SBS's 'Taxi Driver 3' delivered a satisfying conclusion to its only unresolved case as Lee Je-hoon's character, Kim Do-gi, took down the psychopathic mastermind behind a match-fixing murder case, played by Eum Moon-suk.
In the episode aired on the 13th, Kim Do-gi and the 'Rainbow Heroes' uncovered the remains of Park Min-ho, who was murdered 15 years ago due to a match-fixing scandal. They exacted revenge on the perpetrator, Chun Kwang-jin, providing viewers with a cathartic experience.
According to Nielsen Korea, episode 8 of 'Taxi Driver 3' achieved its highest ratings for the season, with a peak of 15.6% nationwide, 12.9% in the metropolitan area, and 12.3% nationwide. It ranked first in its time slot and among all mini-series aired that week. The 2049 demographic rating soared to 4.1%, peaking at 5.19%, securing the top spot across all channels in December.
The episode began with the shocking revelation of Chun Kwang-jin's past crimes. As the grandson of the first chairman of Jin Gwang University, Chun manipulated volleyball players into illegal match-fixing gambling. When Park Min-ho attempted to report this, Chun used others to murder him and buried his body at his grandmother's grave. Chun was also behind the car accident of Park Min-ho's father, Park Dong-soo.
With Kim Do-gi's plan, Park Min-ho's remains were recovered, prompting Chun to act. He stole the remains from the police and murdered his accomplices, revealing his true nature. Kim Do-gi thwarted Chun's attempt to kidnap Park Dong-soo, escalating the tension.
Kim Do-gi decided to confront Chun head-on to retrieve Park Min-ho's remains. He and the 'Rainbow Heroes' headed to an abandoned school, only to find themselves ambushed by mysterious assailants. Chun had set up a live fight betting event with Kim as the player, even betting on Kim's death, showcasing his inhuman greed.
Kim Do-gi fought fiercely against the killers, determined to find Chun, who was watching and laughing from a hidden location. His intense hand-to-hand combat scenes captivated viewers, and the 'Rainbow Heroes' cut off the internet connection to stop Chun's live betting broadcast, adding to the satisfaction.
In the climax, Kim Do-gi confronted Chun and delivered a merciless punch of revenge. Despite being beaten, Chun attempted to bribe Kim, shocking viewers with his pettiness. Kim returned the pain suffered by the victims, recalling Park Dong-soo, who, despite Alzheimer's, never forgot his son. Kim buried Chun in a pit, challenging him to think if anyone truly remembered him.
Finally, Kim Do-gi accompanied Park Dong-soo as he took Park Min-ho's remains to their final resting place, bringing closure to the series' only unresolved case and moving viewers to tears.
'Taxi Driver 3' airs every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 PM, following the story of the secretive taxi company Rainbow Transport and driver Kim Do-gi as they seek revenge for wronged victims.
Reporter: Lim Chae-ryeong, TENASIA syjj426@tenasia.co.kr