Ancil
Juvenile Justice is a Korean courtroom drama that premiered on February 25, 2022. It stars Kim Hye-soo as Shim Eun-Seok a juvenile court judge who is averse to minor offenders and has firm beliefs in the justice and punishment system. She tries to tackle complex cases inside the juvenile court.
The 10-part series is gripping with its exploration of an investigation where the judges get involved in getting to the bottom of complicated cases and in the process expose the systemic inequality, sexism, trauma, that exist in society contributing to juvenile crime. The series was well-received and even made it to the top 10 non-English shows on Netflix. What’s in store for the show’s future? Here’s what you need to know:
Will There Be Season 2 Of Juvenile Justice?
On January 27, 2023, Netflix confirmed the cancellation of season 2 of the popular K-drama Juvenile Justice 2, as reported by South Korean media outlet Star News. This announcement came as a shock and disappointment to many fans of the series.
Juvenile Justice is a highly regarded legal and crime-based K-drama on Netflix that focuses on laws pertaining to juvenile offenders. The show delves into the lives of teenagers under the age of eighteen who have committed unimaginable crimes but receive lenient punishments due to a specific law. Judge Shin Eun-seok, portrayed by Kim Hye-soo, despises young offenders who are shielded by this law, perceiving them as unjust beneficiaries despite committing heinous acts.
The first season, which consisted of ten episodes, featured notable actors such as Kim Hye-soo, Kim Mu-yeol, Lee Sung-min, and Lee Jung-eun in prominent roles. The child actors also delivered exceptional performances. The series was directed by Hong Jong-chan and written by Kim Min-sook.
The organizers of auditions for Juvenile Justice 2 informed aspiring actors that the production of the second season had been canceled.
Juvenile Justice showcased the talents of Kim Hye-soo, a three-time Baeksang-winning actress, who portrayed Shin Eun-seok. Her character, a judge, held a deep-seated aversion towards young offenders due to her personal history. However, her colleague Chae Tae-joo, played by Kim Mu-yeol, constantly aimed to demonstrate that teenagers could reform and overcome their troubled pasts.
Why Did Netflix Cancel Juvenile Justice?
Upon its release in February of the previous year, Juvenile Justice gained immense popularity and international recognition, reaching the top position in Netflix’s non-English TV series category. Despite its popularity and viewership, Netflix decided to cancel the series due to business considerations.
As a leading streaming platform, Netflix relies on data-driven strategies for programming and may discontinue productions that fail to perform well. Although the production team initially planned for Juvenile Justice season 2, the show might have been projected to struggle in attracting a substantial audience due to its genre. However, this reasoning does not fully justify the abrupt cancellation.
Despite the cancellation, fans can still celebrate the lasting impact Juvenile Justice has made on K-drama enthusiasts through its poignant portrayal of teenagers facing hardships under misguided adults.
The drama shed light on various sensitive issues, including juvenile crime, poverty, and flaws within the judicial system. Additionally, it conveyed the message that with proper guidance from responsible adults, teenagers can transform their lives and distinguish between right and wrong.
Even the actors and directors expressed their eagerness for Juvenile Justice season 2, but unfortunately, the production was abruptly halted during the pre-production phase. Reports suggest that auditions were conducted to cast new actors for the role of students in the second season, but these auditions were discontinued following the cancellation announcement.
