'Judge Lee Han-young' Finale: A Riveting Conclusion to a Legal Drama Masterpiece

'Judge Lee Han-young' has concluded its epic journey.

On October 14, the final episode of MBC's Friday-Saturday drama 'Judge Lee Han-young' (directed by Lee Jae-jin, Park Mi-yeon/written by Kim Kwang-min) aired, where Lee Han-young (played by Ji Sung) delivered a powerful final blow by sentencing Kang Shin-jin (played by Park Hee-soon), the core antagonist, to death.

The episode achieved a viewership rating of 13.2% in the Seoul metropolitan area and 12.8% nationwide, according to Nielsen Korea, securing its position as the top Friday-Saturday drama. A particularly gripping scene where Lee Han-young, while fighting off thugs to capture the fleeing Kang Shin-jin, was aided by Kim Jin-ah (played by Won Jin-ah), Seok Jeong-ho (played by Tae Won-seok), and Park Cheol-woo (played by Hwang Hee), reached a peak viewership rating of 17.2% nationwide, eliciting an explosive response from viewers. Additionally, the key demographic of viewers aged 20-54 gave the show a 4.5% rating, making it the top program of the day, marking a spectacular end for 'Judge Lee Han-young'.

In the episode, Kang Shin-jin summoned Suo-jae officials to a restaurant, threatening them with files of their corruption, and ominously stated, "If the president passes away, I'll take everything with me." Lee Han-young and Kim Jin-ah pursued Kang Shin-jin, facing a dire situation when surrounded by police, but managed to escape thanks to Kim Jin-ah's quick thinking. The intense battle of wits, as Kim Yoon-hyuk (played by Jang Jae-ho) hid court transaction documents to obstruct justice, kept viewers on the edge of their seats.

Later, Kang Shin-jin met with Park Kwang-to (played by Son Byung-ho), boasting about his ability to shake the future government by exposing the president-elect's corruption, eventually securing a 30 billion won account. While Kang Shin-jin brazenly turned himself in to the prosecution, Park Kwang-to met a mysterious death in prison, highlighting the ruthless nature of power. The tragic end of those who mock the law suggested that the fate of corrupt power players is never beautiful.

Confidently leaving the prosecutor's office, Kang Shin-jin attempted to frame Lee Han-young as a murderer to stage his comeback. However, Lee Han-young did not give up and persuaded a doctor under Kang Shin-jin's influence, saying, "How about refusing Kang Shin-jin's murder solicitation instead of attempted murder?" The back-and-forth battle revealed Kang Shin-jin's involvement in the murder of Kwak Soon-won (played by Park Geon-il) and his use of a proxy account for the Seonjin Happiness Foundation's donations. The scene where the truth was unveiled by those on the side of justice was a highlight.

Using a talisman left by Park Kwang-to as a clue, Lee Han-young infiltrated Suo-jae and successfully secured a USB containing evidence of corruption hidden in a porcelain vase. As a result, Suo-jae officials, including Chairman Jang Yong-hyun, faced legal judgment, restoring the broken judicial system and providing a sense of relief.

Meanwhile, Lee Han-young, still a murder suspect, was offered a chance for a non-custodial investigation by Baek Yi-seok if he turned himself in. Lee Han-young replied, "I'll catch Kang Shin-jin and return to court." With the help of the 'Panvengers', Lee Han-young found and captured Kang Shin-jin, who was attempting to flee. The downfall of Kang Shin-jin's accomplices, including Hae-nal Law Firm's CEO Yoo Sun-cheol (played by Ahn Nae-sang) and Yoo Jin-gwang (played by Heo Hyung-kyu), marked the end for the villains.

In the final trial, Lee Han-young boldly confronted Kang Shin-jin, who was defending himself, stating, "I willingly became a sacrifice to change a Korea where rotten power has become dirty justice." He countered Kang Shin-jin's argument, saying, "Justice is not about speed but direction. Individual justice can never change the world. Only dictators believed they could change the world themselves." Ultimately, Lee Han-young sentenced Kang Shin-jin to death, severing their ill-fated connection.

Though it seemed everything had ended, a new resident appeared at Suo-jae, providing a twist. Surprisingly, Baek Yi-seok was seated in the second-in-command position, and Kang Shin-jin, in prison, received a secret phone from a guard, smiling, hinting that dark power was not yet extinguished. Unaware of this, Lee Han-young, after visiting Kang Shin-jin, pondered, "Is everything really over now? Or will I continue to live like this as atonement for past lives? Yes, can my choices still be just in any way?" Even if it wasn't a complete victory, the ending, where Lee Han-young smiled brightly with his 'Panvengers' colleagues, symbolized unyielding hope amidst the cycle of evil, leaving a lasting impression.

'Judge Lee Han-young' captivated audiences with the stellar performances of Ji Sung, Park Hee-soon, and Won Jin-ah, the stylish direction of Lee Jae-jin, and the solid script by Kim Kwang-min. It not only set a new standard for well-made legal dramas with its fast-paced narrative and immersive storytelling but also concluded its journey as the dominant Friday-Saturday drama. Beyond a simple revenge story, 'Judge Lee Han-young' prompted viewers to reflect on the true value of justice, leaving a deep impact on their hearts.

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