Ghost Doctor. Courtesy of tvN.
There is a McDreamy around every corner in these heartfelt dramas.
Often synonymous with romance, medical K-dramas are just as capable of delivering riveting thrills and edge-of-the-seat suspense while weaving in some slice-of-life charm. If this sounds like an irresistible pitch for your next weekend binge session, here are the Korean medical dramas to queue up:
Hospital Playlist (2020—)
Over the course of two seasons, Hospital Playlist has clocked in record ratings with its heart-warming portrayal of everyday doctors at Yulje Medical Centre and their off-duty jamming sessions that help them make sense of the world around them.
Doctor Stranger (2014)
If you like your medical K-dramas with a side of political intrigue, you’ve come to the right place. Featuring Lee Jong-suk and Jin Se-yeon in lead roles, the drama follows the story of a gifted surgeon who comes face-to-face with a doppelganger of his first love.
Doctor Romantic (2016)
If you are ready to sink your teeth into the nitty-gritty of another medical hospital as you await the third season of Hospital Playlist, you will want to follow Han Suk-kyu in this story of a famous surgeon who attempts to rebuild his life at a smaller hospital in a role that has fetched him several accolades at the Daesang Grand Prize.
Doctor Romantic 2 (2020)
Business Proposal fans in the house, make some noise as Ahn Hyo-seop takes on the role of a doctor haunted by a troubled past that has him feeling ostracized from his colleagues until Dr. Kim recruits him to Doldam Hospital.
Descendants of the Sun (2016)
One saves lives in the operation theatre and the other can pull the trigger for his homeland… the warring philosophies around life and death serve as the central motif in this love story between a surgeon and soldier who find themselves on opposite sides of the fence.
Life (2018)
If you liked what you saw of Lee Dong-wook as the grim reaper in Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (2016), you will want to settle in to watch him take on another decidedly ‘grim’ role: an emergency medicine specialist uncovering conspiracies and cover-ups within the walls of Sangkook University Hospital.
Kill Me, Heal Me (2015)
If you are looking for lighter fare, this 2015 romcom features fan-favorite Park Seo-joon alongside Ji Sung, a chaebol heir battling a dissociative personality disorder who enlists the help of a psychiatry resident (played by Hwang Jung-eum).
Ghost Doctor (2022)
If you don’t mind some supernatural juju in the battle for life and death, this K-drama will deliver on all counts. Starring Kim Beom and Rain, the drama follows the tale of an insufferable cardio surgeon whose skills are merged into a clumsy first-year resident.
Doctor Prisoner (2019)
Upon being wrongly fired on grounds of medical malpractice, Dr, Na Yi-je (played by Namkoong Min) will find a surprising workplace to hone his skills and forge enough connections for revenge: a prison.
A Poem A Day (2018)
Step into the lives of physical therapists, nurses and trainees with this healing drama that follows the aspirations and dreams of its ensemble cast underscored by a thoughtful touch of poetry.
This post was originally published on Vogue India
