Updated: February 16, 2026
Here’s a collection of quotes from the Korean drama, The Judge Returns (2026):
Episode 1
“It’s so unfair to die like this. When I’ve only begun to want to live as the real Lee Han Young now.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“They’re all bark but no bite.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“No dog can bark in court.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“It’s okay because I’m a judge.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“A puppet needs to be ambitious to work for a master. If a puppet has no ambition, how can I make him work?” – Mr. Yu
“Perpetrators are protected while victims die. What a sad world we live in.” – Netizen
“It’s only a mother’s duty to let people beat her when her son had done wrong.” – Shin Nam Suk
“The master always controls the puppet.” – Chief Justice Kang
“You don’t seem smart based on what you’re doing.” – Kim Jina
“Is that your life’s mission? Or is it for personal vendetta?” – Judge Lee Han Young
“My deal with Haenal Law Firm ends right now.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“You can’t break up with me. We break up when I want to.” – Yu Se Hee
Episode 2
“I was very fair in court. I’m a judge of justice. I know it’s too late but you’ll be on my side right, mother?” – Judge Lee Han Young
“I had no idea when I was sitting up there. I had no idea why everyone sitting here so desperately said it was unfair. This is so unfair. So unfair.” – Lee Han Young
“Unbelievable. How is this even possible? I’ve come exactly ten years back in time.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“That’s right. I’m a sinner who wasted his life by making wrong choices. This means this life is a probation period for Defendant Lee Han Young.” – Judge Lee Han Young
Episode 3
“Criminals can’t hide who they are.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“It’s all thanks to your wonderful teaching. My parents gave birth to me but you raised me, sir.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“Those in robes must protect the law and conscience, not corporations.” – Chief Judge Baek
“The world is full of jerks and garbage.” – Chief Judge Baek
“Every judge should be this noble and courageous.” – Chief Judge Baek
“If you eat too quickly, you get heartburn. But if you just wait around, you’ll also lose in your 13th case.” – Kang Sin Jin
“Whether we flip the coin or set it straight, doesn’t it entirely depend on whose hand it’s in? It’s the same in court.” – Kang Sin Jin
“Smart people with all the wealth think they’re the best until they’re put in their place.” – Kang Sin Jin
“In my previous life, I made a wrong call on my first case and that was the start of my nightmares. It’s time to straighten that out.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“Is a judge closer to her than her own son?” – Judge Lee Han Young
“In my previous life, my wrong judgment led a child to die and Ju-yeong to become an accomplice. But this time, I saved them. And I saved myself from a lifetime of nightmares.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“I still can’t look at father in his eyes.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“The more threatened you feel, the more desperate you get for a lifeline.” – Kang Sin Jin
“But no fish can survive in water that’s too clear. If the water is too clear, big fish can’t live in it.” – Kang Sin Jin
Episode 4
“The police investigates the case but judges examine records and evidence. Often, when we puzzle the pieces together, the hidden truth shows itself.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“Whenever my father saw me, he told me to become a judge. I hated hearing him say that like it was a habit.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“But in court there was one witness who could testify to his innocence. And that was me. But I couldn’t say anything. Because if I testified, I would’ve had to admit that I left my father behind to save myself.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“So that became the second day I abandoned my father. But that was the day I decided I’d become a judge, as he always wanted. Because I thought if I became a judge, I could bring myself to ask him if he saw me at the fight.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“We could do so much if we became a team.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“Serving in the military is an honorable responsibility for all Korean men. We must not allow those with high social status to meddle with this responsibility.” – Judge Lee Han Young
Episode 5
“I won’t put you to shame again.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“You’ve never truly regretted anything, have you? Because people finally feel regret when death is at their doorstep. At a point of no return.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“You seem to use money as a tool. So instead of money, I’ve decided to let you bask in power.” – Mr. President
“A poisoned chalice, you say. I thought you were just a cub but are you coming for my throat now?” – Chief Judge Baek
“The courts of Korea will put all of those involved in conscription evasion to strict trial under the law regardless of their social statuses. The court will condemn not only those who evaded conscription but also those who colluded in or supported the evasion without exception. No preferential treatment or tolerance will be allowed.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“I have no regrets. Getting your revenge is better than anything in movies and in reality, after all.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“Get rid of what you must and hide what you must.” – Mr. President
“Is this about Yi-seok’s principle or Han-young’s wit?” – Kang Sin Jin
“That’s the thing about being a judge. You have to be ready to die for justice if it comes down to it.” – Judge Lim Jeong Sik
