Ji Sung Goes Undercover as an Insider in The Judge Returns

Ji Sung’s meticulously planned mission to dismantle entrenched corruption is officially set in motion.

In Episode 9 of MBC’s Friday–Saturday drama The Judge Returns, airing on January 30, Lee Han-young (played by Ji Sung) infiltrates even deeper into the inner circle of power to expose its true face. His pursuit of justice grows bolder, pushing the tension to its highest point yet.

Photo by The Judge Returns.

In the previous episode, Lee Han-young extended his hand to Park Cheol-woo (played by Hwang Hee) and Kim Jin-ah (played by Won Jin-ah), beginning a full-scale alliance. Though they initially doubted his intentions, the two ultimately joined forces with him and played a decisive role in bringing down Justice Minister nominee Woo Gyo-hoon (played by Jeon Jin-gi). Through this process, Lee Han-young successfully lowered the guard of Kang Shin-jin (played by Park Hee-soon), gaining his trust and securing his position as an “insider.”

But the real battle begins now. In newly released stills, Lee Han-young appears wearing a mask, instantly capturing attention. His concealed identity signals the start of a covert operation that goes far beyond the courtroom. The intense gaze visible above the mask hints at the scale of the grand design he is drawing, heightening immersion and curiosity about why he must go so far as to hide his identity.

Adding to the tension is Kang Shin-jin’s sharp and relentless scrutiny. His persistent watch over Lee Han-young creates a taut atmosphere where no moment feels safe. Though trust seems to have been established, Lee Han-young now walks a dangerous tightrope, constantly tested under Kang Shin-jin’s gaze.

Still, Lee Han-young’s strategy never stops. After building trust by solving both the Kim Sang-jin case and the Namyeon-gu sinkhole incident together, he makes another bold move by sending Prosecutor Park Cheol-woo into a golf club as part of his next plan. Even when direct action is impossible, Lee Han-young continues to design the board and search for breakthroughs, showcasing his sharp tactical instincts once again.

Whether this carefully orchestrated team play can strike a decisive blow to the very core of corruption remains to be seen. Lee Han-young’s perilous undercover mission only deepens the suspense.

Episode 9 of The Judge Returns airs on January 30 at 9:50 p.m.

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