled with people who are not logical, will always be full of lawsuits and prosecutions, so good lawyers are essential.
 
 
 
※ This review was written honestly after reading the book provided by the Naver Cafe Culturebloom https://cafe.naver.com/culturebloom/1377302.