Doctor Slump (TV series)

Doctor Slump (Korean: 닥터슬럼프) is a 2024 South Korean medical romantic comedy television series written by Baek Seon-woo, directed by Oh Hyun-jong, and starring Park Hyung-sik, Park Shin-hye, Yoon Park, and Gong Seong-ha. The series depicts the lives of two former high school rivals who reunite during the lowest points of their respective careers. It aired on JTBC from January 27, to March 17, 2024, every Saturday and Sunday at 22:30 (KST). It is also available for streaming on TVING in South Korea, and on Netflix in selected regions.

Produced under SLL and HighZium Studio, Doctor Slump was a commercial success, reaching a peak nationwide viewership of 8.2% on Nielsen Korea. It also gained significant international popularity, ranking first on the Netflix Global Top 10 list for non-English television series and remained on the charts for nine consecutive weeks. The series received positive reviews for its sensitive portrayal of mental health, burnout, and the chemistry between the lead actors, Park Hyung-sik and Park Shin-hye, marking their first collaboration since the 2013 SBS TV series The Heirs.

A two brilliant doctors whose lives, once defined by academic excellence and professional prestige, hit rock bottom simultaneously. During their high school years, Yeo Jeong-woo and Nam Ha-neul were fierce rivals, competing for the top rank in the national mock exams. While Jeong-woo was the effortless, popular genius, Ha-neul was the relentless "study machine" who sacrificed every luxury for her grades.

Fourteen years later, Jeong-woo has become a star plastic surgeon with a flawless reputation and a massive social media following. However, his life is upended when a mysterious medical accident during a routine surgery leads to the death of a patient—the girlfriend of a powerful casino mogul. Framed by a conspiracy and facing a 10-billion-won lawsuit, Jeong-woo loses his clinics, his wealth, and his public standing. Destitute and traumatized, he is forced to move into a humble rooftop room.

Simultaneously, Ha-neul has become a highly skilled anesthesiologist at a prestigious university hospital. Despite her brilliance, she is treated as a doormat by a narcissistic senior professor who steals her research and subjects her to verbal abuse. The cumulative stress of her "burnout" lifestyle eventually manifests as clinical depression. After a near-fatal incident where she almost collapses into traffic from exhaustion, Ha-neul realizes she can no longer function. She quits her job, much to the horror of her mother, who struggles to understand how a "successful doctor" could be mentally ill.

The two former rivals reunite when Jeong-woo unknowingly rents the rooftop room of the building owned by Ha-neul's family. Initially, their reunion is marked by the same petty bickering that defined their teenage years. However, as they navigate their respective "slumps", they find that they are the only people capable of providing true comfort to one another.

As Ha-neul undergoes therapy to reclaim her life, she helps Jeong-woo investigate the medical malpractice case that ruined him. Together, they discover a web of surveillance and betrayal involving a close colleague. Ultimately, the series chronicles their journey of healing, proving that a professional "slump" can serve as a necessary pause to rediscover personal happiness and a life beyond their medical licenses.

• Park Hyung-sik as Yeo Jeong-woo^[3]
  • Seo Woo-jin as young Yeo Jeong-woo^[4]

A plastic surgeon whose career is disrupted by a medical malpractice suit involving missing security footage, forcing him to deal with professional failure while reuniting with a high school rival.

• Park Shin-hye as Nam Ha-neul^[3]
  • Yu Ha-yeon as young Nam Ha-neul^[5]

An anesthesiologist who quits her job after experiencing severe burnout from years of academic and professional discipline, eventually attempting to navigate a life without work for the first time.

• Yoon Park as Bin Dae-yeong^[6]

A plastic surgeon and single father who maintains a rivalry with Jeong-woo but eventually supports him during his legal crisis while managing the challenges of raising an adolescent daughter.

• Gong Seong-ha as Lee Hong-ran^[6]

An anesthesiologist specializing in obstetrics and gynaecology who is Nam Ha-neul's best friend and develops a relationship with Dae-young as they assist each other with parenting.

• Oh Dong-min as Min Kyung-min^[7]

A supportive senior doctor and former tutor who acts as a brother figure to Jeong-woo while serving as a respected former mentor to Ha-neul.

• Jang Hye-jin as Kong Wol-seon^[8]

Ha-neul's mother.

• Yoon Sang-hyeon as Nam Ba-da^[8]

Ha-neul's younger brother.

• Hyun Bong-sik as Kong Tae-seon^[8]

Ha-neul's maternal uncle.

