According to Teacher Kim from the hit K-drama Doctor Romantic, he never makes bad decisions. While Season 1 might have initially painted a picture of questionable choices – like his impromptu casino visit during an emergency shift (apparently for some ‘authentic’ off-site medical practice) – it was all meticulously orchestrated for the ‘health’ of his unique Doldam Hospital family. This particular act, for instance, was designed to demonstrate to the newly recruited Dr. Kang Dong Joo his place within the unconventional Doldam Abbey. One might expect that being promoted to second-in-command mere hours after joining would spark jealousy or unease among the staff. However, they simply expressed gratitude to Teacher Kim for his profound understanding of Doldam’s essence.
Only one decision in Season 1 seemed to cause a ripple of concern: Teacher Kim’s attempt to demote the intensely zealous resident, Dr. Yoo Seo-jeong, affectionately nicknamed “the crazy whale,” to an orderly. Despite her recurring episodes involving threats of self-harm and violence with surgical instruments, which one might consider slightly beyond standard workplace behavior, the Doldam staff seemed strangely affronted by the mere suggestion of a personnel change. The question arises: why wouldn’t anyone consider that perhaps Dr. Yoo Seo-jeong might benefit from some time away from the high-stakes environment of surgery to address her personal struggles before being entrusted with the lives of vulnerable patients? At Doldam, however, it appears that surgeons operating on the edge of sanity, perhaps while nursing a debilitating wrist injury, are considered to be at their peak performance. This is a recurring theme throughout Doctor Romantic Season 2. Her colleagues, seemingly acting more as enablers, attributed her questionable mental state to head trauma, unresolved romantic feelings for a new colleague, and misunderstandings regarding a past hospital romance. If only Doldam’s culture of constant eavesdropping had been present in her Seoul hospital, she might have been spared the confusion about her ex’s infidelities! An orderly position? Really, Teacher Kim?! But this seemingly punitive “lesson” was, of course, all part of his grand plan.
Season 2 of Doctor Romantic unveils Doldam Abbey in its true form: a sanctuary for doctors deemed misfits elsewhere – those who have reported superiors or resorted to self-medication to cope with the grim realities of their profession. Despite initial resistance and a few dramatic escape attempts, this collection of socially unconventional doctors appears more than content to remain and serve under their Chief Surgeon overlord.
The narrative arc sees the departure of Kang Dong-joo and the arrival of a new heartthrob doctor, Seo Woo-jin, portrayed by Ahn Hyo-seop. While Ahn Hyo-seop’s striking looks initially suggested strong acting abilities, his performance ultimately reveals a more moderate skill level. Dr. Seo demonstrates competence in the operating room, but given his youthful appearance, one might speculate if he isn’t a male model with some medical reenactment experience subsidizing his fine arts aspirations. However, at Doldam, no one seems to question his credentials, or lack thereof; he is readily accepted as one of their own. This acceptance is solidified when gangsters, seeking repayment of his debts, begin an unsettling lobby occupation, complete with impromptu clothing removal. Their behavior, and Dr. Seo’s violent responses, are simply business as usual at Doldam Abbey, a place seemingly beyond the reach of conventional laws or social norms. He quickly develops a strong identification with Teacher Kim, viewing him as a surrogate father figure – a move that significantly endears him to the Doldam crew. Similar to Kang Dong-joo before him, Woo-jin’s troubled past makes him susceptible to Teacher Kim’s rather transparent grooming tactics. While Kang Dong-joo required considerable persuasion to join the Doldam ranks, Seo Woo-jin appeared ready to pledge allegiance to any cult leader who offered a semblance of direction.
The other new recruit, Cha Eun-jae, played by Lee Sung-kyung, is introduced as an entitled doctor transferred from a prestigious Seoul hospital due to a rather significant professional issue: she has a tendency to fall asleep during surgery, a side effect of her reliance on medication. Such lapses are unacceptable in Seoul, leading to her reassignment to the more ‘expendable’ patient pool of the countryside. Characterized by an inability to acknowledge her errors, shortcomings, or any form of accountability, she presents a greater challenge for Doldam’s brand of ‘romance’. Nevertheless, once she learns through the ever-present Doldam grapevine that she was “chosen” for this transfer, she swiftly embraces her new role. Teacher Kim rewards her newfound loyalty by overlooking her history of drug abuse and offering her some “special” pills, purportedly designed to alleviate her gag reflex. In a move that prioritizes frugality and efficiency, he simply provides her with digestive mint placebos, which miraculously resolve her surgical nausea and transform her professional life. A truly masterful cult leader move, Teacher Kim, solidifying the unique and often perplexing charm of Doctor Romantic.
