MBC greets the new year with "Judge Lee Han Young," a revenge-driven legal fantasy drama led by an ensemble cast and a premise focused on justice, corruption, and second chances. The network released footage of the drama's script reading and further amped up excitement in light of the series' January 2, 2026, premiere.

On November 12, MBC told AllKpop that the drama will go on air as its new Friday–Saturday program and behind-the-scenes clips would be posted on its official drama YouTube channel. Viewers have already shown substantial interest in the early promotional content.

Adapted from a web novel and webtoon with more than 100 million combined views, "Judge Lee Han Young" tells the story of a corrupt judge who is forced into servitude by a law firm and then suddenly finds himself thrown 10 years into the past. With his life given a rare second chance, he takes a path that's dramatically different—this time fighting institutional corruption rather than enabling it.

Writer Kim Kwang Min teams up with directors Lee Jae Jin and Park Mi Yeon, known for "The Banker" and "The Spies Who Loved Me."

The script reading had assembled a long list of well-known actors, putting people in a charged and anticipatory atmosphere.

Cast members included Ji Sung as Lee Han Young, Park Hee Soon as Kang Shin Jin, and Won Jin Ah as Kim Jin Ah, while Tae Won Seok, Baek Jin Hee, Oh Se Young, Hwang Hee, Kim Tae Woo, Ahn Nae Sang, and Kim Beop Rae filled in supporting roles. According to WikiTree, the chemistry among cast members during the script reading was immediate.

The team showed outstanding enthusiasm for the script during the reading, as pointed out by allkpop: "The actors immersed themselves fully in their roles, bringing each character's distinct presence to life."

Ji Sung attracted particular attention because he appeared in his judicial role for the first time since "The Devil Judge" in 2021. Viewers are now eager to see how he will express the transformation of Lee Han Young from an obsequious to a more principled sense of authority.

Park Hee Soon's powerful acting as power-hungry Judge Kang Shin Jin is foreseen to create one main conflict in the series.

Adding emotional weight to the narrative, Won Jin Ah's prosecutor Kim Jin Ah anchors a revenge-fueled storyline packed with moral ambiguity. Armed with a strong concept and star-studded lineup, "Judge Lee Han Young" is set to be one of the most highly anticipated releases on MBC in 2026.