Following the massive global popularity of Doctor X: Mafia in White, MyDramaList News reported a curated watchlist of 14 medical K-dramas capturing the intense pressures, ethical dilemmas, and rigorous training of clinical life.
The latest medical series has been airing to immense popularity, securing spots on trending lists both at home and on Netflix. At the center of the spotlight is Gye Su Jeong, played by Kim Ji Won, whose brilliance in the operating room and uncompromising principles inspire passion for medicine. For viewers looking to explore the genre further, the published guide features productions highlighting awe-inspiring K-drama doctors.
Among the highlighted titles is the Dr. Romantic series, which follows renowned surgeon Bu Yong Ju—also known as Teacher Kim or Kim Sa Bu, played by Han Seok Kyu and Han Suk Kyu—after he unexpectedly leaves a prestigious hospital to settle in a small town.
Across multiple seasons, the eccentric mentor guides young doctors including Yoon Seo Jung, Kang Dong Joo, Seo Woo Jin, and Cha Eun Jae as they confront personal trauma, financial troubles, surgical anxiety, and high-stakes medical cases.
Subsequent developments at Doldam Hospital feature the medical team responding to an emergency involving a North Korean vessel that drifts into South Korean waters with patients in critical condition, complicated by government pressures regarding a summit.
The watchlist also includes stories of personal transformation and mentorship outside of Doldam Hospital. Surgeon Hong Ji Hong, played by Kim Rae Won, transitions temporarily to work as a high school biology teacher following a workplace accident.
He takes an interest in a rebellious teenager, Yoo Hye Jeong, played by Park Shin Hye, who eventually follows in his footsteps to become a surgeon after her grandmother dies as a result of medical negligence.
Thirteen years later, their paths cross again at the same hospital, where they face challenging cases, workplace politics, and complicated emotions together.
