“It will take some time to think about” — Director Park Jin-pyo talks about The Judge from Hell season 2 renewal possibilities

Director Park Jin-pyo, who helmed the SBS drama The Judge from Hell, recently spoke about the possibility of a second season in a written interview with OSEN on November 5, following its finale on November 2.

“I’m very happy and excited, but for now, I’m just thankful that I finished one episode safely and received so much love. I think it’ll take some time to think about and talk about Season 2.” he said.

The Judge from Hell, starring Park Shin-hye and Kim Jae-young aired on September 21 and has 14 episodes. It concluded on a high note, securing a peak national viewership of 11.9% and an impressive 14.7% rating at its peak. It also claimed the top spot across all channels during its timeslot, dominating both Saturday and weekly miniseries ratings.

The Judge from Hell's director not in a hurry to decide upon a season 2

The series finale of The Judge from Hell concluded with Bael meeting Bit-na, the demon two years later, bringing an offer from Lucifer. According to the proposal, if Bit-na could condemn another 10 sinners to Hell within the third year, she would be granted the chance to live out her life on earth with her beloved, Da-on. In the series, it is not revealed whether Bit-na chose to stay on Earth or go back to Hell as Bael's successor.

In the closing scene of The Judge from Hell, Bit-na directly addressed the viewers, acknowledging her role as “a judge from Hell,” which added further momentum to the anticipation for a possible second season.

In looking toward the future, Park acknowledged the growing call from fans for a second season, noting the audience’s enthusiasm for the show’s unique premise and compelling characters. While appreciative of the interest, he stated that any concrete plans for a new season would take time to discuss, as he was presently focused on celebrating the completion and impact of the first season.

Director Park Jin-pyo thanks the audience

Expressing gratitude for the audience's support, Park conveyed that viewers' love and engagement were a powerful motivator for the cast and crew, especially as they juggled the show’s broadcast with final post-production work.

He admitted that he initially hadn’t anticipated such success, as he felt the show’s dark themes and fantastical elements, centered around hell and a devil punishing sinners, might feel unfamiliar or challenging for viewers. However, the positive reception from the audiences gave everyone involved the strength to push through to the end.

“In fact, I didn’t think about box office success at all, even in part. Because the main background and setting of 'Judge', the worldview of hell and the devil punishing sinners, and the fantasy, may be a bit unfamiliar to viewers, and on the other hand, I thought it needed some resistance," he said.

Park discussed The Judge from Hell’s intended message. He highlighted a line from episode 13, spoken during Bit-na’s trial before sentencing Jeong Tae-gyu, which reflects the production’s goal of honoring victims and comforting their families.

This line—“The law does not forgive the sins that the victims and their bereaved families do not forgive”—represented the emotional core of the series for the creators, a sentiment they hoped would resonate deeply with viewers.

Edited by Divya Singh