Ji Sung finally drew his blade. His merciless judgment against the mastermind of the sinkhole disaster sent chills through viewers’ living rooms.
In episode 6 of MBC’s Friday–Saturday drama The Judge Returns, aired on January 17, Lee Han-young (played by Ji Sung) closed in on the truth behind the Nam-myeon District sinkhole case, pushing the villains to the brink with an explosive and cathartic narrative. The episode recorded ratings of 11.4 percent in the Seoul metropolitan area and 11 percent nationwide, according to Nielsen Korea, marking new personal highs for two consecutive days and firmly securing the top spot among Friday–Saturday dramas.
One of the most powerful scenes unfolded when Seok Jeong-ho (played by Tae Won-seok) appeared in front of Cheon Hak-soo’s (played by Dang Hyun-seok) group, who were forcing a settlement on sinkhole victim Heo Dong-gi (played by Shin Hyun-jong). Shouting, “I am an angel of justice,” Seok delivered a decisive blow that sent the momentary peak rating soaring to 13.9 percent. The 20–54 demographic rating also reached 4.8 percent, ranking first in its time slot and rising by 1.4 percent from the previous broadcast.
Lee Han-young then began to shake the board in earnest by proposing to Yoo Seon-cheol (played by Ahn Nae-sang), head of Haenal Law Firm, that Prosecutor General Um Jun-ho (played by Park Jung-hak) be recruited as an advisory attorney. Although their conversation was cut short by the arrival of Yoo Se-hee (played by Oh Se-young), Lee left behind a meaningful message implying that her help would be essential in winning Um Jun-ho over.
The tense confrontation between Kang Shin-jin (played by Park Hee-soon) and the newly appointed Seoul District Court Chief Judge Baek Yi-seok (played by Kim Tae-woo) also took center stage. Calling a meeting of presiding judges instead of holding an inauguration ceremony, Baek declared, “A verdict must never become power,” while Kang, concealing his true intentions, maintained a sharp and silent power struggle.
Lee Han-young reported to Kang Shin-jin that he planned to use Um Jun-ho as leverage to take down Woo Gyo-hoon (played by Jeon Jin-gi). By exploiting the fatal weakness that Woo’s daughter and Um’s son were each involved in drug-related scandals, Lee aimed to destroy both men simultaneously. His demand, “Give me Prosecutor General Um Jun-ho,” emphasized his meticulous design and highlighted the appeal of his highly intelligent character.
Assigned to the Nam-myeon District sinkhole case, Lee Han-young saw through the entire structure of the crime based on memories from before his regression. He began cutting through the massive chain of evil one by one, including Tae-myeong Construction’s shoddy workmanship, the collusion between Woo Gyo-hoon and Nam-myeon District Head Choo Yong-jin (played by Lee Jang-won), and even the involvement of the organized crime group Obokpa.
The ending was nothing short of overwhelming. Lee dragged Choo Yong-jin to a quarry and pressured him with a massive excavator, declaring, “Defendant Choo Yong-jin, I hereby sentence you to death.” Ji Sung’s cold, piercing gaze as he looked down while lifting a huge boulder left a powerful afterimage and dramatically heightened anticipation for the next episode.
Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
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