Premiering Friday, Nov. 21 on SBS, the new Friday-Saturday drama follows the covert outfit Rainbow Taxi and driver Kim Do-gi as they deliver eye-for-an-eye justice on behalf of victims the system failed. Adapted from the hit webtoon, 'Taxi Driver' won fans with its cathartic take on vigilante payback and caper-style thrills, peaking at 21% nationwide and ranking as the fifth-highest-rated Korean drama on terrestrial and cable TV since 2023 ― a standout case for Korea’s season-based series.
Two years on, 'Taxi Driver 3' reunites the franchise’s architect, writer Oh Sang-ho, with director Kang Bo-seung ― an assistant director on Season 1 who helped build the show’s universe ― and brings back the full Rainbow crew: Lee Je-hoon as Kim Do-gi, Kim Eui-sung as Mr. Jang, Pyo Ye-jin as Go Eun, Jang Hyuk-jin as Choi, and Bae Yoo-ram as Park.
The pre-premiere buzz is real. A new spinoff short set in the Taxi Driver universe has lit up the internet since its exclusive drop on SBS’s official YouTube channel, SBS Catch.
Released Nov. 15, the clip spotlights fan-favorite coworkers Choi (Jang Hyuk-jin) and Park (Bae Yoo-ram) ― who nearly became in-laws ― and even reveals the origin story of Kim Do-gi’s souped-up hero taxi. The video topped 1 million views on day one and soared past 2.2 million by Nov. 19, underscoring the frenzy.
That momentum is showing up in the buzz rankings, too. In Good Data Corporation’s FUNdex for the second week of November, 'Taxi Driver 3' entered the TV drama Top 10 at No. 9 ― the only yet-to-air title on the chart.
With a sturdier team dynamic, bolder character play, juicy new arcs, and playful genre twists built on its well-defined world, 'Taxi Driver 3' is poised to hook viewers all over again. Hype is high for the return of K-drama’s O.G. feel-good vigilante saga.
The Nov. 21 premiere (9:50 p.m. KST on SBS) will also mark a first: the show will leverage TikTok’s Spotlight feature for a global broadcaster, rolling out exclusive hidden clips and a slate of fan-participation events available only on TikTok.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)