The Judge Returns

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Drama: The Judge Returns (English title) / Judge Lee Han-Young (literal title)
Revised romanization: Pansa Leehanyoung
Hangul: 판사 이한영
Director: Lee Jae-Jin, Park Mi-Yeon
Writer: Lee Hae-Nal (web novel), Kim Kwang-Min
Network: MBC
Episodes: 14
Release Date: January 2 - February 14, 2026
Runtime: Friday & Saturday 21:50
Language: Korean
Country: South Korea

Plot Synopsis by AsianWiki Staff ©

Lee Han-Young (Ji Sung) is a corrupt judge. When he was nothing as a judge, he married the daughter of a large law firm CEO. After that, he has used his authority for the gain of his father-in-law's law firm. But, when Lee Han-Young decides to stop with the corrupt dealings, he finds that he has returned to his past of 10 years ago, when he was working as a judge at the Cheonan Branch of the District Court. He struggles to live a new life and to punish big evil.

Kang Shin-Jin (Park Hee-Soon) is a chief judge of the Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court and he is also a key personnel in the shadow government that is led by the former Korean president. Kang Shin-Jin has great power and he isn't afraid to make a deal involving trials. He has a serious confrontation with Lee Han-Young. Kim Jin-A (Won Jin-A) is a prosecutor at the Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court. She became a prosecutor because of her determination to catch Jang Tae-Sik of the S Group. She joins hands with Lee Han-Young, who agrees to help her, but she still can't trust him completely.

Notes

"The Judge Returns" takes over MBC's Fri & Sat 21:50 time slot previously occupied by "Moon River" and followed by "In Your Radiant Season" on February 20, 2026.
Based on web novel "Pansa Leehanyoung" by Lee Hae-Nal (published January 1 - October 15, 2018 via Naver).

Cast



Ji Sung	Park Hee-Soon	Won Jin-A	Tae Won-Seock	Baek Jin-Hee
Lee Han-Young	Kang Shin-Jin	Kim Jin-A	Seok Jeong-Ho	Song Na-Yeon



Oh Se-Young	Hwang Hee
Yoo Se-Hee	Park Cheol-Woo

Judges



Kim Tae-Woo	Kim Byung-Choon	Jung Hee-Tae	Jang Jae-Ho
Baek Yi-Seok	Im Jeong-Sik	Kim Jin-Han	Kim Yoon-Hyeok



Kim Myung-Soo	Park Kyung-Geun	Jo Sang-Ki	Son Seon-Geun	Jang Eui-Don
Hwang Nam-Yong	Jeon Heung-Wu	Lee Seong-Dae	Kwon Yong-Han (ep.1)	judge (ep.1)



Kim Dong-Yong	Yong-Jin	Lim Ho-Jun	Jung Doo-Kyum	Ma Jung-Pil
judge (ep.1-2)	judge (ep.3-4)	judge (ep.3-4)	Kim Jun-Man (ep.3,5)	judge (ep.5)



Son Seung-Taek	Han Chang-Hyun
judge (ep.6)	judge (ep.12)

Haenal Law Firm



Ahn Nae-Sang	Heo Hyeong-Gyu	Baek Seung-Hee	Yoo Yong
Yoo Seon-Cheol	Yoo Jin-Gwang	Yoo Ha-Na	lawyer

Prosecutors' Office



Kim Dong-Jun	Kim Young-Pil	Park Jung-Hak	Lee Joong-Hyun	Kang Jeon-Young
Kang Jae Jin	Ma Kang-Gil	Eom Jun-Ho	Investigator Baek	investigator



Uhm Ja-Yoon	Hyun Young-Gyun	Lim Seung-Beom	Ham Tae-In	Jeon Se-Yong
investigator (ep.1)	prosecutor	prosecutor (ep.3)	prosecutor (ep.9-10)	Kang Ji-Hwan (ep.12)



