Original Authors of ‘The Judge Lee Han-young’ Praise Casting, Hint at Intense Confrontation

As MBC's new Friday-Saturday drama ‘The Judge Lee Han-young’ gears up for its premiere on January 2, 2026, the original web novel author Lee Hae-nal and webtoon artist Jeon Dol-dol have shared celebratory messages and behind-the-scenes insights.

‘The Judge Lee Han-young’ is a justice-restoring regression drama about Lee Han-young, a corrupt judge who lived as a slave to a mega law firm and travels back 10 years to make new choices and punish evil. The original web novel garnered 10.75 million views, and the webtoon achieved 101.91 million views, totaling an impressive 110 million views.

Author Lee Hae-nal expressed, “It was an honor, and I was curious how the character that existed only in imagination would be portrayed. I am waiting for the drama with an excited heart.” Webtoon artist Jeon Dol-dol added, “I look forward to seeing how the relationships between the characters are woven in.”

Both creators lauded the actors' incredible synchronization with their characters. Lee Hae-nal stated, “When I heard Ji Sung was cast, it felt like the image I imagined was becoming a reality.” Jeon Dol-dol was also impressed, saying, “Actor Park Hee-soon perfectly captured Kang Shin-jin’s unique cold and heavy aura.” She further commented, “Personally, I was most delighted by Won Jin-ah’s joining, thinking the character Kim Jin-ah would become even richer in the drama.”

The core keywords of the work, ‘justice’ and ‘confrontation,’ were also highlighted. Lee Hae-nal noted, “I anticipate the conflict that will arise between Lee Han-young and Kang Shin-jin, who walk entirely different paths while advocating for their own definitions of justice.” Jeon Dol-dol, who created a special poster for the drama, focused on “dramatically expressing the tension within the fierce confrontation between Lee Han-young and Kang Shin-jin, while maximizing the drama’s atmosphere.”

Finally, the two artists urged viewers to tune in, stating, “Thanks to the readers who loved the original work, ‘The Judge Lee Han-young’ could be adapted into a drama. We ask for your great interest and support for the drama as well.”

Korean netizens are expressing high anticipation, commenting, “The actors are recognized by the original authors, so I’m even more excited!”, “Actor Ji Sung as Judge Lee Han-young already feels legendary,” and “I enjoyed both the webtoon and web novel, so I must watch the drama adaptation.”