Earlier this year, Lee Je-hoon successfully wrapped up SBS’s Taxi Driver 3. Following the drama, the project that drew the most anticipation as his next work was tvN’s The Second Signal. It had been named early on as one of the flagship productions celebrating the 20th anniversary of tvN’s launch.
However, the drama came to a halt before its broadcast. Filming had already been completed in August last year, but after allegations concerning actor Cho Jin-woong’s past as a juvenile offender came to light in December 2025, the drama’s scheduling effectively fell into limbo. A summer broadcast, including a possible June premiere this year, was initially discussed, but those plans ultimately fell through. tvN has yet to confirm a new broadcast date.
There were even reports that the drama would air on Mondays and Tuesdays starting November 30, but tvN drew a clear line at the time, stating that “nothing has been confirmed.”
Moreover, the title of tvN’s 20th-anniversary special project has effectively gone to another production. 100 Days of Deception, starring Kim Yoo-jung and Park Jin-young, is currently being promoted as tvN’s 20th-anniversary special drama.
Lee Je-hoon had another upcoming project as well: SBS’s The Long Shot Trial.
The Long Shot Trial stars Lee Je-hoon and Ha Young. After filming The Second Signal from February through August last year, Lee Je-hoon went straight on to work on The Long Shot Trial from February to September this year, effectively continuing production on back-to-back projects for nearly two years.
However, The Long Shot Trial has also been postponed. On October 19, an SBS representative stated, “We have decided to adjust the broadcast schedule for The Long Shot Trial. We are considering various options, but a specific broadcast date has not yet been confirmed.” The drama had originally been scheduled to premiere in February next year, but it will no longer air during that planned period.
The controversy surrounding its lead actress, Ha Young, is believed to be behind the decision. In August, allegations emerged concerning her great-grandfather’s alleged pro-Japanese activities. Ha Young subsequently apologized and also withdrew from Seasons 2 and 3 of Netflix’s The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call. The Long Shot Trial has likewise been affected by the fallout.
As a result, two of Lee Je-hoon’s carefully produced dramas are now facing uncertainty over their release schedules. The Second Signal has been waiting for a confirmed release date for more than a year since filming wrapped in August last year, while The Long Shot Trial encountered the unexpected setback of a scheduling delay shortly after production ended.
The irony is that Lee Je-hoon has barely taken any time off. He filmed The Second Signal in 2025 and The Long Shot Trial in 2026. Both productions have already required considerable time and effort to complete, yet viewers have had few opportunities to see a new side of the actor since Taxi Driver 3.
Since both dramas have been completed, the possibility of their eventual release remains. In particular, industry insiders reportedly expect The Second Signal to find a way to premiere before the end of this year. Attention is now focused on whether Lee Je-hoon’s upcoming projects will finally make their way to audiences.
Sources: Nate