9.081 minSeason 3 • Episode 16
LatestA fire approaches as if it would devour Doldam Hospital at any moment. Only after evacuating all the patients do the staff realise Teacher Kim was gone.
An eccentric, triple board-certified virtuoso surgeon leaves a top job in Seoul and ends up at a provincial hospital, where he mentors young doctors.
Acting
Han Suk-kyu's volcanic screen presence—every glare is a masterclass.
Writing
Surgical cases mirror character arcs with surgical precision.
Production
Gritty hospital realism vs. glossy Seoul flashbacks.
Creators
Kang Eun-kyung, Yoo In-sik
Han Suk-kyu
Teacher Kim / Bu Yong-ju
Lee Sung-kyung
Cha Eun-jae
Ahn Hyo-seop
Seo U-jin
Jin Kyung
Oh Myeong-sim
Im Won-hee
Jang Gi-tae
Byun Woo-min
Nam Do-il
Kim Min-jae
Park Eun-tak
Lee Kyung-young
Cha Jin-man
Yoon Na-moo
Jeong In-su
Kim Ju-hun
Park Min-guk
Shin Dong-wook
Bae Mun-jeong
So Joo-yeon
Yoon A-reum
Lee Hong-nae
Lee Seon-ung
Lee Sin-young
Jang Dong-hwa
Ko Sang-ho
Yang Ho-jun
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The 'Doldam Hospital' setting critiques Korea's hyper-centralized healthcare, where rural facilities are systematically underfunded. Teacher Kim's exile mirrors real doctor brain drain to Seoul's 'Big 5' hospitals.
Han Suk-kyu reportedly performed actual surgical training for months; his hand movements in OR scenes were verified by consultants. The 'Teacher Kim' character became so iconic that 'romantic doctor' entered Korean slang for eccentric mentors.
KR
