The Judge Returns Starring Ji Sung Premieres Today... Competing Head-to-Head with 'Taxi Driver 3'

Actor Ji Sung has donned the judge's robe again after 5 years. This time, he plays a judge who defies time.

At the production presentation of the new Friday-Saturday drama 〈The Judge Returns〉 held at MBC in Sangam, Mapo-gu, Seoul on the 2nd, Ji Sung emphasized that this work contains a story that is differentiated from existing courtroom dramas.

"I thought 〈The Judge Returns〉 was not just a simple courtroom drama. It depicts the journey of a character who loved darkness, such as corruption and depravity, breaking away from that darkness," Ji Sung explained the essence of this work.

MBC's new Friday-Saturday drama 〈The Judge Returns〉 tells the story of Judge Lee Han-young, who, after being abandoned for complying with the orders of a large law firm, accidentally returns to his younger self 10 years ago and chooses a different life, moving towards justice.

⬦ Different from 〈The Devil Judge〉... Refreshing 'Cider' Verdict in Life's Second Round

It has been 5 years since Ji Sung took on the role of a judge since the 2021 tvN drama 〈The Devil Judge〉. He stated, "The two works, 〈The Devil Judge〉 and 〈The Judge Returns〉, are clearly different in tone," adding, "I didn't feel burdened by taking on the judge role again. I thought there was enough for me to do in this drama as well."

He continued, "Unlike 〈The Devil Judge〉, this work tells the story of the emotions of the character Lee Han-young," emphasizing that it is a work that allows for deep contemplation of what is right and wrong in society through Lee Han-young's journey to realize his mistakes and restore true justice.

Won Jin-ah, who also attended the production presentation, introduced the special charm of this work. "At first, I thought there would be many courtroom scenes, but there were actually more scenes of running outside and engaging in battles than in court," she said, adding, "When collaborating with Judge Lee Han-young, we discussed how to elevate the atmosphere and provide a refreshing experience, and how to differentiate ourselves while filming."

In the drama, Won Jin-ah plays Kim Jin-ah, a prosecutor in the Special Investigations Unit of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office who dreams of revenge, while Park Hee-soon plays Kang Shin-jin, a chief judge overflowing with ambition for power.

⬦ The Original Work Has 100 Million Views... Park Hee-soon Says "If It's Ji Sung, I'm In"

This work is based on a popular web novel and webtoon of the same name, with a combined view count of 100 million, garnering high interest from original fans.

Park Hee-soon explained the background of his choice of the work, saying, "I received the first four scripts, but my role hardly appeared in parts 1 and 2. I couldn't judge just by looking at parts 3 and 4, so I binge-read the original webtoon, and it was very interesting."

He continued, "I thought this work would depend on which actor played Lee Han-young, and when I heard that Ji Sung, who shone at the 'MBC Acting Awards' in 2015, was cast, I decided without asking any questions," expressing his trust in the lead actor.

⬦ "Honestly, I Watch 〈Taxi Driver〉"... PD Also Nervous About the Friday-Saturday Drama Ratings War

〈The Judge Returns〉 is the first release of 2026 and one of MBC's anticipated works this year, receiving high attention. However, it has formed a competitive structure as it overlaps with the SBS drama 〈Taxi Driver 3〉, which is gaining popularity with a viewership rating of 14% according to Nielsen Korea nationwide.

Director Lee Jae-jin stated, "Honestly, I can't say that I don't feel pressure," but added, "I secretly watch 〈Taxi Driver 3〉, and I think our dramas have different charms."

He continued, "Our drama has more complex genre elements than expected," expressing confidence that the strength of this work lies in the variety of experiences it offers.

MBC's new Friday-Saturday drama 〈The Judge Returns〉 will premiere at 9:40 PM on the 2nd.