Some awesome comments going on here. Right from the get go, the question remains with me each and every episode “what is Dr Kim, as a person, really all about?” Does he see himself as a master? No. Is he a Nietzsche being? Closer, I think🤔

Nurse Oh’s ability to cut through the Master’s view and subsequent decisions is based on that one thing we need to keep us anchored in life: trust (with a big dollop of having an open mind in there as well). Who else has been that one constant in his life that exhibits what it means to get the job done in the most professional way?

What we see with our young tyros at this point is that very dichotomy many face: I need to feel sorry for myself and blame others; I am laser focussed and I am going to do what it takes, without excuses. Both approaches can lead to a very messy outcome. The Master’s approach is: be a better person first and then aspire to great things. However, that is precisely the causal loop our beloved super being is caught up in re himself.

A saviour comes in many forms, I think 😉

I would like to echo and elaborate a bit on Trent’s commentary vis a vis Dr. Kim. I would like to preface my comments with a side tangent. I think one of the attractions to K Drama for me has been the various differences large and small between American, by and large IndoEuropean and Judeo-Christian culture, and that of South Korea, albeit recently influenced by Christian culture and more recently by American culture, with the influences of Confucianism and Buddhism so deeply entrenched there. It is true in recent decades that various forms of Buddhist thought and practice have inhabited the US (Sokei-An Shigetsu, who was born in Japan, was the first Japanese Zen Master to teach in the United States, where he began as a Rinzai Zen Master with a center in New York City in the early thirties, that is far more recently than when the first missionaries arrived in Korea. And of course, as with Japan, Buddhism entered Korea from China.

From the beginning, in China, Buddhism, as with religions everywhere, was appropriated by powerful politicians for their own advantage, utilizing monastic structures for their own purposes. What is more the actual practice as set out by Buddha himself, which is quite demanding in some ways, as with sainthood, not everyone is cut out to be a Boddhisattva, was replaced in a large portion of the population with a kind of comfort food Promised Land, in which Buddha, who never claimed to be a god, was seen as a kind of deity, all this of course taken advantage of by political figures and clerics in a self serving manner. The man credited with bringing Buddhism to China, Bodhidharma represented a kind of counter to that kind of Buddhism. His was an austere version that followed the example of Buddha. That is, forget all the book learning, the preaching, and so on, and wake up, and stay awake moment after moment. All through the history of Buddhism these currents ran counter to one another, and every so often when the Buddhist temple became corrupt centers of political chicanery, and its teachings reduced to monastic formalities and practices, esteem given to mere wrote understanding of the ten thousand sutras,et al, and the people had foisted upon them a groovy good vibes version of Buddhist Doctrine, some one or another master would come along to throw the pharisees out of the temple, so to speak, and renew a kind of let’s get down to brass tacks Buddhism that spoke to the essence rather than the so called law. It must be said, for the purposes our melodrama’s context as well, that many of those who claimed such mastery lived in constant threat for their lives at the hands of the more powerful bureaucratic Buddhist leaders of their eras.

The transmission of such pure mastery, the teaching as has been recorded over centuries, is rife with shouting and blows. Indeed both are repeatedly cited as evidence of a master’s affection for his student. There are CENTURIES of such stories recorded in Budhhist hermeneutics, the whole thrust being an awakened mastery of the moment, moment after moment as the anodyne to the entirety of human suffering of the student, of humanity.

One such master was the 9th C teacher Lin Ji, founder of the sect of Ch’an Buddhism that became in Japan the Rinzai Zen sect, quite known in his own day and ever since for the ferocity of his Zen. He is most famous in America, albeit hardly known outside of Buddhist circles, for having said in one of his lectures to his followers that they should “kill the Buddha.” A phrase widely misunderstood, but simply meaning if the concept of Buddha gets in the way of your own enlightenment, cut that concept off. You aren’t concerned with Buddha’s enlightenment, but your own, and you won’t find enlightenment in Buddha, but in yourself. Or to put it in terms of Dr. Romantic–what kind of doctor do you want to be?

In one of Lin-Ji’s lectures, he says the following: “Brothers, when students come from all directions and host and guest have interviewed one another, the student puts forth a query to measure the teacher. The student selects a slippery line of words and throws them in the teacher’s face, asking, ‘Do you understand or not!’ The master understanding it to be an external feature, seizes it and flings it into an abyss. But the student, nevertheless fearlessly inquires after the master’s teaching. The master then demolishes the student’s attitude. But then the student says, ‘Superior wisdom! A Great Adept!’ Shouting at the student, the master says, “You cannot even tell good from bad.'” Kim Sabu and Dong Joo? Instead of the temple, the temple of healing, the hospital?

As I have noted I believe this is a melodrama, but one in which particular social values and approach to basic how to live values are delivered. Another element of Buddhism has to do with the Boddhisattva Avalokiteshvara, who mythos has been the embodiment of compassion, of being the ear and comfort to the sufferings of all individuals, and who in his most famous incarnation, most beloved incarnation is a woman, most celebrated in Japan as Kwan Yin. Spoiler Alert for It’s Okay to not Be Okay, as last week so many noted the resemblance of the two hospitals between that in It’s Okay and Dr. Romantic, I do believe that It’s Okay riffing on Dr. Romantic, has its largest twist work so well because in Dr. Romantic, Head Nurse Oh borders on boddhisattva, her preternatural calm, her in the moment in crises presence, and above all, like Kwan Yin, her powerful compassion which trumps in those moments even the master whom she serves.

Hi all. As usual long comment ahead. Followed up by one other. First I want to repeat my initial caveat when it comes to my affection for this show. This most certainly is a MELODRAMA, Hospital Show iteration, most certainly not a slice of life piece. The melodrama is used as a vehicle to make some commentary about social realities and more basic approaches to living, but it is absolutely a tropey as all get out bit of melodrama. It has highbrow elements to it, but they are delivered in a low brow popular entertainment. For me, it is really good fast food entertainment.

As I also earlier stated, when I first saw the series I felt like it was more of a guilty pleasure as such, because I was enamored of Han Seok Kyu’s over the top persona, which he performs with such panache, and the ensemble cast, particularly the crew at the Doldam. I did not particularly see show as work of art as I do with some of my favorite dramas in contemporary settings like My Mister, Secret Love Affair, Dear My Friends, or one I most recently viewed on KFG’s recommendation, My Unfamiliar Family. But I did think there was/is a cracky element to this, I could not really explain to myself, and I have approached my rewatch to figuring out what that is exactly beyond the two elements I mentioned above.

So, I do find some of the reactions to this given my willingness to accept the limitations of the piece interesting. The shouting to begin with. Okay, let’s say in our contemporary world professional situations have rendered such anachronistic if not straight up abusive workplace communications and interactions, a bug if not a feature of patriarchal systems. However, I do think it should be pointed out in many high stress, professional fields, we are not so far away from the time when such was ubiquitous. What is more, given all the ticks of South Korean culture on display in K Drama, not the least of which, despite the general cliche about Asian culture being one of behavioral restraint, hyperbolic emotionalism, shouting but one iteration, does not really strike me as out of the ordinary, especially given the life and death consequences of being distracted to the point of failing patients.
Last week one poster, also pointed to manipulative “schmaltzy” music (schmaltz for those of you who do not know is chicken fat, the butter of 19th and 20th century eastern European Yiddish cuisine) in the grab and kiss scene directing the audience to interpret that scene in a way that overlooked the real world implications of its shorthanded choreography. And yes, the ost is as manipulative as all get out in this, but for the most part I would also say it is masterful in its appropriate highlighting and/or underscoring the meaning show wishes to convey about each scene and the overall pacing of each episode. It’s only melodrama, but I like the way Dr. Romantic rocks it. As if the bloody operative and er scenes weren’t already intense enough, the interactions fraught with conflict, pathos, and on occasion, thankfully, humor (and I find it a bit humorous how the placid, centered, restrained Nurse Oh can by going completely out of character and cutting loose get everyone else, not the least of which Kim Sabu or the voluble Dong Joo), the music like a kick of whiskey turns up the volume on the whole.
I like how while, as one poster put it, it moves at a rather rapid clip, it does so while providing an enormous amount of information, first with foreshadow and then by going back to the foreshadow and developing upon it. The comedic scene in the casino kitchen in episode two wherein the chefs have a thuggish aspect to them, not to mention a kind of irrelevance, and Dr. Kim a sadistic aspect, when seen in the light of episode three and four (at first sight, why does Dr. Kim have a burned face?) where one gets what kind of guy the head chef really is, what the relationship between Dr. Kim and him really is, how the chef has witnessed on more than one occasion Dr, Kim bringing people back to life from near death situations, something also echoed by Casino owner’s interrogation of Dr. Kim, and Dr. Kim’s willingness to put his life on the line on behalf of the kitchen staff including the man most seriously threatened in the conflagaration. That is, for those who find Dr. Kim arrogant, perhaps you might consider the reality in which Dr. Kim lives and the requirements of that reality in which a lack of attention, the simple drop of a surgical tool at a crucial moment, could cause permanent damage to a dear one’s hand.

