SBS Drama 'Judge from Hell' Tops Ratings with Intense Plot Twist

The SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Judge from Hell' continues to captivate audiences with its gripping storyline. According to Nielsen Korea, the 10th episode aired on the 19th recorded a nationwide rating of 11.4% and a peak rating of 13.9%, securing the top spot among mini-series aired on Saturday, weekly mini-series, and across all channels during its time slot. The 2049 demographic rating also reached 4.3%, making it the number one broadcast on Saturday.

In the latest episode, the characters Kang Bit-na (played by Park Shin-hye) and Han Da-on (played by Kim Jae-young) faced an unprecedented crisis. Both characters risked their lives to save each other, only to be met with another shocking twist just as they thought they had overcome the danger.

Previously, another demon, Detective Jang (played by Choi Dae-hoon), appeared at the request of Lee Ah-rong (played by Kim Ah-young) to kill Han Da-on. Detective Jang was actually Paimon, Kang Bit-na's nemesis, who had been competing with her for 400 years for the position of Bael's successor, the second-in-command of hell. Paimon, disguised as Detective Jang, used Han Da-on's act of destroying evidence to protect Kang Bit-na as leverage to threaten and provoke him.

Kang Bit-na speculated that the serial killer J, who dismembered different body parts from his victims, might be Satan who escaped from hell. If the treasure of hell, Kailum, existed in the different body parts of righteous people, even demons could achieve immortality in a human body. Kang Bit-na and Han Da-on visited the families of the victims of serial killer J to hear their stories, asking if they could forgive and forget.

Both Han Da-on and Jang Myung-sook (played by Kim Jae-hwa), the owner of Hwangcheon Villa, had lost loved ones to serial killer J. They lived with deep pain in their hearts. Kang Bit-na became deeply empathetic to their suffering, especially moved by Han Da-on, who endured his pain and tears. Kang Bit-na promised Han Da-on, "I will find and kill him for you."

Kang Bit-na set out to find Jung Sun-ho to confirm if he was the serial killer J or Satan. However, an unimaginable danger began for Kang Bit-na and Han Da-on. Paimon and Lee Ah-rong threatened Goo Man-do (played by Kim In-kwon) to lure Han Da-on using Kang Bit-na's voice. Han Da-on, who was willing to kill Detective Jang to protect Kang Bit-na, rushed to her aid upon hearing her voice pleading for help.

Kang Bit-na also learned from Goo Man-do that Han Da-on was in danger and rushed to save him. She found Han Da-on bloodied because of Paimon. A full-scale confrontation between Kang Bit-na and Paimon ensued. As Paimon began to lose, he pulled Kang Bit-na into an illusion. In the illusion, Paimon, in the form of Han Da-on, pleaded, "Judge, you love me. Please die for me," and lunged at Kang Bit-na.

Kang Bit-na awakened to Han Da-on's voice calling her and killed Paimon. She then embraced Han Da-on, saying, "Now, only look at me and trust me. I will protect you." Just as the incident seemed resolved, the demon Paimon, who had opened his eyes again, lunged at Kang Bit-na to kill her. Han Da-on, seeing this, sacrificed his life to save Kang Bit-na.

Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr