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Actor Lee Je-hoon demonstrated the distinctive poise of a ‘Grand Prize’ winner.

The third season of the SBS ‘Taxi Driver’ series, which Lee Je-hoon had been part of for six years, came to an end on the 10th. First introduced in 2021, the ‘Taxi Driver’ series gained popularity with its fresh premise of proxy revenge and established itself as the only long-running seasonal drama on terrestrial TV.

In the drama, Lee played Kim Do-gi, a former special forces officer who, on the surface, works as a driver for ‘Rainbow Taxi’ and carries out revenge on behalf of victims. As a character who goes undercover assuming new identities in each episode, he showcased a different charm, and, as someone who does not hold back in pursuit of revenge, he heightened immersion with intense action.

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Accordingly, following 2023, Lee received the Grand Prize at the ‘2025 SBS Drama Awards’ for his role as Kim Do-gi, demonstrating the strength of the work and the character.

As the main character who has reliably supported every season of ‘Taxi Driver’, Lee showed a distinct sense of responsibility during a wrap-up interview held on the 19th at a cafe in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

Lee said, “I am very grateful to do the same project three times in a row. I know it is not easy, but this season, not only existing fans but many people showed interest and love, and I even received an award, so I am truly a lucky person,” adding, “Without forgetting my gratitude, I assign myself the duty to keep showing good work. It made me think even more that I should greet audiences with good projects in the future.”

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He continued, “There are many difficulties in life, and I think our drama is cheered on because viewers feel a vicarious, refreshing catharsis as injustices are resolved. We understand those feelings well, and everyone thinks and works hard to help relieve that part.”

Each season, ‘Taxi Driver’ incorporates social issues into its episodes and gains support by delivering vicarious satisfaction as it takes down those ‘villains’. The final episode of this season also drew attention by unfolding a story related to the emergency martial law issue that arose in December 2024.

Lee began, “We do not take lightly the weight of dealing with social issues. Because there are victims who suffered, I believe we must continue while keeping in mind, without forgetting, how to offer comfort through each episode.”

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He went on, “On December 3, 2024, an incident occurred in our country that could raise a sense of crisis, and it did so globally as well. I think that had a significant impact on the writer penning the script,” adding, “It prompted thoughts on the dangers when power is abused and on how citizens should stand in solidarity in such situations. If previous episodes had Kim Do-gi and Rainbow Taxi striving to resolve cases, I felt that episode embodied everyone’s hopes. When I first read the script, including myself, the Rainbow Taxi family worked hard to bring that alive through performance.”

He added, “My sense of responsibility toward projects grows by the day. I like works that simply make you laugh and chat, but personally I think I have done projects that leave something to think about,” and continued, “The acting profession leaves behind works, and if, as time passes, people recall, ‘This actor was trying to say this,’ there would be no greater praise.”

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Asked about plans for a new season, he joked about the ‘alternate persona’ acting that appears in each episode, saying, “There is nothing more left to show,” drawing laughter.

Even so, he said, “In my rookie days, I ran like a racehorse looking only forward in order to portray a character well, but now I need to be able to help the work itself. Showing another side is also homework,” and added, “Looking back on these six years, I believe I have certainly become more flexible. Going forward, there may be even more to say about the justice and sense of duty I need to embody as Kim Do-gi. As always, it will be a difficult and hard challenge, but I want to take it on confidently.”