"We Burned It Up Like It Was the Last Time": Lee Je-hoon, The Heart of 'Taxi Driver 3'

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"We've returned deeper, tighter, and more exhilarating!" (Lee Je-hoon)

The hit series 'Taxi Driver' is back for its third season, resuming its service of revenge on behalf of victims seeking justice. The story promises more depth, and the action has become even more intense.

The core cast members from Season 1—actors Lee Je-hoon, Kim Eui-sung, Pyo Ye-jin, Jang Hyuk-jin, and Bae Yoo-ram—have reunited. Having worked together for five years, they are expected to showcase unwavering teamwork.

The actors have fully immersed themselves in their roles. Lee Je-hoon raised anticipation, saying, "I hope viewers can feel how much passion and love I have poured into this project."

SBS-TV's 'Taxi Driver 3' held its production presentation at the SBS building in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, on the 18th. Lee Je-hoon, Kim Eui-sung, Pyo Ye-jin, Jang Hyuk-jin, Bae Yoo-ram, and Director Kang Bo-seung were in attendance.

'Taxi Driver 3' marks the final chapter of the series. The story follows the Rainbow Taxi Company and its driver, Kim Do-gi, as they carry out exhilarating revenge on behalf of victims who have been wronged.

Lee Je-hoon plays 'Kim Do-gi,' the mastermind behind the revenge plots. He navigates various crisis situations with outstanding physical ability and natural intuition.

Do-gi employs disguises for every case he tackles. Lee Je-hoon shared, "I spent a lot of time contemplating how to showcase different sub-characters (alternate personalities) compared to previous seasons."

He teased upcoming episodes: "I wanted to show an intense image right from the start. In episodes one and two, you can see the adventurous Do-gi. Conversely, in episodes three and four, he transforms into the gullible Do-gi."

A point of focus is the upgraded car action. Lee Je-hoon explained, "The [taxi's] performance has improved. I chased down the villains with the pedal to the metal."

Pyo Ye-jin plays 'Ahn Go-eun,' the genius hacker who is instrumental in executing the flawless revenge plots. Though she grew up in a difficult environment, she matures within the Rainbow Taxi Company.

She appears with a sharp, bobbed haircut this season. Pyo Ye-jin stated, "I wanted to express Go-eun's growth. I made an external change to emphasize that she has become much more professional than before."

Kim Eui-sung takes on the role of 'Jang Sung-chul,' the CEO of Rainbow Taxi and the head of the Blue Bird Support Center for crime victims. He is known for his compassion and sense of justice.

Kim Eui-sung is famous for his portrayal of villains, which has led viewers to persistently suspect him of being the show's underlying antagonist since Season 1.

He playfully complained, "It's unfair, as I've only shown a warm side throughout the story so far," but then stoked curiosity by adding, "If you continue watching with suspicion, perhaps something will happen."

The 'Taxi Driver' series has always exposed the darker side of society through various episodes. Season 3 delves into the deeper shadows of contemporary Korean society.

Director Kang alluded to the show's renewed focus, saying, "We have installed a new 'Whac-A-Mole' game machine in the Rainbow Taxi office. In this game, the moles keep popping back up no matter how many times you hit them."

He emphasized, "Ultimately, you have to adjust the mechanism inside the machine to stop it. Likewise, we focused on more fundamental issues rather than just the immediate, surface-level cases."

Lee Je-hoon promised viewers: "The drama airs on Friday and Saturday. On Friday, you might feel angry, thinking, 'How can something like this happen in the world?' But on Saturday, you will find complete relief."

The backstory of Kim Do-gi is also set to be revealed. Lee Je-hoon noted, "Do-gi actually hides his pain. He will find healing for the parts of him that were exhausted and troubled by his work."

Finally, Pyo Ye-jin said, "It's amazing that we've made it to Season 3. I hope viewers tune in and relieve their stress dramatically."

Director Kang hinted at the possibility of a sequel. "The term 'final chapter' could mean this is the end of the trilogy, or it could mean we approached it with the passion of it being our last season," he suggested.

He added, "If you keep watching, a moment will come when the number '3' disappears. I hope you focus on the essence of the story rather than the number of the season."

Lee Je-hoon concluded with high expectations: "I hope we can bring home many trophies at the year-end awards. Every actor delivered a performance that was both cool and lovable. We ask for your anticipation and support."

'Taxi Driver 3' will air its first episode on the 21st at 9:50 PM KST.