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This drama was first broadcast on SBS in May 2014. Consisting of one season, this drama has a total of 20 episodes starring Lee Jong-suk, Jin Se-yeon, Park Hae-jin, Kang Sora, and Park Hae-joon. Are you curious about this drama? Check out the full info below!
The Plot
Doctor Stranger focuses on the story of Park Hoon (Lee Jong-suk). During his childhood, Park Hoon and his father were kidnapped and taken to North Korea. There, he trained and studied to become a doctor under the guidance of his father who was a well-known doctor. Park Hoon then grew up as a high-skilled doctor. Entering his teenage years, he fell in love with a woman named Jae-hee (Jin Se-yeon) who was also a school friend. When Park Hoon’s father died, he decided to flee to South Korea. But, in the midst of trying to escape, he lost contact with Jae-hee. After escaping to South Korea alone, Park Hoon began to build his career working as a doctor at a well-known hospital called Myungwoo University Hospital. Fleeing from North Korea, he was treated differently in South Korea. His days are filled with people’s cynical views so that he has to struggle to adapt to the social environment of the doctors at work. But, working in South Korea is the only way for Park Hoon to bring Jae-hee to South Korea. In the hospital where he works, Park Hoon also has a crush on a beautiful doctor named Oh Soo-hyun (Kang Sora).
The Cast and Characters
Lee Jong-suk as Park Hoon A genius doctor from North Korea, he moved to South Korea in search of a better life for himself and his soulmate Jae-hee. Jin Se-yeon as Song Jae-hee She is a North Korean woman and is a specialist in oriental medicine anesthesia. She is separated from her soulmate Park Hoon. Park Hae-jin as Han Jae-joon A graduate from Harvard, he becomes Park Hoon’s rival at Myungwoo University Hospital. Kang So-ra as Oh Soo-hyun She is a cardiothoracic surgeon who is also the daughter of the chairman of Myungwoo University Hospital. Park Hae-joon as Cha Jin-soo Cha Jin-soo is a North Korean agent sent to search for Park Hoon.
The Reception
Since the premiere, Doctor Stranger has received the attention of many viewers. During the second week of airing, Doctor Stranger surpassed MBC’s drama Triangle. The medical drama suddenly became the number one drama in the Monday and Tuesday slot. Even though there was some decline in ratings during the airing, the medical drama immediately improved its quality and maintained its first position. Doctor Stranger’s popularity is also not limited to Korea. The SBS medical drama is also very popular in China, so much so that this drama was made into a film version. The twenty episodes of Doctor Stranger are shortened to two hours. The film version also reportedly has a different ending than the original one. Still, the popularity of the drama deserves an applaud!
The Life Lessons
Although Doctor Stranger is a medical drama, the drama presents various moral messages outside hospital lives. Among the messages are things about struggles, friendships, kinship, and generosity. Some of the drama’s messages below can be used as life lessons to make you wiser.
1. Helping others who need help
As a doctor, Park Hoon (Lee Jong-suk) always cares about his patients. Even when people can’t pay him because they don’t have money, he still helps them as much as he can. Park Hoon also always remembers his father’s message to not only become a doctor but also a good person who provides help to those in need. Try to provide even the smallest amount of help to other people around you. Because what we did in the past will return to each of us in the future.
2. Believe that parents want the best for their children
Park Hoon’s father always wanted his son to live happily. He sends his son to the medical field so that one day his son can become a person who can heal the sick. He also wants Park Hoon to return to South Korea with Jae-hee (Jin Se-yeon) and live safely there. He just wants the best for him. All parents certainly hope that their children’s lives will be more prosperous and happier than their parents’ lives.
3. Don’t hold grudges
Resentment and jealousy can come from past disappointing or hurtful events. Likewise, Han Jae-joon (Park Hae-jin) held a grudge against the Myungwoo University Hospital. When he was young, his father died in the hospital due to malpractice, and the hospital never apologized to his family. That’s why he wanted to destroy the hospital after becoming a doctor. On the other hand, he also fell in love with Oh Soo-hyun (Kang Sora), the daughter of the hospital owner. However, because of his high ego and desire for revenge, he has to lose his job and also his potential love. In the end, his grudge is self-destructive. Don’t hold grudges for long because they can gradually destroy you.
4. Keep working hard so you can show others your abilities
Oh Soo-hyun (Kang Sora) is the daughter of a famous hospital owner in South Korea. But, when she finally became a doctor at the hospital, many people said that Soo-hyun was able to enter because of her parent’s role. However, the truth is she went through many things to become a doctor. Because of that, Oh Soo-hyun worked even harder to show her true abilities to everyone. She even studied with Park Hoon to deepen her understanding. Bad opinions about you can be a trigger for you to be more enthusiastic and work hard to be even better. Keep working hard so you can show others your true abilities.
5. Never be sneaky to achieve success
Having huge success and a respectful position is everyone’s dream. Each person has their own way to achieve it. However, Prime Minister Jang apparently did a dirty and cunning deed to make himself president. When he found out that the president was sick, he even arranged a plan to get rid of the president. Prime Minister Jang even sent Park Hoon and his father to North Korea so that he could get praise from the public. But, in the end, the world shows him that there is no shortcut for success. Success should be achieved in a commendable way so as not to harm any party.