Or how show juxtaposes the emotional scene in which a mother begging for Dong Joo to save her forty eight year old son’s life because she ought to be able to one day witness that son marrying a good woman with Dong Joo calling his mother, whom he has ignored since arriving at Doldam hospital, who immediately gets her son in crisis and Dong Joo uncontrollably breaks down crying without saying a word on the phone with her. Mother-son love, melodramatic style, but so touching, effective, economically, rhythmically presented.

Then there is Seo Jung. One of the things that attracts me to all forms of fiction is having a rooting interest for my characters. For example, I get given the obvious comparison, why folks think Money Flower is a more intriguing piece than Doctor Romantic, but I just cannot stand any of the characters in it. From top to bottom a bunch of deeply creepy folk. But I root for so many characters in this. I want these people to succeed. Whatever their flaws, they are in the business of saving lives, and trying to go about it in the best way they are able. And there is no one we root for more than Seo Jung, probably the most complexly drawn character in the whole show. That is why I have no problem with her mixed reactions to Dong Joo. So human. Her sensitivity and her strengths are as with ourselves all bound up in one another. Seo Hyun Jin’s portrayal is so sympathetically done, and show’s excellent portrayal of Dong Joo’s romantic attraction to her, Dr. Kim’s paternal affection for her framing that portrayal are major attractions of Dr. Romantic for me, even moreso in this rewatch than it was in my first. She is so touching, so easy to root for.

Finally, in this first comment, along with several other support actors in this, I want to say how much I appreciate watching veteran actor Joo Hyun, as Chairman Shin, menacing, sagacious, such an old soft spoken tiger in this. He is a wonderful actor, and it makes me smile to watch him run through his interactions with drama’s chief protagonist and antagonist in this. You want to know why Dr. Kim is what he is, listen to Chairman Shin–his own life on the line, trust Chairman Shin to tell the wheat from the chaff.

Oh and SPOILERALERT –Friday Night at the Doldam! You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.

Yay! I’m currently watching this drama (ep14). It gets more and more exciting as they build up the story. And I really like Teacher/Master Kim! The characters learn a lot from him.

I have to say I found Dr Kim or teacher Kim ( in Netflix here) conversation where he basically breaks Dong Joo’s personality down bit by bit so uncomfortable. My first thought was I know he is supposed to be a maverick but this is bullying but so loved Nurse Oh standing up for him. Yes it was OTT but also glorious at the same time. I would follow her into battle as she can see she would have your back. I am still not 💯 sold on Dr Kim there is a lot of suspension of disbelief and putting on the maverick lens but I feel that the show will get me there or I hope it will.

So much shouting! Dong Joo was annoyingly confrontational, I would have expected him to be more professional in front of the patients but then again at least it is a consistent character trait for him, he finds this situation unfair and beneath him and Dr Kim gets under his skin. (BTW Netflix translates it as Teacher Kim, not Master Kim). But I found the characters and conflict interesting enough to continue.
I feel so doubtful about the suicide arc though, Dr Kim did the responsible thing in removing Seo Jung from duty, but then why didn’t he follow up to order her to go for counseling? And none of the other characters ask her how she is or offers a listening ear or comfort, they are all eager for her to get back to work (as in they seem to think that is the best thing to cheer her up). Nobody looks out to make sure she doesn’t try to self harm again. Not ideal from a mental health standpoint.

No one comes out looking good in the last two episodes, except maybe Nurse Oh. I found all of them annoying and childish.
I expected to love this drama more than Money Flower. Surprisingly, it’s going the opposite way.

Ohhhhhhh *Master” Kim. That makes so much more sense than “Teacher” Kim because throughout the entire show I was wondering why dues he insist on being called “Teacher”? His technique and skill may be amazing but I don’t see how he’s teaching anyone. And from what the Administrator said, because of Teacher Kim they couldn’t keep any young doctors on staff. I’ll call him Master Kim from now on.

I totally felt Master Kim was justified in his stance regarding Seo Jung not being allowed to treat patients. I also have no issue with him demoting her to orderly for a while to make her appreciate being a doctor. She already had one scare involving her extremities so why jeopardize her ability to perform surgery (or now, since the first wrist injury obviously left her with damage, to perform basic treatment)? But why didn’t he stipulate that she’s required to undergo psychiatric care? I wonder if he’s trying to have her avoid the stigma of being a psych patient on her record?

Also was she trying to self harm by taking her life or only trying to cripple her medical skills? I know both are problematic but I’m curious as to just how deeply does her guilt run? Suicide?

I do think Master Kim was going to reinstate Seo Jung all along (as he implied but didn’t finish during Nurse Oh’s tongue lashing).

Loving Head Nurse Oh!

Bad news, kfangurl. It appears that the “group watch” concept is digging in deep. Hope you’re OK with us all playing along. Could be a long-term thing as far as we’re concerned…

Show thoughts: these episodes were where I got engaged in the drama, and I think it’s because I found myself getting traction on the secondary characters, especially Head Nurse Oh (oh!) and the hospital manager. But I was most affected by Seo Jung’s “demotion” to orderly, I think to give her some perspective and, hopefully, a runway to make it back to her true path in life.

I am brought back to a transforming experience in life. Some years ago, I had the opportunity to visit a hospital in a very poor country. The clinics were mind-blowing: going into a waiting room for the HIV clinic, packed to the gills with over 80 patients – image the worst day ever at the DMV – all handled by 2 overworked physicians. Despite these responsibilities, they also maintained a world-class research program in infectious disease biology. Beyond impressive.

On a tour given by the clinic’s founder/director (we’re talking a doctor w/o borders level of commitment and worthy of any accolade you can imagine), he makes a point again and again and again. Which is this: every single member of the team is essential for the success of this endeavor. Not just the doctors and nurses. EVERYONE. “We could not do what we do if the IT guys don’t play their part. Or the accountants. Or the custodians.”

Taken in this context, Seo Jung’s seeming “demotion” to orderly takes on a much more meaningful slant to me. As much as I’ve tried to adopt a stance of humility in my own life, I can only imagine and hope that she will regard it, not as a humiliation, but as a necessary step toward her goals.

Alrighty, here we go!

We begin to see the awesomeness that is Head Nurse Oh (“Kiiim. Saaa. Booo.”). I agree that she (and some of the others who also spoke up for Seo-jung, but mostly her) was the catalyst for getting Master Kim to revise his order of exile. I tend to think that if Seo-jung had persisted in trying to stay, Master Kim would have found a work-around to agree to it, even without outside pressure, but it’s a counter-factual, and maybe I’m being too kind to him. I also agree that–though it may seem harsh to us as a lay audience, who just wants to cuddle our sympathetic FL and make it all better–Master Kim is correct to cut Seo-jung off from seeing patients. He just can’t mess around with patient safety by allowing a doctor with her very recent past of self-harm and tranquilizer OD to be involved with life and death situations. There’s a reason for the regulations he quotes, and although Master Kim is fine with flouting some rules and conventions, he’s not okay with ignoring those ones.

I appreciate your bringing up the nuance of the title “master,” because it leads into my theory, or at least my lens for viewing his character. I believe (I could be mistaken!) that the term “sabu” is analogous to the Chinese shifu (师傅), which is like “master” in the sense of one with an accumulated body of knowledge and wisdom who is passing it on to a group of disciples or apprentices. Very much including the “zen (chan) master” or daoist sage (think Lao-zi, or better yet, Zhuang-zi) who uses koans and seemingly nonsensical or confusing aphorisms to stimulate the student to break through to a deeper understand of self and the world. Once I made that connection and started actively trying to see Master Kim through that lens, I found it really helped my interpretation and understanding of the character. It’s not a perfect one-to-one correspondence (for one thing, he’s not an eremitic sage living in a cave), but it allows him flaws and imperfections while demanding that I consider what he said for deeper meaning (many a zen master or daoist sage in the literature can seem fantastically irritating or annoying in the things they say that don’t immediately make sense). I dunno, maybe I’m off base, but I found it a useful paradigm to interpret Master Kim.

Oh, and we do eventually get the backstory for how he got that name and why he’s been concealing his real name.

I completely agree with you about this show being kind of melodramatic. I found myself at points comparing it with Hospital Playlist, the only other recent medical show I’ve watched, and this seems to me noticeably more melodramatic than HP, not only in some of its story lines and narrative beats, but just the arrangement of the story’s constituent elements. I recall HP being generally more subtle.

Hello all Ep 3 and 4! I must admit I didn’t like these episodes very much, the story chops around a lot and is not settling into a groove for me, I am not yet seeing what the story is or what the show is. I feel sympathetic towards our ML and FL but loathe Master Kim’s constant arrogance. I don’t really have much else to say.