Running out of interesting K-dramas to watch? Cure that slump and jump into the hectic world of doctors, nurses, and more with 20 of the most compelling Korean medical TV series you need to watch, stat.
Read up on their synopses below!
LIST: 20 Medical K-Dramas to Watch
1. Hospital Playlist
Watch on: Netflix
Five doctors who've been close friends for 20 years embark on a new journey with each other as they find work at the same hospital. Together, they tide through the ups and downs of their demanding field, all while forming a band to share their love of music and cope with the stress of their daily life.
Starring: Jo Jung Suk, Yoo Yeon Seok, Jung Kyung Ho, Kim Dae Myung, Jeon Mi Do
2. Hospital Ship
Watch on: Netflix, Viu
Three jaded army doctors attempt to bounce back from their own individual setbacks as they look for a fresh start. Together, they join a hospital ship and tend to the underprivileged living on remote islands, along with their other fellow medical professionals.
Starring: Ha Ji Won, Kang Min Hyuk, Lee Seo Won
3. Dr. Romantic
Watch on: Netflix, Viu
The romantic drama follows Kim Sa Bu, a once famous surgeon who suddenly drops off the radar at the peak of his career. Unbeknown to many, he actually left his job to be a neighborhood doctor in a small, rural town where he goes by the name of Teacher Kim and refers to himself as Dr. Romantic. He eventually crosses paths with Kang Dong Joo, a doctor chasing after wealth and prominence, and Yoon Seo Jung, a young surgeon scarred by a mistake she’s made in her past. As the two interact with Teacher Kim, their lives will be forever changed.
Starring: Han Seok Kyu, Yoo Yeon Seok, Seo Hyun Jin
4. Good Doctor
Watch on: Netflix, Viu
A young doctor diagnosed with autism and savant syndrome is accepted as a pediatrician in a hospital. There, he overcomes prejudice from patients and his fellow medical workers alike, proving his worth using the rare skill brought about by his disorder. The series inspired an American adaptation with a show of the same name starring Hollywood actor Freddie Highmore.
Starring: Joo Won, Moon Chae Won, Joo Sang Wook
5. Doctors
Watch on: Netflix, Viu
The tough and distant Yoo Hye Jung has always been known as the bully in her school. Her unruly personality is rooted from the traumatic events that marked her childhood. However, her entire life changes course the moment she meets Hong Ji Hong, a compassionate professor who helps transform her into a street-savvy neurosurgeon.
Starring: Park Shin Hye, Kim Rae Won, Lee Sung Kyung, Yoon Kyun Sang
6. Kill Me, Heal Me
Watch on: Netflix
A poignant romantic drama, Kill Me Heal Me tackles topics of child abuse and dissociative personality disorder. The series centers on Cha Do Hyun, the heir to a wealthy company, who suffers from multiple personality disorder developed from the life-threatening traumatic incidents he experienced as a child. Aiding him in keeping his seven unpredictable personalities in check is Oh Ri Jin, a first year psychiatric resident who helps Do Hyun in secret.
Starring: Ji Sung, Hwang Jung Eum, Park Seo Joon
7. Doctor Stranger
Watch on: Netflix, Viu
The medical romance follows Park Hoon, a young doctor who flees North Korea for the south with his lover Song Jae-hee. He makes it to South Korea safely but loses his companion along the way. Later on, he’s employed at Myungwoo University Hospital, one of the top hospitals in the country, where he meets a woman who looks exactly like Jae-hee but claims not to know who he is.
Starring: Lee Jong Suk, Jin Se Yeon, Kang So Ra, Park Hae Jin
8. Yong Pal
Watch on: Netflix
Desperate for money to pay off his sister’s medical bills, Kim Tae Hyeon, an otherwise talented surgeon, begins to offer his services to gangsters and corrupt plutocrats. While in the midst of yet another house call, he finds himself risking his secret workings to rescue Han Yeo Jin, a chaebol heiress who's fallen into a medically induced coma.
Starring: Joo Won, Kim Tae Hee, Jo Hyun Jae, Chae Jung Ahn
9. Life
Watch on: Netflix
Personal vendettas plague the operations of one of South Korea’s top medical centers when the compassionate emergency medicine specialist Ye Jin-woo butts heads with his hospital’s newly-appointed president.
Starring: Lee Dong Wook, Jo Seung Woo, Won Jin Ah
10. A Poem a Day
Watch on: Viu
Aspiring poet Woo Bo Young drops her writing dreams to become a physical therapist instead. Now working in the field for three years, her daily routine takes a turn when her life intertwines with hospital team leader Ye Jae Wook, and physical therapy trainee Shin Min Ho.
Starring: Lee Yoo Bi, Lee Joon Hyuk, Jang Dong Yoon
11. Doctor Cha
Watch on: Netflix
Cha Jung Sook is the wife of Seo In Ho, a chief surgeon at a university hospital known for his strict personality. For two decades, Cha Jung Sook has dedicated herself to being a full-time housewife, sacrificing her own medical career during her residency. However, after years of homemaking, she makes the bold decision to pick up her medical residency.
