Taxi Driver is a gripping South Korean action-thriller drama that follows a covert vigilante group operating under the guise of a taxi service. Led by former special forces officer Kim Do-gi (played by Lee Je-hoon), the Rainbow Taxi team delivers justice on behalf of victims failed by the legal system. Inspired by true events and based on the webtoon The Deluxe Taxi, the series dives into morally complex territory — exploring revenge, justice, and the fine line between right and wrong in a society where justice often comes too late, or not at all.
Review
In the saturated realm of Korean crime dramas, Taxi Driver distinguishes itself not just through its high-octane action, but through the ethical grey zones it so boldly embraces. This series offers a visceral, emotionally complex look at revenge, justice, and the people society forgets.
At the heart of Taxi Driver is the secretive Rainbow Taxi Company, a front for a group of vigilantes offering revenge services to clients failed by the justice system. Their clientele isn’t just your typical crime victims — they’re survivors of systemic abuse, trafficking, workplace exploitation, and more. What makes this premise so compelling is not just the idea of extrajudicial payback, but the moral weight each mission carries.
Lee Je-hoon commands the screen as Kim Do-gi, a former special forces officer turned avenger. His portrayal is cold yet compassionate, haunted yet purposeful — a man forever changed by the murder of his mother, now channeling his trauma into something bordering on heroic... or tragic, depending on where your moral compass points. Je-hoon's versatility allows the character to shift seamlessly from empathetic listener to deadly enforcer, offering viewers both emotional depth and adrenaline-charged fight scenes.
The supporting cast adds layers to the story. Esom (in Season 1) plays prosecutor Kang Ha-na, who investigates the vigilante group with growing ambivalence — a character that acts as a moral mirror to the show's darker impulses. Meanwhile, the rest of the Rainbow crew (played by Pyo Ye-jin, Jang Hyuk-jin, and Bae Yoo-ram) brings both levity and heart, grounding the show's darker moments in camaraderie and ethical introspection.
What elevates Taxi Driver beyond a standard action thriller is its episodic structure, each arc delving into different real-world injustices inspired by actual Korean headlines — from school bullying and online sexual exploitation to workplace abuse and cult manipulation. The show doesn’t just entertain; it provokes.
Visually, the direction is sleek and stylized, mixing noir aesthetics with modern grit. The color palette shifts with the narrative tone — gritty during action sequences, melancholy in moments of grief, and eerily sterile in scenes highlighting institutional failure. The OST is both stirring and suspenseful, amplifying emotional beats without overpowering them.
While Taxi Driver undeniably glorifies revenge, it also never lets viewers forget the emotional and ethical toll of its characters’ actions. In a world where justice is often out of reach for the marginalized, the show dares to ask: If the system can’t protect the innocent, who can?
Whether you see them as heroes, outlaws, or something in between, the Rainbow Taxi team takes viewers on a ride that’s as emotionally compelling as it is viscerally thrilling. Taxi Driver is not just a drama — it’s a question mark shaped like a fist.
Information
Taxi Driver (Korean title: 모범택시) is a South Korean action-crime drama series directed by Park Joon-woo (Season 1) and Lee Dan (Season 2), based on the webtoon The Deluxe Taxi by Carlos and Lee Jae-jin. The series stars Lee Je-hoon, Kim Eui-sung, Pyo Ye-jin, Jang Hyuk-jin, and Bae Yoo-ram. Season 1 aired from April 9 to May 29, 2021, and Season 2 from February 17 to April 15, 2023, each comprising 16 episodes. A third season is scheduled for the second half of 2025. The series is available for streaming on platforms including Netflix (Season 1), Amazon Prime Video, KOCOWA, and Viki.
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