*This content was translated by AI.
It is not easy for domestic terrestrial dramas to release more than three seasons. However, SBS's Friday-Saturday drama "Model Taxi" (played by Oh Sang-ho, directed by Kang Bo-seung) was aired until season 3, making a history in the broadcasting industry. The exhilarating revenge drama presented by "Model Taxi" was greatly loved by viewers from 2021 to 2025 in a world that is becoming increasingly tight and overflowing with incidents and accidents. This season, too, Kim Do-ki's remarks based on a true story, such as the dark reality of the K-pop girl group and last year's emergency martial law incident, gave a big lesson. Lee Je-hoon, who lived as "Cider Hero" Kim Do-ki for five years, hoped to produce season 4 of "Model Taxi" with viewers, whether it was difficult to let go of Kim Do-ki in his life.
"Model Taxi 3" is a private revenge agency in which the mysterious taxi company Rainbow Transportation and taxi driver Kim Do-ki (Lee Je-hoon) complete revenge on behalf of the victim. Season 1, which aired in 2021, had the highest viewership of 16% (hereinafter referred to as Nielsen Korea's national standard), and season 2, which aired in 2023, had the highest viewership of 21%, followed by a third season thanks to its popularity. Season 3 ended on the 10th with a peak viewership of 14.2%.
Lee Je-hoon won the Best Male Performance in Genre and Fantasy at the '2021 SBS Acting Awards' through 'Model Taxi 1', and won the Grand Prize at the '2023 SBS Acting Awards' through 'Model Taxi 2'. He won another grand prize at the "2025 SBS Acting Awards" through "Model Taxi 3," making "Model Taxi" his signature work.
-How do you feel about ending "Model Taxi 3"?
▶I watched the drama almost every week as a viewer, but it seems that it has been less than 10 days since I finished. I feel like I'm finally done. Now, I don't watch dramas every Friday and Saturday, so I feel empty.
-At the end of last year, he won the grand prize at the 2015 SBS Acting Awards. After Season 2, we won another Grand Prize.
Even if I didn't win the ▶ Award, many viewers loved it until the second half, so it would not have been much different at the city hall. When choosing a work, I don't seem to be conscious of receiving an award. It seems that how many people have seen this work on record affects the year-end awards ceremony. I didn't think about the grand prize at all at the production presentation, but thank you for your love.
-In the final episode of "Model Taxi 3," Yoo Sun-ah (played by Jeon Son-ni) drew a plot by Colonel Kim Tae-won (played by Kim Jin-wook) to bomb his unit, send it to the North Korean critical line, explode it, and cover it up on the North Korean side, and a martial law plot surrounding it. This scene is an ending that compares the moment of emergency martial law and the end of the former Yoon Suk Yeol regime.
▶As this story was created from a fictional story, I wondered how Kim Do-ki would be better played in that situation. It's hard for me to even dare say the message about the episode, but I think I've talked about what risks will arise when power is not under control and how important citizens' choices and solidarity are in that situation. When the series was filmed last year, something big happened in Korea the year before last, and although such a situation can be interpreted from their own perspective in 2025, it seems that the author's thoughts on that part are contained in the "model taxi." I tried to be honest about what I felt while monitoring not only in Korea but also around the world.
-Didn't you feel pressured about continuing to lead the character while acting until season 3.
▶I don't think there's any character I can take out now.(Laughs) I thought I should learn acting a lot, and after the shooting, I had time to empty myself. I keep thinking about how to show a new look.
-There are also expectations for the production of 'model taxi' season 4.
▶Many people left their opinions on season 4, so I was very happy and encouraged. I wonder if the "rainbow transportation" people don't want us to break up now. I also want to meet again, but no specific discussions have been made yet. I'm also in a position to wait as a viewer.
-Again, Kim Do-ki showed various characters. I tried girl group dance, too.
▶There were a lot of secondary characters, and I was worried about what differences and spectra I would show. I thought about how the bold attempt would be accepted by viewers, but I thought people would definitely cheer for Kim Do-ki's performance. I was able to move with a large stride. In the idol episode, I think the writer thought I could use my past and dance at the fan meeting. I melted the episodes between the actual managers, and I thought, "I have to do this." It seemed that people could see the dark side of the K-pop industry with a sense of problem. While practicing for a month, I prepared while crying while doing body movements that I had never used.(Laughs) It was a setting that didn't exist before, but the director of the filming told me, "I heard that there are cases like this when the manager stands on stage instead." I thought I should enjoy it because I can't avoid it, and I thought I should do it properly if I'm going.
-"Model Taxi" went well, but didn't you talk about the reward vacation.
▶During seasons 1 and 2, there was talk of a reward vacation, so the start of season 3 began abroad. There was also a sound of embarrassment, but if Season 4 comes out and takes a picture as a reward vacation, that time would be good. Our "rainbow transportation" people are still gathering in the group chat room and next week. There is an event we didn't do last year, and we are planning to do it this year.
-What do you think is the reason why "Model Taxi" continues to be loved until season 3.
▶People's stress toward the world seems to be accumulating. I think watching content is also because I want the pleasure and laughter to blow away the tired daily life of the day, but I think "model taxi" has solved it. On the one hand, it seems that it continues to be talked about because it is unfortunate but exhilarating and intensely shown that such episodes continue to occur.
-While playing a righteous role as Kim Do-ki, I wonder if he is obsessed with the consciousness that he should live morally in his real life. There have been a lot of accidents in the entertainment industry recently.
▶I also think about what kind of future I will live in a situation where many incidents and accidents are pouring out these days. Rather than saying, "I should be careful because this happens," I think I have led to actions that I have instinctively thought about good and evil since I was young. I never thought I should change. As an entertainment worker, I also have to be careful about a series of these things happening.
-The release of the drama "Second Signal" ("Signal" Season 2) is being delayed as controversy over the past of other leading actors was revealed late last year.
▶It seems that I am worried about the part where the interpretation of the work or the value of the efforts is lost. There must be authenticity in the work about the hard work of many people, but I hope that doesn't fade.
-If you look back on the 20 years since your debut, what moments do you remember the most.
▶The most memorable time was when I did a 'model taxi'. I want to find another masterpiece of mine. I have been frantically exploring and trying how to act well. When I think about the next 5 to 10 years, my thoughts and values on what work I will choose seem to be projected. I think it will show my filmography journey in the future. I also want to put down the burden of the size of the roll.
-What are your plans for 2026?
▶Mindly, it's good to rest, but I still have a lot of desire for creation. I think I will work on making new stories while thinking about how to make them. He is also greedy to direct, so he is studying.
-I think I do a lot of work and spend a busy time. Do you have time to date.
Experience indirectly with ▶ content.(laughs) If there's a tree, it's drying up and I want to try to sprout it this year.
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*This content was translated by AI.
