Love Doctor (TV series)

Love Doctor
Hangul
연애박사
RRyeonaebaksa
MRyŏnaebaksa
Genre
Written byMin Hyo-jung
Directed byAhn Pan-seok
Starring
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
Production
Production locationSouth Korea
Running time70 minutes
Production companyStudio Goti
Original release
NetworkENA

Love Doctor (Korean: 연애박사) is an upcoming South Korean medical romantic comedy television series written by Min Hyo-jung, directed by Ahn Pan-seok, and starring Choo Young-woo and Kim So-hyun. The series focuses on the development of robotic prosthetics and the personal recovery of a former athlete. It is scheduled to premiere on ENA in the second half of 2026 and will be available for streaming on Genie TV in selected regions.[1]

Synopsis

The series follows the academic and personal lives of two individuals within a robotics research laboratory. Park Min-jae is a doctoral candidate at Seoul National University who transitioned from competitive swimming to mechanical engineering following the amputation of his right leg due to osteosarcoma. Though focused on prosthetic research, he maintains a list of personal milestones he hopes to achieve outside of his studies.

Im Yu-jin enters the same robotics program as a master's student after her career in clothing and textiles was disrupted by her role as a whistleblower. The narrative explores their collaboration in the lab, where Yu-jin applies her knowledge of materials to Min-jae's engineering research, and the development of their relationship within the university environment.

Cast

Main

A PhD candidate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Seoul National University. Formerly a competitive swimmer, he transitioned to the field of robotics after losing his leg to osteosarcoma. His research focuses on perfecting robotic mobility and prosthetic technology.
A graduate student in mechanical engineering who previously studied clothing and textiles. After exposing corruption in her former department as a whistleblower, she transitioned into the field of robotics. She joins Min-jae's research team, applying her background in materials and design to the development of prosthetic technology.

Supporting

People around Yu-jin

Yu-jin's older brother. He often intervenes in his sister's personal life and serves as a mediator between Yu-jin and their parents.
A woman who expresses concern over her daughter's career transition from fashion to mechanical engineering.
A man who initially opposed Yu-jin's decision to leave the fashion industry but eventually supports her new career path.

People around Min-jae

Min-jae's mother. She feels responsible for her son's past illness and injury, leading to a protective and sometimes strained relationship with him.
  • Kim Min as Choi Han-gyeol[6]
Min-jae's junior in the robotics lab. A brilliant researcher who is socially awkward but deeply dedicated to the team.

Robotics Lab & Others

A member of the research team at the SNU Mechanical Engineering department.
A researcher involved in the prosthetic development project.
A senior figure within the engineering faculty who oversees the lab's progress.

Production

Development

The series is a collaborative project between production company Studio Goti and planning firm KT Studio Genie. In late 2025, Ahn Pan-seok was confirmed as the director; his previous work includes Something in the Rain (2018) and The Midnight Romance in Hagwon (2024).[7] The screenplay is written by Min Hyo-jung, marking her first television series in 21 years since Rules of Love (2005). Min is best known for the early 2000s series Cats on the Roof and Full House.[8]

Casting

In early November 2025, media outlets reported that Kim So-hyun and Choo Young-woo were in negotiations to lead the series.[9] On December 1, 2025, ENA and KT Studio Genie officially confirmed their casting in the roles of Im Yu-jin and Park Min-jae, respectively.[10][11]

The supporting cast includes several actors who have collaborated with director Ahn Pan-seok on previous projects, such as Seo Jeong-yeon and Park Hyuk-kwon, who portray Yu-jin's parents, and Shim Hye-jin, who portrays Min-jae's mother. Kim Min-seok was cast as Im Yu-seong, the older brother of Yu-jin.[4] By early 2026, the ensemble for the robotics research laboratory was finalized to include Kim Min as Choi Han-gyeol, alongside Lee Kyu-sung, Jang In-sub, and Lee Chang-hoon in various researcher and faculty roles.[12][5]

Filming

Principal photography commenced in November 2025.[5][13] Filming for the series took place over four months, officially concluding on February 28, 2026.[14][15]

