There are many genres of Korean drama out there, but the medical Korean drama series are the ones loved by many out there. The medical dramas portray not only the medical science but also the struggle, dilemmas, and hard work that comes with it that are very necessary to talk about. Especially, the genre of medical drama mixed with romance, fantasy, mystery makes it more intriguing and interesting for the audience out there who are suckers for K-dramas.
Asian dramas have always been the best and are loved globally by the majority of people. The honest portrayal of the real-life situations and difficulties that a medical professional goes through is very much needed for everyone to be aware of. The South Korean creators have done their job perfectly in the arena, and all the K-drama lovers out there are loving every bit of it.
Here we have handpicked and discussed the top 31 medical Korean drama series that should definitely have a place on your watchlist. Let’s have a look.
Hospital Playlist:
Are you looking for the genres of friendship, romance, and medical in one drama? Then this is your stop. Hospital Playlist introduces five doctors to us who have been friends for 20 years and are working in the same hospital. Through the series, we get a brief insight into the lives of medical practitioners and what issues they have to deal with on a daily basis. The story narrates a perfect balance of friendship, romance, comedy, and workplace. All of the following are portrayed in a very perfect way.
Plus, the OST’s of the drama are real gems. They are hits and will grant your ears with the best melodies that are sung by Jin-ah, Lee So-ra, and the five main leads. The soundtrack did really well, and among them, Aloha and I Knew Love were the songs that entered the Top 100 charts.
The medical Korean drama series has been highly praised for its portrayal of realism and its perfect approach to everything. It deserves the first position on your watchlist.
- Starring: Cho Jung-suk as Lee Ik-jun, Jeon Mi-do as Chae Song-hwa, Yoo Yeon-seok as Ahn Jung-won, Jung Kyung as Kim Jun-wan, and Kim Dae-myung as Yang Seok-hyung.
- Director: Lee Woo-Jung.
- Premiere Period: March 12, 2020, to September 16, 2021.
- Watch on: Netflix, Viki, Viu.
- Total Number of Episodes: 24 with a running time of 72 to 121 minutes.
Dr. Romantic:
Both the seasons of the show have been a hit and have been praised highly by everyone for their thrilling plotline and powerful cast performance.
In the story, we meet a Bu Yong-Joo who is a doctor but goes through a very tragic incident that changes his whole life. He reaches his lowest point and is pressurized to start his life from a whole new point. He changes his name to Kim Sa-bu and starts working as a chief surgeon in a small hospital in the Gangwon Province.
We see a whole character development Kim Sa-bu and also Kang Dong-Joo and Yoon Seo-Jeong, who are trainees under him. The second season of the show narrates the story of Sa-bu’s search for a general surgeon for working in the current hospital he is working in. He finds Seo Woo-jin at a university hospital and is quite disappointed with the thought that Woo-jin is too good for the position. Although, he makes the offer to him anyhow.
He also takes in Cha Eun-Jae after she gets suspended for falling asleep in an operation theatre and gives her a new ray of hope for becoming a better doctor.
Both the seasons were greatly loved by everyone and earned a top spot in the highest-rated weekday dramas of 2020 lists.
- Starring: Yoo Yeon-Seok as Kang Dong-Joo, seo Hyun-jin as Yoon Seo-Jung, Ahn Hyo-seop as Seo Woo-jin, Lee Sung-Kyung as Cha Eun-Jae, and Kim Joo-hun as Park Min-gook.
- Director: Yoo In-Shik and Lee Gil-bok.
- Premiere Period: November 7, 2016, to February 5, 2020.
- Watch on: Netflix, Viu, Viki.
- Total Number of Episodes: 36 with a running time of 60 to 70 minutes.
ALSO READ: 31 Best Investigation Korean Movies To Watch
Doctor John:
The drama narrates a tale of a tragic accident at Hanse Hospital, after which an ex-anesthesiologist named Kang Shi-young takes up a part-time job as a prison doctor. There she crosses paths with an inmate named Cha Yo-han, who has been jailed for euthanizing a hospitalized criminal. Their continuous encounters at the prison somehow change Shi-young perspective about her whole decision of running away to Madagascar. She gets back to her job and finds out that Yo-han has been released from his sentence and will be heading to the department she is in.
The plot of the drama is based upon a Japanese novel titled “On Hand of God” by Yo Kusakabe. It explores various natures, or different schools of thought surrounding assisted suicide, mostly shared or conveyed through thought-provoking conversations between patients and their loved ones. All in all, the drama is a perfect package of everything, and you should for sure have it on your watchlist.
- Starring: Ji Sung as Cha Yo-han, Lee Se-young as Kang Shi-young, Lee Kyu-hyung as Son Seok-ki, and Hwang Hee as Lee Yoo-joon.
- Director: Joo Soo-won, Kim Young-hwan, and Lee Gye-joon.
- Premiere Period: July 19 to September 17, 2019.
- Watch on: Netflix, Viu.
- Total Number of Episodes: 16 with a running period of 35 minutes.
Good Doctor:
Portraying the genre of medical the show narrates the story of Park Si-on, who is a pediatric surgeon and has autism and photographic memory. His colleagues consider him unreliable and inexperienced due to his mental health condition. In the midst of all the happenings around, he finds a pillar to lean on. He falls in love with Cha Yoon-seo, and she becomes his mental and emotional support through all the situations.
The drama is altogether a roller-coaster ride of emotions, and there is a lot of character development in the story. You are definitely going to love the characters and their way of working with their patients. The show has bagged many awards and nominations and lots of positive recognition from the international audience. Do add it to your K-drama watchlist.
- Starring: Joo Won as Park Si-on, Moon Chae-won as Cha Yoon-seo, Joo Sang-Wook as Kim Do-han, Kim Min-seo as Yoo Chae-Kyung.
- Director: Kim Min-soo and Kim Jin-woo.
- Premiere Period: August 5 to October 8, 2013.
- Watch on: Netflix, Viki, KOCOWA.
- Total Number of Episodes: 20 with a running time of 1 hour 5 minutes each.
Heart Surgeons:
The story of the show is set in Taesan University Hospital, which is a fictional place. In the thoracic department of the hospital, we meet Choi Suk-Han, who is given the opportunity to perform a heart transplant surgery for a presidential candidate. This chance is a big one for him as if the surgery is successful, and it will earn him and the institution a lot of fame. Well, the risk involved is high too.
Things take a downturn when his colleague Park Tae-soo who was in charge of transporting the donor’s heart from another hospital, delays the delivery by making a detour and then gives it to a young girl who was in such urgent need of the same as per him.
The drama not only sheds light on the social stereotyping of people based on their financial status but also tells us the politics behind the walls. It shows the abuse of power by the high society people and discrimination against the less privileged people.
- Starring: Goo Soo as Park Tae-soo, Um Ki-joon as Choi Suk-Han, and Seo Ji-Hye as Yoon Soo-Yeon.
- Director: Jo Young-kwang.
- Premiere Period: September 27 to November 15, 2018.
- Watch on: Viu, SBS TV.
- Total Number of Episodes: 32 with a running time of 35 minutes each.
D-Day:
Portraying the genres of medical and romance, the drama follows Lee hae-sung, who is a surgeon transferred from one of the top hospitals of Seoul to a rundown hospital with no ER department. Well, that sounds tragic, and it is.
His transfer was triggered after he disobeyed his previous hospital director Park Gun. He meets an orthopedic resident from Busan named Jung Ddol-mi who had come to Seoul to transfer a patient. She is all set to meet a very cold robotic person surgeon named Han Woo-jin, who saved her life when she was younger back in Busan. However, things never go her way as she is stuck in Seoul after saving a patient.
To make the situation worse, a sinkhole happened in Seoul, followed by a huge earthquake that led to blockage all around the city, and every mode of communication was cut off. Later, the Hae-Seong team collaborates with Ddol-mi and starts treating people.
- Starring: Kim Young-kwang as Lee hae-sung, Jung So-min as Jung Ddol-mi, and Ha Seok-jin as Han Woo-jin.
- Director: Jang Yong-woo.
- Premiere period: September 18 to November 21, 2015.
- Watch on: Netflix, Viu, Viki.
- Total Number of Episodes: 20 with a running time of 75 minutes.
Doctor Prisoner:
Well, the story here will make you dive deeper and deeper into this genre of South Korean dramas. The plot of the show portrays the genres of medical and revenge, and we get to meet Na Yi-je, a caring doctor in the Taekang Hospital’s ER department, dragged into the mess of malpractice he never indulged in.
He gets falsely framed for misconduct by his superiors and is sent to prison, where he serves his jail period and then joins as a prison doctor. From there, he plans for his revenge on Lee Jae-joon, whose anger issues have led to the death of many innocent lives. For executing his plan, he takes the help of well-to-do convicts by getting them out of prison, giving the reason that they have caught some uncommon disease.
The drama was well-received by the audience and topped the viewership charts with its suspense, full plot, and powerful cast performance.
