JTBC’s New Legal Drama Beyond the Bar Gains Buzz Before Premiere — Could It Follow Good Boy’s Success?

Set to premiere on August 2, 2025 on JTBC, Beyond the Bar stars Lee Jin‑wook as Yoon Seok‑hoon, a precise and emotionally reserved partner at a top law firm, and Jung Chae‑yeon as rookie lawyer Kang Hyo‑min, whose idealistic spirit shakes up his world. Together, they navigate legal cases and personal growth in this mentor‑mentee workplace rom‑com.([turn0search15])

• Strong creative team: Written by Doctor Cha’s Jung Yeo‑rang and directed by Good Partner’s Kim Jae‑hong.
  
  

• Intriguing tone: Legal drama meets office romance, blending ethics, ambition, and emotional realism.
  
  

• Star power and chemistry: Jung and Lee’s chemistry is being widely discussed in pre‑air media and fan forums.
  
  

• Good Boy premiered May 31, 2025 on JTBC and quickly emerged as a weekend staple. Its debut scored 4.8% (Seoul metro) with a 7.3% per-minute peak, outperforming contemporaries in the same slot.([turn0search0][turn0search4])
  
  

• It dominated Good Data Corporation’s TV‑OTT drama buzz rankings for at least three consecutive weeks, and cast members like Park Bo‑gum and Kim So‑hyun topped individual popularity charts.([turn0search3][turn0search6])
  
  

• Episodes reached a high of 6.4% nationwide, with critics praising its sharp pacing and action-driven style.([turn0search14][turn0search8])
  
  

Similarities

Differences

• Good Boy thrived on action-packed genres blending crime and athleticism.
  
  

• Beyond the Bar leans into character-driven storytelling through moral dilemmas, legal ethics, and personal growth—existing within workplace drama where chemistry is key.
  
  

• Initial ratings above 5%—the benchmark for cable dramas to be considered solid success.([turn0reddit16])
  
  

• Strong online chatter in drama buzz rankings and discussion forums—as seen with Good Boy.
  
  

• Positive critical response around Lee and Jung’s chemistry and the show’s realistic tone.