“One day, that arrogance will eat you up alive.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“You look like someone who can lead me.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“I’ll do anything it takes to become someone you need.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“Some people like to ignore the fact that we’re all equal before the law. But the time will come and when it’s time, I’ll teach them how obvious yet terrifying it is.” – Kang Sin Jin
“Serving in the military is an honorable responsibility that comes before any duty of any officials.” – Prosecutor General Eom Junho
“He’s as clever as he’s ambitious.” – Kang Sin Jin
“Yu Seon Cheol, the partner at Haenal. You chose me again in this life. But in this life I decide your fate.” – Judge Lee Han Young
Episode 6
“Seon Cheol, your life is in my hands now.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“The Judiciary exists for the people. Therefore, our judicial authority must not become a source of privilege and power.” – Chief Justice Baek Yi Seok
“From this day forward, there will be no judicial favoritism for former colleagues at this court. If such conduct is found, it will be considered collusion or inappropriate preferential treatment.” – Chief Justice Baek Yi Seok
“Kang Sin Jin, you’re not going to a wedding. You’re going to court.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“Kids don’t always turn out the way their parents want. Whether it be a daughter or a son.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“Please remember judges exist outside of the court, too.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“A poet who died before 30 once said he’d kept looking for what he’d lost without knowing what he’d lost and where. But I know what I’d lost in my previous life.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“Did I just choose the perfect son-in-law or bring myself future trouble?” – Mr. Yu Seon Cheol
“When someone dies in an accident, someone must take accountability and apologize. My son isn’t dirt rolling around on the ground.” – Mr. Heo
Episodes 7-8
“Knowing that there’s an adult with me as I walk in the dark makes me want to be a better person.” – Na Yeong
“You have to cut it off before it wags you.” – Kang Sin Jin
“People change for a reason. Your change came with a desire for revenge.” – Kang Sin Jin
“Don’t be ashamed of your desire for revenge. It’s strength. A motivation to strengthen yourself.” – Kang Sin Jin
“Would you have become such a great judge without your desire for revenge?” – Kang Sin Jin
“The law is all about formality. Rules created by humans to respect the bare minimum.” – Kang Sin Jin
“I’ve learned people’s backgrounds don’t always reflect their characters.” – Kang Sin Jin
Episode 9
“Everything looks prettier from a distance. They all shine.” – Yu Se Hee
“It’s always beautiful from afar and tragic up close.” – Yu Se Hee
“Will you let me in if I put my life on the line? Seems like you’ve already put your life on the line.” – Kim Jina
“Okay, let’s team up. You can crush them. I’ll break their necks.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“The devil of the Judiciary that we’re going after is the Senior Presiding Judge at the Seoul Central Court, Mr. Kang Sin-jin.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“We’ll break his neck before he breaks ours.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“Forget your benefactors, but never forget your enemies. If you forget who helped you, you’ll just be called a jerk. But forget your enemy, and you’ll fall again.” – Kang Sin Jin
“If I succeed, you’ll be proud of me for the successful revenge. If I fail, you’ll gain the Chief Justice on your side.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“The lead paradoxically becomes longer the more it’s shaved because the secret is that shaving it is different from it getting longer.” – Judge Lee Han Young
Episode 10
“I wouldn’t have bitten off what I couldn’t chew.” – Kang Sin Jin
“What’s the point in getting an apology? When you won’t even be sincere.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“I’m not sure if what I want is revenge or justice. But in this moment, I just can’t stand the fact that someone like you has power and authority in court.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“I’m the one giving you a chance. Start by retiring as a judge. It doesn’t suit you. That’s the only way your son will return home.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“A writer once asked himself, ‘Can the past help the present?’ And here’s what I want to ask myself. Can myself from my past life help me in the present? Am I still making the right choices for the better future?” – Judge Lee Han Young
“Because truth can also be powerful though that’s rarely the case.” – Kang Sin Jin
“Words have power. Whose words do you think have more power, Judge Lee’s or mine?” – Kang Sin Jin
“I’m walking on thin ice to gain Sin-jin’s trust. One slip, and it’s game over.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“Even the stones on the ground have their own stories. And even the newest newborns have as many stories as the days they’ve lived. So in a world of endless stories intertwined with each other, who doesn’t feel wronged or blamed? If you stay stuck on feeling wronged, how can your heart embrace the more important emotions that it should feel?” – Lee Bong Sook
“People don’t say they’re fine because they’re really fine. So whatever is going on inside of you, just keep telling yourself it’s fine and it’ll all be fine one day.” – Lee Bong Sook
“How much time do I have? I just want to live like this until the end.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“I’ll gladly watch this audacious rookie’s back.” – Baek Yi Seok
“How it ends always matters more than the way there.” – Kang Sin Jin
Episode 11
“I didn’t bring you there because I trusted you. I brought you there so you’d trust me. This is real power. So trust and follow my lead.” – Kang Sin Jin
“What is justice to you?” – Judge Lee Han Young
“The devil works quickly and clearly. Nothing ever hinders it. But justice needs formality and a proper procedure. So it feels lazy, slow, and delayed. The justice that I want works clearly and quicker than the devil. And it can’t be hindered by anything.” – Kang Sin Jin