Release

Love Doctor is scheduled to air in the second half of 2026 on the cable network ENA. It has been designated as a Monday–Tuesday drama. In addition to its television broadcast, the series will be released as an original title on Genie TV, where it will be available as free VOD for subscribers. International streaming rights are currently under negotiation.[16]

References

  1. ^ Choi, Seung-seop (December 1, 2025). '대세 배우' 추영우, 드라마 '연애박사' 주연 발탁... 김소현과 로맨스 호흡. sportsseoul (in Korean). Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  2. ^ "Choo Young-woo and Kim So-hyun to Star in Ahn Pan-seok's Signature Romance... 'Love Doctor' Casting Confirmed [Official] - MK". Maeil Business Newspaper. December 1, 2025. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  3. ^ Seung-hoon, Lee (November 3, 2025). 안판석 감독이 선택한 남자는 추영우였다..'연애박사' 주인공 [Star News further reported the casting of Choo Young-woo as the male lead, Park Min-jae.]. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 9, 2025. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  4. ^ a b Ju-yeon, Jang (November 21, 2025). 김민석과 안판석이 '러브닥터'에 합류한다. [Kim Min-seok and Ahn Pan-seok join "Love Doctor,"]. Ilgan Sports (in Korean). Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Jin-seok, Kim (November 29, 2025). '안판석 사단' 서정연·박혁권·심혜진, '연애박사' 출연 [Seo Jung-yeon, Park Hyuk-kwon, and Shim Hye-jin, members of the "Ahn Pan-seok faction," will appear on "Love Doctor."]. My Daily (in Korean). Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  6. ^ Choi, Yi-jeong (February 3, 2026). 김민, 추영우X김소현과 호흡..'연애박사' 로봇 연구실 막내 役 캐스팅 [Kim Min, Choo Young-woo X Kim So-hyun cast as youngest member of 'Love Doctor' robot lab]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  7. ^ Geum, Bit-na (December 1, 2025). 김소현, 안판석 감독 ‘연애박사’ 주연 확정...추영우와 연인 호흡. Maeil Business Newspaper (in Korean). Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  8. ^ Ji-yeon, Moon (December 1, 2025). '대세' 추영우에 김소현, '연애박사' 안판석 감독 만난다 [Trending actors Choo Young-woo and Kim So-hyun will meet with director Ahn Pan-seok of "Love Doctor."]. Naver (in Korean). Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  9. ^ Ra, Hyo-jin (November 4, 2025). 안판석 감독 신작 '연애박사' 캐스팅 정보 [Casting information for director Ahn Pan-seok's new film "Love Doctor"]. Elle (in Korean). Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  10. ^ Son, Bong-seok (December 2, 2025). 김소현, ‘연애박사’ 주연 임유진 역 낙점 [Kim So-hyun has been cast as Im Yoo-jin in "Love Doctor."]. Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  11. ^ Seon, Mi-kyung (December 1, 2025). 추영우, '연애박사' 된다 [Choo Young-woo to Become "Love Doctor"]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  12. ^ Choi, Yi-jeong (February 3, 2026). 김민, 추영우X김소현과 호흡..'연애박사' 로봇 연구실 막내 役 캐스팅. Daum. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  13. ^ Nam, Seon-woo (January 22, 2026). [인터뷰] 언제나 중요한 것은 개연성이다, 안판석 감독. Cine21 (in Korean). Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  14. ^ Kim, Na-yeon (March 3, 2026). [단독] 추영우♥김소현 '연애박사', 올 가을 온다..10월 첫방 편성 [[Exclusive] Choo Young-woo and Kim So-hyun's "Love Doctor" Coming This Fall... Premiering in October]. OSEN. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  15. ^ Han, Su-jin (March 3, 2026). [단독] 추영우♥김소현 '연애박사' 촬영 끝…2026년 안방극장 설렘 쓰나미 온다 [[Exclusive] Choo Young-woo and Kim So-hyun Complete Filming for "Love Doctor"... A Tsunami of Excitement Awaits Home Theaters in 2026]. Naver (in Korean). Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  16. ^ Lee, Go-eun (December 1, 2025). 지니TV와 ENA가 제작하는 새 드라마 "러브닥터" [Genie TV and ENA new drama "Love Doctor"]. alphabiz (in Korean). Retrieved January 21, 2026.
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