MBC-TV’s Friday-Saturday drama 'The Judge Returns' (written by Kim Kwang Min, directed by Lee Jae Jin and Park Mi Yeon) continues to dominate its time slot, maintaining the top position among weekend dramas. The series aired its 11th episode on February 6, achieving a nationwide average viewership rating of 13.2% and a peak of 15.3%, according to Nielsen Korea. In the key ages 20–54 demographic, the show recorded a 5% rating, the highest among all programs that day, demonstrating its strong appeal to the core audience.
In the latest episode, Seoul Central District Court Chief Judge Kang Shin Jin (played by Park Hee Soon) openly revealed his ambitions, declaring his intent to oust Park Kwang To (played by Son Byung Ho) and become the head of the elite Suoje Foundation. Kang offered a new vision of justice to ace judge Lee Han Young (Ji Sung), who outwardly agreed while secretly vowing to dismantle him.
The “PanVengers” team further solidified their unity. Lee identified Park Kwang To as the shadow government’s leader and gave his team a chance to step back for their safety. However, his colleagues insisted, “We are a team,” committing themselves to justice. They targeted the Seonjin Happiness Foundation, suspected to be the reservoir for Park Kwang To’s slush funds. The episode ended in a cliffhanger as prosecutor and team member Kim Jin Ah (Won Jin Ah) was captured by a killer hired by Jang Tae Sik (Kim Beom Rae), seeking revenge for Lee and Kim uncovering his illegal loans. The tense scenes left viewers eagerly anticipating the next episode.
The drama’s popularity is not limited to ratings. A recent survey conducted by data consulting firm PMI through the voting and survey app Heypoll, involving 5,000 men and women aged 20–50, found 'The Judge Returns' as the most anticipated OTT or TV program of the week (February 2nd week), with 16.8% of respondents selecting it. Other contenders included major tvN, Netflix, and Disney+ productions.
Viewership metrics further confirm the trend. Since surpassing 10% in its fifth episode, the drama has consistently maintained double-digit ratings, recently peaking at 15.9%. This alignment of strong ratings and audience interest underscores the show’s cultural resonance.
The series follows Judge Lee Han Young, who, after dying unjustly while entangled with a powerful law firm, travels back ten years and uses his judicial authority to take down a corrupt cartel. Combining courtroom drama with a time-travel revenge narrative, it delivers a fast-paced and engaging storyline, with Ji Sung in the lead role.
In response to its popularity, episode 13, scheduled for February 13, will feature an extended broadcast, moving from 9:50 PM to 9:40 PM, ensuring continuity and maintaining viewer engagement.
In the same Heypoll survey, the romance drama 'Can This Love Be Translated?' ranked second with 15.8%, featuring Kim Seon Ho and Go Youn Jung in a story about a top star and an interpreter navigating misunderstandings across language and emotion. Disney+’s 'Made in Korea' was third (13.0%), continuing to capture attention post-broadcast with its 1970s espionage story starring Hyun Bin and Jung Woo Sung. Fourth place went to tvN’s 'Undercover Miss Hong' (11.8%), a comedic action drama about a legendary female detective infiltrating a crime syndicate in middle age. Other shows in the rankings included 'To My Beloved Thief,' 'Single’s Inferno 5,' 'Spring Fever,' 'Show Me the Money 12,' and 'Miss Trot 4.'
The survey demonstrates that content quality outweighs platform power. Despite competing with Netflix, Disney+, and tvN originals, 'The Judge Returns' has transcended the limits of a terrestrial drama. Its combination of familiar courtroom storytelling with time-travel and revenge elements has resonated across demographics.
Recent plot developments have heightened viewer engagement. In episode 12, Lee and the PanVengers successfully toppled a major villain, only to re-enter the heart of corruption, creating suspense beyond the conventional good-versus-evil structure. The extended airing time and strong audience preference suggest potential for further rating increases, with the show likely to maintain top rankings in both viewership and cultural buzz throughout February.
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