- Starring: Namkoong Min as Na Yi-Jae, Kim Byung-Chul as Seon Min-Sik, Choi Won-young as Lee Jae-joon, and Kwon Nara as Han So-geum.
- Director: Hwang In-hyuk.
- Premiere Period: March 20 to May 15, 2019.
- Watch on: Netflix, Viu.
- Total Number of Episodes: 32 with a running time of 35 minutes each.
Life:
Life is one of the popular ones when it comes to the category of medical Korean dramas. The show narrates the story, which is shared from the doctor’s and the president’s point of view following the death of the former president of the hospital. We meet the two sides, one of Koo Seung-ho, who is all set to convert the hospital into a profit-generating business by covering up patient’s death, and on the other side, Ye Jin-woo and his team of doctors are doing their best to save the lives of patients.
The drama not only portrays the genre of medical but also of workplace politics which is a very and essential notion of the society to be addressed. We see the story from two points of view, one being flooded by profits and the other by the interest of the patients.
- Starring: Lee Dong-Wook as Ye Jin-woo, Cho Seung-woo as Koo Seung-Hyo, Won Jin-ah as Lee No-Eul, Lee Kyu-Hyung as Ye Seon-woo, Yoo Jae-Myung as Joo Kyung-moon, and Moon So-ri as Oh Se-Hwa.
- Director: Hong Jong-chan and Im Hyun-Wook.
- Premiere Period: July 23 to September 11, 2018.
- Watch on: Netflix, Viu.
- Total Number of Episodes: 16 with a running time of 1 hour 10 minutes each.
ALSO READ: 31 Best Horror Korean Dramas To Watch
Yong-Pal:
Another popular series in the category of medial Korean drama and was loved greatly by all the audience out there. The drama was not only loved for its perfect plot but also for its cast, which bought together Kim Tae-hee and Jo Hyun-Jae, who were not see together after their 2004 drama Forbidden Love.
In the story of the show, we meet a very talented surgeon named Kim Tae Hyun, who is struggling with his rough financial situation and is desperate to pay off her sister’s medical bills. Therefore, he coins a code name Yong-pal and starts helping anyone who is in need of some medical attention but can’t seek the help publicly, i.e., dealing with criminals, corrupt plutocrats. He joins a team of corrupt physicians; he rescues Han Yo Jin, who is a chaebol heiress and is in a deep medically induced coma. The gesture and his perfect medical skills land him in many unexpected dangerous situations.
- Starring: Joo Won as Kim Tae-Hyun, Kim Tae-hee as Han Yeo-jin, Jo Hyun-Jae as Han Do-joon, and Chae Jung-an as Lee Chae-young.
- Director: Oh, Jin-suk.
- Premiere Period: August 5 to October 1, 2015.
- Watch on: Viki, Netflix.
- Total Number of Episodes: 18 with a running time of 65 minutes.
Doctor Stranger:
The show has some quite intriguing plots that will thrill you to the nerves. We meet two North Korean defectors, Park Hoon, who is a talented surgeon, and his girlfriend named Song Jae-hee. Though their plan fails miserably, and only Hoon manages to get out of there.
The situation was heavily painful for both of them, but Hoon manages to get a hold of it and start a new life for him by joining in a hospital. He meets Han Seung-hee, a fellow doctor who looks very similar to Jae-hee. Later on, the story takes s sharp turn, and we find out that Seung-hee and Jae-hee are the same people. And then the complications begin.
- Starring: Lee Jong-suk as Park Hoon, Jin Se-yeon as Song Jae-hee, Park hae-jin as Han Jae-joon, and Kang So-ra as Oh Soo-Hyun.
- Director: Jin Hyuk and Hong Jong-chan.
- Premiere Period: May 5 to July 8, 2014.
- Watch on: Netflix, Viki, Apple TV, WeTv.
- Total Number of Episodes: 20 with a running time of 60 minutes each.
Kill Me Heal Me:
One of the best series out there with the portrayal of sensitive yet to be highly addressed issues like child abuse and dissociative identity disorder. The show was well-received by everyone for its unique yet informative plot idea and for its cast that brought together Ji Sung and Hwang Jung-eum after they were last seen together in their 2013’s drama Secret Love.
The show narrates the story of a third-generation business heir who has developed DID (dissociative identity disorder) after going through several life0threatening experiences. He meets Oh Ri Jin, who is a very talented first-year psychiatric resident who helps him secretly, and he relies on her and attempts to regain control over his life again.
Things get pretty interesting and intriguing with the development of the story in the drama, and you are going to absolutely love it. Don’t forget to add it to your watchlist.