Jo Hyun-Woo	Choi One	Han Dong-Won
Yoo Won-Ik	Oh Jae-Pil (ep.13)	Hyenam investigator (ep.13)

S Group



Kim Pub-Lae	Kim Byeong-Ki	Kim Song-Il	Kwon Ban-Suk	Kim Do-Hyeong
Jang Tae-Sik	Jang Yong-Hyun	Choi Jong-Hak	Director Han Jung-Hoon (ep.1)	Accountant Kim Yong-Jin

Kim Han-Gyeol

Lawyer Byun Jae-Young

Lee Han-Young's Family



Jung Jae-Sung	Hwang Young-Hee	Yoon Jae-Chan	Seo Woo-Jin
Lee Bong-Seok	Shin Nam-Sook	Lee Han-Young (teen)	Lee Han-Young (child) (ep.4)

Kim Jin-A's Family



Jeon Hee-Ryeon	Yoon Seo-Yeon
Kim Seok-Tae	Kim Jin-A (child)

Seok Jeong-Ho's Group



Han Sang-Jo	Hwang Dae-Woong	Choi Ji-Yeon	Park Si-Yun
Dol Soe	car salesman (ep.2,7)	Jang Su-Gyeong	Seok Jeong-Ho (teen)

Kang Shin-Jin's Group



Park Geon-Il	Kim Hye-Jung	Kim Seo-Ha	Ahn Hyun-Jung
Kwak Soon-Won	Chinese restaurant owner	Kang Shin-Jin (child)	Jo Ji-Yoon (ep.13-14)

Suojae



Son Byung-Ho	Seung Eui-Yeol	Yeo Woon-Bok	Kang Jong-Sung	Kim Dae-Sung
Park Gwang-To	Han Jung-Hoon	Prime Minister Lee Tae-Geun	Cho Man-Gil	Mayor Lee Hyeon-Do



Baek Ok-Gyun	Song Won-Su	Lee Soon-Poong	Lee Jung-Hyun	Jeon Geum-Han
Yun Ji-Pyeong	Ju Kwang-Cheol	Ma Cheong-Jin	Lee Hyang-Gyeon	Shim Yeon-Pyeong



Kim Hyun	Suk Yoon-Ho	Lim Dong-Min
Choi Yoon-Soon (ep.11)	General Nam (ep.14)	General Jung (ep.14)

Han Na-Young vs Gojin Chemical Case



Sung Byoung-Sook	Lim Yul-Ri	Park Kyung-Chan	Park Boo-Gun	Lee Yoon-Sang
Park Mal-Rye	Han Na-Young	Han Na-Young's lawyer (ep.1)	CEO Go Jin-Gyu (ep.1)	Professor Kim Seok-Hyun (ep.1)

Lee Han-Young Case



Jeong Seo-Yeon	Baek Kil-Sung
Kim Yong-Jin's wife (ep.2)	lawyer (ep.2)

Kim Sang-Jin (Serial Murder) Case



Bae In-Hyuk	Choi So-Yoon	Moon Seung-Bae	Lee Dong-Wook	Shim Hye-Rim
Kim Sang-Jin (ep.2-3)	Kang Ju-Young (ep.2-3)	lawyer (ep.2-3)	Lee Chun-Soo (ep.2)	good samaritan (ep.2-3)



Kwon Hyoun-Hee	Park Chan-Kuk	Im Yu-Ran	Yang Ha-Yoon	Lee Eun-Ju
mart employee (ep.2)	mart employee (ep.2)	mart employee (ep.2)	reporter (ep.2)	1st victim's mom (ep.3)



Kim Hyuk-Jong	Jo Hyun-Im
2nd victim's son (ep.3)	good samaritan's mom (ep.3)

