In the world of Doldam Hospital, as dictated by Teacher Kim himself, there are no bad decisions, only unconventional teaching moments. Season 1 of Doctor Romantic initially painted Kim Sa-bu as a maverick with questionable methods. Remember when he abandoned the ER in the middle of a shift for a casino trip? On the surface, it seemed like medical malpractice, but in true Teacher Kim fashion, it was all part of an elaborate lesson for the then-rookie Dr. Kang Dong Joo. This bizarre initiation was apparently crucial for Kang Dong Joo to understand his place within the peculiar ecosystem of Doldam Abbey. One might expect new recruits to question or even resent such unorthodox leadership, especially a promotion to second-in-command after mere hours on the job, but at Doldam, it’s met with gratitude and acceptance.
However, even within the accepting walls of Doldam, one decision in Season 1 caused ripples: Teacher Kim’s attempt to demote Dr. Yoo Seo-jeong, affectionately (and perhaps accurately) nicknamed “the crazy whale.” Dr. Yoo, played by Seo Hyun-jin, was prone to emotional outbursts and, shall we say, scalpel-adjacent threats. To an outsider, suggesting she take a step back from high-stakes surgery to address her mental well-being might seem like a responsible move. But at Doldam? Such a suggestion was met with offense. Apparently, at Doldam, a surgeon’s peak performance is achieved while balancing precariously on the edge of sanity and battling a debilitating wrist injury. This logic, or lack thereof, is a recurring theme throughout Doctor Romantic. Her colleagues, far from being concerned, seemed to enable her behavior, attributing her instability to past trauma, romantic entanglements, and a lack of Doldam’s signature level of eavesdropping. Had she been privy to Doldam’s gossip mill earlier, perhaps her Seoul hospital drama would have been avoided entirely! Demoting her to an orderly? In Teacher Kim’s world, it was clearly a carefully calculated, albeit bizarre, “lesson.”
Season 2 peeled back another layer of the Doldam onion, revealing it as a sanctuary for doctors who are, shall we say, pre-rejected. These aren’t your typical medical school valedictorians; these are the whistleblowers, the ones who self-medicate to cope with the less glamorous aspects of surgery. Initially resistant, these new additions, after a few dramatic tantrums and escape attempts, surprisingly find themselves at home under the wing of their Chief Surgeon overlord.
Enter Dr. Seo Woo-jin, portrayed by Ahn Hyo-seop, stepping into the “heartthrob doctor” role vacated by Kang Dong-joo. While Ahn Hyo-seop’s visuals might initially suggest a masterful performance, his acting is, perhaps, just adequate. He appears competent in the OR, but his youthful appearance might lead one to believe he’s a part-time model moonlighting as a doctor for extra cash. Licensing? Irrelevant at Doldam. His instant acceptance into the Doldam family is solidified when debt collectors, seeking repayment, decide to stage a clothing-optional protest in the hospital lobby. Such antics and violent reactions are just another Tuesday at Doldam Abbey, where societal norms and legal boundaries are mere suggestions. Dr. Seo quickly latches onto Teacher Kim as a surrogate father figure, a common Doldam initiation. Unlike Kang Dong-joo, who required more convincing to join the Doldam ranks, Seo Woo-jin seemed ready to pledge allegiance to any charismatic leader who offered direction.
The other Season 2 recruit, Cha Eun-jae, played by Lee Sung-kyung, is introduced as a privileged and deeply flawed surgeon exiled from a prestigious Seoul hospital. Her crime? Narcolepsy in the operating room, induced by her reliance on medication. Seoul has standards, apparently, but the countryside? Apparently, patients are more…expendable. Cha Eun-jae, allergic to accountability and self-reflection, proves a tougher Doldam convert. However, the magic of Doldam gossip works again. Once she learns she was “chosen” for Doldam, her resistance crumbles. Teacher Kim rewards her newfound loyalty by conveniently overlooking her substance abuse issues and offering her “special” pills to combat her surgical gag reflex. In a display of both frugality and questionable medical ethics, these “special” pills turn out to be mere digestive mint placebos. Yet, these mints are life-altering for Cha Eun-jae, enabling her to perform surgeries without incident. Classic Teacher Kim: prioritizing cheap solutions and efficiency, all while solidifying his cult leader status.
