Lee Je-hoon Smashes Evil Above the Law in “Taxi Driver 3”

Lee Je-hoon delivered a cathartic victory in Taxi Driver 3, crushing former prosecutor Kim Sung-kyu, a villain who exploited the law, along with the criminal cartel he constructed, offering viewers a jolt of satisfaction at the start of the new year.

In Episode 14 of the SBS Friday–Saturday drama Taxi Driver 3, which aired on the night of January 3, Do-gi, a member of the “Rainbow Dark Heroes,” led the final endgame against the notorious crime syndicate known as the “Samhungdo Villains.” Alongside Jang Sung-cheol, Go-eun, Choi Joo-im, and Park Joo-im, Do-gi confronted the organization spearheaded by former special prosecutor Go Jak-ga, whose true nature was fully exposed, heightening the show’s dramatic intensity.

Photo by Taxi Driver 3.

Ratings surged once again. According to Nielsen Korea, Episode 14 recorded a peak rating of 18.5 percent, with 15.1 percent in the metropolitan area and 14.2 percent nationwide, marking another personal best for the series. It ranked first among all programs in its time slot and topped Saturday miniseries rankings, while the key 20–49 demographic rating climbed to a high of 5.75 percent, underscoring its runaway success.

The episode opened with the origin story of the Samhungdo Villains. Go Jak-ga, once a special prosecutor, weaponized the power of non-indictment as a “shield of the law,” gathering fraudsters, corrupt police officers, illegal gambling site architects, and mercenaries into a crime consulting syndicate. The irony of a prosecutor, meant to uphold justice, becoming the mastermind of crime provoked strong outrage from viewers.

Do-gi set his sights on the heart of the organization. To destroy a dedicated server linked to criminal groups worldwide, the Rainbow Dark Heroes launched a meticulously planned stalling operation, sowing confusion among the villains through fake contract killings and elaborate impersonations. The team’s mastery of multiple alter egos delivered both humor and tension in equal measure.

The latter half escalated into a breathless chase. After realizing the server had been compromised, Go Jak-ga sealed off the entire island and declared all-out war. Do-gi fled through relentless pursuit in a life-or-death car chase. At the brink, a high-output discharge system installed earlier was reactivated, instantly turning the tables. Explosions tore through the villains’ vehicles, delivering a peak moment of exhilaration.

Go Jak-ga, who struggled until the end, ultimately met a brutal downfall at Do-gi’s hands. His desperate cry, “As long as I exist, I can rebuild it all,” vanished into the sea, and the evil that once stood above the law was finally brought to justice.

With relentless action, intricate psychological warfare, and blockbuster-scale spectacle, Episode 14 reaffirmed why Taxi Driver 3 stands apart as a definitive dark hero series. A preview hinting at Do-gi’s disappearance and a transformation into “soldier Do-gi” pushed anticipation for the final chapter to its highest point.

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