Starring: Uhm Jung Hwa, Kim Byung Chul, Myung Se Bin, Min Woo Hyuk
12. Daily Dose of Sunshine
Watch on: Netflix
Jung Da Eun, a nurse newly transferred to neuropsychiatry, faces the challenges of her new department. Despite the difficulties, she strives to connect with patients, aided by Chief Nurse Song Hyo Jin. Doctor Dong Go Yoon, specializing in proctology, discovers joy and healing through Da Eun's genuine and pure-hearted approach. As Da Eun befriends the seemingly bright Song Yoo Chan, she uncovers the hidden pain he bears, adding layers to their interconnected lives.
Starring: Park Bo Young, Yeon Woo Jin, Jan Dong Yoon, Lee Jung Eun
13. Doctor John
Watch on: Netflix, Viki, Viu
Cha Yo Han, a brilliant anesthesiologist and the youngest professor renowned as "10 Seconds," swiftly diagnoses patients within the initial 10 seconds. Kang Shi Young, a top-ranking anesthesiologist, attributes her exceptional skills to her composed, logical mother, while her compassion and attentive nature stem from her father. The series intricately weaves the challenges and dynamics within this specialized medical field.
Starring: Ji Sung, Lee Se Young, Lee Kyu Hyung, Hwang Hee
14. Ghost Doctor
Watch on: iQIYI, Netflix
Young Min, a skilled yet arrogant and self-centered surgeon, undergoes a life-altering event after an accident. His spirit transfers into Seung Tak, a doctor of opposite personality and medical abilities. Young Min, cold and career-driven, dismisses patient stories, while Seung Tak, a fortunate and affluent resident doctor from a medical dynasty, lacks the ambition to excel. As Young Min's spirit takes residence in Seung Tak's body, a clash of contrasting characters ensues.
Starring: Rain, Kim Bum, Uee, Son Na Eun
15. Doctor Slump
Watch on: Netflix
Yeo Jeong Woo, a former academic standout and now a prominent plastic surgeon, faces a life-altering challenge following a mysterious medical incident. In his moment of crisis, he crosses paths with Nam Ha Neul, a former academic rival turned anesthesiologist. Ha Neul, once hailed a genius for her intellect, realizes the emptiness in her life and seeks change. As they comfort each other during their lowest points, an unexpected romantic bond blossoms.
Starring: Park Hyung Sik, Park Shin Hye, Yoon Park, Kong Seong Ha
16. Doctor Prisoner
Watch on: Netflix
A brilliant doctor loses his medical license after a malpractice scandal caused by the hospital director’s recklessness. Determined to seek revenge, he reinvents himself as a prison doctor, using his medical skills to gain the trust of powerful inmates—business moguls, celebrities, and corrupt elites. With allies in high places, he sets his sights on taking down the hospital that betrayed him.
Starring: Namgoong Min, Kwon Na Ra, Kim Byung Chul, Choi Won Young
17. Cross
Watch on: YouTube
Kang In Kyu becomes a doctor with one goal in mind—to seek justice for his father, who was brutally murdered 13 years ago. Volunteering at a prison medical office, he comes face-to-face with the very man responsible, setting the stage for a tense battle between duty and revenge.
Starring: Go Kyung Pyo, Jo Jae Hyun, Jeon So Min
18. Doctor Lawyer
Watch on: Disney+
Once a top surgeon, Han Yi Han loses his medical license when a patient dies under his care—a case he believes was rigged against him. Years later, he returns as a lawyer specializing in medical malpractice, determined to uncover the truth. With a prosecutor who shares a tragic connection to the incident, he fights for justice and exposes corruption in the medical world.
Starring: So Ji Sub, Im Soo Hyang, Shin Sung Rok
19. Soul Mechanic/Fix You
Lee Si Joon, an unconventional psychiatrist, believes in healing through unorthodox methods. Han Woo Joo, a rising musical actress, struggles with emotional outbursts that threaten her career. As their paths cross, Lee strives to mend her wounds and help her find peace.
Starring: Shin Ha Kyun, Jung So Min, Tae In Ho, Park Ye Jin
20. The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call
Watch on: Netflix
Baek Kang Hyuk, a genius trauma surgeon with experience in global conflict zones, joins a university hospital to lead its severe trauma team. Though his team saves lives, its high costs push the hospital further into debt. Alongside Yang Jae Won, Nurse Cheon Jang Mi, and anesthesiology resident Park Gyeong Won, Baek transforms the team into an elite emergency force that goes beyond hospital walls.
Starring: Ju Ji Hoon, Choo Young Woo, Ha Young, Jeong Jae Kwang
Hey, Preview readers! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, and Twitter to stay up to speed on all things trendy and creative. We’ll curate the most stylish feed for you!
