The premiere of "The Judge from Hell" commences with a captivating introduction to our protagonist, Kang Bitna. Bitna's untimely demise was preceded by a trail of crimson blossoms, leading to a rift that cleaved the fabric of reality. A portal adorned with the tormented faces of cursed souls and adorned with an ominous, fiery red warning signals the beginning of Bitna's journey into the infamous Murderer's Hell.
Here, Judge Kang Justitia reigns supreme, her unyielding justice a fearsome force. Bitna, desperate to plead her innocence, finds herself at the mercy of Justitia's unwavering resolve. But alas, Kang's ears are deaf to Bitna's cries, condemning her to the depths of Hell without a shred of evidence.
This swift injustice does not escape the notice of Bael, the formidable Director of Hell, who swiftly intervenes. The revelation that Bitna is an innocent soul, wrongly damned, prompts a harsh punishment for Justitia: she must assume Bitna's identity on Earth, tasked with dispensing justice to ten unrepentant murderers, claiming their lives, and sending them to their eternal damnation. Her loyal assistants accompany her on this perilous mission, and failure means a fate worse than death for Justitia herself.
Reluctantly, Bitna, now inhabiting Justitia's mantle, emerges onto Earth, adopting a human form. Without hesitation, she storms into court, sipping her cola and tackling her first case with ferocity.
The case is straightforward yet fraught with tension: Officer Daon stands accused for causing injury during an arrest gone awry. Kang, now in Bitna's skin, dismisses the accusations as absurd, scoffing at Daon's admission of wishing he'd been more forceful. Outside the courtroom, Kang captivates a group of children with her tales of the Goddess of Justice, humorously proclaiming the death of justice itself, even coaxing them to echo her words. Daon, intrigued by this enigmatic judge, vows to catch her attention again.
Bitna's next mission is urgent; she rushes to a church where a grieving woman, Cha Minjeong, seeks solace. Cha's jittery demeanor betrays a deeper pain, and Bitna, sensing her distress, vows to help. Pursuing Cha outside, Bitna's sudden appearance startles the woman, who summons police officers for aid.
The officers' search uncovers Bitna's psychiatric evaluation, revealing her struggle with PTSD. They escort her to a station where, ironically, Daon awaits. Unfazed by Bitna's perceived supernatural identity, Daon recognizes her as a formidable judge and encourages her to excel in court the following day. The stage is set for a thrilling journey of retribution and redemption, as Bitna embarks on her quest to redeem herself and those wrongly condemned.
Kang presides over the harrowing case of Cha Minjeong, entangled with Moon Jeongjun, a man who has viciously assaulted his girlfriend on three separate, unforgivable occasions. When Minjeong attempted to escape his clutches, Jeongjun resorted to confinement, locking her away in a chilling display of control. Graphic images of the abuse surface, leaving the courtroom stunned into silence.
The defendants' feeble attempts at justification, claiming a lack of proper upbringing and an inability to comprehend love, ring hollow. In a final, twisted gesture, Jeongjun professes his love for Minjeong, a mere facade as he sneers and inquires about her wellbeing outside the courthouse walls.
Kang Bitna harbors her own sinister motives, calculating that her earthly mission might be expedited if she allows Jeongjun to roam free, ultimately leading to Minjeong's demise. With a dismissive fine of 3 million won and a swift adjournment, she sets him loose.
Daon, determined to confront Bitna's actions, finds his efforts futile as she remains unyielding. Instead, he turns his attention to Jeongjun, issuing a stern warning to keep his distance from Minjeong, who's now sequestered in her apartment, refusing to venture out. Daon's vigilance remains unwavering, his concern for Minjeong's safety growing with each passing day.
Bitna's impatience boils over as she yearns to expedite the violent conclusion. Utilizing her enigmatic mirror, she spies Jeongjun procuring tools in a shop, his intentions clear: to inflict the ultimate harm upon Minjeong. However, Minjeong finds herself in a precarious situation, on the brink of escape with her father, only to be thwarted by a malfunctioning intercom and a deceitful impersonation of an officer. Jeongjun, his true colors revealed, bursts through the door, unleashing a brutal attack.
As he shatters Minjeong's watch and leaves her battered and bloodied, he vows to return, threatening even her parents should she dare to call the police again. In despair, Minjeong takes her own life, leaving Kang Bitna to materialize on the street, her purple knife at the ready, intent on ending Jeongjun's existence.
In the epilogue, we delve deeper into Bitna's psychological evaluation, where she paradoxically posits that the true horrors of Hell reside not in its fiery depths but rather on this very Earth. Meanwhile, the genuine Kang Bitna struggles to evade the relentless demons that surround her, trapped within the confines of Hell itself.
