“The Judge Returns” delivered a blazing performance to the very end. Ji Sung once again redefined his career with another landmark role.
In Episode 13 of the MBC Friday–Saturday drama “The Judge Returns,” which aired on February 13, Lee Han-young (Ji Sung) was shockingly framed for murder once again, falling into the meticulously orchestrated trap of Kang Shin-jin (Park Hee-soon), mirroring the fate he suffered before his regression. According to Nielsen Korea, the episode recorded its highest ratings yet, reaching 14.9% among Seoul metropolitan households and 13.6% nationwide. The ending, in which Lee Han-young was identified as the new suspect in the “Woo Kyo-hoon murder case,” saw viewership spike to a nationwide peak of 17.4%, freezing audiences in suspense. The drama also secured No. 1 in its time slot among viewers aged 20 to 54 and ranked first among all Friday programs, completing a “triple crown.”
The episode unfolded as a true all-out battle.
Lee Han-young destabilized Park Gwang-to (Son Byung-ho), prompting Kwak Sang-chul (Lee Jong-hyuk), who was considered a strong candidate for the next nomination, to move once again. His chilling remark, “If former President Park Gwang-to is released, who do you think he will devour first?” directly targeted the fear embedded in power. His calculated maneuver to push for a special prosecutor bill delivered a sharp sense of catharsis.
Meanwhile, Kang Shin-jin left no room for error. Anticipating the formation of a special investigation team, he asked Lee Han-young for a recommended prosecutor. Lee Han-young proposed Park Cheol-woo (Hwang Hee). Despite opposition from Kim Jin-han (Jung Hee-tae), who grew suspicious, Kang Shin-jin accepted the suggestion. What appeared to be trust was, in reality, a trap.
The atmosphere quickly turned cold. Kim Jin-han obtained black box images from the attempted murder scene and began to suspect Lee Han-young’s involvement. At the same time, Kang Shin-jin executed a ruthless plan by bribing a doctor involved in a medical accident to eliminate Kwak Soon-won (Park Gun-il). Blood was shed once again at Seonhwa Pavilion, and Kang Shin-jin revealed his true nature by gaslighting Kwak Soon-won using a past trial as leverage. For him, even human lives were merely tools for power.
The board shifted once more. Kang Shin-jin’s calculated move to reinstate Park Gwang-to through a detention review faltered due to Lee Han-young’s intervention. Lee Han-young proposed a deal by mentioning illegal political funds and ultimately handed Park Gwang-to over to special prosecutor Park Cheol-woo. It was a masterclass in strategic maneuvering.
But Kang Shin-jin’s counterattack proved even more brutal. Woo Kyo-hoon (Jeon Jin-gi) met a tragic death after being struck with a wine bottle, and Lee Han-young was attacked again, collapsing after a blow to the neck. Even in the hospital, the trap continued. Using Yoo Se-hee (Oh Se-young), Kang Shin-jin successfully manipulated blood evidence to frame Lee Han-young as the murderer.
Now a fugitive, Lee Han-young called Kang Shin-jin. The response was pure provocation.
“Find me before the police do.”
Lee Han-young replied in a low, resolute voice.
“Since I started this knowing I’d see it through to the end. I’m not dead yet.”
That single line said everything. With no retreat left, the two men entered an all-out war. Ji Sung conveyed layered emotion through restrained fury and piercing eyes, while Park Hee-soon intensified the tension with his chilling portrayal, shifting seamlessly between madness and cold calculation.
The final episode of “The Judge Returns” will air on February 14 at 9:40 p.m., extended by 10 minutes.
Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
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