In the latest episode of SBS’s hit drama, Kim Do Gi’s dangerous gamble to go undercover on a criminal island leads him directly to its mastermind. Lee Je Hoon and Kim Sung Kyu came face-to-face in a tense psychological showdown that has pushed the season’s suspense to new heights. The episode, which aired on January 2, sets the stage for a major conflict as the entire Rainbow team infiltrates the villains’ headquarters.
The Samheung Island Operation Begins
The Rainbow Dark Heroes have moved their fight to a new, dangerous location. Following a case involving a brutal secondhand goods scam ring, Kim Do Gi discovered that the scam was not an isolated incident. He found evidence of a professional organization that designs and sells crime blueprints to aspiring criminals. This group, known as the “Samheungdos” or “Samheungdo Villains,” operates from a remote island.
In Episode 13, the full Rainbow team—Do Gi, CEO Jang (Kim Eui Sung), Go Eun (Pyo Ye Jin), Choi Kyung Goo (Jang Hyuk Jin), and Park Jin Eon (Bae Yoo Ram)—enters Samheung Island. Their mission is a large-scale revenge operation against this crime consultancy. Do Gi takes the most dangerous role, posing as a client who wants to start a criminal enterprise to get close to the group’s leaders.
Kim Sung Kyu’s Villain Revealed as Go Jak Ga
The leader Do Gi must deceive is Go Jak Ga, played by special guest star Kim Sung Kyu. Previously introduced as a mysterious photographer on the island, his true identity is far more sinister. Go Jak Ga is the chief architect behind the Samheungdos’ operations. He is a former prosecutor who uses his deep knowledge of the law and crime to build illegal business models for others.
Kim Sung Kyu’s performance has drawn significant attention for its chilling calmness. One viewer noted on social media how his character “doesn’t seem to have a human scent,” perfectly capturing the villain’s eerie and detached nature. His character runs a system that recruits released convicts and provides them with everything they need—from forged documents and burner phones to detailed plans—to commit new crimes.
The island itself functions as a full criminal hub. A seafood restaurant distributes crime kits, another member handles digital programming, and even the lanterns at the local temple secretly act as ledgers for their transactions. Every resident is part of the operation, creating an atmosphere of constant surveillance and hostility.
A High-Stakes Gamble and a Close Call
The episode’s tension skyrocketed when Do Gi’s undercover act led to a critical moment. New stills released before the broadcast showed Do Gi in handcuffs, being detained by a man named Officer Kim (Ji Dae Han). This sparked immediate fear that his identity had been exposed to the Samheungdos. However, even while restrained, Do Gi maintained a sharp, calculating gaze, suggesting his arrest might be part of a larger plan to turn the villains against each other.
Do Gi’s confrontation with Go Jak Ga was filled with mutual suspicion. Their meeting crackled with intensity, leaving viewers eager to find out whether Do Gi’s latest scheme would succeed.
The psychological battle between the two was the episode’s core. To save his captured teammates, Do Gi had to convince Go Jak Ga he was a genuine aspiring crime lord. He crafted a detailed and believable fake backstory, demonstrating a sharp understanding of the criminal mindset. His performance was so convincing that Go Jak Ga began to trust him, even inviting him to an exclusive business meeting.
The stakes were brutally clear. Do Gi was forced to watch as other potential “clients” on the island who failed to impress the leaders were executed on the spot. This grim reality underlined the life-or-death nature of his mission and raised a chilling question: what do the Samheungdos ultimately want from Kim Do Gi?
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Episode Success and What’s Next
Episode 13 continued the show’s remarkable ratings success. It secured the number one spot among all Friday night broadcasts in South Korea. This follows the record-breaking performance of Episode 12, which achieved a nationwide peak viewership of 19.1%, accelerating the drama toward the symbolic 20% mark. The show has dominated popularity charts for weeks and recently won Drama of the Year at the 2025 SBS Drama Awards, with Lee Je Hoon taking home the Grand Prize.
The team gained a powerful new ally in journalist Bong, who survived the island while investigating its secrets. Bong becomes the next client for the Rainbow Dark Heroes, providing them with crucial insider information for their revenge mission.
Episode 14 of Taxi Driver 3 is scheduled to air on Saturday, January 3, at 9:50 p.m. KST. For international viewers, new episodes are available for streaming on Netflix after the Korean broadcast.
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