- Starring: Ji Sung as Cha Do-Hyun, Hwan Jung-eum as Oh Ri-jin, Park Seo-joon as Oh Ri-on, Oh Min-suk as Cha Ki-joon, and Kim Yoo-ri as Han Chae-yeon.
- Director: Kim Jin-man and Kim Dae-jin.
- Premiere Period: January 7 to March 12, 2015.
- Watch on: Netflix, Viu, Viki.
- Total Number of Episodes: 20 with a running time of 70 minutes.
It’s Okay, That’s Love:
One of the highest-rated K-dramas out there in Korean entertainment and is known for its genres like romance, medical, and melodrama.
The show narrates the story of Jang Jae-yeol, a bestselling author and a radio DJ. She is quite successful, but his life has been deteriorating on his mental health side. His personality is playful and arrogant, but with it, he also has been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder. He has landed in the deepest tunnel of darkness because of all the past traumas he has gone through in his past.
We meet Ji Hae-soo, who is a psychiatrist in her first year of fellowship. Her whole life, she has been only focused on her career and her job, which has made her sour about the idea of love and relationships.
Both the characters are the polar opposite of each other, but together they are healing. Despite all the bickering and useless arguments they get into, they have formed a special bond. Eventually, they fall in for each other and decide to help each other with their insecurities and issues. There’s a lot to learn from them as they learn and heal together.
- Starring: Gong Hyo-jin as Ji Hae-soo, Sung Dong-il as Jo Dong-min, Jo In-sung as Jang Jae-yeol, Do Kyung-soo as Han Kang-woo, and Lee Kwang-soo as Park Soo-kwang, and
- Director: Kim Kyu-tae.
- Premiere Period: July 23 to September 10, 2014.
- Watch on: Viki, Viu.
- Total Number of Episodes: 16 with a running time of 60 minutes each.
Descendants of the Sun:
Portraying the genres of romance, medical, and action, Descendants of Sun is one of the most popular South Korean drama out there. It was a major hit all over Asia and has bagged several awards and nominations at several award shows. It also has many local adaptations and has been credited for the rise of tourism in Korea.
The story follows Si-Jin, who is a captain of the special forces, and he catches a motorcycle thief while off-duty and the thief injured while doing the same. He is sent to a hospital, and Si-Jin realizes that his cell phone was stolen by the thief, so he goes back to the hospital to get it back.
He meets Dr. Kang Mo-yeon there and falls for her at first sight. Things take a turn, and they get together but are often busy with their respective duties. The romance unfolds with several issues and obstacles in the way. There’s a lot happening in the story, and don’t worry about the action part as they both have a happy ending with each other.
- Starring: Song Joong-ki as Captain Yoo Si-jin, Song Hye-Kyo as Doctor Kang Mo-Yeon, and Jin-goo as Master Sergeant Seo Dae-young.
- Director: Lee Eung-bok and Baek Sang-hoon.
- Premiere Period: February 24 to April 22, 2016.
- Watch on: Netflix, Viki, Viu.
- Total Number of Episodes: 16 plus 3 special episodes with a running time of 60 minutes.
ALSO READ: 31 Best Law Korean Drama Series To Watch
Hospital Ship:
One of the popular South Korean dramas portraying the story of a group of doctors who work onboard a hospital ship that sails around Korean islands and provides all kinds of medical help to the people residing in the islands. We meet four genius medical professionals among them and Song Eun-Jae is a genius surgeon having a rough past; then there is Kwan Hyun, who is a doctor specializing in internal medicine. They are joined by Kim Jal-gol, who is practicing oriental medicine, and later by a dentist named Cha Joon-yong.
All of them together are giving their best and overcoming their differences for helping out people and treating patients on the ship on each island they visit.
- Starring: Ha Ji-won as Song Eun-Jae, Kang Min-hyuk as Kwak Hyun, Lee Seo-won as Kim Jae-Geol, and Kim In-sik as Cha Joon-young.
- Director: Park Jae-bum.
- Premiere Period: August 30 to November 2, 2017.
- Watch on: Netflix, Viki.
- Total Number of Episodes: 40 with a running time of 35 minutes each.
Doctors:
It is one of the most known series in the category of medical Korean dramas. The plot has intrigued thousands of audiences out there and is still very fascinating for everyone.
The show’s plot revolves around Yoo Hye-Jung, who is a very focused neurosurgeon and has a troubled past. She is in the position only because of her homeroom teachers back in high school who believed in her and inspired her to realize her potential. And they are working in the same hospital now.
The drama’s plot is a mix of everything, and we also get a fair share of comedy in the tensed operating rooms. In the whole plot of the show, we get to see some amazing character developments, and we also watch them healing together from their past emotional traumas.
- Starring: Kim rae-won as Hong Ji-hong, Park Shin-hye as Yoo Hye-jung, Yoon Gyun-sang as Jung Yoon-do, Lee Sung-kyung as Jin Seo-woo.
- Director: Oh Choong-hwan.
- Premiere Period: June 20 to August 23, 2016.
- Watch on: Netflix, Viu.
- Total Number of Episodes: 20 with a running time of 60 minutes each.
A Poem A Day:
Portraying the genres of life and medical the drama is one of the popular ones in the category of medical Korean dramas. The story follows the lives of different medical professionals working at the same hospital-like physical therapists, rehabilitation therapists, radiographers, nurses, medical trainees, and more.
We get a chance to see their lives from a clear and closer point of view and are made familiar with the daily struggle they go through as medical professionals.
- Starring: Lee Yu-bi as Woo Bo-young, Lee Joon-hyuk as Ye Jae-Wook, and Jang Dong-Yoon as Shin Min-ho.
- Director: Han Sang-jae.
- Premiere Period: March 26 to May 15, 2018.
- Watch on: Viu, Viki, K-DRAMA.
- Total Number of Episodes: 16 with a running time of 60 minutes each.
Emergency Couple:
The drama series portrays the genre of medical and romance in a very implicit way that will make you fall in love with it. The tvN drama narrates the story of a divorced couple who are again brought together by destiny and their feeling for each other starts to reignite. The plot and cast performance of the show made it very popular among everyone, and the demand for it even after its end led to the release of one special episode.
We meet medical school students Oh Chang-min and dietitian Oh Jin-hee in their early twenties. They both fall in love and end up getting married despite facing huge opposition from Oh Jin-hee’s family. Chang-min’s family is on the wealthy side, filled with successful doctors who believe that Ji-hee is not a very suitable partner for him. Though, when he goes against their decision, they cut off all the ties with him, leaving him in a very rough economic condition.
In the struggle to make a living, Chang-min gives up on his dream to become a doctor and starts working as a pharmaceutical salesman. Things don’t get alright as he is terrible at his job, and Jin-hee continues to feel inferior under the judgmental gaze of his family. The constant instability leads to their divorce. Though, fates had other plans.
They meet again after six years as interns at the same hospital where they have to work together for three months in the emergency room.
- Starring: Song Ji-Hyo as Oh Jin-hee, Choi Jin-hyuk as Oh Chang-min, Lee Pil-mo as Gook Cheon-soo, Choi Yeo-jin as Shim Ji-Hye, Clara as Han Ah-reum, and Yoon Jong-hoon as Im Yong-Gyu.
- Director: Kim Cheol-kyu.
- Premiere Period: January 24 to April 5, 2014.
- Watch on: Viki, Apple TV.
- Total number of episodes: 21 with a running time of 60 minutes each.
ALSO READ: 31 Best Historical Korean Dramas To Watch
Mirror of the Witch:
Also known as “Secret Healer,” the JTBC drama is one of the popular ones out there in the medical Korean drama category. Portraying the genres of history, fantasy, romance, and comedy, the show narrates the story of Heo Jun, a young man who has faced a lot of discrimination for being an illegitimate son and hence gives up on his talent, intelligence, and passion for academia. Reaching his lowest point, he decides to just make money by making use of his charm and good looks.
On the other side of the story, we meet Queen Sim, who was unable to conceive and thus seeks help from a shaman learned in black magic and thus has twins, a girl, and a boy. However, the princess named Seo Ri is cursed and hence is left abandoned in the mountains where she meets Heo Jun. There are stories circulating everywhere that whoever falls in love with the princess will die. Seo Ri is looking for a remedy to break the curse and is also creating magical treatments that help sick people.
Their meetings grow frequently, and Heo Jun’s passion for medicine starts to grow, and he decides to become a doctor. He takes inspiration from Seo Ri as she continues fighting with her destiny.
- Starring: Yoon Shi Yoon as Heo Jun, Kim Sae Ron as Seo Ri, Yeom Jung Ah as Hong Joo, Lee Sung Jae as Choi Hyun Seo, Kwak Shi Yang as Poong Yeon, and Moon Ga Young as Sol Gae.
- Director: Jo Hyun Moon.
- Premiere Period: May 13 to July 16, 2016.
- Watch on: Viki.
- Total Number of Episodes: 20 with a running time of 1 hour 5 minutes each.
