Actress Park Shin-hye is preparing for her return to television with the second season of SBS's hit fantasy-action drama "Judge from Hell" after announcing her second pregnancy.
According to Naver, the actress has selected "Judge from Hell Season 2" as her next project and is expected to reprise her role as Judge Kang Bit-na when the series returns.
The announcement was made during the SBS Drama Media Day event held June 1 at Hotel Naru Seoul MGallery in Seoul. During the event, Studio S CEO Hong Sung-chang confirmed Park's participation in the upcoming season.
"Park Shin-hye, who is currently pregnant, will return next year with Season 2 of Judge from Hell," Hong said.
The original drama aired in 2024 and became one of SBS's most successful series the fantasy-action drama, which centers on a judge possessed by Satan who punishes criminals, achieved a peak nationwide viewership rating of 13.6%.
Park is expected to once again lead the series as Kang Bit-na, a character whose pursuit of justice helped make the show a ratings success.
The announcement came as SBS unveiled its drama lineup and programming strategy for 2026 and 2027 during the network's "SBS Drama: Next Episode" presentation. SBS executives said the broadcaster plans to expand weekday drama programming while continuing to invest in popular franchises.
SBS Programming Director Kim Gi-suk said the network aims to strengthen its slate through established series, citing titles such as "Taxi Driver", "The Fiery Priest", "Good Partner", "Flex X Cop", and "Judge from Hell" as examples of intellectual properties with strong sequel potential.
According to The Chosun Daily, Kim also revealed that actress Shin Hye-sun will headline the upcoming SBS drama "Dash", another key project in the network's future lineup.
Hong attributed the success of SBS's returning drama franchises to audience demand and strong collaboration between actors and production teams. He said the ability to expand a drama's universe and maintain trust among cast members and creators plays a significant role in determining whether a new season moves forward.
Park married actor Choi Tae-joon in 2022, and the couple welcomed their first child later that year. The actress recently announced her second pregnancy and plans to reduce public activities while focusing on her health ahead of an expected fall delivery.
"Judge from Hell Season 2" is currently in development and is expected to premiere in 2027.