Park Hyuk-Jun (Insurance Murder) Case



Lee Je-Yeon	Jang Hee-Ryung	Han Seo-Ul	Kim Han-Sol	Jung Chan-Hoon
Park Hyuk-Jun (ep.3-4)	Kim Ga-Young (ep.3-4)	Kim Seon-Hee (ep.3-4)	lawyer (ep.3-4)	Kim Seon-Hee's dad (ep.3-4)

Joo Sou-Jung

Kim Seon-Hee's mom (ep.3-4)

Draft-Dodging Ledger Case



Choi Hong-Il	Jo Young-Jin	Joo Suk-In	Kim Nak-Gyoon	Han Soo-Ho
Lee Chang-Hyo (ep.4-5)	Cho Hu-Heon	Ttajyo (ep.4-5)	security guard (ep.4)	Kim Jeong-Gyeon

An Ju-Mi

Kim Jeong-Gyeon's girlfriend (ep.5)

Justice Minister Nominee Woo Gyo-Hoon Case



Jeon Jin-Ki	Song Hyun-Jin	Lee Kyung-Oh	Song Kyung-A	Song Kyung-Eui
Woo Gyo-Hoon	Woo Hee-Young	Han Sang-Min (ep.8)	Park Sun-Young (ep.8)	asemblyman (ep.8)

Choi Nam-Wook

asemblyman (ep.8)

Nammyeon District Sinkhole Case



Shin Hyun Jong	Lee Jang-Won	Kang Jun-Gyu	Kim Nan-Hee	Dang Hyun-Seok
Heo Dong-Gi	Mayor Chu Yong-Jin	Heo Min-Gu (ep.6-7)	Heo Min-Gu's mom	Cheon Hak-Su



Kim Jin-Ho	Na Ja-Myung	Chu Yeon-Gyu
Assemblyman Kang Jeong-Tae (ep.7-8)	snack bar owner	plaintiff's lawyer (ep.7)

Miracle Asia Case



Kim Min-Kyo	Kim Won-Suk	Choi Yi-Sun
Brian (ep.9)	investor (ep.9)	Treasurer Kim (ep.9)

Hwang Tae-Sung (JB Corp Hiring Scandal) Case



Kim Sun-Bin	Hong Ju-Won
Hwang Tae-Sung (ep.9-10)	lawyer (ep.9-10)

Sunjin Happiness Foundation Case



Choi Beom-Ho	Lee Jong-Goo	Shin Yeon-Woo	Lee Young-Sil	Lee Jong-Hyuk
Kang Sun-Cheol (ep.11-12)	donor (ep.11-12)	student (ep.11)	neighbor (ep.12)	Kwak Sang-Cheol (ep.12-13)

Jeongdaun Savings Bank Case

Jang Ji-Yong

Han Gwang-Hoon (ep.11)

Others

Lee Young-Hee

fortune teller



Son Ki-Chul	Jo Dan	Lee Jae-Eun	Son Sung-Chan	Seo Young-Sam
anchorman (ep.1)	Joo Young-Ho (ep.1,12)	janitor (ep.2)	assemblyman (ep.3)	hotel cafe man (ep.3)



Yeom Ji-Hye	Lee Se-Rang	Chae Yoon-Hee	Lee Dong-Kyu	Park Kyung-Rim
anchorwoman	traditional market worker (ep.4)	traditional market worker (ep.4)	anchorman	TV program interviewer (ep.5)



Baek Kyoung-Seon	Lee Kwang-Ik	Jo Young-Mi	Han Ho-Yong	Oh Kyu-Taek
convenience store customer (ep.9)	doctor (ep.10)	realtor (ep.13)	assemblyman (ep.13)	assemblyman (ep.13)



Song Hoon	Jang Yoon-Woo	Park Joo-A	Kim Young-Pyo	Choi Jae-Sup
teacher (ep.13)	doctor (ep.13)	detective (ep.13)	detective (ep.13)	Mr. Cho (ep.14)

Additional Cast Members:

Moon Ha-Gyeom - doctor (ep.2)
Lim Jung-Min - Suojae member (ep.14)

