Ji Sung shines in new thrilling drama 'The Judge Returns'

MBC’s new drama The Judge Returns starts strong with fast pacing and a powerful performance by actor Ji Sung, quickly pulling viewers into a story about corruption, guilt and redemption.

The series opens with a disgraced judge who once served powerful interests but is forced to face the consequences of his past decisions.

This sets up a tense legal drama focused on second chances and moral responsibility.

The story follows Lee Han-young (Ji Sung), a judge who has become controlled by a major law firm.

He is suddenly sent back to 2025 where he is given a chance to change his fate. As he relives his past, Lee begins to fight against the forces that once owned him.

The drama is based on a 2018 web novel and is directed by Lee Jae-jin and Park Mi-yeon, with a script by Kim Kwang-min as the cast includes Ji Sung, Park Hee-soon and Won Jin-ah.

Moreover, the first episode delivers a shocking moment when Lee appears in court wearing a prison uniform as earlier, he denied compensation to industrial accident victims under pressure from the law firm, a decision that leads to the death of a victim and later his own mother. These events deeply shake him.

Ji Sung’s calm and emotional performance adds depth to the story and keeps viewers engaged. The premiere earned a nationwide rating of 4.3 percent, showing a promising start.

For the unversed, The Judge Returns released its first episode on January 2, 2026 and it airs every Friday and Saturday at 9:40 p.m. on MBC.