Lee Han-yeong targets Kang Sin-jin and the system with repeating past life events and Haenal Law Firm makes its move

MBC The judge returns Episodes 3 and 4 aired on January 9 and 10, 2026, featuring Ji Sung, Park Hye Sun, and Won Jin Ah in the lead roles. The drama revolves around Judge Lee Han Young, who faces a tragic end after standing his ground against a powerful group accused of serious crimes.

Instead of dying for good, he wakes up ten years earlier in his younger body. Knowing the future, Han Young chooses to expose corruption within the judiciary, bring powerful wrongdoers to justice, and rewrite the fate that once led to his death.

The judge returns Episodes 3-4 Summary: Lee Han Young exposes judicial corruption, uncovers a conviction record, and ignites a power struggle within the courts.

Episodes 3 The judge returns Start by arresting a serial killer who Han Young previously hit with his car. After the arrest, Han Young attracted increasing attention within the judiciary. The Chief Justice expresses his satisfaction with his actions. However, because Han Young is directly involved in the arrest of the suspect, he is prohibited from presiding over the case.

However, the chief judge wants to reward him, and allows Han Yong to help as an assistant judge under his boss. The trial continues with the court recognizing the emotional devastation suffered by the victims’ families, ultimately sentencing the serial killer to life imprisonment.

At the same time, the power struggle within the judiciary has become more evident. Kang Sin-jin, a senior judge with extensive influence and connections, meets Yoo Seon-cheol, the CEO of Haenal Law Firm and Han Young’s father-in-law from his previous life.

The two begin planning to manipulate the judicial system according to their interests. Han Young once followed Kang Sin Jin and observed him attending secret meetings, realizing that systematic manipulation of the judiciary was already underway.

Soon after, Chief Judge Han Young is assigned to another complicated case involving a bride who died in a suspicious accident just days before her wedding. The victim’s family accuses her fiancé of killing her to collect insurance money.

However, information from an importer leads Han Young to uncover the true motive. The groom had a secret relationship with the bride’s cousin, and this relationship eventually led to the murder. Han Young issues a ruling based on this discovery, attracting more attention to himself within judicial circles.

Impressed by Han Young’s growing reputation, the Chief Justice offers to bring him to the Supreme Court once he becomes Chief Justice. But Han Young remembers what happened at this point in his past life.

Eventually, information emerged exposing corruption within the judiciary, leading to widespread reform. Unable to deal with the consequences, the Chief Justice resigned shortly after taking office.

Realizing this future, Han Young refuses to move with him to the capital, angering the Chief Justice. Internally, Han Young also decided to not only reject the offer but also block the Chief Justice from becoming Chief Justice altogether because he believed that the Chief could help him bring down Kang Sin-jin.

Realizing Han Yong’s benefit, Hainal Law Firm also makes its own move. Through Han Young’s boss, a blind date is arranged between him and Yoo Seon Cheol’s second daughter, who became Han Young’s wife in his past life.

Han Young remembers that she arrived an hour late for their first meeting in her past life, so she deliberately shows up late this time. When he arrived, he found her arguing with a waitress. Han Young steps in to slap her before she leaves.

Meanwhile, a reporter who helped Han Young in the bride-murder case asks for his help. Her father, a security guard, is accused of stealing from a private residence. This case triggers Han Young’s memories of an important ledger he discovered in the same house in his past life.

This notebook contains detailed records revealing influential figures in the regime, trade, and corruption among them, which ultimately led to major judicial reforms. Determined to use the information more effectively this time, Han Young sets out to secure the ledger himself.

He soon contacts an old friend who now runs a dangerous secret organization backed by a large gang and asks for help in finding the ledger. Kang Sin-jin, who partly made the ledger, learns about the theft as well. He sends a man to retrieve it. He is the same man who killed Han Young in his previous life.

Working with his friend brings back painful memories for Han Young. In his youth, he got a part-time job with a group of thugs with this friend and participated in attacks on demonstrators. During the incident, he discovers his father among the demonstrators.

His father was injured and later imprisoned for more than a year after being falsely accused of being one of the attackers. Although Han Young witnessed the truth, he did not bear witness, a failure that eventually led him to become a judge.

He also realizes that the owner of the group behind the attack is the head of the S Group. He is the same man who sentenced Han Young to prison in his last case in his past life. Han Young remembers that, as he passes by the S Group building, he witnesses the owner being arrested by Prosecutor Kim Jin Ah.

Han Young remembers how fiercely she prosecuted the S Group case in his previous life, and begins to think that it would be better to work side by side with her this time. He also begins to spend more time with his family.

Meanwhile, Han Young’s friend locates the thief, who confesses to the burglary but claims that he threw the notebook away as trash, believing it to be worthless. The research then moves on to all the sanitation workers in the city, who take the trash to the landfill. Han Young, his allies, and Kang Sin Jin’s men begin searching for the notebook.

But in the midst of the search, Han Young’s mother who owns one of these junkyards, unaware of its importance, calls him to inform him that she has found a notebook in the trash and thinks it might be useful to him. Han Young rushes to retrieve it, smiling in relief, unaware that Kang Sin Jin’s man is watching him secure the notebook.

Episode 4 of The judge returns The matter culminated in a press conference called by the Chief Justice, with Han Young standing by his side. In front of the media, Han Young publicly reveals the information in the ledger.

They are the names of influential and powerful figures in the judicial system who either evaded South Korea’s mandatory military service or helped other influential individuals avoid the draft. As the revelations spread, Kang Sin-jin and the entire judicial establishment watched the press conference in shock.

Confident that this exposure will block the Chief Justice’s path to becoming Chief Justice, Han Young takes a decisive step toward reshaping the system. With those episodes 3 and 4 of The judge returns It’s coming to an end.

MBC broadcasts The judge returns Every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 PM KST. Upcoming episodes 5 and 6 are scheduled to premiere on January 16 and 17, 2026. The judge returns It can also be viewed online on Viki.