How many episodes does The Judge Returns have?

Fourteen. It aired on MBC from 2 January to 14 February 2026.

Is The Judge Returns based on a webtoon or novel?

Yes, on Judge Lee Han-young by Lee Hae-nal, a story about a corrupt judge who gets a second chance ten years in the past.

Is The Judge Returns connected to The Devil Judge?

No. Both star Ji Sung as a judge, but The Judge Returns is a separate story with its own characters, adapted from Lee Hae-nal's Judge Lee Han-young.

What ratings did The Judge Returns get?

It peaked at 13.6% nationwide (Nielsen Korea) with episode 13 and averaged 9.9% over 14 episodes.

★ 8completed

The Judge Returns

판사 이한영

Year2026Episodes14NetworkMBC

“Reborn Rich meets The Devil Judge”

The return of corrupt judge Lee Han-young, who was a slave to a large law firm, to the past 10 years ago. He makes new choices to punish evil and implement justice.

Fantasy Revenge Legal Second Life

Ji Sung

as Lee Han-young · LEAD

Ji Sung

Lee Han-young

Won Jin-ah

as Kim Jin-ah · LEAD

Won Jin-ah

Kim Jin-ah

Park Hee-soon

as Kang Shin-jin · SUPPORTING

Park Hee-soon

Kang Shin-jin

Baek Jin-hee

as Song Na-yeon · SUPPORTING

Baek Jin-hee

Song Na-yeon

Oh Se-young

as Yoo Se-hee · SUPPORTING

Oh Se-young

Yoo Se-hee

Hwang Hee

as Park Cheol-wu · SUPPORTING

Hwang Hee

Park Cheol-wu

Tae Won-seok

as Seok Jeong-ho · SUPPORTING

Tae Won-seok

Seok Jeong-ho

Park Geon-il

as Gwak Sun-won · SUPPORTING

Park Geon-il

Gwak Sun-won

Streaming

Where to watch

Viki

Availability varies by region · Data by JustWatch via TMDB

Quick verdict

Should you watch?

Story

8.1

Acting

9.1

OST

7.6

Pacing

7.9

8.5+

7–8.4

✓Fans of regression revenge dramas like Reborn Rich, Ji Sung fans, viewers who enjoy corrupt elites getting their due in court

✗Familiar regression formulas bore you; several viewers felt it lost steam and rushed the ending

Story

What is it really about

A judge who sold his rulings to his father-in-law's law firm finally defies them, and is killed for it. He wakes up ten years earlier with his memories intact and a chance to hand down the sentences he should have.

Righteous paybackCourtroom chessSecond-chanceCrowd-pleasing

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