Lee Je Hoon’s Taxi Driver is Racing to a Revenge Fueled Premiere on April 9th

If there was anyone that could make me hail a cab like it’s 2008, you better believe Lee Je Hoon would be at the top of the list. In fact, my arm might be waving in the air right now. *Get down arm, stop embarrassing me!*

THE STORY

“Taxi Driver” is the story of a man named Kim Do-Ki (played by Lee Je Hoon) who works for a taxi company in Seoul. Yes, Taxi, that yellow car thingy people used to take before Uber was invented – hailing one was a whole process! But I digress, because this taxi company is not your ordinary run of the mill, ‘Call me and I might be there thirty minutes later.’ No, no, you don’t call these people if you need a ride, you call them if you need revenge. 

Um, say what? You might be asking your screen. Did you just say… revenge? Yes, revenge, and I must admit that I sat up a bit straighter when I read that, too. 

In “Taxi Driver,” Kim Do Ki is a Naval Academy graduate who becomes a special force officer. However, his life takes a tragic turn when his mother is murdered by a serial killer. After that unfortunate event, Lee Je Hoon starts to work for Rainbow Taxi, a company that offers a special “revenge-call” service for their clients. All of the employees of this taxi company help fulfill these revenge orders.

Okay, so now I’m intrigued. Also, a bit curious…hmm, does this revenge service come with an app like Uber Eats? Because revenge with a side of hot wings would be pretty convenient…I kid, I kid! 

THE CREATORS

“Taxi Driver” is based on the popular R-rated webcomic, The Deluxe Taxi by Carlos and Lee Jae Jin. You can read it on Naver in its original Korean with the first few episodes for free. It will be brought to life on the small screen by screenwriter Oh Sang Ho and director Park Joon Woo.

I am interested to see how this story is reimagined on the small screen because revenge is oftentimes a bloody business, and this webcomic did not hesitate to capture that with crimson.

THE CAST

Lee Je Hoon is joined by a small cast of quirky revenge-fueled characters. Let’s start with a favorite of mine, Esom, who plays Kang Ha Na, an elite, cold-hearted prosecutor who fights for justice. Nicknamed Bulldog, she only works for her own righteousness and follows no line of authority. Her curiosity is aroused by the idea of a taxi company that handles the crimes the law and police cannot solve. She starts to investigate as much as she can about Rainbow Taxi.

CEO Jang Sung Chol (played by Kim Eui Sung) is the owner of the Rainbow Taxi company and CEO of the Bluebird Foundation which helps victims of crimes. He grew up rich as the son of a wealthy taxi company owner, but his life was devastated when his family was murdered by a serial killer. Through that ordeal, he witnessed several dark holes in the law that protect criminals. He decided to create the Bluebird Foundation to help victims and opened a special department in his family’s taxi company to punish people who commit crimes in the shadow of the law. So, he is basically like Batman, though perhaps acts more like Bruce Wayne.

Ahn Go Eun (played by Pyo Ye Jin) is an accountant at Rainbow Taxi by day, and hacker by night. She has no filter between her brain and her tongue, which does rub some people the wrong way. But, she is a sweetheart deep down inside. You can tell by the lollipop she always has with her and the wink that lives on her face. I adore Pyo Ye Jin and cannot wait to see her as a cute hacker with a sweet tooth. Hey, you have to keep your blood sugar up for all that late-night hacking. right?

Manager Choi Kyung Koo (played by Jang Hyuk Jin) is a mechanic that used to be a head research engineer in the car development industry. He left that life to fix cars at Rainbow Taxi. Though a mechanic by day, he is also radio backup for Do Ki at night. Keeping with the Batman theme, I am immediately picturing him as an Alfred-like person who gives Do Ki directions to his next target.

Manager Park Jin Un (played by Bae Yoo Ram) is a quiet, pleasant mechanic at Rainbow Taxi. Though don’t let that fool you, because he is the real tinkering brains behind the scenes. Originally an airplane engineer, he now uses his skills to transform beat-up old cars into fancy driving machines. This immediately makes me wonder if these taxis have a lot more going on under the hood than meets the eye.

I can already picture Batman and even Knight Rider vibes with this taxi crew. In fact, could this show be like if Knight Rider and Batman had a baby? A Taxi Driver baby?

THE TRAILER

Speaking of Knight Rider, just take a look at the trailers for “Taxi Driver” and tell me you don’t get a cool, crisp Knight Rider vibe. The fancy black car, the driving moves, the man taking it upon himself to defend the weak from a plague of crime and corruption… it is all there, y’all. 

I love how, in the trailer, we see Do Ki being recruited by CEO Jang and introduced to the Deluxe arm of the Rainbow Taxi Company. There is an underground garage, a team of quirky heroes for us to fall in love with, and, of course, stellar driving.

In fact, it might be fun to tune in just to see how tight of a burned-out turning radius they can get. Reverse Driving? Drifting? Lee Je Hoon at the wheel controlling it all? Yes, please.

If you like “Driver” with Ryan Gosling, “The Fast and the Furious” franchise, or any story where the small guy takes justice into their own hands like “Lupin” on Netflix, then you should definitely check out this fast-paced drama. 

You can watch “Taxi Driver” right here on KOCOWA starting on April 9th. Sign up for a free two-week trial today!

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