The Judge Returns Episode 4 marks a turning point for the series. The story tightens its grip, motivations become clearer, and the emotional cost of justice finally comes into focus. This episode does not rely on shock alone. Instead, it builds tension through confession, memory, and careful strategy.
A Courtroom Revelation That Changes Everything
Episode 4 opens in the courtroom, picking up exactly where the previous episode left off. Han-young presents Ga-young’s phone as evidence, exposing her wallpaper photo with Hyuk-jun. The image alone is enough to shift the room’s atmosphere. What once seemed like circumstantial suspicion becomes undeniable proof of intimacy.
Hyuk-jun then confesses. He admits that Ga-young was his girlfriend first. His affair with her cousin Seon-hee spiraled when Seon-hee faked a pregnancy and used it to blackmail him into marriage. Cornered and desperate, Hyuk-jun returned to Ga-young. Together, they planned Seon-hee’s murder so they could be together again.
The confession stuns the court. Media attention follows immediately, and Han-young’s reputation grows overnight. The case is reassigned due to its emotional weight, yet the damage has already been done. The truth is out, and the public narrative has shifted.
Shin-jin’s Unease Begins to Show
While Han-young gains recognition, Shin-jin grows visibly unsettled. He cannot ignore how Han-young always seems several steps ahead. Every solution arrives too quickly. Every reveal feels preplanned. Shin-jin begins to suspect that Han-young is not just skilled, but dangerous.
Yi-seok offers Han-young a partnership, believing they could take on corruption together. Han-young refuses. His decision feels cold at first, but it is rooted in foresight. He knows Yi-seok’s fate if they align too closely. Han-young wants Yi-seok alive, clean, and strong enough to face Shin-jin when the time comes.
A Robbery That Exposes Deeper Rot
A new case interrupts the courtroom fallout. Gangnam Palace is robbed, and among the stolen items is a crucial ledger. Shin-jin panics when he realizes what is missing. The ledger contains names that could destroy him. He sends an assassin to retrieve it at all costs.
At the same time, Na-yeon’s father is arrested due to his role as a palace guard. Han-young steps in and quickly clears the misunderstanding. His calm logic and persistence save an innocent man, reinforcing why people are starting to trust him.
Meanwhile, tension brews at the Haneul firm. Se-hee arrives late, only to be dismissed by her father, who insists she focus on her blind date with Han-young instead of work. The scene highlights how power dismisses ambition, especially when it comes from women.
Friendship and a Painful Past
To trace the missing ledger, Han-young seeks help from Jeong-ho. Though known as a gangster, Jeong-ho is protective of his community and deeply loyal. Their reunion is quiet and reflective. They talk about the past, and the conversation slowly pulls us into a devastating flashback.
We see Han-young’s father as a man worn down by exploitation. Years earlier, during a riot, a teenage Han-young joined Jeong-ho in attacking protestors for money. In the chaos, Han-young’s father was struck on the head. Han-young never learned whether his father realized the truth about his attacker.
The guilt never left him. His father was later imprisoned for a year, framed by S Group’s Tae-sik. That injustice became the core wound that shaped Han-young’s resolve.
Old Enemies and New Alliances
Back in the present, Tae-sik is suddenly placed under emergency arrest by prosecutor Jin-a. Her intensity sparks recognition in Han-young. He remembers her determination from his previous life and her personal vendetta against Tae-sik. In silence, he decides to work alongside her. Their goals align, even if their methods differ.
The ledger search continues, leading to an unexpected place. It turns up in Han-young’s mother’s shop. She contacts him immediately and hands it over, unaware she is being watched by Shin-jin’s assassin.
Han-young wastes no time. He calls a press conference and publicly reveals the names in the ledger. The revelation explodes into national news. With one move, he shifts power away from the shadows and into public scrutiny.
Final Thoughts
Episode 4 transforms The Judge Returns from a smart legal drama into a layered story about power, memory, and revenge. It sharpens its villain, deepens its hero, and raises the stakes without losing emotional clarity. If the series continues at this pace, the fallout ahead will be impossible to ignore.
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