MBC's 'Judge Lee Han-young' Faces Off Against SBS's 'Taxi Driver 3': Director Shares Insights

MBC, once hailed as the 'drama kingdom,' faced a challenging year with low ratings for its Friday-Saturday dramas like 'Bunny and the Brothers,' 'Mary Kills People,' and 'To the Moon.'

On the afternoon of the 2nd, a press conference for MBC's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Judge Lee Han-young' was held at the Golden Mouse Hall in Sangam, Mapo-gu, Seoul. The event was attended by director Lee Jae-jin and actors Ji Sung, Park Hee-soon, Won Jin-ah, Tae Won-seok, Baek Jin-hee, and Oh Se-young.

'Judge Lee Han-young' is a justice-driven time-travel drama about a corrupt judge who returns to the past and makes different choices to fight against evil.

The drama competes in the same time slot as the popular SBS series 'Taxi Driver 3.' When asked about the pressure, director Lee Jae-jin admitted, "I can't say there's no pressure. We hope to create a new opportunity this time, especially after last year's disappointments."

He continued, "'Taxi Driver' is doing well, so there is pressure. I believe both dramas have different charms. I've watched it secretly, and I'm contemplating what unique aspects we can offer." He added, "We aim to attract viewers who enjoyed 'Taxi Driver' and even those who didn't find it appealing."

He emphasized, "Our drama has many complex elements, offering a variety of flavors, which I consider our strength."

'Judge Lee Han-young' premieres on MBC at 9:40 PM on the 2nd.

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