The fifth episode of Shin's Project begins with a chilling moment as Shin plays a recording of Choi Yong-min's voice for his father, Councilman Choi Woong-sik. Despite learning of his son's crimes, Woong-sik remains unyielding, refusing to engage in any negotiations with Shin. Back at Hujin Arcade, the complex that houses the chicken store along with the other neighboring shops, Yong-min sets fire to Si-on's bike. However, thanks to Philip's recent self-defense training, she manages to hold Yong-min down until the police arrive.
Shin joins them at the police station where Yong-min is taken away. Philip, however, is not satisfied with the arson charges and continues to seek out more witnesses. Councilman Choi arrives at Hujin Arcade and personally apologizes to all the business owners, whose hearts are won over by his kind behavior.
Meanwhile, Shin rents a new bike for Si-on and has Philip deliver it to her. The two of them head out for deliveries together, taking a break to share stories. Philip reveals that he was also bullied in the past, and it was Judge Kim who ensured that the bullies received their due punishment, which inspired Philip to become a judge himself.
Philip continues his investigation on the side, learning about a boy named Kwak Hyun-woo who committed suicide after being bullied by Yong-min. He tries to speak to Hyun-woo's mother but she avoids him. Dejected, he returns to the store where Shin tells him that the first step to negotiation is earning trust. Philip goes back to Hyun-woo's mother and explains that he became a judge to fight people like Yong-min. This time, she relents and gives him Hyun-woo's personal diary. Philip takes the diary to one of Hyun-woo's friends, who previously refused to testify against Yong-min.
However, this collection of evidence is too slow for Shin. He gathers all the people from Hujin Arcade and the rest of Maheon and announces that he is going to run for Maheon City Council. And he means it! The campaign soon begins and Shin learns that the laundromat owner, Kwon Chil-bong, is also running for city council - apparently for the seventh time (having failed all the previous times).
As the election kicks off, a candidate named Kwon Bong-geun gets closer to Choi Woong-sik's rating. As Shin campaigns, a food influencer named Kkokkio returns but to accuse the shop of giving him food poisoning - a lie that is quickly disproven by the health inspectors who give Shin a green tick, resolving the issue.
Shin engages in a dialogue with Chil-bong, who depicts Bong-geun as an unrealistic candidate with little chance of victory. Meanwhile, Councilman Choi encounters Bong-geun and extends an olive branch, proposing a partnership. However, Bong-geun declines, disagreeing with Choi's methods of displacing people from their homes. Their disagreement escalates over a zoning issue, where Bong-geun sustains an injury while protesting to save the residents' homes. As Choi's influence grows with the addition of another candidate, two more candidates eventually align with Shin, while two others join Bong-geun, leveling the playing field.
Realizing the gravity of his situation, Choi attempts to bribe Shin into switching sides. Despite the offer of money, Shin refuses but imposes a condition: Choi must apologize to Si-on and Philip, who in turn make him apologize to Hyun-woo's mother and friend. Shockingly, Shin then withdraws from the race altogether.
In the meantime, Si-on captures evidence of Choi's bribery attempts, including the prosecutor and the owner of the junkyard where Philip nearly met his fate.
Shin orchestrates a meeting between Chil-bong and Bong-geun, revealing their hidden connection through a web of relatives. This revelation is enough for Chil-bong to withdraw from the race, paving the way for Bong-geun's victory.
Choi's anger boils over when he discovers Shin's deception, but he has little time to fume as the police arrive and arrest him for election fraud and corruption. Bong-geun and his team celebrate in Hujin Arcade with the other business owners and Shin's team.
However, the tone of Shin's Project Episode 5 takes a somber turn as he visits Yoon Dong-hee on the anniversary of his son's death. Yoon remains imprisoned behind glass.