Trailers

Episode Ratings

Date	Episode	AGB
Date	Episode	Nationwide	Seoul
2026-01-02	1	4.3%	4.1%
2026-01-03	2	4.4%	4.2%
2026-01-09	3	5.8%	6.2%
2026-01-10	4	5.8%	5.9%
2026-01-16	5	10.0%	10.1%
2026-01-17	6	11.0%	11.4%
2026-01-23	7	11.4%	12.0%
2026-01-24	8	10.8%	10.8%
2026-01-30	9	13.5%	14.7%
2026-01-31	10	10.9%	11.7%
2026-02-06	11	13.2%	14.2%
2026-02-07	12	11.5%	12.1%
2026-02-13	13	13.6%	14.9%
2026-02-14	14	12.8%	13.2%

Source: AGB Nielson

Comments

M Apr 02 2026 12:19 pm I just admit that this drama deserve high ratings. Because the story is really well written. Si Jin is a lucifer that really sneaky but smart. Han young can repent from his past live and not life in regret anymore. The support team is really warm and supportive like Jeong Ho (my big boy), Mr. Park (he is so handsome and Im afraid he will die in the middle of story), reporter song(a great combination from media), Mrs. Kim Jin A (short tempered but quick to response). Its a loss that Yu Se Hee, cannot be happy with them

Suri Mar 24 2026 10:31 am I just saw episode 1 & came to post a comment. Didn't realise this is a rerun. Looking forward to watching the rest of the episodes. Any show with Ji Sung will definitely be awesome. He's one of the best actors.

Jane Mar 07 2026 3:14 am As a non-Korean, I like watching Korean dramas, but watching and understanding the storyline of this drama is a bit confusing with the names of the perpetrators and victims of crimes going around, i did'nt get the storyline , it is making me tired to follow Also, look at Kang Shi Jin, who is thin and slim, but actually has a big appetite, all you can eat for free ? problems are solved by eat and chewing food... Yuuks! eating all the time.

Adn Feb 27 2026 12:34 pm In the last part, the powerful people having a meeting again though the smile of chief judge Baek Yi-Seok gives a positive vibes (I watched him in other drama where he played villain, that smile in the end is not his villain smile) Or It was just a filler scene like in a horror story that they always put in the ending for a twist. Most of the time it really doesn't make sense to the plot.

Whattttt Feb 22 2026 4:43 am Don't get this show. ML is a judge or prosecutor? Doesn't really catch my attention for the storyline although I'm just 3 episodes in.

Red Feb 21 2026 11:43 am I really dont know what people obsession with hanyoung and se hee. Firstly for me, this is not a romance drama. Hanyoung basically want to give se hee a 2nd chance given that he knows that she was only a spoiled brat in his 1st life, not a bad person per se. Its good that she realised her wrong doing and decide to help han young in the end. She does fell for him, but for hanyoung, i dont feel that. He is more focus on revenge and he genuinely glad that his former wife does turn around to be a good person.

Jane Feb 20 2026 11:53 am Ji Sung is excellent at choosing scripts, and this one did not disappoint. However, I think one of the biggest downsides of law dramas is that there are too many names to remember. I feel like in each episode they introduce ten new characters, and sometimes I had to go back and check the wiki to see who plays whom.

I wish there had been more scenes of Han Young and Se Hee in 2035 like when Han Young said he would become her butler when she went shopping, or when she said she would only take a few bites but ended up finishing two servings of food. Se Hee’s character is very likable; I like her a lot.

I also love how they portrayed Baek Yi Seok as righteous, because we don’t often see that in K-dramas. Usually, a high-ranking character either dies in the early episodes or betrays everyone halfway through the series. So that was a fresh take.

At some point in the series, I wished Se Hee had joined Han Young’s squad because I felt sad for her when she said she didn’t have any friends. And until the end, Han Young never introduced her to them.

