SBS’s Friday–Saturday drama 'Taxi Driver 3,' which wrapped up on January 10, continues to prove its power as a mega-hit series by claiming the No.1 spot in Netflix’s “Top 10 Series in South Korea Today” even after its finale. With the ending hinting at the possibility of a fourth season, anticipation among fans is steadily growing.
The final episode of 'Taxi Driver 3,' which aired on January 10, recorded a peak rating of 16.6% and an average of 13.7% in the Seoul metropolitan area, ranking first not only in its time slot but also among all miniseries broadcast that week. Its key 20–49 demographic rating reached 4.6%, peaking at 5.55%, marking the strongest performance of any drama in 2026 so far.
Beyond its domestic success, the series has also delivered impressive global results. According to weekly charts released by pan-Asian OTT platform Viu for the first week of January (December 29–January 4), 'Taxi Driver 3' ranked No.1 in major Southeast Asian markets, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore. In Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines, the drama maintained its No.1 position for seven consecutive weeks after release. In Thailand, it ranked first in the subtitled version and second in the dubbed version simultaneously, demonstrating broad local appeal. The series also topped charts in the Middle East for seven straight weeks, cementing its status as a global hit IP.
'Taxi Driver 3' dominates Netflix charts, fueling rising expectations for Season 4
Expectations for a fourth season have intensified following the finale. In the final episode, Kim Do Gi (played by Lee Jae Hoon) plunges into a river alongside former Special Warfare Command commander Oh Won Sang (played by Kim Jong Soo), leaving his fate unknown. However, one year later, Kim Do Gi reappears in a lighthearted scene in front of Lim Bok Soon (Shim So Young), the younger sister of Season 1 villain Madam Lim—strongly hinting at the continuation of the series.
Actor Kim Eui Sung addressed the possibility of 'Taxi Driver Season 4' in a recent post-finale interview, saying, “It’s not impossible. There’s no reason not to do it,” while adding that “all the elements have to align.” He explained, “After Season 2, we easily said we should do Season 3 quickly, but this time it’s not something we can say lightly. We didn’t even talk about Season 4—just exchanged looks that said, ‘It would be nice to keep going.’” He added, “Continuing such a strong IP would have a positive impact on the entire content industry,” and joked, “As long as Lee Jae Hoon’s knees hold up, I hope it continues.”
'Taxi Driver 3' aired from November 21 to January 10, posting an average nationwide rating of 13.3% (Nielsen Korea). While its peak rating of 14.2% (Episode 14) did not surpass Season 2’s high of 21%, the drama consistently maintained double-digit ratings, reaffirming its strong influence.
Lee Jae Hoon won his second Grand Prize at the 2025 SBS Drama Awards for his role as “taxi hero” Kim Do Gi in Taxi Driver 3. His performance showcased a wide emotional range—from compassion for victims and vengeance against villains to deep affection for the Rainbow Transport team—while seamlessly shifting between multiple personas such as the charismatic Do Gi, naïve Do Gi, gambler Do Gi, Lorenzo Do Gi, manager Do Gi, and soldier Do Gi. His versatility sparked what fans dubbed the “God Do Gi” craze during the year-end season.
Another standout achievement was the retention of the same core cast across all three seasons. The so-called “Rainbow Five”—Kim Do Gi (Lee Jae Hoon), Jang Sung Chul (Kim Eui Sung), Ahn Go Eun (Pyo Ye Jin), Choi Kyung Goo (Jang Hyuk Jin), and Park Jin Eon (Bae Yoo Ram)—represent a rare case of a fully intact main cast in a long-running seasonal drama, further strengthening their chemistry and narrative depth with each installment.
The series also featured a lineup of high-profile actors making special appearances as episode-specific main villains, including Sho Kasamatsu (as Matsuda), Yoon Shi Yoon (as Cha Byung Jin), Eum Moon Suk (as Cheon Kwang Jin), Kim Sung Kyun (as Go Sung Hyuk), Jang Na Ra (as Kang Joo Ri), and Kim Jong Soo (as Oh Won Sang). Jang Na Ra, in particular, drew attention for taking on her first-ever villain role since her debut.
The finale sparked major buzz for its bold reflection of reality, featuring a plotline centered on preventing the declaration of martial law. Scenes depicting civilian Oh Won Sang exerting control over the military, holding meetings with soldiers at a burger restaurant, and drafting a martial law announcement beginning with “Respected citizens,” evoked strong parallels to the December 3 emergency martial law incident, capturing viewers’ attention.
In his closing remarks, Lee Jae Hoon shared, “I feel like I’ve received the greatest love an actor could hope for through the Taxi Driver series. I’m truly grateful to the viewers. It was an honor to live as Kim Do Gi, listening to the voices of those who were wronged, and every moment with the Rainbow Transport team was precious and joyful.”
Pyo Ye Jin also expressed her gratitude, saying, “Thanks to the continued support from viewers, 'Taxi Driver' was able to run again for Season 3.” Jang Hyuk Jin added, “After seven months of filming, it already feels like it ended too quickly,” sharing his sense of bittersweet farewell.
'Taxi Driver 3,' a private revenge drama in which the mysterious taxi company and driver Kim Do Gi deliver justice on behalf of wronged victims, has evolved into a defining Korean-style hero franchise over the past five years since its first season aired in 2021. As the series stands as more than just a drama but a full-fledged brand, attention is now focused on whether the Rainbow Taxi company will hit the road once again in Season 4.
Meanwhile, SBS’s next Friday–Saturday drama, 'No Tail to Tell,' will premiere on January 16 as the successor to 'Taxi Driver 3.'
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