SBS’s Friday-Saturday drama "Taxi Driver 3" (written by Oh Sang-ho, directed by Kang Bo-seung), based on the hit webtoon, follows the covert Rainbow Taxi company and driver Kim Do-gi as they deliver vigilante justice on behalf of the wronged. The franchise is already a proven juggernaut, with previous seasons peaking at a hefty 21% domestic rating and nabbing Best Drama Series at the 28th Asian Television Awards ― all eyes are on how the bankable IP will level up in its next chapter.
Kang, who served as an assistant director on Season 1 and helped build out the show’s universe, says returning to steer Season 3 wasn’t something he saw coming. “I didn’t expect we’d get to Season 3,” he shares. “Even with the series’ success, I tried not to forget the humble goals and small truths we started with.” He adds, “Taking on the new season, I was able to work with writer Oh Sang-ho from crafting the very first script through discussions on the final episode’s themes and genre ― that collaboration really shaped Season 3.”
As for what’s changed ― and what hasn’t ― Kang is clear: “The fact that the Rainbow five are still right where they’ve always been is the show’s greatest strength,” he says. “No one’s personality or relationships suddenly shift, and Do-gi’s combat prowess is intact. When your constants are strong, you amplify results by turning up the variables ― and this season, that means new kinds of villains.”
Because Do-gi’s disguises and set-piece fights are a signature draw, Season 3 doubles down on building distinct antagonists. “We put a lot of thought into crafting each villain, even down to the spaces they inhabit,” Kang explains. “Art direction was crucial. And to make sure the guest actors’ energy didn’t dissipate, we kept the camera placements clean and precise.” The result, he teases, should supercharge the Rainbow team’s payback streak against their most formidable foes yet.
On the show’s ripped-from-the-headlines cases, Kang says motivation is everything. “Our protagonists aren’t cops ― they’re taxi company employees. What drives them to hunt evil?” he asks. “Ultimately, a hero’s engine is emotion. Heroes may be fictional, but the sense of justice they embody ought to exist. This time, we leaned into that by referring to ‘victims’ as ‘survivors’ and telling their stories with more depth. When those emotions land, Rainbow Taxi’s missions feel both justified and cathartic.”
Kang also praised the seamless teamwork of the core cast ― Lee Je-hoon (Kim Do-gi), Kim Eui-sung (Jang Sung-chul), Pyo Ye-jin (Ahn Go-eun), Jang Hyuk-jin (Choi Kyung-goo) and Bae Yoo-ram (Park Jin-eon) ― noting their efficiency on set. “Because the team clicks so well, they move fast ― fast enough to shorten our shoot days,” he says with a laugh.
As for what to watch for this season: “We tried a slightly different directing style for each case,” Kang reveals. “Every episode has a ‘key color’ that metaphorically anchors its core, so each one can be remembered by a specific hue. I hope viewers enjoy the genre-hopping, too.”
After a two-year break, the OG of K-capers returns: SBS’s "Taxi Driver 3" will premiere Friday, Nov. 21 at 9:50 p.m. KST, following the current series "Would You Marry Me."
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)