'Dr. Romantic' and 4 Other Best Medical K-Dramas With 8.0 & Higher IMDb Scores
These stories not only heal, but also make you think about the most important things.
Medical dramas are intense, human stories where personal tragedies flare up, principles clash, and love blossoms under the bright lights of operating rooms.
Korean projects skillfully balance the cold medical reality with intense emotions, compelling viewers to empathize with every patient and doctor.
1. 'Kill Me, Heal Me', 2015
IMDb Score: 8.3/10
Cha Do-hyun suffers from dissociative identity disorder due to a severe childhood trauma. He cannot remember part of his past and is inhabited by five different personalities.
Do-hyun is the heir to a large family business, therefore, his illness is carefully concealed from the public. Oh Ri-jin, one of South Korea's top psychiatrists, is secretly treating him.
She tries to help him overcome his trauma, but just as progress is being made, she and her patient suddenly fall in love.
2. 'Descendants of the Sun', 2016
IMDb Score: 8.2/10
Captain Yoo Si-jin of the Korean Special Forces is a battle-hardened professional and true patriot willing to sacrifice his life for his country.
After sustaining a minor injury, he ends up in the hospital, where he meets Kang Mo-yeon, a young, talented doctor.
They develop romantic feelings for each other, but Mo-yeon is unwilling to accept Si-jin's dangerous profession – and for good reason. The greatest test of their relationship is mortal danger.
3. 'Daily Dose of Sunshine', 2023
IMDb Score: 8.1/10
For personal reasons, Nurse Jung Da-eun is transferred from the internal medicine ward to the psychiatric ward. She is immediately struck by the staff's rudeness and aggression toward patients.
She tries to be as caring as possible, which causes resentment among her colleagues. Da-eun has many personal problems, and the combination of her personal issues and work drives her to depression.
Nevertheless, she strives to bring her patients their daily dose of sunshine.
4. 'Dr. Romantic', 2016-2023
IMDb Score: 8.4/10
Surgeon Boo Yong-joo became famous throughout the country. However, after experiencing a personal tragedy, he made the difficult decision to leave his high-ranking position at Seoul's premier medical center.
Adopting the name Kim Sa-bu, he found work at a small provincial hospital. In addition to performing surgeries, his duties included training interns.
Under his tutelage, young doctors learn not only about medicine, but also about ethics, dedication, and the courage to confront corruption.
5. 'Ghost Doctor', 2022
IMDb Score: 8.0/10
Professor Cha Young-min is a highly skilled surgeon, but he's simply insufferable as a person. This brilliant doctor is arrogant and emotionless and seems completely devoid of empathy for his patients and colleagues.
Intern Go Seung-tak is his complete opposite – a mediocre doctor, but he's kind and compassionate. One day, Young-min is involved in a car accident and falls into a coma.
His spirit is free and able to inhabit and control another body. By a twist of fate, Young-min finds himself in Seung-tak's body.
