Ji Sung delivers a powerful kick of justice towards corruption.
In the 7th episode of MBC's Friday-Saturday drama 'The Judge Returns,' aired on the 23rd, Lee Han Young (played by Ji Sung) uncovers additional crimes of Choo Yong Jin (played by Lee Jang Won), the main culprit of the Nammyun District sinkhole incident. He also proposes a collaboration to Kim Jin Ah (played by Won Jin Ah) to draw a blueprint for eradicating major evils.
The episode recorded a viewership rating of 12% in the Seoul metropolitan area and 11.4% nationwide, according to Nielsen Korea, setting a new personal best. A scene where The Judge Returns firmly states, “The actions of the district office staff in the video are violence and extortion,” during the trial of the Nammyun District sinkhole case, reached a peak rating of 13.4%. The 2054 demographic rating was 4.4%, ranking first among all programs aired that day.
Lee Han Young disguised himself as a loan shark who lent money to Heo Dong Ki (played by Shin Hyun Jong) to pressure Choo Yong Jin (played by Lee Jang Won), a key figure in the sinkhole case. However, upon realizing Heo Dong Ki's genuine desire for a trial, he halted his private execution and revealed his identity as a judge. Choo Yong Jin and Chun Hak Soo (played by Dang Hyun Seok), barely escaping, were cornered by Nammyun District Congressman Kang Jung Tae (played by Kim Jin Ho), who urged them to obtain settlement agreements from the victims.
Lee Han Young, noticing Eom Jun Ho (played by Park Jung Hak) not taking any significant action regarding the 'Woo Kyo Hoon (played by Jeon Jin Ki) downfall' case, hinted at utilizing the sense of justice of Central Prosecutor Kim Jin Ah (played by Won Jin Ah). Eom Jun Ho then summoned Kim Jin Ah's superior, Ma Kang Gil (played by Kim Young Pil), and handed over a video of Woo Kyo Hoon's daughter's drug party, which eventually reached Kim Jin Ah.
Meanwhile, Kang Shin Jin, after reviewing Lee Han Young's personal documents, discovered that Han Young's father served time due to a conflict with a construction service. Remembering the trial he participated in as a judge, Shin Jin sharply questioned Han Young's intentions, asking, “Why did you approach me?” but only received the answer, “I only wish for a proper use.” Meanwhile, Im Jung Sik (played by Kim Byung Chun), witnessing Lee Han Young and Kang Shin Jin leaving a meal, immediately informed Baek Yi Seok (played by Kim Tae Woo). The growing rift among allies pushed the plot into uncertainty.
Lee Han Young laid other groundwork for eradicating major evils. He met with Kim Jin Ah and her senior, Park Chul Woo (played by Hwang Hee), proposing that capturing Woo Kyo Hoon's daughter would help catch her nemesis, Jang Tae Sik (played by Kim Beop Rae). Although Kim Jin Ah was skeptical, Lee Han Young suggested that the hearing day would be ideal, inviting her into his plan. As the collaboration between Lee Han Young and Kim Jin Ah is expected to continue, interest in the stormy narrative between those pursuing justice and the powerful grows.
On the day of the Nammyun District sinkhole case trial, Yoo Ha Na (played by Baek Seung Hee), the lawyer representing Nammyun District, announced that settlements had been reached with all victims. However, Heo Dong Ki's lawyer revealed that Choo Yong Jin's side had coerced the settlements, changing the dynamics. Before the trial, Lee Han Young contacted reporter Song Na Yeon (played by Baek Jin Hee) to secure evidence that district office staff threatened victims into signing agreements, which Song Na Yeon handed over to Heo Dong Ki's lawyer before the trial. Turning the tables, Han Young transferred Choo Yong Jin to a criminal trial for violence and extortion, ordering a prosecution investigation.
Kang Shin Jin found himself in a precarious situation. If Choo Yong Jin were to be arrested, it would endanger Kang Jung Tae, who endorsed him, and negatively impact the upcoming presidential election support rates. Consequently, Kang Shin Jin devised a chilling plan, stating, “If the tail wants to survive, it shakes the body. We must cut it off before that.”
Kang Shin Jin attempted to lure Choo Yong Jin into a trap under the guise of smuggling him out, intending to have him killed by Kwak Soon Won (played by Park Geon Il). In a life-threatening situation for Choo Yong Jin, Lee Han Young, having obtained information through Seok Jung Ho (played by Tae Won Seok), arrived at the scene and delivered a kick of justice to Soon Won, sparking curiosity for the next episode.
Tae Yuna, TenAsia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr