The Doctors (South Korean TV series)

2016 South Korean television series

The Doctors

Promotional poster

Also known as| Doctor Crush
Hangul|

닥터스

Literal meaning| Doctors
Revised Romanization| Dakteoseu
McCune–Reischauer| Takt'ŏsŭ
Genre|

* Medical
* Drama
* Romance

Written by| Ha Myung-hee
Directed by| Oh Chung-hwan
Starring|

* Kim Rae-won
* Park Shin-hye
* Yoon Kyun-sang
* Lee Sung-kyung

Country of origin| South Korea
Original language| Korean
No. of episodes| 20
Production
Executive producers|

* Han Jung-hwan
* Kim Hee-yeol

Producer| Kim Jung-mi
Running time| 60 minutes
Production company| Pan Entertainment
Budget| ₩5.1 billion[1]
Original release
Network| SBS TV
Release| June 20 (2016-06-20) –
August 23, 2016 (2016-08-23)
Related
Kalp Atışı [tr] (2017–2018)

The Doctors[2] (Korean: 닥터스; RR: Dakteoseu; lit. Doctors) is a 2016 South Korean medical drama starring Kim Rae-won and Park Shin-hye. It aired on SBS TV from June 20 to August 23, 2016, every Monday and Tuesday at 22:00 (KST) for 20 episodes.[3][4][5][6][7]

The drama was a hit and averaged 18.40% in audience ratings.[8][9] In particular, Park's character as a troubled teenager turned charismatic doctor was very popular among the audiences for her action scenes and straightforward lines.[10][11]

## Synopsis

[edit]

Yoo Hye-jung (Park Shin-hye) was a headstrong girl in high school with a prickly, gangster personality. Due to her many childhood scars, Hye-jung keeps her heart closed towards other people. However, she changes after meeting her mentor Hong Ji-hong (Kim Rae-won), who plays a key role in transforming her life from a "hopeless" delinquent to a compassionate doctor. They part ways due to a report of their close relationship, which was reported by a fellow student but subsequently meet again after 13 years, when Yoo Hye-jung had become a successful doctor.[5]

## Cast

[edit]

### Main

[edit]

* Kim Rae-won as Hong Ji-hong
* Gil Jung-woo as child Hong Ji-hong
* Lomon as teen Hong Ji-hong

Hong Ji-hong, whose birth name was Lee Ji-hong before his adoption, is a hard working man who lost his parents at a young age in a car accident. He was adopted later on in his life, graduated from a prestigious medical school and started out as a doctor. However, a medical accident while he was working as a surgeon made him step back and he restarts his career as a biology teacher. He cares for teenagers, especially his students since he had a rough life as a teenager. This makes him interested in the life of rebellious Yoo Hye-jung when she decides to turn over a new leaf and actually work hard in school. It is after being separated from her that he realizes she is the one he has fallen in love with. When he and Yoo Hye-jung cross paths 13 years later, he who is now a neurosurgeon confesses his feelings for her.

* Park Shin-hye as Yoo Hye-jung
* Kal So-won as child Yoo Hye-jung

Yoo Hye-jung is a successful neurosurgeon. She was a delinquent in high school, known for her wayward personality. Having gone through a tough childhood, she found it hard to trust anyone. The only person she trusted and loved is her grandmother, who never failed to support her. However, her thoughts about others changed after meeting teacher Hong Ji-hong, who helped her find her goal in life.

* Yoon Kyun-sang as Jung Yoon-do

Jung Yoon-do is a neurosurgeon as well as a visiting staff who is from a wealthy family. He is not good with rough situations in society. However, he knows how to handle his work with strictness. He finds himself attracted to Yoo Hye-jung, who is very different from him.

* Lee Sung-kyung as Jin Seo-woo[12]

Jin Seo-woo is a neurosurgeon and also friends-turned-enemies with Yoo Hye-jung. She liked Hong Ji-Hong, but seeing the growing relationship between Hong Ji-hong and Yoo Hye-jung, she causes trouble for them. This in turn caused them to part ways. Forgetting about Hong, she starts liking Jung Yoon-do but again feels inferior to Hye Jung due to Yoon-do's attraction towards Hye-jung. Eventually, she reconciled with Hye-jung and restored their friendship. Additionally, in the end, she fell for Young-gook and became his girlfriend.

### Supporting

[edit]

#### People around Hong Ji-hong

[edit]

* Lee Ho-jae as Hong Doo-sik – Ji-hong's adoptive father and Gookil Hospital's chairman.
* Yoo Da-in as Jo In-joo – General Surgery's specialist.

#### People around Yoo Hye-jung

[edit]

* Kim Young-ae as Kang Mal-soon (cameo) – Hye-jung's grandmother.
* Jung Hae-kyun as Yoo Min-ho – Hye-jung and Yoo-na's biological father.
* Park Ji-a as Lee Ga-jin – Hye-jung's stepmother and Yoo-na's mother.
* Han Bo-bae as Yoo Yoo-na – Hye-jung's younger half-sister.
* Ji Soo as Kim Soo-cheol (Guest: Ep. 1, 2, 3, 5, 7–8) – Hye-jung's friend.[13]
* Moon Ji-in as Cheon Soon-hee – Hye-jung's best friend and Seo-woo's friend.

#### People around Jin Seo-woo

[edit]

* Jeon Gook-hwan [ko] as Jin Sung-jong – Seo-woo's grandfather and Gookil Hospital's vice president.
* Um Hyo-sup as Jin Myung-hoon – Seo-woo's father and Gookil Hospital's director.
* Yoon Hae-young as Yoon Ji-young – Seo-woo's mother.

#### People of Gookil Hospital

[edit]

* Jang Hyun-sung as Kim Tae-ho – Gookil Hospital's deputy director and Head of Neurosurgery
* Kim Kang-hyun [ko] as Kang Kyung-joon – Neurosurgery's 4th year resident doctor.
* Baek Sung-hyun as Pi Young-gook – Neurosurgery's 3rd year resident doctor and Seo-woo's friend who had a long-time crush on her.
* Jo Hyun-sik as Ahn Joong-dae – Neurosurgery's 2nd year resident doctor.
* Kim Min-seok as Choi Kang-soo – Neurosurgery's 1st year resident doctor.[14]
* Jung Jin [ko] as Baek Ho-min – Head of General Surgery and Hospital's public relations chief.
* Lee Seon-ho as Jung Pa-ran – General Surgery's teacher, Ji-hong's friend and Yoon-do's uncle.
* Choi Sung-jae as Hwangbo Tae-yang – General Surgery's 1st year resident doctor.
* Pyo Ye-jin as Hyun Soo-jin – 5th year nurse.
* Ji Yi-soo as Yoo Byul – 2nd year nurse.

### Extended

[edit]

* Park Young-soo [ko] as Namyang Girls' High School's teacher
* Nam Moon-cheol [ko] as Cheon Soon-hee's father, Namyang Girls' High School's director
* Kim Dae-sung [ko] as club DJ
* Gong Da-im [ko] as Choi Mi-ra
* Kim Min-cheol [ko] as Kim Soo-cheol's friend
* Lee Jin-kwon as Kim Soo-cheol's friend
* Lee Bom-so-ri as So-ri
* Son Jang-woo as pregnant patient's son
* Jeon Ji-an [ko] as patient passenger on airplane
* Im Ji-kyu as gunman
* Jin Seon-kyu as Kim Chi-hyun
* Go Woo-rim [ko] as Nam Hae
* Choi Jeong-hoo as Nam Dal
* Jung Dong-gyu [ko] as parliamentarian Na Min-soo
* Yeo Hoe-hyun as Choi Young-soo (Kang soo's younger brother) (Episodes 17–18)
* Hong Seung-beom [ko] as lawyer

### Special appearances

[edit]

* Lee Ki-woo as Gong Byung-doo – gang boss (Episodes 1, 3–6, 9)
* Lee Jun-hyeok as boss's subordinate
* Jung Kyung-soon [ko] as Oh Young-mi
* Lim Ji-yeon as Lee Soo-jeong – youngest gold medalist in archery (Episode 7–8)
* Han Hye-jin as Jo Soo-ji (Episodes 11–12)
* Jo Dal-hwan [ko] as Ahn Sung-soo – Jo Soo-ji's stalker/assailant (Episodes 11–12)
* Namkoong Min as Nam Ba-ram – Nam Hae and Nam Dal's father (Episodes 13–15)[15]
* Lee Sang-yeob as Kim Woo-jin – Lee Hee-young's fiancé (Episodes 15, 16, 18, 20)

## Production

[edit]

The Doctors was based on the screenplay by Ha Myung-hee which is one of the winners in Broadcasting Content Promotion Foundation (BCPF)'s 3rd Find the Desert's Shooting Star Screenplay Competition, held in 2010.[16] Then titled as Female Thug Hye-jung (Korean: 여깡패 혜정; RR: Yeokkangpae Hyejeong), the series was in talks to air on KBS 2TV's Monday-Tuesday prime time slot in 2015 following the end of Healer, however, it did not push through.[17] HB Entertainment [ko] (My Love from the Star, You're All Surrounded) was supposed to produce the drama, while PD Mo Wan-il [ko] (Smile Again, Dream High 2) was in talks to direct.

First script reading took place on April 28, 2016, at SBS Ilsan Production Studios in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.[18][unreliable source?][19]

The series reunited Park Shin-hye and Baek Sung-hyun, who previously played the younger versions of Han Jung-suh and Cha Song-joo, respectively, in the 2003 hit drama, Stairway to Heaven.[20] It also reunited Park Shin-hye and Yoon Kyun-sang who previously worked together in the 2014 hit drama, Pinocchio.

In the United States, the drama was aired in the Los Angeles DMA free, over-the-air on Asian American-oriented TV channel, LA 18 KSCI-TV (channel 18) with English subtitles, Monday through Tuesday at 9:00pm, from July 18 to September 20, 2016.[21]

## Original soundtrack

[edit]

Doctors OST

Soundtrack album by

Various Artists

Released| August 1, 2016
Genre| Soundtrack, Pop
Language| Korean, English
Label| Pan Entertainment, RIAK

### Track listings

[edit]

No.| Title| Artist| Length

|
|
|

1.| "No Way"| Park Yong-in & Kwon Soon-il (Urban Zakapa)| 3:44
2.| "Sunflower"| Younha ft. Kassy| 3:30
3.| "That Love (그 애)"| Jungyup (Brown Eyed Soul)| 3:42
4.| "You're Pretty (넌 예뻐)"| Jungho (2MUCH)| 3:11
5.| "Sun Shower (여우비)"| Se O (Jelly Cookie)| 4:40
6.| "No Way (Inst.)"|  | 3:44
7.| "Sunflower (Inst.)"|  | 3:30
8.| "That Love (그 애) (Inst.)"|  | 3:42
9.| "You're Pretty (넌 예뻐) (Inst.)"|  | 3:43
10.| "Sun Shower (여우비) (Inst.)"|  | 4:40
11.| "School"| Various Artist| 2:34
12.| "From Me to You"| Various Artist| 2:55
13.| "Beautiful Lies"| Various Artist| 2:09
14.| "Chromatic Surgery"| Various Artist| 4:08
15.| "Doctor's Memory"| Various Artist| 1:52
16.| "Healing Heart"| Various Artist| 2:20
17.| "Into the Time"| Various Artist| 2:20
18.| "Table Death"| Various Artist| 2:06
19.| "Pitter-Patter"| Various Artist| 1:36
20.| "Awake Surgery"| Various Artist| 2:48
21.| "Hurt and Heart"| Various Artist| 2:10
22.| "Sad Gold Spoon"| Various Artist| 2:48
23.| "Good-bye My Fellow"| Various Artist| 3:00
24.| "Code Blue"| Various Artist| 2:45
25.| "Doctors in Love"| Various Artist| 1:45

### Charted songs

[edit]

Chart performance

Title  | Year  | Peak chart positions  | Sales [22] | Remarks

|
|
|
|

Gaon[23]

"No Way" (Park Yong In, Kwon Soon Il (Urban Zakapa)) | 2016  | 24  |

* KOR (DL): 212,642+

Part 1

"Sunflower" (Younha ft. Kassy) | 72  |

* KOR (DL): 159,597+

Part 2

"It's Love" (Jung Yup (Brown Eyed Soul)) | 36  |

* KOR (DL): 179,405+

Part 3

## Ratings

[edit]

Ep. | Broadcast date  | Average audience share

|
|

TNmS[24] | AGB Nielsen[25]
Nationwide  | Seoul | Nationwide  | Seoul
1  | June 20, 2016  | 11.4% (4th) | 15.1% (4th) | 12.9% (4th) | 14.7% (4th)
2  | June 21, 2016  | 12.4% (4th) | 16.9% (3rd) | 14.2% (4th) | 16.2% (4th)
3  | June 27, 2016  | 12.8% (4th) | 16.5% (3rd) | 14.4% (3rd) | 16.9% (3rd)
4  | June 28, 2016  | 14.6% (3rd) | 17.8% (2nd) | 15.6% (3rd) | 18.0% (2nd)
5  | July 4, 2016  | 16.1% (3rd) | 20.7% (1st) | 18.4% (3rd) | 20.2% (3rd)
6  | July 5, 2016  | 16.8% (3rd) | 20.8% (1st) | 19.7% (3rd) | 21.6% (2nd)
7  | July 11, 2016  | 18.4% (3rd) | 22.3% (1st) | 18.8% (3rd) | 21.3% (2nd)
8  | July 12, 2016  | 17.8% (3rd) | 20.3% (2nd) | 19.2% (2nd) | 21.1% (2nd)
9  | July 18, 2016  | 16.8% (3rd) | 20.0% (2nd) | 19.4% (3rd) | 21.5% (2nd)
10  | July 19, 2016  | 17.2% (4th) | 19.9% (2nd) | 19.3% (2nd) | 22.6% (2nd)
11  | July 25, 2016  | 17.2% (3rd) | 20.2% (1st) | 19.2% (3rd) | 21.9% (2nd)
12  | July 26, 2016  | 18.2% (3rd) | 20.9% (1st) | 18.7% (3rd) | 21.7% (2nd)
13  | August 1, 2016  | 17.6% (4th) | 20.6% (1st) | 18.5% (3rd) | 20.8% (1st)
14  | August 2, 2016  | 17.2% (3rd) | 21.2% (1st) | 19.6% (2nd) | 21.8% (1st)
15  | August 8, 2016  | 20.0% (3rd) | 23.3% (1st) | 21.3% (2nd) | 23.1% (1st)
16  | August 9, 2016  | 18.4% (2nd) | 21.4% (1st) | 20.6% (2nd) | 22.4% (1st)
17  | August 15, 2016  | 20.6% (2nd) | 23.8% (1st) | 20.8% (2nd) | 22.8% (1st)
18  | August 22, 2016[a] | 16.2% (4th) | 19.7% (2nd) | 17.8% (4th) | 19.6% (4th)
19  | 16.1% (5th) | 19.5% (3rd) | 19.5% (3rd) | 22.0% (2nd)
20  | August 23, 2016  | 17.9% (3rd) | 21.2% (1st) | 20.2% (2nd) | 22.0% (1st)
Average  | 16.69% | 20.11% | 18.41% | 20.61%

* In this table, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.

