In The Judge Returns, Lee Han-young is not just a judge in a courtroom. He is a man fighting against his own past and a corrupt system, using knowledge from a future life to change outcomes. Episodes 3 and 4, which aired on January 9 and 10, 2026, show this fight getting bigger. Han-young’s bold moves in two major cases push him into the public eye and directly into conflict with powerful figures who control the courts from the shadows.
Recap of The Judge Returns Episode 3
Episode 3 picks up right after Han-young’s car hits Kim Sang-jin, the suspected serial killer. Sang-jin survives the crash and is arrested. Police soon find the bodies of missing women in his home, proving Han-young’s suspicion was correct. Everyone wants to know how the young judge knew. His chief judge questions him, highlighting the unusual attention now on Han-young’s methods.
The case is assigned to the respected Judge Baek Yi-seok. Han-young, confident from his future memories, asks to preside over the sentencing. Yi-seok agrees, seeing a unique drive in him. In court, Han-young stops a standard verdict reading. He speaks directly to the victims’ families and sentences Sang-jin to death. The public applause in the courtroom cements his new image but worries his superiors.
“Good night, goodbye,” Han-young says to the convicted killer, a line fans noted showed he was done being polite to villains.
Han-young is then given a complex new case to test his skills. Park Hyuk-jun is accused of killing his fiancée, Kim Seon-hee, for a 1.2 billion won life insurance payout. Han-young remembers from his past life that Hyuk-jun was found not guilty now but was later revealed as the murderer three years after. He visits the crash site and meets Song Na-yeon, a reporter and friend of the victim. He gets a key piece of information from her: the personal phone number of the victim’s cousin and insurance broker, Kim Ga-young.
The episode ends with a major cliffhanger. In court, Han-young asks witness Ga-young for her personal phone. She denies having it. He then dials the number Na-yeon gave him, and a phone rings in Ga-young’s bag, shocking the entire courtroom.
Recap of The Judge Returns Episode 4
Episode 4 opens with the tense aftermath of the phone ringing. Ga-young’s phone is revealed, its wallpaper showing a romantic picture of her with the defendant, Hyuk-jun. This proves they had a secret relationship. Cornered, Hyuk-jun confesses the full story. He was originally dating Ga-young. After a one-night stand with her cousin Seon-hee, he was blackmailed with a fake pregnancy into a engagement. To be free and be with Ga-young again, he caused the car crash that killed Seon-hee. Han-young’s clever handling of the case makes him a media sensation.
The drama then shifts from individual crimes to systemic corruption. A major robbery occurs at the Gangnam Palace, and a crucial ledger is stolen. This ledger contains names linked to military service corruption for the children of elites. Kang Shin-jin, the powerful chief judge, panics because its exposure could ruin his plan to install a loyal chief justice. The stolen ledger ends up at the scrapyard run by Han-young’s mother. She gives it to her son, who immediately calls a press conference and publicly reveals its damaging contents. This act is a direct attack on Shin-jin’s power base.
A flashback shows the origin of Han-young’s personal mission. Years ago, a teenage Han-young participated in a violent protest for money. During the chaos, he accidentally saw his own father being struck and injured. His father was later wrongfully imprisoned for a year because of Jang Tae-sik of the S Group. This past fuels Han-young’s present-day resolve. He sees prosecutor Kim Jin-a arrest Tae-sik and quietly decides to help her, knowing they share a common enemy.
Cast and Character Details in Episodes 3-4
Ji Sung carries the drama as Lee Han-young. His performance shows a man balancing cold determination with deep personal guilt. Park Hee-soon plays the antagonist Kang Shin-jin, a chief judge who manipulates the legal system for political power. Won Jin-ah is prosecutor Kim Jin-a, driven by a quest for vengeance that aligns with Han-young’s goals.
Special appearances in these episodes include Bae In-hyuk as the serial killer Kim Sang-jin, a role that concludes in Episode 3. The drama also features Oh Se-young as Yoo Se-hee, the daughter of a law firm CEO who has a fiery blind date with Han-young that ends with her slapping him and the video going viral.
Fan Reactions to the Courtroom Drama
Viewers reacted strongly to the intense courtroom scenes and the personal stakes for Han-young. The cliffhanger ending of Episode 3, with the ringing phone, was called “absolutely chilling” and praised for its sharp writing. Fans are discussing the “razor-sharp” way the show mixes courtroom tension with time-travel redemption. Many note that Han-young is no longer hiding his opinions, calling him the “People’s Judge” for taking justice directly to the people.
Where and When to Watch The Judge Returns
The Judge Returns airs on Korean network MBC every Friday and Saturday at 21:50 KST. The series started on January 2, 2026, and will run for a total of 14 episodes, with the finale scheduled for February 14, 2026. For international viewers, the drama is available for streaming on Viki. New episodes are expected to be available on the platform shortly after the Korean broadcast.
