The drama opens in a war zone. A man in a motorbike zooms along and you begin to ask, “Is this an action drama?” Meanwhile, bombs are exploding and debris fall all over the place. He crashes to the ground. He seems to have hurt himself badly. He enters a hospital room where patients and medical staff are hiding from the raucous, carrying a large duffle bag. The woman who sees him first, sighs in relief, “Malak!”

The Search for A Hero

Accidents happen everyday. Varying degrees of trauma endanger people’s lives, but many of these cases meet a sour end. The country’s trauma response has been put under the spotlight. And with this dilemma at hand, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Kang Myeong-Hui urged all hospitals to be more aggressive.

She reminds Hankuk Hospital Director, Choi Jo-Eun, of the 10 Billion funding that had been granted to the Trauma Unit. She, then, challenged the hospital to deliver as expected, and sends Dr. Baek Kang-Hyuk (the man on the motorbike) to oversee its fulfillment.

Baek Kang-Hyuk is not like most doctors. A trauma surgeon, with extensive experience as a military doctor, he is comfortable taking risks and making bold decisions. While most will be more calculating and systematic, he thrives in the midst of danger. And will favor the crazy over something mundane.

By all sense of the word, he is a hero. And he took under his wing, the young and eager Yang Jae-Won whom he fondly calls “Anus”, and the gangster nurse Cheon Jang-Mi. Together, they fight all odds to save people’s lives.

The Business of Saving Lives

I am a healthcare professional, in private practice. And I understand the conflict between the desire to save lives and the urge to keep your business running. Young and idealistic doctors, step into their own careers with the purest intention to serve. Unfortunately, most people lose this zest and are overcome by reality.

During a Board Meeting, we see Hankuk Hospital officials carelessly applauding income generated by their Funeral Services Department. This is followed by a directive to find ways to make more money. This disgusts Baek Kang-Hyuk. Because, when the motivation to earn outweighs the burden to save lives, what happens to the people?

• When the anesthesiologist can’t be bothered to answer a call, how can an emergency surgery take place?
• If the doctors are more concerned about destroying the reputation of the trauma surgeon that they abhor, who truly suffers?
• If the hospital sees the Trauma Center as a liability, where must one find the money to save people’s lives?
• When they ground helicopters and trauma responses are delayed, who answers to the families of the patients?
• When the doctors see trauma medicine as a nuisance what do people have to hope for?

Perhaps Baek Kang-Hyuk came in too strong. Hankuk Hospital had been accustomed to its own ways, his presence felt like a ravishing hurricane. Maybe he was too crass for everyone’s liking. But should it really matter? The truth is that they rejected him, even before he said a word, because he stood for change. He stood for change that they do not and cannot welcome.

Let Me Bare My Soul

If you would rather not know minced details of the drama, STOP here.

The Heart of Service

I am a dentist. While I don’t actually save lives, as a Christian missionary, I have always had the heart for service. Recently, the practice of my profession has gotten quite superficial. Instead of saving teeth, dentists are telling people that an artificial smile is the “healthier” choice. That makes me sad. And that is why I sympathize with Dr. Baek Kang-Hyuk.

I understand the burden he carries and I appreciate the value of his fight.

My favorite moments in the drama, are the times when his stubborn persistence finally touched other’s hearts.

• From foe to friend. After saving the life of Dr. Han Yu-Rim’s daughter, he is immediately transformed. No longer his greatest adversary, but his strongest ally. It’s true–you will never understand something until it’s staring at you.

• Leading by example. He may be forceful and aggressive, but he can walk the talk. His sincerity touched, not just Yang Jae-Won and Cheon Jang-Mi, but also the young anesthesiologist, Park Gyeong-Won. He plans to join the Trauma Center when he finishes his Fellowship.

• Remembering his hero. In the last few scenes in the drama, he confronts the Director. He tells the tale of a doctor. He said he became a doctor because of the the man who did all he can to save his father’s life. And he wanted to save lives, like the hero that he was. Shocked. The Director remembers his past, the man he tried to save, and the little boy who was crying.

Dr. Baek Kang-Hyuk defied all odds and transformed the mindset of the people around him. He is a hero that inspires people to be more, and to do more.

Final Verdict

I watched this for two reasons. I love medical dramas, and I’ve heard a lot of good things about it. While it did not disappoint, I feel it was a tad bit overrated. Ju Ji-Hoon may be enough reason for people to lose their senses, I reckon. Shortly after seeing this drama, my mother took a deep dive into Princess Hours. So it’s either I wasn’t paying much attention, or everyone watched this with Ju Ji-Hoon goggles.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed the drama thoroughly. It wasn’t spectacular, but it was an easy watch. Needless to say, I breezed through the 8 episodes.

I liked it because the characters were animated and their good chemistry was apparent. The comedy was just right–and there were lots of unique LOL moments. As a fan of medical dramas, I found it a little corny and exaggerated, but that makes good entertainment, right?

I’m also happy that the ending made room for another season, because 8 episodes of Ju Ji-Hoon is not enough.

I rate this drama:

(see my rating system)