Memory (2016)

He must lose his memory and yet still fight in a courtroom. That single premise carries the entire drama. Memory, broadcast on tvN in 2016, is the story of a veteran defence lawyer who has just received an early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and throws himself into one last case. It is a courtroom drama, but it layers inside it questions about family, career, memory, and identity. My rating is ★4.0.

What it’s about — the case of a lawyer facing Alzheimer’s

Park Tae-suk (Lee Sung-min) is a veteran criminal defence lawyer with a long career. On the day he receives his Alzheimer’s diagnosis, he comes face to face with a cold case he has long put aside. While the disease slowly erases his memories, he tests just how far he can maintain his function as a lawyer. The tension between him and the prosecutor played by Park Jin-hee, the fractures in his family, and the truth of the past case form three narrative pillars. A 16-episode series, it is tvN’s first-half 2016 drama.

Direction — a restrained, understated courtroom drama

Director Park Chan-hong’s direction is unadorned and economical. The courtroom scenes are filled with realistic exchanges grounded in actual court procedures, and the moments when the protagonist’s memories become hazy are expressed quietly through screen treatment and sound. Rather than dramatic exaggeration, the approach is to observe the character’s interior. This restraint creates the drama’s dignity. The directorial decision to maximise Lee Sung-min as an actor is notable. A running time of 65 minutes per episode is somewhat long, but strong early momentum means it does not feel too burdensome.

Performance & characters — Lee Sung-min holding up the work

Lee Sung-min’s performance is the pillar that supports the entire work. He expresses the process of a self-respecting lawyer wavering in the face of illness without shouting — only through his gaze and subtle changes in expression. The acting in scenes where his memory momentarily cuts out in the courtroom, simultaneously conveying bewilderment and fear, is impressive. Lee Jun-ho and Park Jin-hee also show stable performances in their respective roles. Lee Jun-ho naturally embodies the young prosecutor’s growth arc.

What the work says — the loss of memory and professional identity

The fear of losing memory is deeply intertwined with professional identity. Since the legal profession stands on memory and logic, when those faculties disappear the protagonist’s crisis is simultaneously professional and existential. The drama handles this quietly beneath the surface of a courtroom drama. The family narrative is also woven in without contrivance, showing how Park Tae-suk changes as a father and husband. The balanced distribution of courtroom catharsis and internal character change is this work’s strength.

Ratings & reception

Domestic viewership at broadcast reached a peak in the 9% range. IMDb score: 8.0. TMDB score: 6.6. There was considerable praise for Lee Sung-min’s performance, and it was recognised as one of tvN’s more accomplished dramas of 2016. Domestically the combination of Lee Sung-min’s acting and the courtroom genre was received as fresh.

Weaknesses

In the middle stretch there are passages where the case investigation plot and the personal narrative clash awkwardly. Supporting characters feel somewhat like tools for the protagonist, lacking independent personality. In the final few episodes, the courtroom drama’s density weakens somewhat as it tilts toward emotional drama, and the tension of the earlier sections loosens. The handling of Alzheimer’s sometimes feels like it leans toward dramatic device over realism, foregrounding drama-ness over a sense of reality.

Verdict

Memory is a drama that stakes nearly everything on one actor — Lee Sung-min — and the gamble pays off. The combination of legal thriller and human drama is fully enjoyable for genre fans. Understated direction and an unwavering lead performance raise the work’s overall quality. It has its weaknesses, but if you are a fan of Lee Sung-min or enjoy courtroom dramas, it is well worth your time.

Recommended for

• Those who appreciate Lee Sung-min’s acting
• Those who want to enjoy both a courtroom drama and a human drama simultaneously
• Those interested in serious narrative dealing with Alzheimer’s as a subject