Doctor Shin
| Doctor Shin | |
|---|---|
Promotional poster | |
| Hangul | 닥터신 |
| RR | Dakteo Sin |
| MR | Takt'ŏ Sin |
| Genre | |
| Written by | Phoebe |
| Directed by | Lee Seung-hoon |
| Starring |
|
| Country of origin | South Korea |
| Original language | Korean |
| No. of episodes | 2 |
| Production | |
| Producers |
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| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | TV Chosun |
| Release | March 14, 2026 – present |
Doctor Shin (Korean: 닥터신) is an ongoing South Korean medical melodrama thriller television series written by Phoebe, directed by Lee Seung-hoon, and starring Jung E-chan in the title role, along with Baek Seo-ra, Ahn Woo-yeon, Joo Se-bin, Cheon Young-min, Song Ji-in, Jeon No-min, and Ji Young-san. The series tells the story of a genius neurosurgeon, Doctor Shin, who dares to defy the boundaries of life and death, and a woman, whose soul is lost after a brain injury leaves her in a coma. It premiered on TV Chosun on March 14, 2026, and airs every Saturday and Sunday at 22:30 (KST). It is also available for streaming on Coupang Play.
Synopsis
Shin Ju-shin, a neurosurgeon at Nua Hospital, is engaged to a top actress Momo. Following a mysterious accident, Momo falls into a coma and suffers brain death. Unable to bear watching her unconscious, Momo's mother, Hyun Ran-hee, begs the doctor to perform a risky brain transplant. Driven by obsessive love, Shin pursues a forbidden medical procedure and swaps the mother's and daughter's brains. The body survives, but an unexpected event occurs later.
Cast and characters
Main
- Jung E-chan as Shin Ju-shin[1]
- A genius brain surgery expert, he is the director of the neurosurgery department at Nua Hospital and the chairman of the Nua Foundation. Inheriting his father Dr. Shin Woo-pil's exceptional skill in brain surgery, he boasts an aristocratic appearance and strong social standing.
- Baek Seo-ra as Momo[1]
- Ju-shin's fiancée, is a top actress who is about to marry him, but after a catastrophic scuba diving accident in the ocean, she loses consciousness, and her condition becomes more critical. It severely damages her brain, leaving her in a coma, although her body is unharmed. As her brain is swapped with another's by her fiancé, her body is inhabited by another soul.
- Ahn Woo-yeon as Ha Yong-joong[1]
- A successful game developer, who is Ju-shin's close friend.
- Joo Se-bin as Geum Ba-ra[1]
- Comes from the Nua orphanage, she is the youngest journalist in Seongwoo Ilbo's culture department.
- Cheon Young-min as Kim Jin-ju[1]
- Momo's stylist at Jaeim Company, who also came from the Nua orphanage.
- Song Ji-in as Hyun Ran-hee[1]
- Momo's mother, who is a gallery owner.
- Jeon No-min as James[1]
- Yong-joong's older brother, whose real name is Ha Jae-im. He is a top stylist and CEO of Jaeim Company.
- Ji Young-san as Paul Kim[1]
- A western painter.
Supporting
- The college "queen bee" who bullies Ba-ra and Jin-ju.
Episodes
| No. | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 14, 2026 | |
|
Fell in love with Momo at first sight after seeing her TV drama performance, Shin Ju-shin asked Ha Yong-joong's brother James to arrange a meeting. When Momo met Shin, she declined dinner due to a reshoot and shot down his after-date plans.[3] | ||
| 2 | March 15, 2026 | |
|
Following their initial encounter, Shin Ju-shin appeared at Momo's house with flowers and, despite her prickly attitude, made a sudden proposal. Momo revealed her feelings for Shin Ju-shin to her mother, Hyun Ran-hee, but Ran-hee objected, citing the 13-year age gap.[4] | ||
Production
The development of Doctor Shin began when screenwriter Im Sung-han (credited as Phoebe), who penned Durian's Affair (2023), Love (ft. Marriage and Divorce) (2021), and Princess Aurora (2013), joined Arc Media[5] (now known as Syn&Studio[6]) in August 2023. Scheduling discussions were already underway in March 2025 for TV Chosun.[7] Five months later, Min Sun-hong,[note 1] Baek Seo-ra,[note 2] Ahn Woo-yeon, Song Ji-in, Ji Young-san, Joo Se-bin, and Cheon Young-min were cast to lead the series.[10] The lead and supporting actors were all chosen through auditions.[11] The series is a medical melodrama thriller directed by Lee Seung-hoon and produced by Syn&Studio and TME Group.[12]
