Legal K-drama fans have a new weekend obsession lined up: Pro Bono. The tvN series, headlined by Jung Kyung Ho, So Ju Yeon and Lee Yoo Young, will stream globally on Netflix and follow the dramatic fall — and reinvention — of an ambitious judge who ends up working as a public-interest lawyer.
If you’re planning to binge as soon as new chapters drop, knowing exactly when every episode lands on Netflix is key. Below you’ll find a clear release calendar, how the Netflix rollout works outside Korea, and what to expect from the story and cast.
When does Pro Bono premiere on Netflix?
Pro Bono is scheduled to launch on December 6, 2025 in South Korea on tvN, with episodes made available on Netflix internationally the same days. Netflix is following the local TV broadcast, so viewers in the U.S. and most global territories should see new episodes shortly after they air in Korea.
The show uses the classic Korean weekend-drama model:
- Series premiere: December 6, 2025
- Broadcast days: Saturday and Sunday (KST)
- Where to watch: tvN in South Korea, Netflix worldwide
- Total episode count: 12 episodes
- Runtime per episode: around 70 minutes
For U.S. viewers, that generally means fresh episodes hitting Netflix over the weekend, making it an easy show to fold into your Saturday night or Sunday couch routine.
Pro Bono episode release schedule (Netflix & tvN)
The first two episodes launch during the premiere weekend, then the series continues with two episodes every week until mid-January 2026. Here’s the full broadcast calendar so you can plan your watch list.
| Episode | Planned air date (tvN & Netflix) |
|---|---|
| Episode 1 | December 6, 2025 |
| Episode 2 | December 7, 2025 |
| Episodes 3 & 4 | December 13 & 14, 2025 |
| Episodes 5 & 6 | December 20 & 21, 2025 |
| Episodes 7 & 8 | December 27 & 28, 2025 |
| Episodes 9 & 10 | January 3 & 4, 2026 |
| Episodes 11 & 12 (finale) | January 10 & 11, 2026 |
Barring schedule changes in Korea, the story will unfold over six weekends, with the finale wrapping up on January 11, 2026. Expect Netflix to mirror this cadence, which has become the norm for Korean legal and crime dramas on the platform.
What is Pro Bono about?
Pro Bono centers on Kang David, a star judge whose promising career implodes after a major professional crisis. Forced out of his comfortable position in the elite ranks of the judiciary, he ends up working in public-interest law — taking on cases that are far less glamorous, but far more morally complicated.
The series leans into themes that resonate strongly with U.S. viewers familiar with shows like Suits or The Good Wife: the tension between winning cases and doing what’s ethically right, the pressure of high-profile courts, and the emotional toll of representing people who have little power in the system.
As new episodes arrive each weekend, the narrative tracks David’s shift from prestige-driven success to a more grounded, often uncomfortable understanding of justice, responsibility and accountability.
Cast: who stars in Pro Bono?
The series brings together a strong ensemble of familiar K-drama faces and veteran character actors:
- Jung Kyung Ho plays Kang David, the high-performing judge whose life is upended. U.S. Netflix viewers may recognize him from Hospital Playlist and Crash Course in Romance.
- So Ju Yeon portrays Park Gi Ppeum, whose path intersects with David in the public-interest legal world.
- Lee Yoo Young, along with Yoon Na Moo, Seo Hye Won and Kang Hyang Suk, round out the main cast, adding layers to the legal and personal conflicts at the heart of the narrative.
Supporting roles are handled by an experienced lineup including Choi Dae Hoon, Lee Moon Shik, Sung Dong Il, Kim Jung Young and Kim Gab Soo, names that regular K-drama watchers will immediately recognize from some of the biggest Korean series of the past decade.
Creative team and tone
Pro Bono is directed by Kim Seong Yoon and written by Moon Yoo Seok, a duo known for carefully structured stories built around professional environments and character growth. Instead of leaning only on courtroom theatrics, the show focuses on how a legal career can reshape — and sometimes break — the people inside it.
Viewers can expect a mix of:
- Character-driven drama about redemption and second chances
- Case-of-the-week plots tied to social issues and everyday injustices
- Ethical dilemmas that force the protagonist to pick between personal gain and the public good
Because episodes are about 70 minutes long, each weekend offers the equivalent of a feature-length chapter in David’s transformation, making the series particularly well-suited to Netflix’s week-to-week model.
How to follow Pro Bono week by week
If you like staying current with new K-dramas instead of waiting for a full-season drop, Pro Bono is designed for appointment viewing. Here’s a quick strategy if you’re watching from the U.S.:
- Mark your calendar for Saturdays and Sundays from December 6, 2025 through January 11, 2026.
- Watch in pairs: since two episodes arrive each weekend, treat them as a mini double-feature.
- Avoid spoilers: social media discussion ramps up fast for legal K-dramas; if you’re a few days behind, mute tags like “Pro Bono Kdrama” and “Kang David” on X (Twitter) or TikTok.
By sticking to the release cadence, you can follow the character arcs and major cases in real time with the global fandom, instead of dodging spoilers until the finale.
Is Pro Bono worth adding to your Netflix list?
If you enjoy legal shows that combine emotional storytelling with ethical gray areas, Pro Bono is positioned to be one of Netflix’s standout international titles at the end of 2025. The tight 12-episode run keeps the story focused, while the weekend release schedule lets you process each major twist before the next one hits.
With Jung Kyung Ho in the lead and an experienced creative team behind the camera, the series aims to deliver more than just courtroom spectacle — it’s about what happens when a man who had everything to lose decides what kind of lawyer, and what kind of person, he actually wants to be.
FAQ
When will Pro Bono be available on Netflix?
Pro Bono is set to arrive on Netflix starting December 6, 2025, the same day it premieres on tvN in South Korea. New episodes will follow the Korean broadcast schedule and typically appear on Netflix shortly after airing.
How often do new Pro Bono episodes come out?
The series releases two episodes every weekend — one on Saturday and one on Sunday — from December 6, 2025 through January 11, 2026, for a total of six weekends of new content.
How many episodes does the first season of Pro Bono have?
Season 1 of Pro Bono consists of 12 episodes. Each episode runs for about 70 minutes, giving the show a compact but substantial overall runtime.
Do you need to speak Korean to enjoy Pro Bono on Netflix?
No. Netflix will provide subtitles in multiple languages, including English, and may also offer dubbed audio options for some regions. As with most Korean dramas on Netflix, you’ll be able to choose your preferred language settings in the player.














