SBS’s new Friday-Saturday drama "Taxi Driver" Season 3―adapted from the namesake webtoon, written by Oh Sang-ho and directed by Kang Bo-seung―follows the covert Rainbow Taxi team and driver Kim Do-gi as they deliver vigilante justice on behalf of victims. A standard-bearer of the crowd-pleasing hero genre, the franchise has stacked up major wins: since 2023 it’s ranked fifth among all Korean broadcast and cable dramas with a peak 21% rating, and it took home Best Drama Series at the 28th Asian Television Awards.
Hype is already surging. A special spin-off clip released ahead of the premiere topped 1.5 million views in 48 hours, signaling just how ready fans are for the ride. Here are three reasons Season 3 is a must-watch.
# The Rainbow Five Are Back with Rock-Solid Teamwork
Lee Je-hoon returns as Kim Do-gi, locked in to serve more cathartic takedowns. Joining him for a third straight season with no lineup changes are Kim Eui-sung (as Jang Sung-chul), Pyo Ye-jin (Ahn Go-eun), Jang Hyuk-jin, and Bae Yoo-ram―the “Rainbow Five,” whose chemistry has evolved from colleagues to family. Expect a well-oiled revenge-delivery service that guarantees satisfaction.
# Bigger, Badder Villains + A Parade of Special Cameos
The rogues’ gallery levels up this season. “What’s different is the kinds of villains we’re taking on,” director Kang Bo-seung says. “Because the fun of "Taxi Driver" lies in how Do-gi morphs―his undercover personas and action―to match each villain, we put a lot of work into building out these antagonists.” Teaser posters featuring silhouetted baddies have already stoked fan curiosity.
Kim Eui-sung adds, “Season 3 brings some jaw-dropping, supersized villains. I’m confident the sheer spectacle will delight viewers,” hinting at star-studded special appearances. With the Rainbow Five facing fiercer foes, expectations for their amplified heroics are sky-high.
# Noir Comedy, Genre-Hopping Thrills (ft. Undercover Personas)
This season goes after predators who exploit people across borders and industries. In the premiere, Team Rainbow executes an international sting aiming at a global illegal loan-sharking ring tied to human trafficking―an adrenaline-jolt opener that echoes Season 2’s takedown of a Vietnam-based illegal gambling outfit that lured and abused job-seeking youth.
Look for villains drawn from an even wider range of arenas, from K-pop to sports and gaming. As the threats diversify, so do the team’s tactics: expect a mash-up of noir, thriller, crime, mystery, comedy, and even a touch of romance, with Do-gi’s chameleon-like personas at the center. Director Kang’s cinematic touch promises to further amp up the visuals.
Selected for production support by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Communications Agency (KCA), "Taxi Driver" Season 3 premieres tonight at 9:50 p.m. KST on SBS.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)