Blood:
Blood is one of the popular drama series out there portraying the genres of medical, thriller, and romance. Well, are you interested in vampires? This is your stop.
The story revolves around a doctor specialized in hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery named Park Ji-sang. He is working in one of the best cancer research hospitals in the country, and interestingly he is also a vampire. His cold aura makes him seem very unapproachable, but from inside, he has a soft heart and years for closeness with people.
He is a very good doctor and believes strongly in the sanctity of human life. Therefore, he has gained strong control over his thirst for blood and treats all his ill patients. He meets Yoo Ri-ua, who is a physician and also the niece of the chaebol group chairman, who is the owner of the hospital.
Ri-ua is very good with her job, but her arrogant attitude makes her quite snooty. But this doesn’t stop Ji-sang from falling in love with her.
- Starring: Ahn Jae-Hyun as Park Ji-sang, Jin Jin-hee as Lee Jae-Wook, Ku Hye-sun as Yoo Ri-ta, and Son Soo-Hyun as Min Ga-yeon.
- Director: Kim Min-soo and Lee Jae-hoon.
- Premiere Period: February 16 to April 21, 2015.
- Watch on: Viki, Netflix, KOCOWA.
- Total Number of Episodes: 20 with a running period of 65 minutes each.
Medical Top Team:
Portraying the genres of medical and romance, the South Korean drama narrates the story of the lives of doctors and nurses who are members of an elite medical team from the Gwang Hae University Hospital, which is a fictional place.
They are from different disciplines and are excelling in their specialized departments. Though, from being perfect medical professionals, they are common humans too and are undergoing their own personal dilemmas and struggles. But as the story progresses, we see them healing together.
- Starring: Kwong Sang-woo as Park Tae-shin, Jung Ryeo-won as Seo Joo-young, Ju Ji-hoon as Han Seung-Jae, Oh Yeon-seo as Choi Ah-jin, and Choi Minho as Kim Seong-woo.
- Director: Kim Do-hoon and Oh Hyun-jong.
- Premiere Period: October 9 to December 12, 2013.
- Watch on: Netflix, Viki.
- Total Number of Episodes: 20 with a running time of 60 minutes each.
Beautiful Mind:
A KBS show is also known as “Dr. Frankenstein,” portrays the genres of medical, mystery, and melodrama. The drama didn’t do really well with the ratings and but has a fair share of viewership and fan base.
The story of the show has been inspired by a gothic novel by Mary Shelley titled “Frankenstein”. It narrates the story of a very popular and unsympathetic neurosurgeon and his participation in the mysterious deaths in the hospital he is working in.
- Starring: Jang Hyuk as Lee Young-oh, Park So-dam as Gye Jin-sung, Yoon Hyun-min as Hyun Suk-joo, park Se-young as Kim Min-jae, and Heo Joon-ho as Lee Gun-myung.
- Director: Mo Wan-il.
- Premiere Period: June 20 to August 2, 2016.
- Watch on: Viki, Viu.
- Total Number of Episodes: 14 with a running time of 60 minutes each.
ALSO READ: 31 Best Food Korean Drama Series To Watch
Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim:
In the story, we meet a Bu Yong-Joo who is a doctor but goes through a very tragic incident that changes his whole life. He reaches his lowest point and is pressurized to start his life from a whole new point. He changes his name to Kim Sa-bu and starts working as a chief surgeon in a small hospital in the Gangwon Province.
We see a whole character development Kim Sa-bu and also of Kang Dong-Joo and Yoon Seo-Jeong, who are trainees under him. The second season of the show narrates the story of Sa-bu’s search for a general surgeon for working in the current hospital he is working in. He finds Seo Woo-jin at a university hospital and is quite disappointed with the thought that Woo-jin is too good for the position. Although, he makes the offer to him anyhow.
Both the seasons were greatly loved by everyone and earned a top spot in the highest-rated weekday dramas of 2020 lists.
- Starring: Yoo Yeon-Seok as Kang Dong-Joo, seo Hyun-jin as Yoon Seo-Jung, Ahn Hyo-seop as Seo Woo-jin, Lee Sung-Kyung as Cha Eun-Jae, and Kim Joo-hun as Park Min-gook.
- Director: Yoo In-Shik and Lee Gil-bok.
- Premiere Period: November 7, 2016, to February 5, 2020.
- Watch on: Netflix, Viu, Viki.
- Total Number of Episodes: 36 with a running time of 60 to 70 minutes.