## Awards and nominations

[edit]

Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

2016 |

5th APAN Star Awards

| Grand Prize (Daesang) | Kim Rae-won | Nominated |
Park Shin-hye | Nominated |
Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries | Kim Rae-won | Nominated |
Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries | Park Shin-hye | Nominated |
Best New Actor | Yoon Kyun-sang | Won |
Best Couple Award | Kim Rae-won and Park Shin-hye | Nominated |

9th Korea Drama Awards

| Grand Prize (Daesang) | Kim Rae-won | Nominated |
Best Drama | The Doctors | Nominated |
Top Excellence Award, Actor | Jang Hyun-sung | Won |
Top Excellence Award, Actress | Park Shin-hye | Nominated |
1st Asia Artist Awards | Best Artist Award, Actor | Kim Rae-won | Nominated |
Best Artist Award, Actress | Park Shin-hye | Won |

24th SBS Drama Awards

| Grand Prize (Daesang) | Nominated |
Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Genre & Fantasy Drama | Kim Rae-won | Won |
Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Genre & Fantasy Drama | Park Shin-hye | Won |
Excellence Award, Actor in a Genre Drama | Yoon Kyun-sang | Nominated |
Special Award, Actor in a Genre Drama | Jang Hyun-sung | Nominated |
Special Award, Actress in a Genre Drama | Lee Sung-kyung | Nominated |
Moon Ji-in | Nominated |
Top 10 Stars Award | Park Shin-hye | Won |
New Star Award | Kim Min-seok | Won |
Moon Ji-in | Won |
Best Couple Award | Kim Rae-won and Park Shin-hye | Nominated |
Idol Academy Award – Best Kiss | Nominated |
2017  | 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actress  | Park Shin-hye  | Nominated  | [27][28]
Best New Actor  | Kim Min-seok  | Won
Seoul International Drama Awards | Outstanding Korean Drama  | The Doctors | Won  | [29]

## Remake

[edit]

In 2017, Kalp Atışı ("Heart beat") an adaptation of the series, was made by the Turkish network Show TV. It aired for 1 season.

