| Native Name: |
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| Country: | South Korea | ||||||||
| Language: | Korean | ||||||||
| Num Episodes: | 16 | ||||||||
| Executive Producer: | Kim Sang-ho | ||||||||
| Company: | JS Pictures | ||||||||
| Channel: | MBC TV |
A New Leaf is a 2014 South Korean television series starring Kim Myung-min, Park Min-young, Kim Sang-joong, and Chae Jung-an.[1] [2] [3] It aired on MBC from April 30 to June 26, 2014 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 16 episodes.
Kim Seok-joo is a hotshot corporate lawyer; he is cold, successful, and a heartless shark at his job. But after he gets into an accident, Seok-joo is diagnosed with amnesia. The memory loss motivates him to discover who he really is and turn over a new leaf. While trying to recover his memory and identity, the man who in the past did not mind playing foul to succeed gets the chance to look at life, people and society from a completely different point of view. But this personality change puts him at odds with his law firm, and Seok-joo finds himself going up against his colleagues as he wages a righteous battle against social ills.[4]
A tough, cold-hearted ace lawyer who prides himself in having a 100% winning rate because of his willingness to use any method, fair or foul, to win his cases. But after he gets into an accident and loses his memory, Seok-joo undergoes a personality shift, and has to build his life back, turning over a new leaf in the process.
She comes from a poor background and worked hard to put herself through a third-rate law school, but managed to score an internship at a prestigious law firm after graduating. Ji-yoon is tactless, honest to a fault, and idealistic and unwavering when it comes to her belief in justice and the law. She knows it doesn't make her the best candidate to be a star lawyer, but she remains upbeat and firm in her beliefs. At first she has a contentious relationship with Seok-joo, but after his accident, they begin to get along and work together as a team.[5] [6]
The head of the law firm. Young-woo is ambitious, sharp and professional, and he expertly uses (and twists) the law in order to score the win. As a mentor and father figure, he shaped Seok-joo into the perfect protégé. Young-woo tries to help Seok-joo after the accident but finds it difficult dealing with the latter's drastic personality change, and the two later become adversaries.
The granddaughter of a chaebol and Seok-joo's fiancée. Jung-seon and Seok-joo became engaged after being paired through an arranged marriage. So when Seok-joo wakes up with amnesia and believes that their relationship is built on love, Jung-seon finds herself pleasantly surprised and gradually learns the true meaning of love.
Ji-won is a former judge, and when he joins the law firm, the younger upstart threatens Seok-joo's place as the favored legal hotshot.
Seok-joo's best friend and colleague at the law firm. He's twice divorced, and constantly goes on auditions in pursuit of his real dream of becoming an idol star. He grows suspicious of Seok-joo's changed behavior after his accident.
A former judge and human rights lawyer, he is Seok-joo's father. Due to different principles, they have an estranged relationship. He hides his recent diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease from his family.
Seok-joo's colleague at the law firm, who is jealous and antagonistic towards him.
Ji-yoon's aunt, who runs a restaurant.
Ji-yoon's younger brother who is an aspiring idol.[7]
The chairman of Yoorim Group. He pushes his granddaughter Jung-seon into marrying Seok-joo, in order to take advantage of his legal expertise in corporate matters. His company is currently on the brink of bankruptcy.
The lead prosecutor in the Jung Hye-ryeong rape case.
An actress who was raped by Park Dong-hyun, and becomes the prime suspect for the latter's murder.
A chaebol businessman with a propensity for sexually assaulting women, then paying off his victims.
Father of Dong-hyun, and CEO of his company. He is a client of Young-woo's firm, and is furious when Seok-joo takes Hye-ryeong's case, since he believes that she killed his son.
An ex-NIS agent who is Dong-hyun's bodyguard and fixer.
A bar hostess at a nightclub. She is one of Dong-hyun's ex-girlfriends, and he paid for her to get an abortion.
A Minister of Justice candidate who's under fire because of a tax scandal.
Ji-yoon's friend, at whose wedding Seok-joo and Ji-yoon first meet. Mi-ri previously had an affair with the husband of one of Seok-joo's clients.[8]
Jung Hye-ryeong's boyfriend, who testifies on the witness stand on her behalf.
| Episode # | Original broadcast date | Average audience share | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TNmS Ratings[9] | AGB Nielsen[10] | ||||||
| width=100 | Nationwide | width=100 | Seoul National Capital Area | width=100 | Nationwide | width=100 | Seoul National Capital Area |
| 1 | April 30, 2014 | 6.3% | 8.3% | 6.9% | 7.3% | ||
| 2 | May 1, 2014 | 6.3% | 9.1% | 7.1% | 7.6% | ||
| 3 | May 7, 2014 | 7.6% | 9.8% | 9.3% | 10.3% | ||
| 4 | May 8, 2014 | 7.5% | 9.8% | 8.9% | 10.4% | ||
| 5 | May 14, 2014 | 8.5% | 11.0% | 8.2% | 9.7% | ||
| 6 | May 15, 2014 | 7.0% | 8.9% | 8.1% | 8.6% | ||
| 7 | May 21, 2014 | 8.4% | 11.0% | 9.4% | 10.6% | ||
| 8 | May 22, 2014 | 8.2% | 10.7% | 10.2% | 11.4% | ||
| 9 | May 29, 2014 | 7.8% | 10.4% | 8.0% | 8.6% | ||
| 10 | June 5, 2014 | 7.6% | 9.1% | 7.9% | 8.9% | ||
| 11 | June 11, 2014 | 9.3% | 11.9% | 9.7% | 10.9% | ||
| 12 | June 12, 2014 | 8.6% | 11.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% | ||
| 13 | June 18, 2014 | 8.0% | 10.6% | 8.1% | 8.6% | ||
| 14 | June 19, 2014 | 7.0% | 9.3% | 7.9% | 7.6% | ||
| 15 | June 25, 2014 | 8.0% | 10.8% | 9.0% | 10.3% | ||
| 16 | June 26, 2014 | 7.8% | 9.5% | 8.1% | 8.8% | ||
| Average | 7.7% | 10.1% | 8.5% | 9.3% | |||
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries | ||||
| Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries | ||||
| Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries |
It aired in Japan on cable channel KNTV beginning October 18, 2014.[11] It aired in Indonesia on cable channel RTV beginning November 8, 2014.