The hit fantasy legal drama The Judge From Hell is officially coming back for a second season. Park Shin Hye will return as the demon judge Kang Bit Na. The announcement happened on June 1, 2026, during the SBS DRAMA: NEXT EPISODE media event held at Hotel NARU Seoul MGallery in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Hong Sung Chang, the CEO of Studio S, shared the news in front of reporters and industry guests.
“Actress Park Shin Hye, who is currently pregnant, will return next year with Season 2 of ‘The Judge from Hell.’” – Hong Sung Chang, Studio S CEO
This marks a fast comeback for the actress. She is expecting her second child with husband Choi Tae Joon this fall. The new season is scheduled to start filming after she gives birth and recovers. The Judge From Hell Season 2 is set to air sometime in 2027.
What Is ‘The Judge From Hell’ About? A Demon in a Robe
The first season of The Judge From Hell premiered on September 21, 2024, on SBS. It ran for 14 episodes. The story follows Kang Bit Na, an elite judge who is actually a demon named Justitia from hell. A mistake forces her to enter a human body. Her mission is to find 20 unrepentant murderers who escaped punishment. She must send their souls straight back to hell.
Park Shin Hye played the cold, powerful judge. Her character showed no mercy to criminals. The show mixed courtroom drama with supernatural revenge. Viewers saw her use fire and sharp objects to punish the guilty. The drama reached a peak viewership rating of 13.6% during its run. It also did very well on Disney+ and other streaming platforms in Asia.
The show paired her with Kim Jae Young, who played detective Han Da On. He was a warm, caring police officer. His kindness slowly changed the demon’s cold heart. Their romance became a key part of the story. The first season ended with Kang Bit Na choosing to stay on Earth. This left the door wide open for more stories.
Full SBS Drama Lineup for 2026 and 2027
The SBS event did not only talk about The Judge From Hell. The network also showed its full drama schedule for the coming year. Here is the complete list of shows coming soon.
Shows coming in the second half of 2026:
- Agent Kim Reactivated – A quiet father hides his past as a secret agent. So Ji Sub stars in this action drama. It debuts on June 26, 2026 on Netflix.
- Flex x Cop Season 2 – Ahn Bo Hyun returns as the rich detective Jin Yi Soo. Jung Eun Chae joins as his new tough boss. The season starts in July 2026.
- Doctor X: Age of the White Mafia – Kim Ji Won plays a genius surgeon who fights hospital corruption. This is a remake of the famous Japanese show. It airs in October 2026.
- Good Partner 2 – Jang Na Ra returns as the star divorce lawyer Cha Eun Gyeong. This legal drama comes in the second half of 2026.
- Nine to Six – A romance show starring Park Min Young and Yook Sung Jae. It releases in November 2026.
Shows coming in the first half of 2027:
- Excitatio – Lee Joon Hyuk stars as a priest in an exorcism thriller set in a high school.
- The Long Shot Trial – Lee Je Hoon leads a legal comedy drama. He plays a former lawyer who works as an office manager.
- Nightmare – Kim Nam Gil and Lee Yoo Mi star in a sci-fi crime show. The story involves AI that enters people’s dreams.
- Full Count – Kim Rae Won stars in a sports drama about baseball team coaches fighting for the top job.
Extra shows for 2027 lineup:
- The Judge From Hell Season 2 with Park Shin Hye.
- Dash – A thriller with Shin Hae Sun as a prosecutor trying to save her husband.
Fan Reactions to Park Shin Hye’s Return
Social media exploded after the announcement. Fans on Twitter (X) and Instagram shared their excitement. Many praised Park Shin Hye for her dedication to work right after having a baby.
One fan wrote, “The news that made my day. I was fully prepared to wait years for Park Shinhye’s next project and now she’s already coming back with season 2 of The Judge from Hell. WE WON.” Another user said, “Yeahhh ~ Park Shin-hye to return as Devil Judge after childbirth.”
A third fan posted, ” I WILL BE WAITINGG FOR YOUU. The Judge from Hell season 1 shooting after giving birth to the first child and now after giving birth to the second child. Cool mommy.” Many comments talked about how she filmed the first season just months after having her son in May 2022. Now she plans to do the same for the second season.
Cast Details for Season 2
Park Shin Hye is the only actor officially confirmed for The Judge From Hell Season 2 so far. Kim Jae Young, who played detective Han Da On, has not been announced yet. Fans are hoping he will return. His character’s romance with Kang Bit Na was a major part of the show. The chemistry between the two actors helped make the show a hit.
Other actors from season one include Kim Ah Young, Kim In Kwon, and Lee Kyu Han. There is no word yet on whether they will come back. The production team is still in the early planning stages. More casting news is expected in the coming months.
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Park Shin Hye’s Busy Schedule
Park Shin Hye is currently pregnant with her second child. She and her husband Choi Tae Joon married in January 2022. They had their first son in May 2022. The actress announced her second pregnancy in April 2026. Her due date is in the fall of 2026.
She will need time to rest after giving birth. The plan is for her to start filming The Judge From Hell Season 2 after she recovers. The show is expected to air in 2027. This gives the production team time to write the script, find other cast members, and prepare the sets.
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