Faith:
Featuring the genres of fantasy, history, medical, and romance, the South Korean drama narrates the story of a modern-day plastic surgeon who is kidnapped and brought back 700 years into the time to the Goryeo period. She falls in love with her kidnapper, who is a warrior leading the royal guards.
The story is a perfect mix of everything you would need in a drama and is definitely a must-watch.
- Starring: Kim Hee Sun as Dr. Yoo Eun Soo, Lee Min Ho as General Choi Yeong, Ryu Deok Hwan as King Gong Min, Park Se Young as Noh Goog, Yoo Oh Sung as Gi Chul, and Hwang Woo Yun as Ja Woon.
- Director: Kim Jong Hak and Shin Yong Hwi.
- Premiere Period: August 13 to October 30, 2012.
- Watch on: Viki, Apple TV, KOCOWA.
- Total Number of Episodes: 24 with a running time of 1 hour 3 minutes.
Cross:
Featuring the genres of medical and thriller, the South Korean drama narrates the story of a young man who has a strong desire to avenge his father, who was murdered without any mercy fifteen years ago. For executing his plan, he learns medicine and becomes a doctor.
Later, he volunteers at a prison medical office where his father’s murderer has been prisoned.
- Starring: Go Kyung-pyo as Kang In-gyu, Cho Jae-hyun as Go Jung-hoon, Jeon So-min as Go Jin-in, Jin Yi-han as Lee Joo-hyuk, and Yang Jin-sung as Son Yeon-hee.
- Director: Shin Yong-hwi.
- Premiere Period: January 29 to March 20, 2018.
- Watch on: Viki, K-DRAMA.
- Total Number of Episodes: 16 with a running time of 60 minutes each.
Forest:
Portraying the genres of medical, business, romance, and psychology, the South Korean drama series is one of the popular ones in the category. It narrates the story of the CEO of the investment company, RLI. Kang San Hyuk is a devoted businessman who would go to any length to secure a business deal. He joins the 911 special rescue team to research the resort development in Miryeong forest.
We meet an up-and-coming surgeon named Jung Yeong Jae, who has spent some rough time in a deserted hospital in Miryeong after a tragic incident.
They both cross paths many times in the forest and start to fall for each other. But things are not always that normal as they look, and the same goes for Miryeong. It is filled with many secrets and tragedies. San Hyuk had a rough childhood and has no memories of the same. He is also suffering from psychological trauma. Things turn pretty interesting and thrilling as the story unfolds.
- Starring: Park Hae Jin as Kang San Hyuk, Jo Bo Ah as Jung Young Jae, Jung Yeon Joo as Oh Bo Mi, Noh Kwang Shik as Choi Chang, Ryu Seung Soo as Bong Dae Yong, and Woo Jung Kook as Ki Pil Young.
- Director: Oh Jong Rok.
- Premiere Period: January 29 to March 19, 2020.
- Watch on: Viki, Apple TV.
- Total Number of Episodes: 32 with a running time of 31 minutes each.
Obstetrics and Gynecology Doctors:
Also known as “OB & GY” the show is one of the popular ones in the category of Medical Korean drama series.
The story of the drama portrays the difficult decisions and very heart-warming stories that happen inside the OB-GYN department. We meet Seo Hye Young, a very talented and successful obstetrician who has just been transferred from the renowned Seoul base to the branch hospital. When it comes to her career, then she is recognized as straightforward and very professional, but when it comes to her personal life, then things are highly messed up. She is in a relationship with a married man, and that has given her a fair share of stress.
The story takes many twists and turns as the show progresses, and we meet some new characters who play an important role in getting Hye Young out of the mess.
- Starring: Jang Seo-hee as Seo Hye Young, go Joo-won as Lee sang Shik, seo Ji-seok as Wang Jae Suk, Lee Young-eun as Kim young Mi, Song Joong-ki as Ahn Kyung Woo, Ahn Sun-young as Lee Sook Jung, Lee Ki-young as Oh Jae Ho, Lee Seung-hyung as Jung Kyung Joo.
- Director: Lee Hyeon-Jik and Choi Hyeong-Hun.
- Premiere Period: February 3 to March 25, 2010.
- Watch on: Viu.
- Total Number of Episodes: 16 with a running time of 1 hour 4 minutes each.
ALSO READ: 31 Best Friendship Korean Drama Series To Watch
The Gang Doctor:
A popular series in the category of medial Korean drama. It was loved greatly by all the audience out there. The drama was not only loved for its perfect plot but also for its cast, which bought together Kim Tae-hee and Jo Hyun-Jae, who were not see together after their 2004 drama Forbidden Love.