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Episode 18 wasn't aired on August 16, 2016 due to the broadcast of 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The episode was aired on August 22, 2016 instead.[26]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Pan Entertainment signs contract worth 5.1 bln won. Reuters". Reuters. Archived from the original on August 7, 2017. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
2. ^ "Official English title on SBS Drama's YouTube channel". SBS via YouTube. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
3. ^ Ahn, Sung-mi (March 29, 2016). "Park Shin-hye, Kim Rae-won to star in new drama". Kpop Herald. Archived from the original on July 12, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
4. ^ Bahk, Eun-ji (April 1, 2016). "Park Shin-hye, Kim Rae-won star in new drama "Doctors"". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on April 20, 2016. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
5. ^ a b Lee, Woo-in (March 31, 2016). 김래원♥박신혜, '닥터스' 출연 확정 "사제 러브스토리 기대"[공식]. TV Report (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 13, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
6. ^ "'Doctors': the next 'Descendants of Sun'?". The Korea Times. June 17, 2016. Archived from the original on July 12, 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
7. ^ "Even veteran actors are rookies in TV series 'Doctors'". Yonhap News Agency. June 15, 2016. Archived from the original on July 12, 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
8. ^ "'Doctors' beats rival dramas in viewership". Kpop Herald. Archived from the original on June 21, 2018. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
9. ^ "'Doctors' tops weekly TV popularity chart again". Yonhap News Agency. August 23, 2016. Archived from the original on September 26, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
10. ^ "Park Sin-hye's 'girl-crush' character a big drawcard". The Korea Times. July 17, 2016. Archived from the original on September 26, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
11. ^ "Drama characters heighten 'girl crush' syndrome". Kpop Herald. July 29, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
12. ^ "Lee Sung-kyung to be Park Shin-hye's rival in 'Doctors'". Kpop Herald. Archived from the original on February 27, 2017. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
13. ^ "Actor Kim Ji-soo cast as Park Shin-hye's first love". Kpop Herald. Archived from the original on September 23, 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
14. ^ "Kim Min-suk to join Park Shin-hye in 'Doctors'". Kpop Herald. Archived from the original on July 30, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
15. ^ "Actor Nam Koong-min makes cameo in 'Doctors'". Kpop Herald. Archived from the original on July 30, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
16. ^ "제3회 드라마극본공모전 시상식 성료". December 29, 2010. Archived from the original on September 28, 2020. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
17. ^ "하명희 작가, KBS '여깡패 혜정'으로 복귀". September 28, 2014. Archived from the original on September 28, 2020. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
18. ^ Foxy. "Kim Rae Won, Park Shin Hye, Kim Min Seok & more during 1st script reading for 'Doctors'". Kpopnewz. Archived from the original on July 2, 2016. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
19. ^ "SBS' 'Doctors' starring Kim Rae Won, Park Shin Hye holds first script reading; Plot and main character info revealed". yibada.com. May 18, 2016. Archived from the original on May 19, 2016. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
20. ^ "Park Shin Hye has a Stairway to Heaven reunion with actor Baek Sung Hyun". DramaFever. July 1, 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
21. ^ "Doctors - LA18 Mon/Tues Korean Drama". la18.tv (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 11, 2016. Retrieved August 15, 2016.
22. ^ "Gaon Download Chart". Gaon. Archived from the original on July 16, 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
23. ^ "Gaon Digital Chart". Gaon. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
24. ^ "TNMS Daily Ratings: this links to current day-select the date from drop down menu". TNMS Ratings (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 28, 2013. Retrieved 2016-06-20.
25. ^ "AGB Daily Ratings: this links to current day-select the date from drop down menu". AGB Nielsen Media Research (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 17, 2017. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
26. ^ "The SBS broadcasting schedule on August 16, 2016". SBS (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
27. ^ Han, In-goo (April 7, 2017). "공유·박보검·남궁민·한석규…백상예술대상 男TV연기상 4파전". Star Today (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 27, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
28. ^ Kim, So-yeon (May 4, 2017). "'Guardian,' 'The Handmaiden' win big at Baeksang Awards". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
29. ^ Lee, Seung-gil (September 7, 2017). "[SDA2017] '구르미', 한류드라마 최우수상…우수상은 'W'·'닥터스'". MyDaily (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 7, 2018. Retrieved September 7, 2017.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website (in Korean)
* The Doctors at HanCinema
* The Doctors at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

Works by Pan Entertainment

2000s|

* Winter Sonata
* Summer Scent
* Forbidden Love
* My Rosy Life
* The Secret Lovers
* Unstoppable Marriage
* I Am Sam
* Don't Cry My Love
* Women in the Sun

2010s|

* Brilliant Legacy
* Oh! My Lady
* Home Sweet Home
* Pure Pumpkin Flower
* The Duo
* Moon Embracing the Sun
* Man from the Equator
* Bridal Mask
* My Lover, Madame Butterfly
* A Hundred Year Legacy
* Passionate Love
* Golden Cross
* Gap-dong
* Mama
* 4 Legendary Witches
* Kill Me, Heal Me
* Heard It Through the Grapevine
* The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop
* The Doctors
* Marriage Contract
* Whisper
* Unknown Woman
* Fight for My Way
* Hospital Ship
* Temperature of Love
* My Contracted Husband, Mr. Oh
* Left-Handed Wife
* Liver or Die
* When the Camellia Blooms
* Never Twice

2020s|

* Record of Youth
* Revolutionary Sisters
* Racket Boys
* The Second Husband
* Gaus Electronics
* The Secret Romantic Guesthouse
* The Killing Vote
* Twinkling Watermelon
* The Whirlwind
* DNA Lover
* When Life Gives You Tangerines

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*[lit.]: literal translation
*[Ep.]: Episode
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
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