Park Hee-soon Transforms into an Ambitious Judge in MBC's 'Judge Lee Han-young,' Set to Clash with Ji Sung

Actor Park Hee-soon is set to make a powerful impression as an ambitious judge climbing the ladder of power.

MBC's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Judge Lee Han-young,' scheduled to premiere on January 2, 2026, is a justice-seeking regression drama about judge Lee Han-young (played by Ji Sung), who, after living as a slave to a mega law firm, regresses 10 years to punish great evils.

Park Hee-soon will portray Kang Shin-jin, the chief presiding judge of the criminal division at the Seoul Central District Court. Kang Shin-jin is a character who manipulates others' weaknesses for his own power, aiming for the highest position within the judiciary. However, his grand designs begin to unravel with the sudden appearance of Lee Han-young.

In stills released today (20th), Park Hee-soon perfectly embodies Kang Shin-jin's cold demeanor with sharp eyes and a pristine suit fit. His solid presence and intense aura fuel anticipation for a 'Park Hee-soon-style Kang Shin-jin.'

The production team stated, "Actor Park Hee-soon is enriching the character of Kang Shin-jin and perfectly driving the drama's tension," adding, "Please look forward to the character's intense journey presented in Park Hee-soon's unique color."

Meanwhile, 'Judge Lee Han-young' is based on a popular web novel and webtoon of the same name, boasting a combined total of 102.47 million views. Director Lee Jae-jin, known for his visual direction in 'The Banker' and 'My Lovely Boxer,' has teamed up with director Park Mi-yeon and writer Kim Gwang-min, raising expectations for the series.

Netizens are reacting enthusiastically to Park Hee-soon's new transformation. Comments like "Actor Park Hee-soon always devours his characters," "A confrontation between actor Ji Sung and actor Park Hee-soon, I'm already excited," and "I'm curious how he'll portray the character of Kang Shin-jin" are flooding in, heightening anticipation for the drama.