“To me, justice is not something found through questions and debates. It’s equity and common sense everyone knows in their hearts.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“No. To you, justice is self-righteousness.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“But what kind of a person are you to me?” – Yu Se Hee
“When rich bastards commit a crime, they say their employees did it and that they had no idea. They always find a way out.” – Kim Jina
“The real big hand that moves Korea. The leader of the shadow government, Park Gwang-to, the former President.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“Dad was a bad man. But he loved his daughter to his bones, literally.” – Kim Jina
“I only realized when my dad fainted that it wasn’t him from whom I wanted to run from. Instead, it was my guilt of having been raised through his broken bones and head.” – Kim Jina
Episode 12
“But I started living a different life and finally realized why I had to keep running. I know why I have to keep running now. To become a better person for my family and the person I love. And for myself.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“Our country’s prosecution is rotten.” – Park Cheol Woo
“The corrupt are resilient. It only hardens under outside pressure. To break it, we have to trigger a fracture from the inside.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“There’s an opportunity cost to establishing justice.” – Kang Sin Jin
“Regardless of who survives, he’ll walk away with a deep scar.” – Baek Yi Seok
Episode 13
“Do you know how they train elephants at safaris? From the moment these elephants are born, they’re beaten with iron hooks and taser batons. Just like that, the elephants lose their free will and become slaves to the safari. Until they die.” – Kang Sin Jin
“Sin-jin’s rebellion has begun.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“How did I not even notice the pain? So you approached me for me.” – Kang Sin Jin
“The evil can never protect justice.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“Your definition of justice is just for you. It’s unjust and narrow-minded for the sake of authority.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“You’re nothing but a power-driven, cruel murderer who always takes bribes for trials.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“Why did I think you were like me? My trivial guilt for imprisoning your father ruined me.” – Kang Sin Jin
“If you don’t stop here, the future Sin-jin will be even more evil.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“I trust money and power.” – Yu Seon Cheol
“It won’t take long. I was ready to go all the way when I started, anyway. I’m still alive.” – Judge Lee Han Young
Episode 14
“At the end of the day, only money and power persevere.” – Kang Sin Jin
“I’m glad I have a junior like you.” – Baek Yi Seok
“I’ll stick to reading case files sharpening my pencils and writing verdicts. I’ll bust Sin-jin and return to the court.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“I’ve never had any food better than that dumpling.” – Kang Sin Jin
“You think getting rid of me will bring your justice to the world?” – Kang Sin Jin
“I’ll prove that the justice I’ve chosen is right.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“There’s no end. It’s a world full of criminals.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“How much time will I get here? Will I continue to make new choices and live with their consequences? Is this the end of the suspension of Defendant Lee Han-young’s sentence?” – Judge Lee Han Young
“Where is justice in Korea? The prosecution fabricate evidence to turn victims into perpetrators, judges use legal codes to trivialize the gravity of the crime, and the press pursues profit over truth. I climbed down into the mud and got my own hands dirty. To save my nation that’s been swallowed by corruption and its justice system rotten to the core! I sacrificed myself for the change.” – Kang Sin Jin
“If that fool of a judge hadn’t gotten in my way, my sacrifice could’ve brought a beautiful renaissance to justice in Korea.” – Kang Sin Jin
“Plagues and famines. Mr. Kang, your renaissance would’ve been full of nothing but plagues and famines. It wouldn’t have been glorious at all. You were the same. You fabricated evidence, murdered witnesses, and took bribes in court to define who was guilty and who wasn’t.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“There’s no definition of justice everyone will agree on. Justice without sacrifices never improves. Meanwhile evilness will barge in and quickly take over the world.” – Kang Sin Jin
“Therefore justice cannot belong to one individual. It must belong to all of us.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“Justice is not a race. It’s a moral compass. An individual’s idea of justice cannot change the world. The only people who believed they were the only ones to save the world were dictators.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“Justice isn’t anything special.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“My only crimes are having trusted you and letting you get in my way of establishing new justice!” – Kang Sin Jin
“Justice is nothing special.” – Judge Lee Han Young
“Is everything over now? Does this mean it’s all over now? Or do I have to keep living this life to serve my time for what I’d done in my past life? Sure. Whatever is coming way will I continue to choose justice over everything?” – Judge Lee Han Young
Genre: Legal, Fantasy, Time-travel
Also known as: Judge Lee Hanyang
Synopsis: A just judge dies and ends up years into the past to punish injustice and redeem himself.
No. of episodes: 14
Cast: Ji Sung, Park Hee Son, Won Jin Ah
Screenwriter: Kim Kwang Min
Directors: Lee Jae Jin, Park Mi Yeon
Network: MBC
Streaming platform: HBO Max, Viki
Date: January 2, 2026
HBO Max English Translation:
Min-sun Kim
Images: MBC
KORB 