Good Doctor (Korean: 굿 닥터; RR: Gut Dakteo) is a 2013 South Korean medical drama television series starring Joo Won, Moon Chae-won, Joo Sang-wook, Kim Min-seo, Chun Ho-jin, Kwak Do-won, and Ko Chang-seok. It aired on KBS2 from August 5 to October 8, 2013, on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55 for 20 episodes.[1] The early working title was Green Scalpel (Korean: 그린 메스; RR: Geurin Meseu; lit. "Green Mes"[2]).[3][4]
Synopsis
Park Si-on (Joo Won) is a savant on the autism spectrum who was sent to a specialized care center as a child, where he was discovered to have a genius-level memory and keen spatial skills. He eventually enters the field of pediatric surgery as a resident, where he is given six months to prove himself capable. However, due to his atypical mental and emotional condition, Si-on faces conflict from his peers and patients, who view him as childlike and unreliable. Most critical is the hotheaded surgeon Kim Do-han (Joo Sang-wook). Do-han was requested by the young surgeon's mentor, Choi Woo-seok (Chun Ho-jin), who is also a director of the hospital, to guide him but is unwilling to do so, as he labels him a soulless robot of a doctor who can only rely heavily on his photographic memory instead of feeling what the patient needs. Despite help from understanding and fair colleagues like Cha Yoon-seo (Moon Chae-won) and Han Jin-wook (Kim Young-kwang), the hospital is a fierce and competitive world, and the challenges Si-on faces become only greater when he falls in love with Yoon-seo, a fellow doctor at the hospital.
Cast
Main
- Joo Won as Park Si-on[5][6][7]
- Choi Ro-woon as young Si-on
- Moon Chae-won as Cha Yoon-seo[8][9][10]
- Joo Sang-wook as Kim Do-han[11][12][13]
- Kim Min-seo as Yoo Chae-kyung
Supporting
Sungwon University Hospital officials
- Chun Ho-jin as Choi Woo-seok, director
- Kwak Do-won as Kang Hyun-tae, deputy director
- Na Young-hee as Lee Yeo-won, chairwoman of the board
- Jo Hee-bong as Go Choong-man, head of the Pediatric Surgery department
- Lee Ki-yeol as Lee Hyuk-pil, managing director of the foundation
- Jung Man-sik as Kim Jae-joon, head of the Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery department
Department of Pediatric Surgery
- Kim Young-kwang as Han Jin-wook[14]
- A warm and friendly fourth-year resident, who first approaches Park Shi-on when he is shunned by the others.
- Yoon Park as Woo Il-kyu, second-year resident
- Yoon Bong-gil as Hong Gil-nam, second-year resident
- Wang Ji-won as Kim Sun-joo, intern
Nursing division
- Ko Chang-seok as Jo Jung-mi, senior nurse
- Jin Kyung as Nam Joo-yeon, head nurse
- Lee Ah-rin as Ga-kyung
- Ha Kyu-won as Hye-jin
Children's ward
- Kim Hyun-soo as Na In-hae
- Uhm Hyun-kyung as Na In-young
- Ahn Sung-hoon as Lee Woo-ram
- Yoo Je-gun as Park Ho-suk
- Lee Jang-kyung as Kim Ye-eun
- Oh Eun-chan as Cha Dong-jin
- Yoo Hae-jung as Eun-ok
- Jung Yoon-seok as Kyu-hyun
Others
- Yoon Yoo-sun as Oh Kyung-joo, Shi-on's mother
- Jung Ho-keun as Park Choon-sung, Shi-on's father
- Seo Hyun-chul as Byung-soo
- Jeon Jun-hyeok as Park Si-deok, Shi-on's older brother
- Ryu Deok-hwan as adult Si-deok (cameo, ep 10)
- Ban Min-jung as Kyu-hyun's mother
- Kim Chang-wan as Chairman Jung
Special appearances
- Kwak Ji-min as Lee Soo-jin (guest appearance, ep 10–12)[15]
- Moon Hee-kyung as Mrs. Jang, Soo-jin's mother-in-law
- Kim Sun-hwa as Eun-ok's aunt
- Seo Kang-joon as one of the punks who want to beat up Shi-on (ep 12)
- In Gyo-jin as Soo-jin's husband (cameo, ep 12)
- Yoo Jae-myung as the killer (ep 15)
- Kim Young-hee as staff of the family restaurant (ep 17)
- Gong Jung-hwan as Professor of Neurosurgery Department (ep 17)
- Park Ki-woong as Woong-ki (cameo, ep 20)[16][17]
Ratings
Good Doctor made a strong debut on the TV ratings chart.[18] It maintained the number one spot in its timeslot for most of its run, with an average viewership rating of 18.0% (AGB Nielsen) and 17.4% (TNmS).
