On January 19, Lee Je‑hoon sat down for an interview at a bar in Gangnam, Seoul, after the conclusion of SBS’ hit drama Friday‑Saturday. Taxi Driver season 3 (Taxi driver 3). He acknowledged that he understands the hearts of viewers who eagerly await what comes next. Known for meticulously reviewing not only the footage but also the editing process, Lee said: “It seems like only now is it really over.” as he takes time to separate himself from the series that has become a defining project in his career.
THE Taxi driver The franchise centers on the unique concept of the Rainbow Taxi Company, a special taxi service that carries out revenge on behalf of victims, led by driver Kim Do‑gi. Inspired by real-life events, the series offers cathartic vigilante justice and has maintained strong popularity every season. Taxi driver 3which concluded on January 10, saw peak viewership of 14.2%, securing its reputation as the top program in its time slot.
Lee Je‑hoon has built a solid reputation for playing more than just virtuous and justice-oriented detective roles Taxi driverbut also in works like that of MBC Chief Investigator 1958 and tvN Signal series. While such roles can naturally come with pressure, Lee shared that he has long internalized a sense of right and wrong. “From a young age, through education and exposure to media, I think I have acted consciously and instinctively based on how I feel about good and evil,” he said, adding it he never imposes these beliefs on others.
When asked about the currently postponed series Signal 2: The second signalwhich was supposed to reunite him with co-star Cho Jin-woong, Lee approached the situation with careful candor. He said, “There is a worrying concern that the interpretation of the work and the value of the efforts expended may be diminished because of that part of the situation,” referring to the controversy surrounding Cho Jin‑woong. “Many people invested hard work in that project and every work carries sincerity. I hope that sincerity will not be erased or tarnished.” His words, although indirect, expressed sincere concern about the impact of external issues on artistic endeavor.
Lee also reflected on the overwhelming support of his fans Taxi driver 3the ending. He said he constantly watched each live broadcast and monitored the reactions of the online audience throughout the broadcast period. While he supported him he doesn’t choose roles based on rewardshe admitted that he was quietly hoping for recognition, especially since the cast was invited together to the awards celebrations.
Talking about the political themes of the story, such as the martial law narrative towards the end Taxi driver 3– Lee pointed this out The show’s fictional plot aimed to explore deeper ideas about power and civic choice. Although some viewers left negative comments on social media after the broadcast, Lee said respects different interpretations of the work and believes that evaluations can evolve over time.
As for his future, Lee said is in a reflection phase– imagining what kind of roles he wants to take on next. Although he was drawn to genre works such as action and detective dramas, Lee revealed a desire to try more romantic and melodramatic roles. hoping to reveal new facets of his craft.
Lee Je‑hoon also shared stories from filming, such as an unexpected challenge in learning the choreography for an episode and embracing it wholeheartedly. He discussed the importance of health and conditioning given the physical demands of his roles, as well as the emotional and creative fulfillment she gets from acting.
With fans already expressing enthusiasm for a possible Taxi Driver Season 4Lee echoed those hopes, saying this both he and the cast feel a connection to the history of the Rainbow Taxi Company and would happily revisit it.
In closing, Lee talked about his downtime:enjoying films and series that he missed, walking and traveling and imagining his future life and career. And when asked about romance, he laughed, saying that life experience cannot yet replace the feeling of true love, but that he hopes to cultivate that part of his life as well.
Between recognition and continuous challenges, Lee Je‑hoon remains grounded and sincere about his craftinviting the audience to look forward to what he might do next.
Sources: Daum