Principal photography commenced in July 2025 and ended after seven months. It concluded in the Eulwang-ri area of Incheon.[13]
The screenwriter Phoebe describes the series as a story exploring how medicine and medical practice impact human lives and destinies, rather than a traditional medical drama. She named the protagonist Shin Ju-shin, using the character for 'spirit' (神), given the show's theme of altering the human brain. She and the producer sought novice actors who fit the characters' "unconventional, unique, and mysterious charm", and felt the auditions succeeded in finding them. Shin Ju-shin is described as a character who inherits his father's hospital, possessing confidence in his skills and a free spirit. To reflect the character's personality, Phoebe asked Jung E-chan to keep his hair long. This is the writer's debut medical thriller, exploring love's true target – body or soul – through brain swapping.[14]
Release
Doctor Shin was reportedly scheduled to premiere on TV Chosun in the first half of 2026.[11] By February 2026, the premiere date was confirmed to be on March 14, 2026, airing every Saturday and Sunday at 22:30 (KST).[15][12] It is also available for streaming on Coupang Play.[16]
Viewership
| Season | Episode number | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | ||
| 1 | N/A | N/A | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | |
| Ep. | Original broadcast date | Average audience share (Nielsen Korea)[17][18] | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nationwide | Seoul | ||
| 1 | March 14, 2026 | 1.4% (12th) | 1.354% (10th) |
| 2 | March 15, 2026 | 1.4% (14th) | N/a |
| 3 | March 21, 2026 | ||
| 4 | March 22, 2026 | ||
| 5 | March 28, 2026 | ||
| 6 | March 29, 2026 | ||
| 7 | April 4, 2026 | ||
| 8 | April 5, 2026 | ||
| 9 | April 11, 2026 | ||
| 10 | April 12, 2026 | ||
| 11 | April 18, 2026 | ||
| 12 | April 19, 2026 | ||
| 13 | April 25, 2026 | ||
| 14 | April 26, 2026 | ||
| 15 | May 2, 2026 | ||
| 16 | May 3, 2026 | ||
| Average | — | — | |
Notes
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Kim, Hyo-jin (February 20, 2026). '임성한표 메디컬 스릴러 드라마' 온다…정이찬→지영산, '닥터신' 캐스팅 확정 [Im Sung-han's medical thriller drama is coming... Jung E-chan → Ji Young-san confirmed for Doctor Shin]. Ilgan Sports (in Korean). Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ Lee, Joo-in (March 12, 2026). 강나언, 임성한 '픽' 됐다…'닥터신' 깜짝 합류 "주요 배역" [Kang Na-eon and Im Sung-han are the "picks" for Doctor Shin, joining the cast in key roles]. Ilgan Sports (in Korean). Retrieved March 12, 2026.
- ^ Jo, Yeon-gyeong (March 15, 2026). 첫방 '닥터신' 명불허전 피비신(神)의 귀환 [Premiere Doctor Shin: The Return of the screenwriter Phoebe]. JTBC (in Korean). Retrieved March 15, 2026.
- ^ Park, Yang-soo (March 16, 2026). ‘닥터신’ 뇌수술 후 깨어난 백서라 소름 미소 엔딩,임성한표 치명적 스릴러 맞네 [Doctor Shin Ending with Baek Seo-ra's chilling smile after waking up from brain surgery—it really is an Im Sung-han signature deadly thriller]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ^ Yeon, Hwi-sun (OSEN) (August 16, 2023). "임성한 작가 차기작, '카지노' 만든 아크미디어 제작 확정 [공식]" [Im Sung-han's next project has been confirmed for production by Arc Media]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved March 6, 2026.
- ^ Park, Jong-seo (NewsPim) (September 3, 2025). "콘텐츠 제작사 씬앤스튜디오, 사명 변경 후 새 출발" [Content production company SYN&studio makes a fresh start after changing its name]. NATE (in Korean). Retrieved March 6, 2026.
- ^ Kim, Myung-mee (March 28, 2025). '결사곡' 임성한 작가, 신작 '닥터신'으로 복귀...TV조선 "편성 논의 중"[공식] ["Decision Song" writer Im Sung-han to return with new drama Doctor Shin... TV Chosun: "Scheduling discussions underway" [Official]]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved January 21, 2026.