| Ep. | Original broadcast date | Average audience share | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nielsen Korea[19] | TNmS Ratings[20] | ||||
| Nationwide | Seoul | Nationwide | Seoul | ||
| 1 | August 5, 2013 | 10.9% | 11.6% | 10.5% | 10.3% |
| 2 | August 6, 2013 | 14.0% | 15.1% | 13.6% | 14.6% |
| 3 | August 12, 2013 | 15.3% | 16.2% | 13.8% | 14.6% |
| 4 | August 13, 2013 | 15.8% | 15.8% | 15.9% | 16.9% |
| 5 | August 19, 2013 | 18.0% | 18.5% | 16.5% | 17.6% |
| 6 | August 20, 2013 | 19.0% | 20.0% | 18.4% | 20.4% |
| 7 | August 26, 2013 | 17.4% | 18.2% | 17.2% | 18.1% |
| 8 | August 27, 2013 | 18.4% | 18.5% | 17.5% | 19.0% |
| 9 | September 2, 2013 | 17.4% | 17.4% | 17.0% | 18.3% |
| 10 | September 3, 2013 | 18.4% | 18.3% | 18.5% | 20.5% |
| 11 | September 9, 2013 | 18.3% | 18.7% | 18.3% | 20.2% |
| 12 | September 10, 2013 | 19.4% | 19.4% | 20.0% | 22.2% |
| 13 | September 16, 2013 | 17.9% | 18.4% | 17.5% | 19.3% |
| 14 | September 17, 2013 | 18.6% | 19.3% | 18.9% | 20.3% |
| 15 | September 23, 2013 | 19.6% | 20.3% | 18.5% | 20.2% |
| 16 | September 24, 2013 | 21.5% | 22.8% | 20.9% | 22.7% |
| 17 | September 30, 2013 | 20.3% | 21.1% | 18.0% | 20.5% |
| 18 | October 1, 2013 | 20.6% | 21.5% | 19.0% | 21.4% |
| 19 | October 7, 2013 | 19.0% | 20.0% | 17.6% | 20.1% |
| 20 | October 8, 2013 | 19.2% | 19.5% | 19.5% | 22.4% |
| Average | 18.0% | 18.5% | 17.4% | 18.9% | |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 26th Grimae Awards |
Best Drama | Good Doctor | Won |
| Nominated | ||||
| Top Excellence Award, Actor | Joo Won | Nominated | ||
| Joo Sang-wook | Nominated | |||
| Top Excellence Award, Actress | Moon Chae-won | Nominated | ||
| Best Writer | Park Jae-bum | Won | ||
| Top Excellence Award, Actor | Joo Won | Nominated | ||
| Excellence Award, Actor | Joo Sang-wook | Nominated | ||
| Excellence Award, Actress | Moon Chae-won | Nominated | ||
| Top Excellence Award, Actor | Joo Won | Won | ||
| Actor of the Year (selected by directors) | Won | |||
| Top Excellence Award, Actress | Moon Chae-won | Nominated | ||
| Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid-length Drama | Joo Sang-wook | Won | ||
| Joo Won | Nominated | |||
| Excellence Award, Actress in a Mid-length Drama | Moon Chae-won | Won | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Jo Hee-bong | Nominated | ||
| Ko Chang-seok | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actress | Jin Kyung | Nominated | ||
| Kim Min-seo | Nominated | |||
| Best New Actor | Kim Young-kwang | Nominated | ||
| Best Young Actor | Jung Yun-seok | Nominated | ||
| Best Young Actress | Kim Hyun-soo | Nominated | ||
| Best Couple Award | Joo Won and Moon Chae-won | Won | ||
| Netizen Award, Actor | Joo Won | Won | ||
| Popularity Award, Actress | Moon Chae-won | Won | ||
| 2014 | Best Drama | Good Doctor | Won | |
| Best Performer | Joo Won | Won | ||
| Best Drama | Good Doctor | Won | ||
| Best Director | Ki Min-soo | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor | Joo Won | Nominated | ||
| Best Serial Drama | Good Doctor | Won | ||
Korea Broadcasting Awards[25] |
Best Drama | Won | ||
| Best Mini-series | Runner-up |
In November 2013, the Korea Association of the Welfare Institutes for the Disabled gave the series a plaque of recognition for creating awareness about autism and how socially challenged individuals can contribute to society.[27] In December 2013, Good Doctor also received an award from the Disability Awareness Campaign Headquarters and was designated as a "Good Program" by the Korea Communications Standards Commission.[28][29]
International adaptations
American
An American remake of the same name, produced by Daniel Dae Kim, debuted in late September 2017 on ABC. The story of a surgeon with autism is set in San Jose, California, airing during fall of 2017.[30][31][32]
Japanese
A Japanese remake of the same name starred Kento Yamazaki, Juri Ueno, and Naohito Fujiki aired from July 12 to September 13, 2018, on Fuji TV.
Turkish
A Turkish remake called Mucize Doktor produced by Asena Bülbüloğlu debuted on September 12, 2019, on Fox Turkey.
Hong Kong
Dr. Koo Hei-sun is a character inspired by Park Si-on in Life After Death, produced by Kwan Shu-ming and Kwan Man-sum. It debuted on June 8, 2020, on TVB.
