What if a person who breaks the law gets a second chance at redemption? “The Judge Returns” is a new 2026 Korean drama that explores this idea. It was released on January 2 and has become a hot topic. Its hero is not clean, not noble, and hard to forgive. The story raises a question: how far would you go to fix the system and save someone else? Read on for the full premise, cast details, and reasons why this series is worth your time.
“The Judge Returns” (“판사 이한영”) Korean Drama 2026
A corrupt “puppet judge” rewinds 10 years. This time, he uses insider knowledge and legal power to strike back at the powerful forces that once controlled him.
Storyline
Judge Lee Han-young is a judge whose rulings are only to protect the powerful. He is known as a puppet judge who is controlled by a giant law firm—until everything collapses.
He wakes up ten years in the past with one chance to choose a different path. Now, he takes on a risky turn and hounds the forces that shaped him. He reads the system like a map and attacks its weak points.
Meanwhile, a vengeful prosecutor, Kim Jin-ah, closely watches Han-young’s every move. She wants to know Han-young’s true intentions.
Korean drama “The Judge Returns” isn’t a simple story of “good wins”; it asks a more complex question: can someone who has caused harm have the right to stop it?
Cast Lineup & Characters
Main cast
Ji Sung as Lee Han-young: a disgraced judge who rewinds time and tries to rebuild justice from the inside.
Park Hee-soon as Kang Shin-jin: the top power figure in the judiciary, chasing “justice” in his own dangerous way.
Won Jin-ah as Kim Jin-ah: a prosecutor driven by revenge after her father is pushed toward death.
Key Supporting Cast
Tae Won-seok as Seok Jeong-ho: Han-young’s longtime friend and backup, tough outside but warm inside.
Baek Jin-hee as Song Na-yeon: a justice-first legal reporter who becomes Han-young’s ally.
Oh Se-young as Yoo Se-hee: the law firm’s youngest daughter—and Han-young’s wife—caught in a cold marriage and shifting emotions after the rewind.
Hwang Hee as Park Cheol-woo: a rule-following prosecutor who starts to suspect Han-young, then gets pulled into the truth.
Kim Tae-woo as Baek Yi-seok: a court chief who stands as Han-young’s steady support.
Ahn Nae-sang as Yoo Seon-cheol: the law firm’s boss, a “snake” who treats law like business.
Kim Beop-rae as Jang Tae-sik: an “evil of evils” corporate villain who collides with Han-young and Jin-ah.
Production Details
Korean drama “The Judge Returns” is adapted from a popular Naver Webtoon / web-novel IP “Judge Lee Han Young” (판사 이한영). Created by Lee Hae Nal (이해날), the webtoon has run for 230 episodes.
The show is a time-travel legal revenge drama. Kim Kwang-min wrote the drama’s script, and directors Lee Jae-jin and Park Mi-yeon helmed the show. OH Story and Slingshot Studio handled the production.
One more important detail is that the writer focused on the idea of the “weight of choice.” He wanted viewers to understand that one decision can change a life. It can be hard to face the choices we made in the past.
Release Date & Where to Watch
“The Judge Returns” premiered January 2, 2026, airing on MBC every Friday and Saturday at 9:40 p.m. KST, with a planned 14-episode run. If you are in Korea, you can stream it on TVING. Meanwhile, international audiences can watch it on HBO Max (available in some regions) and Rakuten Viki in the U.S.
The drama opened at 4.3% nationwide for Episode 1, according to Nielsen Korea. That’s a steady start for a brand-new MBC Friday–Saturday title, especially with tough same-slot competition.
SBS’s “Taxi Driver 3” stayed the No.1 show that night with 12.8% nationwide, so “The Judge Returns” is entering a high-stakes ratings battlefield from day one. It even hit a 6.9% peak, hinting that the opening hook really landed.
Episode 2 climbed to 4.4% nationwide and 4.2% in the Seoul metro area. The views peaked at 5.7% during the tense investigation scene in Kim Sang-jin’s semi-basement room. It also scored a 1.7% “2054” rating (viewers aged 20–54).
Fun Facts & Reasons to Watch
Fun Facts
The original IP is massive. Reports say the web novel drew 10.75 million views and the webtoon reached 101.91 million—about 110 million combined.
Ji Sung says this drama goes beyond courtroom power plays. He describes Lee Han-young as someone who once “loved the darkness” of corruption, hurt people along the way, then cut ties with that life after going back in time and tries to start over in the name of justice.
Park Hee-soon teases a chilling rival at the top of the system. He describes Kang Shin-jin as cold and meticulous on the outside. Inside, he is driven by confidence, cool-headedness, and ambition as he rises higher in the judiciary.
Reasons to Watch
This show showcases more than just “justice.” It focuses on redemption under pressure. The lead character isn’t a saint. Watching his attempts to change creates tension. You never know if he truly deserves redemption.
This drama is not just a typical courtroom story. Won Jin-ah said she expected lots of trial scenes, but found more moments outside the courtroom—running and even fighting. And if you liked her action-thriller turn in “The Defects,” you may enjoy seeing her in a sharper role here, too
The three main characters have sharp dynamics. They also have different goals, creating high tension. A judge who is seeking redemption, a prosecutor who is driven by revenge, and a chief justice who is seeking power.
The creator vibe is bold. Ji Sung joked that he wants “50% ratings.” If it happens, he promised he would do “anything.”
When Your Past Self Becomes Your Final Enemy
“The Judge Returns” follows a man who takes a second chance and walks on a different path to rebuild his moral compass. The story leaves one sharp question. One choice can ruin a life. If you got a reset, what would you change first—and who would you try to save?
Watch the trailers for the 2026 Korean drama “The Judge Returns” below!
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