'Taxi Driver 3' Episode 7: Lee Je-hoon Unravels Villain's Plot, Achieves Record Ratings

In the latest episode of SBS's 'Taxi Driver 3', aired on December 12 at 9:50 PM, Lee Je-hoon's character, Kim Do-gi, dismantles the mental state of villain Shin Joo-hwan, forcing him to unearth a victim he had buried alive. The episode showcased an intense revenge plot that captivated viewers.

According to Nielsen Korea, episode 7 of 'Taxi Driver 3' achieved a peak rating of 12.2%, with a metropolitan area rating of 10.3% and a nationwide rating of 10.3%, setting a new record for Friday episodes. It also topped the mini-series ratings for the week. The 2049 demographic rating, a key measure of popularity, also reached a high of 3.43%, with an average of 2.8%, making it the most-watched show on Friday.

The episode featured Cho Sung-wook, a volleyball coach, who compensates for player Jung Yeon-tae's inferiority complex with money, involving him in match-fixing. When suspicions arise, Cho resorts to violence to silence them.

Kim Do-gi discovers a match-fixing hideout at Im Dong-hyun's gym and vows to find the missing Park Min-ho through a betting site. He first gains Im's trust by returning the gym to him and introduces himself as 'Park Min-ho', manipulating Im into a partnership.

The Rainbow Heroes, analyzing the match-fixing patterns, focus on Jung Yeon-tae. With a major game approaching, Kim Do-gi plans to recruit Jung, transforming Go-eun and Choi into a goddess and janitor, respectively, to approach him. Kim Do-gi, as 'Lorenzo Kim', a European league agent, impresses Jung, who becomes excited about the prospect of playing in Europe.

Meanwhile, 'Park Min-ho Do-gi' continues to provoke Im and Cho, leading Im to confess to Cho about Kim's knowledge of their hideout. Cho plans to eliminate Kim in a staged accident, but Kim escapes, preparing for a counterattack.

On the day of the decisive match, 'Lorenzo Kim' meets Jung, encouraging him to avoid mistakes. Inspired by the dream of joining a European league, Jung ignores Cho's instructions and plays flawlessly, later deciding to confess to the police.

As Im and Cho's plans crumble, Kim delivers a final blow by revealing his survival to Im and appearing before Cho in Park Min-ho's uniform, haunting them with Park's ghost. Cho, who buried Park, is shocked to hear of the body's discovery and rushes to the burial site, only to find it at the grave of Jin Gwang University's founder. A mysterious phone call further terrifies Cho, raising questions about the true predator in the villains' hierarchy and the truth behind the 15-year-old incident.

SBS's 'Taxi Driver 3' follows the secretive taxi company Rainbow Transport and driver Kim Do-gi as they seek revenge for wronged victims. Episode 8 is set to air on December 13 at 9:50 PM.

Reporter: Lim Chae-ryeong, TENASIA syjj426@tenasia.co.kr