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Dr. Romantic (Korean: 낭만닥터 김사부; Hanja: 浪漫닥터 金師父; RR: Nangmandakteo gimsabu; lit. Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim) is an ongoing South Korean television series starring Han Suk-kyu as the title character with Yoo Yeon-seok, Seo Hyun-jin in first season, Ahn Hyo-seop, Lee Sung-kyung in second and third season. The first season aired on SBS TV from November 7, 2016, to January 16, 2017, every Monday and Tuesday at 22:00 (KST). The second season aired from January 6 to February 25, 2020, every Monday and Tuesday at 21:40 (KST). The third season premiered on April 28, 2023, and airs every Friday and Saturday at 22:00 (KST). It is also available for streaming on Disney+, Kocowa, Viki and Viu in selected regions.
The first season received positive reception, recording over 20% in ratings. In addition, it also received positive reviews for its plot and Han Suk-kyu's performance.
A story about Boo Yong-joo (Han Suk-kyu), a triple-board certified surgeon, who was once at the top of his field and used to work at Seoul's top medical center, Geosan University Hospital. After a traumatic incident, he disappears and changes his name to Kim Sa-bu. He begins working at a small hospital named Doldam, located in Gangwon Province. He guides Kang Dong-joo (Yoo Yeon-seok) and Yoon Seo-jeong (Seo Hyun-jin) to become great doctors by teaching them to fight against power and money for the sake of patients.
Han Suk-kyu as Kim Sa-bu (Teacher Kim) / Boo Yong-joo
His real name is Boo Yong-joo, but he uses the name Kim Sa-bu. He is the only surgeon in South Korea who achieved triple-board certification in general surgery, cardiac surgery and neurosurgery. After the death of his disciple in Geosan University Hospital, he isolates himself and decides to never take any disciple again. He later, moves to Doldam Hospital to become the Chief Surgeon there. In season two, Doldam Hospital is in need of a general surgeon, he visited Geosan University Hospital in Seoul to recruit one and quickly becomes interested in Seo Woo-jin and Cha Eun-jae. After learning about their skills and struggles through other doctors, he decides to recruit them. He strives hard to make the Doldam Hospital a centre for trauma patients, which he considers "a collective dream of Doldam Staff", where treatment is given to patients in dire need regardless of their class, nationality and status.
Yoo Yeon-seok as Kang Dong-joo
Yoon Chan-young as young Kang Dong-joo
A GS (General Surgery) specialist. Intelligent and armed with excellent skills, his desire to succeed is driven due to an incident that happened to him in his childhood. He later went on to become a skilled surgeon but his opportunities were held back due to his poor family background and lack of contacts. He gets transferred to Doldam Hospital after a failed surgery on a VIP, which later proved to be an opportunity for him to exhibit his skills.
Seo Hyun-jin as Yoon Seo-jung
Shin Yi-joon as young Yoon Seo-jung
Initially she wants to become a doctor due to her strong desire to be recognized and appreciated by President Do who is more like a father figure to her and took up her responsibility as her guardian. When Kang Dong Joo's admits his feelings to her, she gets momentarily swayed and remembers his confession continuously during car drive with her fiancee which leads to a car accident in which she survives and her fiancee dies to which she feels guilty and furthermore disappears from Geosan University Hospital. An injured Yoon Seo-Jung while trekking is rescued and treated by Kim Sa-bu whom she treats and respects as her teacher and mentor. While she is saved and recovered, though she suffers from PTSD due to that accident in the past and stays in Doldam Hospital for good. But then later on she decides to continue being a doctor at Doldam Hospital. Originally an ER certified, she later strives hard to get certified in CS too after once observing Teacher Kim operating on a patient and from then dreams of a single opportunity to enter his OR and assist him, which she considers a very rare opportunity for a doctor.
Supporting[]
People of Doldam Hospital[]
Kim Hong-pa as Yeo Woon-young
An internal medicine specialist and director of Doldam Hospital. A proud doctor who lost his motivation after the death of his wife. In Season 2, he was dismissed by Do Yoon-wan as the director of Doldam Hospital.
Jin Kyung as Oh Myung-sim
The head nurse of Doldam Hospital. A woman with strong will, who is able to stand up to Kim Sa-bu. She seems strict, but has a warm heart and cares about her patients.
Im Won-hee as Jang Gi-tae
The manager of Doldam Hospital. He is known to be an opportunist and always want the best for the hospital, trying to find ways to promote it in any way he can.
Byun Woo-min as Nam Do-il
A freelance anesthesiologist. He usually runs a restaurant, but due to his average cooking skills, his only customers are usually Doldam doctors.
Kim Min-jae as Park Eun-tak
A nurse, now nurse practitioner at Doldam Hospital. He harbors a crush on Yoon Ah-reum. He first met Teacher Kim after being admitted as a patient. It was a life-changing encounter as he then decided to go to nursing school and eventually started working at Doldam Hospital himself.
Seo Eun-soo as Woo Yeon-hwa
A staff member who likes Dong-joo. Later, she comes back as a doctor at Doldam Hospital.
Lee Gyu-ho as Mr. Gu
An orderly who also serves as guard when there are agitated patients or people at the hospital.
Yoon Na-moo as Jeong In-soo
An emergency medicine specialist. He is the only doctor who stayed at Doldam among the few who were forced to leave Geosan University Hospital for the branch, back in 2016.
Kim Yong-jin as Chief Lee
Chief of Administration at Doldam Hospital.
People of Geosan University Hospital[]
Choi Jin-ho as Do Yoon-wan
Director of Geosan University Hospital. Though he is not outstanding as a doctor, his political skills are recognized and he intends to use them to shape Doldam Hospital the way he envisions it.