Thailand
A Thailand remake of the same name, produced by True4U, TrueVisions, and True CJ Creations, debuted in October 2024 on the True ID application, and True Asian More channel 120/239 for TrueVisions subscribers. This version Sarun Naraprasertkul and Chayanit Chansangavej take the lead roles as Dr. Shone and Dr. Preem.
References
- ^ Kim, Gwang-kuk (August 5, 2013). "PREVIEW: KBS Mon/Tue Drama Good Doctor". TenAsia. Archived from the original on June 7, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
- ^ "Mes" is derived from the Dutch word for knife, and is commonly used in Korea/Japan to refer to a scalpel.
- ^ Choi, Eun-hwa (May 28, 2013). "Joo Won Cast as Lead of KBS2's Green Scalpel". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
- ^ Kang, Jung-yeon (May 29, 2013). "Joo Won to Turn Doctor in Medical Drama". TenAsia. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
- ^ Lee, Hye-ji (July 31, 2013). "Joo Won Ready to Become Good Doctor". TenAsia. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
- ^ Choi, Eun-hwa (August 3, 2013). "Joo Won Says He'll Showcase a Different Type of Autistic Character". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on August 5, 2013. Retrieved August 3, 2013.
- ^ Han, Jae-hee (August 19, 2013). "Unusual doctor in spotlight". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on November 18, 2014. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
- ^ Jeon, Su-mi (June 5, 2013). "Moon Chae Won Cast in Green Scalpel as Joo Won's Costar". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on February 22, 2016. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
- ^ Choi, Eun-hwa (August 3, 2013). "Moon Chae Won Says She Aims to be More Professional Than Pretty". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on August 5, 2013. Retrieved August 3, 2013.
- ^ "Moon Chae-Won Scores Another Hit with Medical Drama". HanCinema. October 25, 2013. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
- ^ Kang, Jung-yeon (June 4, 2013). "Joo Sang-uk Joins Medical Drama". TenAsia. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
- ^ "Joo Sang-wook ready to play doctor". KBS Global. July 22, 2013. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
- ^ Choi, Eun-hwa (August 3, 2013). "Joo Sang Wook was So Stressed about Good Doctor That He Nearly Went Bald". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on August 5, 2013. Retrieved August 3, 2013.
- ^ An, So-hyoun (June 24, 2013). "Kim Young Kwang Cast for Good Doctor". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on June 27, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
- ^ Hong, Grace Danbi (September 4, 2013). "Good Doctor Delivers Meaningful Cameos". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on September 7, 2013. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
- ^ "Park Ki Woong Compliments Joo Won's Acting in Good Doctor". Soompi. August 6, 2013. Archived from the original on August 11, 2013. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
- ^ "Good Doctor the final Cameo is Park Gi-Woong". Innolife. October 10, 2013. Archived from the original on February 19, 2014. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
- ^ Lee, Eun-ah (August 7, 2013). "Good Doctor makes strong debut on TV charts". TenAsia. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
- ^ "AGB Daily Ratings: this links to current day-select the date from drop down menu". AGB Nielsen Media Research (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 26, 2013. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
- ^ "TNMS Daily Ratings: this links to current day-select the date from drop down menu". TNMS Ratings (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 28, 2013. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
- ^ Lee, Cory (January 2, 2014). "Kim Hye-soo Reclaims Glory, Good Doctor, Secret Love Win Big at the 2013 KBS Drama Awards". TenAsia. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
- ^ "한국PD대상 수상자들, 세월호 실종자 무사 귀환 기도 배우 주원 "진도에서 기적이 일어나길 바란다"". PD Journal (in Korean). April 17, 2014. Archived from the original on April 29, 2014. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
- ^ Hong, Grace Danbi (May 28, 2014). "Jun Ji Hyun and Song Kang Ho Receive Highest Honors at the Baeksang Arts Awards". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on May 29, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
- ^ "Rockie Awards Category Winners Announced". June 9, 2014. Archived from the original on June 12, 2014. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- ^ "Winners from 41st Korea Broadcasting Awards". Beatus Corner. September 4, 2014. Archived from the original on September 5, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
- ^ Lee, Min-ji (September 5, 2014). "You Who Came From the Stars Wins Four Awards at Seoul International Drama Awards". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
- ^ 드라마 '굿닥터' 제작진에 감사패 전달. Able News (in Korean). November 6, 2013. Archived from the original on March 3, 2014. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
- ^ "'KBS 굿닥터', 장애인먼저실천상 대상". Able News (in Korean). December 10, 2013. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
- ^ "10월 이달의 좋은프로그램상에 KBS '의궤,8일간의 축제'". KBS News (in Korean). December 17, 2013. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
- ^ Lee, Hyo-won (May 22, 2014). "Daniel Dae Kim Wants to Bring North Korean Defector Story to Screen (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 7, 2014. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
- ^ "Daniel Dae Kim to remake Good Doctor for CBS". The Korea Times. August 31, 2014. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
- ^ Lee, Sun-min (August 31, 2014). "Good Doctor to be adapted". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on November 17, 2014. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
External links
- Official website (in Korean)
- Good Doctor on KBS World
- Good Doctor at HanCinema
- Good Doctor at IMDb