Dr. Romantic (2016)
Quick Take: Dr. Romantic (2016). Starring Han Suk-kyu, Yoo Yeon-seok, and Seo Hyun-jin. 9.7/10. 20 episodes of 60 min. each.
Synopsis: Master Kim is not, as the title might imply, the Don Juan of the OR. No, he’s more like House — a genius surgeon who doesn’t suffer fools. For political reasons he has been banished to a rural hospital, where he finds himself grudgingly mentoring three young surgeons. Lots of medical drama, some alpha-male surgeon rivalry, a nice romance, and outstanding hospital support staff.
Review: Top-notch actors! Han Suk-kyu, the lead actor who played Master Kim, was widely praised for his performance in Dr. Romantic. Other actors of note: Yoo Yeon-seok, who played the butcher/samurai gang leader in Mr. Sunshine (2018), plays a gifted young surgeon. Former K-pop idol and prolific actress Seo Hyun-jin plays the reluctant love interest, who has been traumatized mentally and physically. A young Kim Min-jae (Tempted 2018, Dali and the Cocky Prince 2021) plays Nurse Park, making the most of a small role. Themes include Do the right thing or you’ll regret it later.
Dr. Romantic won Best Drama at the 2017 Baeksang Arts Awards. Some story lines were left unfinished for a Season 2. Eventually a Season 3 was added.
Rewatchable - 5, Compelling - 5, Plot/ Story/Writing - 10, Acting/Casting - 10, Production - 10, Bonus - 7. Bonus points for complexity of plot and characters.
Recommended.
Notes:
Han Suk-kyu
has been active in both film and television dramas since the 1990’s. He is recognized as one of Korea’s leading dramatic actors, though his career has not been without controversy. He won both the prestigious Daesang Grand Prize and the Baeksang Arts Award for Best Actor for Dr. Romantic. See him also in Dr. Romantic 2 (2020) and Dr. Romantic 3 (2023).
Yoo Yeon-seok
has been acting since 2008. He rose to popularity in Reply 1994 (2013). See him also in Mr. Sunshine (2018) and Hospital Playlist 1 and 2 (2020, 2021). He also sings, and has done theater and musical theater.
Seo Hyun-jin
made her debut in a short-lived girl group, and then transitioned into acting. She gained recognition for her leading role in Another Miss Oh (2016). See her also in The Beauty Inside (2018), You Are My Spring (2021), and Why Her? (2022).
Kim Min-jae
studied composition and piano at a music academy in middle school, and became an idol trainee from the first year of high school. While waiting to debut, he had small parts in several dramas. He had a major role in Tempted (2018), the lead in Do You Like Brahams (2018), Dali and the Cocky Prince (2021), and Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist (2022). He appears as Nurse Park in all three seasons of Dr. Romantic.