Yang Se-jong as Do In-bum
Yoon-wan's son. He went to the same college and was in the same class as Dong-joo. He wants to be acknowledged by his father and feels inferior to Dong-joo who has excellent skills without a good background. He also harbours a crush on Seo-jung.
Jang Hyuk-jin as Song Hyun-cheol
Chief of Surgery at Geosan University Hospital. He is from a poor family and has a strong desire for success.
Joo Hyun as Chairman Shin
Owner of Jungsun Casino and the hidden Chairman of Geosan Foundation.
Others[]
Seo Young as Chairman Shin's assistant
Kim Ji-eun as Yoon-wan's secretary
Park Min-jung as Min-jung
Kim Bo-jung as a nurse
Lee Chae-eun as a nurse
Jin Ah-rin
Lee Yong-yi as a mother of a patient (Ep. 3)
Ri Min as a truck driver (Ep. 4)
Lee Jin-kwon
Ko Jin-ho
Lee Cheol-min as Kang Seung-ho (Ep. 7–8)
Lee Myung-haeng as a psychotherapist (Ep. 8–9)
Shin Seung-hwan as a webtoon writer and patient at Doldam hospital (Ep. 9–10)
Park Seung-tae as a patient (Ep. 10)
Kim Joon-won as Inspector Choi
Kim Dan-woo as Inspector Choi's daughter
Shin Yeon-suk
Lee Kang-uk as a patient and driver who caused a six-fold collision by drunk driving
Lee Jae-wook
Heo Joon-seok
Kang Eui-sik as Park Joo-hyuk, the runaway soldier
Han Kab-soo as Park Joo-hyuk's father
Son Yeong-Soon as a patient's wife
Park Yeong-soo as the general manager of the Disease Control Center Department
Park Doo-shik as Soo-jung's boyfriend (Ep. 13–14)
Lee Jin-kwon
Jo I-hyun as a patient
Jeon Min-seo
Jung Soo-hwan as a high school student
Kim Se-joon as a paramedic transferring patients to Doldam Hospital
Kim Min-sang as Reporter Oh Sung-jae (Ep. 16–17)
Lee Jae-woo as Ahn woo-yeol (Ep. 16–17)
Lee Jung-sung
Special Appearances[]
Tae In-ho as Dr. Moon Tae-hwa, Yoon Seo-jung's boyfriend. He died due to brain hemorrhage after a car accident. (Ep. 1–2)
Moon Ji-in as a doctor and Yoon Seo-jung's friend (Ep. 1)
Dr. Romantic: Appendix, The Beginning of Everything (Special episode)
Special
January 17, 2017
27.0% (1st)
28.7% (1st)
23.1% (2nd)
The blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.
Episode 15 didn't air as scheduled (Monday, December 26) due to SBS Gayo Daejeon.[8]
This drama aired on a free-to-air TV/public broadcasters which normally has a relatively larger audience compared to cable channel/pay TV (JTBC, tvN, OCN , and ENA).
Awards and Nominations[]
Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination
↑Park Soo-in (March 16, 2023). 사랑의 불시착’ 이신영 ‘김사부3’ 출연, 돌담병원 막내의사 된다 ['Crash Landing on You' Lee Shin-young, 'Master Kim 3', becomes the youngest doctor at Doldam Hospital] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved on March 16, 2023 – via Naver.
↑Yoon Seong-yeol (March 16, 2023). 이홍내 '낭만닥터 김사부3' 합류..패기·열정 무장한 새 인물 (공식) [Lee Hong-nae joins 'Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim 3'... A new character armed with ambition and passion (Official)] (in Korean). Star News. Archived from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved on March 16, 2023 – via Naver.
↑Lee Min-ji (April 12, 2023). ‘낭만닥터 김사부3’ 원년 멤버 김민재 진경→신입 이신영 이홍내, 캐릭터 포스터 ['Romantic Doctor Teacher Kim 3' original member Kim Min-jae Jin-kyung → newcomer Lee Shin-young Lee Hong-nae, character poster] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved on April 12, 2023 – via Naver.
↑Yeon Hwi-seon (September 26, 2016). '낭만닥터 김사부' 한석규·유연석, 첫 대본 리딩부터 '열혈' ['Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim' Han Seok-gyu and Yoo Yeon-seok, 'Passionate' from the first script reading]. TV Daily(in ko). Archived from the original on May 22, 2021. Retrieved on October 22, 2016.
↑Park Jin-young (September 22, 2016). SBS "'낭만닥터' 내일 첫 촬영, 유연석·서현진 첫 연기호흡" [공식입장] [SBS "The first filming of 'Romantic Doctor' tomorrow, the first acting breath of Yoo Yeon-seok and Seo Hyun-jin" [Official position]] (in ko). Osen. Archived from the original on September 10, 2021. Retrieved on September 10, 2021 – via Naver.
↑Park, Yoon-jin (November 30, 2020). 강다니엘·BTS·아이유·아이즈원…'2020 APAN AWARDS' 인기상 수상 [Kang Daniel, BTS, IU, IZ*ONE..."2020 APAN AWARDS" Popularity Award Winners]. HanKyung(in Korean). Archived from the original on November 30, 2020. Retrieved on December 11, 2020.
↑[SBS 연기대상한석규, 5년만 대상..'낭만닥터' 7관왕 쾌거(종합)- 스타뉴스]. 스타뉴스(in Korean) (January 1, 2017). Archived from the original on July 29, 2021. Retrieved on June 11, 2017.
↑[포토엔한석규 '수상소감도 김사부처럼~'(SBS 연기대상)]. Newsen(in Korean) (January 1, 2017). Archived from the original on December 25, 2020. Retrieved on June 11, 2017.
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Dr. Romantic's Official Website (in Korean)
