Actor Ji Sung’s long-awaited return to MBC has quickly turned into a ratings sensation, as The Judge Returns surged past 10% in nationwide viewership just three weeks after its premiere—signaling a rapid, word-of-mouth-driven rise.
According to Nielsen Korea on the 17th, episode 5 of The Judge Returns, which aired the previous night, recorded a 10% nationwide rating, nearly doubling the previous episode’s 5.8%.
Industry insiders point to a wave of viewers searching for a new must-watch series following the finale of Taxi Driver 3 on the 10th. Buzz spread quickly across online communities and social media, funneling attention toward The Judge Returns.
In the latest episode, Lee Han-young (played by Ji Sung) exposes a draft-dodging ledger implicating political and corporate elites before heading to Seoul to confront his longtime nemesis Kang Shin-jin (Park Hee-soon). This sets the stage for Lee’s appointment to the Seoul District Court, where his methodical mission to uproot entrenched corruption clashes head-on with Kang’s ruthless pursuit of power—driving the tension to new heights.
Following the broadcast, viewers praised the drama, commenting, “The pacing is tight and the immersion is incredible,” “Ji Sung’s acting never disappoints,” and “If you loved the Taxi Driver series, this drama is right up your alley.”
Meanwhile, The Judge Returns airs every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 p.m. on MBC.