The SBS caper franchise "Taxi Driver," which helped redefine Korea’s vigilante drama, is roaring back two years after its last run.
Premiering Friday, Nov. 21, the new Friday-Saturday drama "Taxi Driver 3" (written by Oh Sang-ho, directed by Kang Bo-seung) continues the hit webtoon adaptation about the shrouded company Rainbow Taxi and driver Kim Do-gi, who delivers justice for the wronged as a vigilante-for-hire.
Since its 2021 debut, "Taxi Driver" has ridden a standout premise―an underground taxi service that avenges victims―to deliver good-vs.-evil catharsis and slick, heist-leaning thrills. Season 2 went mega: it ranked fifth in nationwide ratings among all broadcast and cable dramas airing since 2023, peaking at 21%. It also topped Viu’s most-watched list across 16 countries within 10 days of release and won Best Drama Series at the 28th Asian Television Awards, cementing the franchise as a genre-defining hit.
At the center of the craze is Lee Je-hoon, whose turn as avenger Kim Do-gi has become appointment viewing. He toggles between bone-crunching hand-to-hand and turbo-charged car chases, then steals scenes with a parade of clever disguises and alter egos―office drones, hustlers, even a shaman―serving up pure, crowd-pleasing payback for viewers fed up with real-world injustice. His warm, ride-or-die bond with the “Rainbow Five”―Kim Eui-sung, Pyo Ye-jin, Jang Hyuk-jin and Bae Yoo-ram―has made Do-gi a hero you can’t help but root for.
That original quintet returns intact for a third straight season, and their chemistry is a feature, not a bonus. As the series deepens, each character’s backstory and banter have sharpened the show’s heartbeat, while their ever-evolving team play―and hilariously committed role-play ops―remain a can’t-miss draw.
Most crucially, "Taxi Driver" has never been just a caper. Its cases are ripped from headlines―overseas job scams that turn deadly, digital sex crimes, cults, illegal “ghost” surgeries, nightclub corruption―giving the action real-world bite and moral clarity that hits harder than your average crime thriller.
Add in white-knuckle car chases, stylish direction and tightly woven plotting, and it’s clear how the series has cut through the content glut. Season 3 promises bigger scale, nastier villains and an upgraded Rainbow Five running in perfect formation―reasons enough to circle the premiere date.
Backed this year by Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Communications Agency (KCA), "Taxi Driver 3" takes over SBS’s Friday-Saturday slot and premieres Nov. 21 at 9:50 p.m. KST.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)