I don’t think this series needs a second season, even though I’m curious about the note the prison guard secretly gave to Sin Jin. I also don’t think Suojae will do anything shady because all eyes are on them.

Foodies Feb 18 2026 4:53 am The hunger of Kang Shin Jin is real, basically he eats wherever he goes

Chooozi Feb 16 2026 3:59 am Apart from the series being really good, I wanna say the eating scenes of Kang Shin-Jin was god damn annoying and blegh...it felt like there were too many of those scenes...i had to keep skipping those...

KDramaEnjoyer Feb 15 2026 8:23 pm Will there be a second season or they just wan to depict that if there is Good there will always be Evil?

Chooozi Feb 15 2026 10:34 am Yoo I really loved this series; I'd wanna watch it again even. Wonder what that ending was all about though...and why was that judge smiling so brightly at the end....

I hope for a season 2, though I wonder if another time travel would occur, since that was the element that made this series quite nice.

Bim Feb 14 2026 10:41 pm Omg... I'm so hooked with this amazing series.. Sad se-hee T.T

Cristalena Feb 06 2026 8:10 pm I like how this show really shows how death can change people. Too many times you see characters stay the same. I like how almost giddy and goofy he became when he realized he had a second chance at life.

To refer to someone below, I think he was acting on emotion and not smarts. He lost his mom after arguing about his corruption. He just made impulsive decisions. 1 episode isnt going to show you enough.

I need some mental stimulation Feb 06 2026 2:01 pm After watching the first episode and 10 minutes of the second... this judge is a moron. Like he really didn't think they would kill him off when he cut his leash? Not too smart for judge but then again, he is just a lapdog. I think I'm done with this. You expect some Harry Potter looking loser will win... oh wait, of course he will win since the script said so.

IMOxxxx Feb 06 2026 10:48 am Love.. Love.. everything about this drama. All the actors are very versatile and the legendary actor Jisung always give us exceptional performance. It played so perfectly that I almost forgot what happen to HanYong in the 1st episode. 1ep left. Exceptional and intriguing, flowed smoothly.

angelica Jan 30 2026 10:24 pm Jisung is The Best when it comes to intense or mad role.

Mudang Jan 29 2026 7:03 am This is different from webtoon. In webtoon Lee han young is not corrupt judge, he was honest judge but because of this he was trapped by villain and became murder suspect. He was blackmail and because his mother life danger he was commit suicide and back to 20 years ago.

Lili Jan 27 2026 1:18 am I started watching without eeading the synopsis and was totally fooled by their cellphones. I googled what brand of phone and came to know of a futuristic phone. After watching CTLBT, The Judge Returns is the saving drama.

Ji Sung never fails viewers. This drama is kicking my adrenaline. Ot didn't happen for a long tome.

Dreamhigh Jan 26 2026 2:01 pm I like this drama, especially Ji sung, he never failed his acting. Love It!

James Jan 25 2026 8:19 pm These isekai type dramas really have been something special lately. Ji sung killing it and the rest of the cast playing their roles perfectly. Hooked every week, shaping up to be the best i've seen in at least the last 12 months.

Jell Jan 24 2026 2:22 am I don't like his future wife so annoying

red Jan 21 2026 1:40 am @LO He regret being corrupt after the death of his mother, then want to turn to new leaf, but was killed (did not survived). He then revived to life and returned to the year when he first started to become a judge and vow to change his wrongdoings. It was not a flashback.

okok Jan 18 2026 10:33 pm My favorite actor and his prison roles.

LO Jan 17 2026 11:41 pm I like this drama with JI Sung in it. But don't quite understand it. It started with him as a married and corrupted judge in cahoots with his father-in-law. Then was killed and survived, and decided to turn over a new leaf, to take revenge? Flashback to the past when he was not married?

