MBC Friday-Saturday drama 'Judge Lee Han-young' director Lee Jae-jin revealed the work's direction and message.
The new MBC Friday-Saturday drama 'Judge Lee Han-young', scheduled to premiere on Jan. 2, 2026 (planned by Jang Jae-hoon, written by Kim Kwang-min, directed by Lee Jae-jin and Park Mi-yeon), is a return-to-the-past drama about justice in which Lee Han-young, a corrupt judge who lived as a slave to a giant law firm and returned to 10 years ago, achieves justice through new choices.
With standout actors such as Jisung, Park Heesoon and Won Jina appearing and the unusual genre attempt of combining a return-to-the-past story with courtroom drama, the show has been at the center of attention even before broadcast; two days before the premiere, on the 31st (today), director Lee Jae-jin revealed behind-the-scenes of 'Judge Lee Han-young', drawing the attention of many viewers.
Based on a web novel and webtoon, 'Judge Lee Han-young' involved much deliberation during the process of dramatization. Director Lee Jae-jin said, "I focused on how well the returning protagonist's acceptance of going back to the past is expressed, thinking that if it's well portrayed, viewers will empathize more with the character," adding, "I made it hoping viewers would feel the catharsis of ordinary people's expectations of the judiciary being realized."
Because 'Judge Lee Han-young' portrays multilayered changes in characters over a 10-year time span, the actors' acting skills are an important factor. Director Lee Jae-jin expressed great satisfaction with the actors on this point. He praised, "Jisung is an actor who shows excellent performance in roles with multifaceted personalities, so I expected there might be no one more suitable for Lee Han-young than him, and he delivered a performance that met that expectation."
About Park Heesoon, who plays Kang Shin-jin, the director said, "I think he is an actor with a kind of coolness who can make a twisted sense of justice have power and persuasiveness," and about Won Jina, who plays Kim Jin-a, he said, "She gave the drama a sense of realism and showed her characteristic fighting spirit, giving the impression of a small giant." He added, "We talked about bringing out the actors' individualities for the drama's character and entertainment," raising expectations for the synergy that seasoned directors and veteran actors would create.
Director Lee Jae-jin also defined 'Judge Lee Han-young' as "the justice we want," saying, "I think Judge Lee Han-young will fill the hearts of people who want the victims' rage to be relieved." Finally, the director said, "'Judge Lee Han-young' is a work you can watch comfortably based on fast pacing and a cathartic story," and added, "I hope it becomes a drama that can resonate within a big story."
[Photo] Provided by MBC
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