Taxi Driver 3 Achieves High Ratings In Season Premiere

Taxi Driver 3 premiered with record breaking ratings.
The team successfully dismantled a trafficking ring.
The show dominates its weekend time slot completely.

The wait is finally over! "Taxi Driver 3," one of the most anticipated K-dramas of the year, has officially hit the airwaves, and it's clear that the vengeance-driven taxi service hasn't lost its edge. Picking up right where the previous seasons left off, the show immediately plunges viewers back into the gritty and satisfying world of Rainbow Taxi. 

The story continues to follow the enigmatic Kim Dogi (Lee Je Hoon), a seemingly ordinary taxi driver who is, in reality, a formidable operative for a secret company. This organization operates outside the law to deliver brutal, cathartic justice to victims who have been failed by the traditional legal system. They are the last hope for the wronged, and their methods are as efficient as they are ruthless. The beloved core team is back in action, bringing their unique skills to the table. 

Leading the charge is the unwavering Lee Je Hoon as Kim Dogi. The mastermind behind every operation, Jang Sung Cheol, is once again portrayed by the veteran Kim Eui Sung. The tech wizardry is handled by the brilliant hacker Ahn Go Eun, played by Pyo Ye Jin. And of course, the indispensable engineering duo, Choi Kyung Goo (Jang Hyuk Jin) and Park Jin eon (Bae Yu Ram), are back to provide the team with their mechanical genius and on-ground support. 

Following the massive success of the first two seasons, which set a high bar for action-packed revenge storytelling, this third installment had immense expectations to meet, particularly in terms of viewership ratings. The pressure was on from the very first episode.

Taxi Driver 3 Episode 1 and 2 Ratings: A Dominant Premiere

The series did not just meet these expectations; it soared past them in a spectacular fashion. "Taxi Driver 3" kicked off on the highest premiere ratings of any miniseries in 2025, a testament to its powerful hold on the audience. 

The premiere episode, which aired on November 21, was an immediate smash hit. According to Nielsen Korea, it achieved an average nationwide rating of 9.5 percent, effortlessly claiming first place in its time slot across all channels. It also proved its popularity among the key demographic of viewers ages 20 to 49, scoring an average rating of 2.4 percent in that category. This explosive start immediately set the tone for the season, signaling that Rainbow Taxi was back and bigger than ever.

The first episode served as a potent re-introduction to the world of Rainbow Taxi, re-establishing the team's dynamics and setting the stage for their first major mission of the season. It reminded viewers of the show's core premise which is the delivery of righteous vengeance. The episode wasn't just about reacquainting the audience; it was a statement of intent, showcasing the high-octane production values and tight storytelling that fans have come to love, effectively pulling everyone back into its orbit.

The momentum didn't stop there. The second episode, which aired on November 22, proved the premiere was no fluke, securing another stellar average nationwide rating of 9.0 percent. More impressively, the show hit its highest peak rating yet at a staggering 12.2%, demonstrating that the storyline had viewers completely hooked. 

The second episode was where the season truly found its footing, officially launching the first revenge mission. The narrative zeroed in on a malicious global organization known as 'Nekom,' a cruel entity involved in illegal private finance and human trafficking. The episode began with a chilling revelation of Nekom's connection to a series of missing persons and murder cases across Asia, raising the stakes immediately.

The plot was a masterclass in the show's signature style of elaborate, undercover vengeance. Kim Dogi infiltrated Nekom by gaining the trust of its paranoid leader, Matsuda. The entire Rainbow Taxi team was deployed in a complex, multi-layered operation. Jang Sung Sheol directed from headquarters, while Ahn Go Eun provided crucial digital support. Choi Kyung Goo and Park Jin Eon executed their mechanical and tactical roles on the ground. In a brilliantly chaotic sequence, the team provoked a gang war, during which Do-gi staged a life-saving event for Matsuda, finally earning his full trust. 

The climax was intensely satisfying. During a "brotherhood ritual," the team's plan came to a head. Dogi revealed his true identity, brutally punished the betrayed Matsuda, and, with the timely help of Interpol Inspector Michael Chang, completely dismantled the organization and rescued the abducted victims. It was a flawless, cathartic conclusion to the first case, reminding everyone why "Taxi Driver" remains the king of revenge dramas.

Fans immediately took to online platforms to celebrate the successful return of their favorite vigilantes, flooding social media X with enthusiastic comments.

"congrats to the taxi driver team for topping its time slot and ranking #1 among both saturday and weekly miniseries!"

"YESSSS LETS GOOOO TAXI DRIVER 3 GOT 20% REAL-TIME RATING AT 22:23 KST, THIS IS ALSO HIGHEST REAL-TIME RATING AT FIRST EPISODE DRAMA THIS YEAR. CONGRATULATION TD3 TEAM!!!"

With such a powerful and ratings-dominant start, the anticipation for the next case is sky-high. The story of Rainbow Taxi continues. The next episode, Episode 3 of "Taxi Driver 3," is scheduled to air on November 28. The drama broadcasts every Friday and Saturday on SBS and is available for international audiences to stream on Viki.

Source: Soompi, Chosun, Mydramalist, Sports Khan, edaily.co.kr