- ^ Kim, Jin-seok (February 20, 2026). 민선홍→정이찬, 임성한 作 '닥터신' 주연 [Min Sun-hong → Jung E-chan, Im Sung-han's Doctor Shin to star]. My Daily (in Korean). Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ Jang, Jin-ri (August 13, 2025). [단독]핫이슈 형신, 배우 백서라로 '임성한 신데렐라' 된다...'닥터신' 여주 전격 발탁 [Exclusive: Hot Issue Hyeongshin, actress Baek Seo-ra, becomes "Im Sung-han's Cinderella"... Surprise casting as the female lead in Doctor Shin]. SPOTV (in Korean). Retrieved January 21, 2026.
- ^ Lead cast confirmation:
- Park, Soo-in (August 13, 2025). 신예 민선홍, 임성한 작가 픽 됐다 "'닥터신' 출연 확정"[공식입장] [Official Statement: Rookie Min Sun-hong Confirmed for Doctor Shin by Writer Im Sung-han]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved January 21, 2026.
- Jang, Jin-ri (August 13, 2025). [단독]안우연, '닥터신' 캐스팅...데뷔 10년 만에 '임성한의 新남자' 됐다 [Exclusive: Ahn Woo-yeon cast in Doctor Shin... 10 years after debut, he becomes "Im Sung-han's new man"]. SPOTV (in Korean). Retrieved January 21, 2026.
- Jang, Jin-ri (August 13, 2025). [단독]송지인, '결사곡' 이어 또 임성한 픽…'닥터신' 주연으로 '임성한 월드' 재입성 [[Exclusive] Song Ji-in, following Decision to Leave, re-enters the "Im Sung-han World" with her lead role in Doctor Shin]. SPOTV (in Korean). Retrieved February 15, 2026.
- Jang, Jin-ri (August 13, 2025). [단독]지영산, '임성한 프린스' 맞았다...'닥터신'으로 3연속 '임성한 픽' [Exclusive: Ji Young-san, "Prince Im Sung-han," is now the third consecutive "Im Sung-han pick" for Doctor Shin]. SPOTV (in Korean). Retrieved January 21, 2026.
- Jang, Jin-ri (August 13, 2025). [단독]주세빈, 임성한이 선택한 새 얼굴이었다...'닥터신' 캐스팅 [Exclusive: Joo Se-bin, the new face chosen by Im Sung-han... Cast in Doctor Shin]. SPOTV (in Korean). Retrieved January 21, 2026.
- Jang, Jin-ri (August 19, 2025). 배우 천영민, 임성한 신데렐라 되나...'닥터신' 전격 합류 [Actor Cheon Young-min to become Im Sung-han's Cinderella... Joining Doctor Shin]. Edaily (in Korean). Retrieved January 21, 2026.
- ^ a b Choi, Ji-yoon (August 13, 2025). 막장대모 임성한 온다…첫 의학물 '닥터신' [The godmother of the makjang drama, Im Sung-han, is coming… The first medical drama, Doctor Shin]. Newsis (in Korean). Retrieved February 26, 2026.
- ^ a b Lee, Kyung-ho (February 19, 2026). 피비 작가의 뇌 체인지 '닥터신', 3월 14일 첫방[공식] [Phoebe's brain-changing Doctor Shin premieres March 14th [Official]]. Ize (in Korean). Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ^ Kim, Jin-seok (February 25, 2026). [단독]'막장 대모' 임성한의 '닥터신'… 오늘(25일) 대장정 끝 [[Exclusive] Im Sung-han, the "godmother of the worst", stars in Doctor Shin… The epic journey concludes today (the 25th)]. My Daily (in Korean). Retrieved February 25, 2026.
- ^ Park, A-reum (March 11, 2026). 임성한 작가 메디컬 스릴러로 3년만 컴백 "'겟아웃' 있기에 용기냈다"(닥터신) [Writer Im Sung-han returns with a medical thriller Doctor Shin after three years: The film Get Out gave me courage"]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved March 11, 2026.
- ^ "Korea's 'shock twists queen' returns with brain-swap thriller 'Doctor Shin'". The Korea Times (in Korean). March 3, 2026. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
- ^ Kim, Soo-jin (February 23, 2026). 정이찬, 장발의 천재의사..임성한 '닥터신' 모습 첫 공개 [Jung E-chan, a long-haired genius doctor... Im Sung-han's first appearance as Doctor Shin revealed]. Star News (in Korean). Retrieved February 24, 2026.
- ^ a b Nielsen Korea ratings:
- ^ 닥터신 시청률 [Doctor Shin ratings] (in Korean). Nielsen Korea. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
External links
- Official website (in Korean)
- Production website at Syn&Studio (in English and Korean)
- Doctor Shin at IMDb
- Doctor Shin at HanCinema