According to data released on February 9 by consultancy PMI, the survey was conducted via the HeyPoll app among 5,000 men and women aged between 20 and 50. The results showed MBC’s Friday-Saturday drama The judge returns ranked first with a response rate of 16.8% in “Most anticipated OTT and TV shows of the week” category for the second week of February. The survey was conducted at a 95% confidence level with a margin of error of ±1.39 percentage points.
What makes the result particularly noteworthy is that the survey included a wide range of highly anticipated titles from major platforms such as tvN, Netflix and Disney+. Despite the fierce competition between platforms, the terrestrial drama has managed to establish itself.
The judge returns it is also enjoying a steady increase in television ratings. Based on national household data from Nielsen Korea, the series surpassed the 10% mark in episode 5 and has maintained double-digit ratings since then. Most recently, it recorded a high of 15.9%, indicating this both the public and word of mouth move hand in hand.
Starring Ji-sung in his first MBC drama in a decade, the series follows the story of Judge Lee Han-young, who dies unjustly after serving as a pawn for a powerful law firm, only to return to the past ten years earlier. Armed with the knowledge of the future and the authority of his position, he sets out to dismantle a corrupt cartel of entrenched elites. The drama blends the familiar structure of a courtroom series with a time-reversal narrative, offering fast-paced storytelling and strong catharsis.
MBC also took the unusual step of expanding the broadcast of episode 13, scheduled for the 13th, by another 10 minutes. The episode will begin at 9.40pm, ten minutes earlier than usual, a move widely interpreted as a strategy to maintain audience momentum. In second place was the romantic drama Can this love be translated?with Kim Seon-ho and Go Youn-jung, which recorded a response rate of 15.8%. Disney+ Made in Korealed by Hyun-bin, ranked third with 13.0%, continuing to generate buzz even after its finale. tvN Miss Hong undercover follows in fourth place with 11.8%.
Industry observers note that the success of The judge returns highlights the importance of strong content over the power of the platform. Combining a legal drama structure with themes of time reversal and punishment, the series resonated with a wide age range, allowing it to transcend the typical limitations of terrestrial television.
With only two episodes left, viewer interest continues to grow. Episode 12 ramped up the tension when Judge Lee successfully defeated a big bad along with the so-called “Judge Avengers”, only to make the risky decision to get back to the heart of corruption: reporting a new phase of history.
Sources: Wikitree
