According to data released on February 9 by data consulting firm PMI, the survey was conducted via the polling and survey app HeyPoll among 5,000 men and women aged 20 to 50. The results showed MBC’s Friday–Saturday drama The Judge Returns ranking first with a response rate of 16.8% in the “Most Anticipated OTT and TV Shows of the Week” category for the second week of February. The poll was conducted at a 95% confidence level with a margin of error of ±1.39 percentage points.
What makes the result particularly noteworthy is that the survey included a wide range of highly anticipated titles from major platforms such as tvN, Netflix, and Disney+. Despite fierce platform competition, the terrestrial drama managed to come out on top.
The Judge Returns is also enjoying a steady rise in TV ratings. Based on Nielsen Korea’s nationwide household data, the series surpassed the 10% mark at episode 5 and has maintained double-digit ratings ever since. Most recently, it recorded a high of 15.9%, indicating that both viewership and buzz are moving in tandem.
Starring Ji-sung in his first MBC drama in a decade, the series follows the story of Judge Lee Han-young, who dies unjustly after serving as a pawn for a powerful law firm, only to return to the past ten years earlier. Armed with knowledge of the future and the authority of his position, he sets out to dismantle a corrupt cartel of entrenched elites. The drama blends the familiar structure of a courtroom series with a time-reversal narrative, delivering fast-paced storytelling and strong catharsis.
MBC has also taken the unusual step of expanding the broadcast of episode 13, scheduled to air on the 13th, by an additional 10 minutes. The episode will begin at 9:40 p.m., ten minutes earlier than usual, a move widely interpreted as a strategy to maintain viewing momentum. In second place was the romance drama Can This Love Be Translated?, starring Kim Seon-ho and Go Youn-jung, which recorded a 15.8% response rate. Disney+’s Made in Korea, led by Hyun-bin, ranked third with 13.0%, continuing to generate buzz even after its finale. tvN’s Undercover Miss Hong followed in fourth place with 11.8%.
Industry observers note that the success of The Judge Returns highlights the importance of strong content over platform power. By combining a legal drama framework with themes of time reversal and retribution, the series has resonated across a broad age range, allowing it to transcend the typical limitations of terrestrial television.
With only two episodes remaining, viewer interest continues to build. Episode 12 heightened tension as Judge Lee successfully brought down a major villain alongside the so-called “Judge Avengers,” only to make the risky decision to re-enter the core of corruption—signaling a new phase in the story.
Sources: 위키트리