In Episode 8, Han-young shifts from defence to offence, quietly shaking Shin-jin’s empire with calculated legal traps. Their restrained face-off crackles with danger, revealing how determined Han-young is to rewrite the rules of power.
The Judge Returns Episode 9 runs about 75 minutes.
-
The Judge Returns Kdrama Cast
Ji Sung, Park Hee-soon, Won Ji-a, Tae Won-seock, Baek Jin-hee, Oh Se-young, Hwang Hee
-
The Judge Returns Series Directors
Lee Jae-jin, Park Mi-yeon
-
The Judge Returns Release Schedule
January 2, 2026 – February 14, 2026
-
AKA
Judge Lee Han-Young, Pansa Leehanyoung, 판사 이한영
This Korean drama consists of 14 episodes, with one episode released every Friday and Saturday at 21.50 KST.
The Judge Returns Episode 9 Recap
Han-young pays a quiet visit to Seon-cheol and drops a proposal that instantly rattles him: recruit Yi-seok as the firm’s next Chief Justice. The idea alone feels dangerous. Seon-cheol knows exactly how ruthless Shin-jin can be, and crossing him could bring the entire Haenal Firm crashing down. But Han-young does not flinch. With calm confidence, he lays out the bigger picture. Nam Yong, one of Shin-jin’s strongest allies, is already standing on shaky ground, and once he falls, the power balance will shift. Yi-seok, Han-young insists, is not a risk but their safest bet for survival.
Nam Yong is no stranger to Han-young’s past. Years ago, he helped deliver the false verdict that destroyed Han-young’s father, shielding Tae-sik when he was clearly at fault. Now Han-young is ready to strike back, not with rage, but with precision. His entry point is Nam Yong’s son, who has been arrested for dodging the mandatory two-year military service. The case is messy, public, and perfect for leverage.
Also read: Spring Fever Episode 8 Review: Family Secrets Unfold
That evening, Han-young goes for dinner with Se-hee. Unlike the others circling him, she is surprisingly sincere. Over the meal, she quietly warns him to run while he still can. Her family is not simply trying to marry her off; they are preparing to use him as a scapegoat if anything goes wrong within the firm. Se-hee genuinely fears for him. What she does not realise is that Han-young already understands the game far better than they expect. Instead of backing away, he is preparing to turn their trap into his weapon.
Meanwhile, Nam Yong rushes to Shin-jin for help, begging him to save his son from prison. Shin-jin smiles, pretends to step in, and offers comforting words, but behind the scenes, he does nothing. He is more interested in watching Nam Yong panic than actually rescuing him.
Han-young begins moving his pieces. He ropes in Jin-a to target Seong Dae, one of Shin-jin’s key men, notorious for casually dismissing serious convicts when it benefits him. As Jin-a learns more, she realises that she and Han-young share the same wound. Tae-sik ruined both their families by manipulating verdicts against their parents. That realisation hardens her resolve, and she agrees to help.
In front of Seong Dae, Jin-a puts on a deliberate performance, speaking excitedly about pouring money into what sounds like a risky crypto venture. The bait works. Seong Dae’s interest sparks immediately. Han-young then pulls Cheol-woo into the act, and he plays along, claiming he has already invested heavily. The pressure builds. Finally, Jeong-ho enters as the supposed owner of Miracle Asia, confidently pitching the company as the next big financial breakthrough. With everyone around him appearing convinced, Seong Dae begins to take the offer seriously.
Elsewhere, Han-young meets Yi-seok and explains the true intention behind making him Chief Justice. He is not working with Shin-jin to betray anyone; he is positioning Yi-seok to stop Shin-jin’s cruelty from the inside. Yi-seok finally understands Han-young’s strategy and accepts that this is a fight, not a favour. Soon after, Yi-seok receives a call from Haenal Firm’s CEO, Seon-cheol, and agrees to meet him.
Just as things seem to align, Na-yeon uncovers explosive information. Shin-jin is secretly backed by former president Gwang-to. The revelation shocks Han-young. The enemy is larger than he imagined. He tells Na-yeon to keep the news quiet for now, knowing that one careless move could destroy everything.
The episode closes with Seong Dae arriving at Miracle Asia, ready to invest, unaware that Jin-a and her team are already stepping in to inspect the operation. The trap is set, and Han-young’s long game has officially begun.
The Judge Returns Episode 9 Review
This episode sharpens Han-young into a master tactician, trading emotional revenge for cold, elegant strategy. Watching him unsettle Seon-cheol with the Yi-seok appointment is deeply satisfying, especially when the fear of Shin-jin looms over every conversation like a shadow no one wants to name. The dinner scene with Se-hee adds unexpected texture, giving us a rare moment of honesty in a world built on traps and manipulation. Her warning feels sincere, yet ironic, because Han-young is already ten moves ahead.
What truly spices things up is the Miracle Asia con, which plays out like a stylish courtroom heist. Jin-a’s crypto act is clever, Cheol-woo’s backup makes the lie believable, and Jeong-ho sliding in as the confident CEO seals the illusion. It is fun, tense, and darkly comic all at once. At the same time, Na-yeon’s discovery about Shin-jin being backed by former president Gwang-to raises the stakes beyond personal vendettas into national-level danger. The episode is less about winning a case and more about dismantling a system, and Han-young looks ready to burn it down with brains instead of brute force.
Also read: The Judge Returns Season 1 Review