LO Jan 17 2026 11:37 pm I like this drama with Ji Sung but don't really understand the drama. He was killed but survived. Then decided to change to be a "just lawyer" so divorced his wife and resigned as a Judge to set - up his own firm? Then flash back to his younger days before his marriage & be corrupted by his father-in-law?

lily Jan 17 2026 11:10 pm The best dramaaa! anyway i keep my ship with hanyoung' wife in past-life. She just so cutee, yoo se hee

Elizabeth Lewis Jan 17 2026 3:45 pm I am on episode 5and loving every minute of this drama

SG Jan 16 2026 7:29 pm Why does this sound like "Whisper"?

IMO_00_ Jan 07 2026 3:58 pm The Judge Returns, this will be one of best drama of 2026, I know it’s only 2 ep so far but you can tell right off the bat, the script the drama, just first 2 episodes,, your getting,, action, thriller, crime, and funny moments. Im a big fan of Ji Sung he’s one of the greatest actors around, any drama he’s in I’m in all the way, no skipping or stopping midway. This is great so far.

Roby Cabz Jan 06 2026 11:09 am Is this a sequel to ji sung's previous legal kdrama series the devil judge? The title seems to be a sequel or continuation of the prwvious. ?

Piko Chea Jan 06 2026 6:43 am Ji Sung and his lawyer roles are inseparable. Long live Lawyer Ji Sung !⚖️ ^0^

Lobely Jan 05 2026 9:20 am This will be my new favorite series.

Chey Jan 02 2026 1:19 pm Finally, pilot episode is here! Ji Sung never ceases to amaze me! What a pilot and darn, isn't he ageing like fine wine?! I just want to run my fingers on those hot hairstyle of his. Can't wait for episode 2 for ahjussi Park Hee Soon's side of story.

Thea Dec 13 2025 2:16 am Already reads the manhwa. I guess they changed the story. I think Baek Jin Hee and won ji a needs tp switch they role? I think BJH more suitable for Kim jin A roles and clumsy Won Jin A more suitable for song na Yeon roles.

Jillibean Nov 18 2025 12:43 pm Wow Ji Sung! Haven't watched him in anything for awhile. This sounds good.

aiahehe Nov 12 2025 9:52 am Where is Baek Jin hee she is one of the main leads

Won Jong Un Nov 04 2025 2:10 pm Bruh they are so lazy at naming their actress, they just flipped Won to Kim and keep the rest as is xD

Urukira Oct 19 2025 8:53 am yeassss finally one of law crime manhwa adaptation. i cant believe we got ji sung here, also we got won jin ah and baek jin hee as casting... i hope it is as good as the manhwa.

Mina Oct 19 2025 2:32 am I'm eagerly awaiting the release of this series. Does anyone know when it will air?

Aera Jul 24 2025 11:01 am Cant wait to see jisung oppa

Vava Jul 12 2025 8:41 am Can't wait to watch. Please let me know when to release?

Jwonu Jul 12 2025 4:45 am Another character from Jisung in the judge role?? I can't wait

External Links

Offiical Website

The Judge Returns

Contents

User Rating

Profile

Plot Synopsis by AsianWiki Staff ©

Notes

Cast

Judges

Haenal Law Firm

Prosecutors' Office

S Group

Lee Han-Young's Family

Kim Jin-A's Family

Seok Jeong-Ho's Group

Kang Shin-Jin's Group

Suojae

Han Na-Young vs Gojin Chemical Case

Lee Han-Young Case

Kim Sang-Jin (Serial Murder) Case

Park Hyuk-Jun (Insurance Murder) Case

Draft-Dodging Ledger Case

Justice Minister Nominee Woo Gyo-Hoon Case

Nammyeon District Sinkhole Case

Miracle Asia Case

Hwang Tae-Sung (JB Corp Hiring Scandal) Case

Sunjin Happiness Foundation Case

Jeongdaun Savings Bank Case

Others

Trailers

Episode Ratings

Comments

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External Links