SBS 'Taxi Driver 3' is generating buzz with evolving incident episodes, igniting the box office engine..
SBS's Friday-Saturday drama 'Taxi Driver 3' (writer Oh Sang-ho / director Kang Bo-seung / produced by Studio S, Group Eight, BAN Entertainment) is a private revenge agency drama about the veiled taxi company Rainbow Transportation and taxi driver Kim Do-gi completing revenge on behalf of wronged victims.
The 'Taxi Driver' series, first presented in 2021, based on the distinctive concept of a taxi company that offers private revenge services on behalf of wronged victims, established itself as a "mega-hit IP" by delivering the catharsis of justice served and the dynamic fun characteristic of caper stories. Launched amid intense public interest, season 3 is airing to acclaim that the "writer+director+actors" collaboration is complete, with a solid world, film-like directorial sensibility, and vivid character play.
Proving this, the latest episode, episode 12, surpassed a peak viewership rating of 19.1% and 15.2% in the Seoul metropolitan area (Nielsen Korea), surpassing the daunting 15% mark and charging toward 20%. In addition, 'Taxi Driver 3,' which retained first place in "the broadcast and video programs Koreans like in 2025" (Korea Gallup), also firmly held first place in the TV drama category in the 4th week of December Fundex topicality survey (Good Data Corporation), continuing its unstoppable popularity march.
It is hard to find precedent in the Korean drama market for a season 3 to enjoy such intense popularity. This is naturally because viewers' expectations for a new season are high. Even so, the fact that 'Taxi Driver 3' is receiving viewers' cheers is evidence that society still needs a "taxi hero."
The 'Taxi Driver' series, which adopts crimes that can be found in real society as episode material, has further strengthened its timeliness in season 3, heightening viewers' empathy and immersion. Episodes 1-2 highlighted the reality of youths becoming prey to illegal lenders due to gambling; episodes 3-4 covered a used car crime cartel that deceives buyers by selling severely damaged flood cars; episodes 5-8 dealt with illegal sports gambling and match-fixing. In particular, episodes 9-10 exposed trainee exploitation and sexual bribery concealed by K-pop's popularity, and episodes 11-12 revealed the ugly face of online used-goods scams prevalent among Millennials and Gen Z, creating an explosive response.
As such, 'Taxi Driver 3' spotlights the villainy that evolves with the times, becomes a stronger force than the villains, punishes them thrillingly, and comforts the absurdities and frustrations of reality with intense catharsis. To stop the villains' rampage, the genre- and field-defying, increasingly versatile exploits of protagonist Kim Do-gi (Lee Je-hoon) add both the refreshment of a satisfying payoff and a savory edge. Viewers have sent enthusiastic support, saying "I'm curious what incident will come next" and "The 'Taxi Driver' series should continue forever as long as villains remain in this era."
Writer Oh Sang-ho said, "I think the grammar of 'Taxi Driver' is to be entertaining but to go straight into reality without detours." He added, "I do not selectively choose topics. When I project the Kim Do-gi character into events and accidents happening in the world, in some incidents he quickly gets out, and in others he goes in and does not come out. I only work on the incidents that Kim Do-gi's character clings to and refuses to let go of." With only four episodes left until the finale, attention is focused on what story 'Taxi Driver 3' will tell and which incident Kim Do-gi will tenaciously cling to and not let go.
SBS's Friday-Saturday drama 'Taxi Driver 3' will air episode 13 on Jan. 2 (Fri.) at 9:50 p.m.
[Photo] SBS 'Taxi Driver 3'
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