In the show, we meet a very talented surgeon named Kim Tae Hyun, who is struggling with his rough financial situation; and is desperate to pay off her sister’s medical bills. Therefore, he coins a code name Yong-pal; and starts helping anyone who is in need of some medical attention but can’t seek the help publicly, i.e., dealing with criminals, corrupt plutocrats. He joins a team of corrupt physicians; he rescues Han Yo Jin, who is a chaebol heiress and is in a deep medically induced coma. The gesture and his perfect medical skills land him in many unexpected dangerous situations.
- Starring: Joo Won as Kim Tae-Hyun, Kim Tae-hee as Han Yeo-jin, Jo Hyun-Jae as Han Do-joon, and Chae Jung-an as Lee Chae-young.
- Director: Oh Jin-suk.
- Premiere Period: August 5 to October 1, 2015.
- Watch on: Viki, Netflix.
- Total Number of Episodes: 18 with a running time of 65 minutes.
Chocolate:
The drama takes up to the life of Lee Kang, who is a neurosurgeon but has a strong dream of becoming a chef. We meet Moon Cha Young, who met Lee Kang in her childhood days at a seaside restaurant. There he used to cook meals for her, which became a strong inspiration for her to become a worldwide famous chef.
Both of them cross paths again after many years in a hospice ward, and together they heal from many past traumas and prepare meals for the patients in there.
- Starring: Yoon Kye Sang as Lee Kang, Ja Ji Won as Moon Cha Young, Jang Seung Jo as Lee Joon, Min Jin Woong as Moon Tae Hyun, Kang Boo Ja as Han Yong Sul, and Lee Jae Ryong as Lee Seung Hoon.
- Director: Lee Hyung Min.
- Premiere Period: November 29, 2019, to January 18, 2020.
- Watch on: Netflix, Viki.
- Total Number of Episodes: 16 with a running time of 1 hour 5 minutes.
Live Up to Your Name:
The drama narrates the story of a young man named Heo Im born in a concubine family in the Joseon era with a very skilled medical talent. Though, he is continuously pulled down from climbing the success ladder; and gaining a high position in the government because of his background and family heritage.
Frustrated with his life, he accidentally travels 400 years ahead in time and land in Seoul, where he meets a modern doctor named Yeong Gyung. The situation takes very unexpected turns, and we see her travelling back with him to Joseon together.
- Starring: Kim Nam Gil as Heo Im, Kim Ah Joong as Choi Yeon Kyung, Yoo Min Kyu as Yoo Jae Ha, Moon Ga Young as Dong Mak Gae, Yoon Joo Sang as Choi Chun Sool, and Uhm Hyo-sub as Heo Jun.
- Director: Hong Jong Chan.
- Premiere Period: August 12 to October 1, 2017.
- Watch on: Netflix, K-DRAMA.
- Total Number of Episodes: 16 with a running time of 1 hour 10 minutes.
Brain:
Narrating the story of a top neurosurgeon who strives for nothing but success and dreams of becoming the hospital director. The show is one of the popular ones in the category of medical Korean dramas and has been highly praised for its plot and cast.
We meet Lee Kang-hoon and Seo Joon-suk, who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, unlike Kang-hoon, who struggled with everything in his past. He despises him a lot and considers him his rival. We are later introduced to Yoon Ji-Hye, who has feelings for Kang-hoon. The series takes very unexpected turns and is a must on your watchlist.
- Starring: Shin Ha-kyun as Lee Kang-hoon, Jo Dong-hyuk as Seo Joon-suk, Jung Jin-young as Kim Sang-chul, Choi Jung-won as Yoon Ji-hye.
- Director: Yoo Hyun-ki and Song Hyun-wook.
- Premiere Period: November 14, 2011, to January 17, 2012.
- Watch on: Netflix, Viki.
- Total Number of Episodes: 20 with a running time of 60 minutes.
Doctor Detective:
The drama narrates the story of doctors who are trying to undercover the truth behind the continuous industrial accidents. The drama was pretty popular for its portrayal of real-life events and was highly praised for its cast performance and realistic depiction.
Many real-life occupational hazard events have happened to many South Korean citizens.
- Starring: Park Jin-hee as Do Joong-eun, Bong Tae-Gyu as Heo Min-ki, Lee Ki-woo as Choi Tae-Yeong.
- Director: Song Yoon-hee.
- Premiere Period: July 17 to September 5, 2019.
- Watch on: Viki, Apple TV, KOCOWA.
- Total Number of Episodes: 16 with a running time of 70 minutes each.
ALSO READ: 31 Best Fantasy Korean Drama Series To Watch
