The Judge Returns Episodes 3-4 recap: Han-young’s verdicts shake the court and expose corruption

The Judge Returns does not ease viewers into its story from the opening minutes. The show makes its point early that this is not a neat courtroom drama where good and bad stay in their corners. Public opinion matters here, and power sits close to the bench, and when decisions go wrong, the cost feels heavy and personal.

At the center is Han-young, a young judge with old guilt he cannot shake off. Each episode quietly reminds us that justice in this world depends on people, money, and timing.

The Judge Returns Episodes 3 and 4 are where the series changes pace and courtroom battles start spilling into politics, family ties, and personal survival.

The Judge Returns: Episodes 3 and 4 recap

Episode 3

This The Judge Returns episode starts with Han-young’s sudden, intense encounter with Kim Sang-jin, a suspect who soon faces arrest. Meanwhile, Cheol-woo arrests Sang-jin, and the police find the bodies of missing women at his home, shocking the public and the legal world.

Word spreads fast that Han-young played a key role in cracking the serial killer case. His chief judge demands to know how he uncovered the truth, underlining growing attention on Han-young’s unusual methods.

The case gets handed to Baek Yi-seok, a respected judge known for fairness, and Han-young confidently asks to preside, surprising Yi-seok, who quietly notices his resolve. Also, Shin-jin hears about his rising fame and starts to question just how sharp he really is.

Back in the courtroom, Han-young stops his superior from reading the verdict and speaks passionately about the victims’ families and sentences Sang-jin to death, drawing loud applause. This The Judge Returns moment cements Han-young as an unpredictable force in the legal system.

Elsewhere, Shin-jin meets with allies to discuss Han-young, irritating Yoon-hyeok, who envies Han-young’s sudden rise. Han-young also spends some quiet time with his parents, doing things he’d neglected before, showing his deeper motivation to make things right. He spots the older woman whose granddaughter died after his wrong verdict in the past, and the moment that fuels his determination even more.

Yi-seok then gives Han-young a challenging new case about the suspicious death of Seon-hee and an insurance claim that points to her fiancé, Hyuk-jun. Han-young heads to the accident site and meets reporter Na-yeon, who knew Seon-hee, and asks for her help.

On top of all this, he’s set up on a blind date with So-hee, a fiery encounter that gets filmed and goes viral, and the episode ends with a dramatic moment in court: Han-young calls for a second phone from witness Ga-young, and suddenly it rings, leaving the courtroom in utter shock.

Episode 4

The Judge Returns Episode 4 picks up right after the cliffhanger courtroom scene, with Ga-young’s phone revealing deeper connections between her and Hyuk-jun. The wallpaper on the phone shows a romantic picture of Ga-young and Hyuk-jun, forcing the court to rethink their story.

Hyuk-jun confesses that he once dated Ga-young, then met Seon-hee and was blackmailed into a fake pregnancy scheme to secure marriage and money, and shifts the case from a simple accident to a calculated plan.

During the chaos, Han-young’s father gets hurt, reminding him that his fight for justice also has personal stakes, and the story then turns to political and legal corruption.

Han-young uncovers a ledger exposing military service corruption involving elite children and leaks it to the press, throwing a wrench in Shin-jin’s plan to install a loyal chief justice.

This public exposure shakes up the judiciary and makes Han-young’s mission even more urgent, and The Judge Returns' Episode 4 blends courtroom drama with political intrigue, showing that fighting corruption is bigger than just one trial.

By the end of the hour, it’s clear Shin-jin’s influence runs deep, and Han-young’s second chance at justice will test both his skill and courage.

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Episodes 3 and 4 turn The Judge Returns into more than a legal show. Han-young is now challenging powerful systems and exposing hidden corruption. Relationships matter just as much as courtroom logic, with rivalries, alliances, and personal regrets all pushing the narrative forward. The blend of emotional stakes and smart storytelling continues to keep viewers engaged as the series unfolds.

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