• Nam Gwon-a as Nam Suk-ja^[1]

Ha-neul's older aunt.

• Lee Min-young^[1]

Ha-neul's younger aunt.

• Jeong Ji-sun as Han Sang-chul^[9]

Jeong-woo and Haneul's former third year high school homeroom teacher.

• Park Won-ho as Kim Mu-geun^[9]

Jeong-woo's friend since high school.

• Kang Sang-jun as Son Chan-yeong^[9]

Jeong-woo's friend since high school.

• Oh Ryoong as Kim Sang-geun^[10]

Ha-neul's superior who is an anesthesiologist professor.

• Song Ji-woo as Do Hye-ji^[11]

A nurse at La Beaute Plastic Surgery Clinic.

• Kim Jae-beom as Kang Jin-seok^[11]

An anesthesiologist who went into surgery together with Jeong-woo, but dropped him into the abyss due to a medical incident.

• Lee Ha-joo as Nurse Oh^[1]

A nurse at Login Plastic Surgery Clinic.

• Jeong Ye-seo as Nurse Park^[1]

A nurse at Login Plastic Surgery Clinic.

• Kim Jung-hwan as Doctor Woo^[12]

Ha-neul's fellow classmate.

• Park Jung-won as the PR manager at La Beaute Plastic Surgery Clinic
• Hwang Do-yun as Bin Eun-jeong^[5]

Dae-yeong's daughter.

• Kim Hee-seong as Jin-woo^[13]

Hong-ran's son.

• Han Kyu-won as Kwak Jae-yeong^[14]

Several actors and media personalities made special appearances that contributed to the development of the main characters' backstories and the progression of the plot. Park Won-sang^[1] appeared as Nam Man-seok, the deceased father of Ha-neul, Lee Seung-joon^[15] portrayed the psychiatrist who diagnoses Ha-neul with burnout and depression, Jang In-sub^[1] made a brief appearance as Jeong-woo and Dae-yeong's colleague, Cha Yong-hak^[1] played the role of a prosecutor involved in the legal proceedings regarding Jeong-woo's medical malpractice case, and Jeon Yi-soo^[1] is the patient from Macau who dies while having a facial contouring in Jeong-woo's clinic. Additionally, real-life announcers Kim Il-joong^[1] and Kim Ha-eun^[1] appeared as news anchors, providing a sense of realism to the media coverage surrounding Jeong-woo's case.^[1] Lee Sung-kyung made an appearance in the sixth episode as Han Woo-ri who is a former classmate with a crush on Jeong-woo. Lee was cast due to her professional relationship with the show's director, Oh Hyun-jong, with whom she previously worked on the 2016–2017 MBC TV series Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo.^[16] Gagwoman Kim Seung-hye and actress Mi Ram appeared in the last episode as Oh Ji-eun and Da-bin, respectively.^[17]

The development of Doctor Slump began under the direction of Oh Hyun-jong, known for his work on Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo (2016), and writer Baek Seon-woo, whose previous credits include What's Wrong with Secretary Kim (2018). Produced by SLL and HighZium Studio, the series was envisioned as a "medical-human" drama that focused more on the psychological recovery and "slump" of its protagonists rather than traditional hospital politics.^[18] The project was initially slated for an October 2023 release on JTBC but was later moved to the first quarter of 2024 to anchor the network's weekend lineup.^[19] The first script reading was held on March 4, 2023, where the creative team established the show's tone as a blend of nostalgic romantic comedy and modern-day healing drama.^[20]

Casting garnered significant media interest as it marked the first on-screen reunion between leads Park Shin-hye and Park Hyung-sik in eleven years, following their roles in the 2013 teen drama The Heirs. The project also served as a high-profile comeback for Park Shin-hye, marking her return to the screen after a two-year hiatus following her marriage and the birth of her first child.^[21] By March 2023, the main cast was rounded out by Yoon Park and Kong Seong-ha, who were cast to portray the secondary lead couple.^[22]

Principal photography commenced in March 2023 and wrapped in October of the same year.^[19][23] To capture the contrast between the characters' past academic success and their present-day struggles, the production utilized a mix of historic and scenic locations across South Korea. The high school flashback sequences were filmed at the historic Choong Ang High School in Seoul. To emphasize the "healing" theme of the series, several pivotal scenes were shot in nature-centric locations, including the Samyang Roundhill ranch in Pyeongchang and the coastal areas of Gaetmaeul Beach and Yongho Starlight Park in Busan. Urban filming took place at various landmarks in Seoul, such as the Deoksugung Palace Stone-wall Road and the Yeouido Saetgang Ecological Park bridge, providing a grounded, contemporary atmosphere for the characters' adult lives.^[24]

