TV
Ji Sung's Thrilling Pursuit of Justice in 'The Judge Returns' Captivates Viewers
On the third episode of MBC's Friday-Saturday drama 'The Judge Returns' (directed by Lee Jae-jin, Park Mi-yeon/written by Kim Kwang-min), aired on the 9th, Lee Han Young (played by Ji Sung) solves the case of serial killer Kim Sang-jin (played by Bae In-hyuk) and catches the attention of the judicial power player Kang Shin-jin (played by Park Hee-soon), marking the beginning of his relentless pursuit of revenge and justice.
The episode achieved a viewership rating of 6.2% in the Seoul metropolitan area and 5.8% nationwide, according to Nielsen Korea, setting a new personal best for the show and hinting at a potential hit. A particularly gripping scene where Yoo Se-hee (played by Oh Se-young) confronts Lee Han Young after an incident at a hotel reached a peak rating of 7.3% nationwide, showcasing the audience's keen interest. Additionally, the key demographic rating for viewers aged 20-54 was 2.3%, highlighting the show's strong appeal.
In the episode, Lee Han Young captures the fleeing serial killer Kim Sang-jin by hitting him with his car and subsequently sentences him to death in court. His merciless judgment against the criminal thrilled viewers.
Lee Han Young's actions drew the attention of Kang Shin-jin, who manipulates the judiciary, and the principled judge Baek Yi-seok (played by Kim Tae-woo), known as the 'White Tiger' of the judiciary. Kang Shin-jin, intrigued by Lee Han Young, subtly expressed his curiosity through his aides Kim Jin-han (played by Jung Hee-tae) and Kim Yoon-hyuk (played by Jang Jae-ho). However, Lee Han Young, who was killed by Shin-jin in a previous life, began to shadow Shin-jin and Jin-han, sharpening his blade of revenge. Unaware of Lee Han Young's hostility, Kang Shin-jin focused on influencing trials involving political figures to tighten his grip on the judiciary.
Gaining public attention through the 'Kim Sang-jin case,' Lee Han Young was tested by Baek Yi-seok with a challenging case. The defendant, Park Hyuk-jun (played by Lee Jae-yeon), was accused of causing a car accident to claim his girlfriend Kim Sun-hee's (played by Han Seoul) insurance money. However, with financial stability and no knowledge of her life insurance policy, there was room for legal debate.
To accurately understand the case, Lee Han Young visited the accident scene, where he met Song Na-yeon (played by Baek Jin-hee), a reporter for Daejin Daily and a friend of Kim Sun-hee. He asked her to sway public opinion, revealing his inner thoughts: "The case has grown, and it's likely to catch Kang Shin-jin's eye," he said, essentially declaring war by adding, "Kang Shin-jin, pay attention to me."
Concurrently, Kang Shin-jin set in motion a meticulous plan to appoint a Supreme Court Chief Justice of his choosing. He pressured Supreme Court Justice Kim Jun-man with a call, reminding him, "Don't forget who made this happen." He also contacted opposition leader Jo Hoo-heon (played by Jo Young-jin) to discuss the presidential office's plan for the next Chief Justice nomination, securing a promise for parliamentary approval.
On the day of the 'Park Hyuk-jun case' trial, Lee Han Young began questioning Kim Ga-young (played by Jang Hee-ryung), Kim Sun-hee's insurance agent and cousin. He pointed out that Kim Ga-young was the only one aware of Kim Sun-hee's life insurance policy and that Park Hyuk-jun was the beneficiary, ordering a search of her phone. Despite hiding a second phone, the ringing in court exposed her, leading to her capture. The chilling ending, with Lee Han Young's voice saying "Nice to meet you" over the phone, left viewers on edge, heightening the drama's intensity.
MBC's 'The Judge Returns' will air its fourth episode on the 10th at 9:50 PM.
Reporter Chaeryeong Lim, TENASIA syjj426@tenasia.co.kr
