The taxi meter is running, and vengeance is about to go global. After a two-year wait that felt like an eternity, “Taxi Driver 3” has dropped its first bone-chilling teaser—and CEO Jang’s iconic line “Don’t die—let’s take revenge together” confirms Rainbow Taxi is back with a darker, more international mission than ever before.
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Taxi Driver 3: Essential Information
| Production Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Premiere Date | November 21, 2025 |
| Broadcast Network | SBS (Fridays & Saturdays, 9:50 PM KST) |
| Streaming Platform | Viu (Asia, Middle East, Africa), Viki, Netflix |
| Total Episodes | 16 episodes |
| Source Material | Webtoon “The Deluxe Taxi” by Carlos & Lee Jae-jin |
| Season 2 Rating | 21% (5th highest for Korean dramas since 2023) |
| Previous Award | Grand Prize, 28th Asian Television Awards |
| New Focus | International crime & human trafficking |
Rainbow Taxi Returns with Global Ambitions
Based on the immensely popular webtoon “The Deluxe Taxi” (also known as “Red Cage”), “Taxi Driver” follows a mysterious taxi service that delivers vigilante justice for victims failed by the legal system. After Season 2’s phenomenal 21% viewership rating—ranking as the fifth-highest rated terrestrial and cable drama in Korea since 2023—expectations for Season 3 have reached fever pitch.
The newly released teaser wastes no time establishing stakes. Victims continue suffering in a world desperately needing Rainbow Taxi’s brand of justice. When CEO Jang (Kim Eui Sung) reaches out with his chilling invitation to revenge, tension erupts immediately.
International Crime Meets Interpol Collaboration
This season escalates dramatically beyond domestic crimes. Kim Do Gi (Lee Je Hoon) is shown contacting Interpol, signaling Rainbow Taxi’s evolution into international waters. The target? An illegal private loan network intricately connected to international human trafficking operations.
For a series that built its reputation tackling Korea’s most heinous real-life-inspired crimes, expanding to cross-border criminal enterprises feels like a natural—and terrifying—progression. The official SBS drama page confirms this season will explore global cooperation against increasingly sophisticated villains.
The Mysterious New Villain
Perhaps the teaser’s most intriguing element comes from Kim Do Gi’s ominous warning about “another perpetrator who has never shown their face.” Combined with the tagline “The beginning and the end of Taxi Driver,” speculation has exploded across fan communities.
Could this mysterious villain connect to Kim Do Gi’s tragic backstory? His mother’s murder by a serial killer transformed him from a Naval Academy graduate and UDT (underwater demolition team) officer into Rainbow Taxi’s most lethal weapon. If Season 3 circles back to those origins while introducing an unprecedented threat, emotional devastation seems guaranteed.
The Rainbow Five Returns
Lee Je Hoon reprises his career-defining role as Kim Do Gi. His performance has become synonymous with the franchise—from thrilling action sequences to subtle emotional moments and countless undercover personas that showcase his incredible range.
Kim Eui Sung returns as CEO Jang, the father figure running both the legitimate Bluebird Foundation supporting crime victims and the secret Rainbow Taxi vigilante operation. His character embodies the “ideal adult”—selflessly protecting others while maintaining moral clarity in morally gray situations.
Pyo Ye Jin comes back as Ahn Go Eun, Rainbow Taxi’s hacker extraordinaire whose technical skills enable the team’s elaborate revenge schemes. Her character adds both comedic relief and crucial operational support.
Jang Hyuk Jin and Bae Yoo Ram round out the returning cast, bringing their beloved characters back for another round of meticulously planned retribution.
Additionally, Edan Lui of Hong Kong boy group Mirror makes his Korean drama debut in a mysterious role that reportedly involves “an uneasy alliance” with Kim Do Gi—suggesting complex character dynamics beyond simple good versus evil.
Why “Taxi Driver” Dominates
The series’ success stems from its unflinching examination of real-life Korean crimes that shocked the nation. By adapting actual cases where victims received inadequate justice, “Taxi Driver” resonates deeply with audiences who’ve felt the legal system’s limitations.
Each episode typically follows a formula: introduce a sympathetic victim, reveal the perpetrator’s horrifying actions, showcase the broken legal system that protects criminals, then deliver cathartic revenge through Rainbow Taxi’s elaborate schemes. This structure provides both emotional satisfaction and social commentary.
The webtoon’s massive following translated seamlessly to screen, with writer Oh Sang Ho (who also created “The Roundup: No Way Out” and “Fabricated City”) crafting scripts that balance action spectacle with genuine emotional depth. Director Kang Bo Seung, fresh from “Dr. Romantic 3,” ensures visual storytelling matches the narrative intensity.
From Season 1 to Global Phenomenon
Season 1 premiered in April 2021 on SBS, achieving a remarkable 16% viewership rating—the fourth highest for any SBS Friday-Saturday drama in network history. The finale captivated Korea, establishing “Taxi Driver” as more than just another revenge thriller.
Season 2 arrived in February 2023, somehow exceeding its predecessor with that historic 21% rating. International streaming through platforms like Viki, Netflix, and Viu transformed the series into a global sensation, with Southeast Asian markets particularly embracing Rainbow Taxi’s brand of justice.
The two-year gap between Seasons 2 and 3 felt eternal for fans, but production needed time to craft stories worthy of the franchise’s legacy. Based on promotional materials, that patience will be rewarded.
What the Teaser Reveals
The visuals are striking: CEO Jang in his element, Kim Do Gi’s determined expression behind aviator sunglasses, bloodied villains bound and helpless, and shadowy figures suggesting international conspiracies. The production values appear elevated, with cinematography suggesting grander scale befitting the international storyline.
One particularly haunting image shows Kim Do Gi holding a photograph—possibly of his deceased mother, grounding the season’s global ambitions in the personal tragedy that started everything.
For fans craving more Korean revenge thrillers with social conscience, “Taxi Driver 3” promises to deliver while raising the stakes impossibly high.
Get the latest K-drama updates, teaser breakdowns, and streaming information at Technosports—your destination for Korean entertainment news.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need to watch Seasons 1 and 2 before starting Taxi Driver 3?
Absolutely yes. While each season features somewhat episodic revenge cases, the character development and emotional arcs build continuously across seasons. Kim Do Gi’s backstory, his relationships with the Rainbow Taxi team, and recurring antagonists create narrative threads that reward long-term viewers. Season 1 establishes the premise, characters, and emotional foundation. Season 2 expands the universe and raises stakes. Season 3 promises to be “the beginning and the end,” suggesting major story conclusions that will resonate most powerfully if you’ve invested in the journey from the start. Both previous seasons are available on Viki, Netflix, and other streaming platforms.
Q: Is Taxi Driver based on true events, and how closely does it follow real crimes?
The series is “inspired by” rather than directly based on true events. Writer Oh Sang Ho draws from actual Korean crimes that shocked the nation—cases where victims received inadequate justice due to legal loopholes, corruption, or wealth protecting perpetrators. However, the Rainbow Taxi revenge plots are fictional fantasies exploring “what if vigilante justice existed?” The show often includes brief epilogues after episodes revealing the real-life cases that inspired storylines, which makes the emotional impact even more powerful. This approach allows the series to provide cathartic wish-fulfillment while highlighting genuine societal problems in Korea’s legal system, explaining why the show resonates so deeply with domestic audiences.
