Jisung sent shivers through viewers by driving the mastermind of the sinkhole incident to the brink of crisis.
On the 17th (Sat), in episode 6 of the MBC Friday-Saturday drama The Judge Returns (planned by Namgung Seong-woo, Chang Jae-hoon / written by Kim Kwang-min / directed by Lee Jae-jin, Park Mi-yeon / produced by OHTORY, Slingshot Studio), Lee Han-young (played by Jisung) found the key to solving the assignment of "Woo Gyo-hoon (played by Jeon Jin-gi) downfall" handed down by Kang Shin-jin (played by Park Hee-soon), and while finding that key he continued his satisfying course of action by carrying out unprecedentedly stern punishment for the victims of the Nam-myeon district sinkhole incident.
That day's ratings recorded 11.4% in households in the Seoul metropolitan area and 11% nationwide according to Nielsen Korea, marking the show's highest ratings for two consecutive days and solidifying its position as the top Friday-Saturday drama. In particular, the scene in which Seok Jeong-ho (played by Tae Won Seok), who appeared shouting "an angel of justice," delivered a satisfying blow as he emerged at a tense moment when the gang led by Cheon Hak-su (played by Dang Hyun-seok) burst into the home of sinkhole victim Heo Dong-gi (played by Shin Hyun-jong) and forced him to sign a settlement, sent the instant nationwide household peak rating to 13.9% according to Nielsen Korea, proving overwhelming impact.
Moreover, reflecting changes in media consumption, the key channel competitiveness metric for the 20-54 demographic was 4.8%, ranking first among all programs broadcast that day, rising 1.4% from the previous day and putting the brakes on The Judge Returns' success. Also, The Judge Returns ranked first in both metropolitan and nationwide household ratings in its time slot, drawing attention to the show's unstoppable rise.
In yesterday's broadcast, Lee Han-young offered Yoon Seon-cheol, head of Haenal Law Firm (played by Ahn Nae-sang), a proposal to make Prosecutor General Eom Jun-ho (played by Park Jeong-hak) the law firm's counsel. Although the conversation was interrupted by the intrusion of Yoo Se-hee (played by Oh Se-young), Lee Han-young said he needed her help to win over Eom Jun-ho and then abruptly left.
Meanwhile, the tense showdown between Kang Shin-jin and Baek Yi-seok (played by Kim Tae Woo) intensified. On his first day as chief judge at the Seoul District Court, Lee Seok canceled the inauguration ceremony and called a meeting of senior judges, sharply criticizing, "Court rulings must not become privileges and power." The senior judges, annoyed that a court president from the provinces had come, tried to prick Baek Yi-seok's ego, but backed down when they saw Kang Shin-jin outwardly pretending to be polite while hiding sharp claws.
Arriving at the Seoul District Court, Lee Han-young went straight to Kang Shin-jin's office and reported his plan to use Eom Jun-ho to catch Woo Gyo-hoon. He had discovered that Woo Gyo-hoon's daughter and Eom Jun-ho's son were using drugs in Korea and the United States respectively, and planned to take down both at once. When Kang Shin-jin asked if there was anything he wanted, Lee Han-young said, "Give me Prosecutor General Eom Jun-ho," asking him to provide justification for Lee Han-young to marry into Haenal Law Firm. Han-young's meticulous scheme fully showcased the appeal of an intelligent character.
Next, Lee Han-young was assigned the Nam-myeon district sinkhole case by Baek Yi-seok. Although it was expected to be a difficult trial because the cause would be hard to determine, Lee Han-young showed confidence because, before coming to work, he had received information from his friend Seok Jeong-ho (played by Tae Won Seok) that Woo Gyo-hoon and Chu Yong-jin (played by Lee Jang-won), the head of Nam-myeon district, had taken bribes from Taemyeong Construction. Lee Han-young recalled a previous-life memory that Chu Yong-jin, the Nam-myeon district head, had been the mob boss of the Obok faction and that the CEO of Taemyeong Construction had been the organization's action captain. He also saw through the fact that the Nam-myeon district sinkhole was caused by Taemyeong Construction's faulty water and sewage work. As Han-young's operation to catch both Woo Gyo-hoon and Chu Yong-jin began, viewers' interest peaked.
With Seok Jeong-ho's help, Lee Han-young secured evidence of drugs belonging to Woo Gyo-hoon's daughter and, together with Yoo Se-hee, met Eom Jun-ho and revealed that Haenal Law Firm's U.S. branch had a video of his son's drug party. In the end, Eom Jun-ho had no choice but to yield, and Lee Han-young told an ecstatic Yoo Se-hee, "I will make you own Haenal Law Firm."
Song Na-yeon (played by Baek Jin-hee) visited Lee Han-young to help Heo Dong-gi (played by Shin Hyun-jong), who lost his son in the Nam-myeon district sinkhole incident. At the same time, Yoo Se-hee also came to see Lee Han-young at the request of her sister, Yoo Ha-na (played by Baek Seung-hee), who is the case's defense attorney. Mistakenly believing Lee Han-young had sided with Haenal Law Firm, Song Na-yeon expressed disappointment and left after receiving a call from Heo Dong-gi saying he was being threatened by Chu Yong-jin's secretary Cheon Hak-su. Knowing from his past life that a reporter who had gone to the victim's house was beaten by Chu Yong-jin's gang, Lee Han-young sent "an angel of justice" Seok Jeong-ho to punish the group, delivering a satisfying punishment of villains.
The highlight of the day was the punishment of Chu Yong-jin. Lee Han-young chased Chu Yong-jin's car as it was leaving work, pushed it to deliberately cause an accident, then dragged him to a quarry and pressured him with a massive excavator. Watching the terrified Chu Yong-jin, Lee Han-young shouted at Heo Dong-gi's request, "Defendant Chu Yong-jin! I sentence you to death!" Lee Han-young's cold stare as he lifted a giant boulder with the excavator to drop onto the trapped Chu Yong-jin capped a powerful ending and foreshadowed an unpredictable turn of events.
Immediately after the broadcast, viewers reacted passionately, saying, "Han-young and Se-hee's chemistry is cute and great," "Baek Yi-seok lives up to his position. The charisma to stand up to Kang Shin-jin is amazing," "Jisung is perfect for the bubbly, fresh Lee Han-young character," "The drama is solid: it delivers spectacle, fun and humor," "All the cast act so well it keeps you hooked," and "Jisung teaches a lesson with the excavator! A standing ovation is due."
Episode 7 of the MBC Friday-Saturday drama The Judge Returns will air on Fri., the 23rd, at 9:50 p.m.
[Photo] MBC Friday-Saturday drama The Judge Returns
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