JTBC confirmed the premiere date of Doctor Slump to be on January 27, 2024, and was aired every Saturday and Sunday at 22:30 (KST).^[25] It is also available for streaming on TVING in South Korea and Netflix internationally.^[26]

The soundtrack of the series was led by music directors Kim Joon-seok and Jung Se-rin. It featured a diverse lineup of artists, including Seulgi of Red Velvet, Hynn, Chen of Exo, Junggigo, Dahyun of WJSN, and Eden. Notably, lead actor Park Hyung-sik contributed to the soundtrack with the ballad "Lean on Me" (내게 기대), marking his participation in the series as both a performer and vocalist.^[27]

Doctor Slump soundtrack album was released on March 19, 2024; it contains all of the singles and background tracks from the series.^[27]

Singles included on the album were released from January 27, to March 10, 2024.^[28]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 6 critics' reviews are positive.^[29]

South Korean media critics focused heavily on the show's relatability and its depiction of "mental wounds". Ilgan Sports noted that the series effectively used the irony of doctors—who are typically viewed as "healers"—struggling to care for their own mental health to create a deep sense of empathy with the audience. The review highlighted that the transition from academic competition to mutual comfort felt realistic to viewers who have experienced South Korea's high-pressure work culture.^[30] In a comprehensive review by Maeil Business Newspaper, the series was described as a "sunshine-like drama" amidst a flood of provocative content, though it was criticized for relying on a "predictable romance" as the primary cure for professional burnout.^[31]

Internationally, the series received generally positive reviews, with particular praise directed at the chemistry between the lead actors. Johnny Loftus, writing for Decider, noted that the lifelong rivalry between Park Shin-hye and Park Hyung-sik provided a compelling foundation for the evolving romance.^[32] S. Poorvaja of The Hindu echoed this sentiment, stating that the lead performances and the show's sensitivity largely compensated for its inconsistent pacing.^[33] While Nandini Iyengar of Bollywood Hungama lauded the "funny yet strong leads",^[34] and Pierce Conrad of the South China Morning Post offered a more tempered assessment, praising Park Shin-hye's "balanced and grounded" performance but felt that Park Hyung-sik's more "showy" portrayal occasionally bordered on caricature.^[35]

Critics were divided regarding the show's narrative focus and its handling of mental health. Tanu I. Raj of NME and Joly Herman of Common Sense Media both awarded the series three out of five stars, describing it as a "fast-paced" and "catchy" watch driven by witty banter.^[36][37] However, Raj observed that the writing occasionally diluted the story's impactful and realistic treatment of mental health.^[37] This sentiment was shared by Conrad, who argued that the series failed to fulfill its promise of addressing the stigmas surrounding mental health in South Korean society, focusing instead on the central romance.^[35] Sarah Musnicky of But Why Tho? gave the series a 6.5/10 rating, criticizing the plot as "directionless" and suggesting that the show’s primary messaging became "muddied" as it struggled to find its footing.^[38]

Doctor Slump was a commercial success, performing strongly across domestic cable television and international streaming platform. The series premiered with a 4.1% nationwide rating on Nielen Korea.^[39] Although viewership saw a temporary dip to a series low of 3.7% during the Lunar New Year holiday, it rebounded to peak at a nationwide rating of 8.2% (9.8% in the Seoul metropolitan area) for its tenth episode.^[40][41] The series maintained an average nationwide audience share of 5.3%, consistently ranking among the top-rated programs in its time slot.^[42]

Globally, the series achieved notable traction on Netflix, where it debuted in the top ten of the platform's non-English TV category.^[43] During the week of January 29 to February 4, 2024, it ascended to the number one position on the Netflix Global Top 10 list, garnering 10.2 million viewing hours and 2.9 million total views.^[44] the Netflix Global Top 10 list, garnering 10.2 million viewing hours and 2.9 million total views. The drama remained on the global charts for nine consecutive weeks and reached the top ten in 31 countries, including topping the charts in South Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.^[45]

• Official website (in Korean)
• Production website at SLL (in Korean and English)
• Production website at HighZium Studio (in Korean and English)
• Doctor Slump at IMDb 
• Doctor Slump at HanCinema