TV
‘Cha Jeong-suk’ exceeds 20.0% in Bundang
In the 10th episode of JTBC's Saturday-Sunday drama 'Doctor Cha Jeong-sook' (directed by Kim Dae-jin and Kim Jeong-wook, written by Jeong Yeo-rang, produced by Studio & New Co., Ltd., SLL, JCN), which aired on the 14th, Cha Jeong-sook (Uhm Jeong-hwa) gets married to her husband Seo In-ho (Kim Byeong-cheol) and Choi Seung-hee (Myung Se-bin). I found out that they had a daughter. Following her husband's double life, Cha Jeong-sook finds out about the existence of Choi Eun-seo (So Ah-rin). While attention was focused on his choice, the changes in Choi Seung-hee and Roy Kim (played by Min Woo-hyuk) further heightened curiosity. Seo In-ho was still walking a tightrope between Cha Jeong-sook and Choi Seung-hee, and Choi Seung-hee, who was disappointed by the sight, told him to take some time. Here, Roy Kim's actions, confessing his feelings for Cha Jung-sook, heralded an unpredictable new phase. The viewer rating for the 10th episode was 18.0% nationwide, 18.9% in the metropolitan area, and a peak of 20.0% per minute (Nielsen Korea, based on paid households), breaking its own record and ranking first on all channels. This figure corresponds to JTBC's highest record in 2023. In the target 2049 audience rating, it continued to be ranked first across all channels with 6.9%, demonstrating its strong popularity.
On this day, it was revealed that Cha Jung-sook and Seo In-ho were a couple. Cha Jeong-sook, who was considering divorce, was not happy with the change, although she realized that she was being treated differently as Professor Seo In-ho's wife. Unexpectedly, a change occurred in the relationships around me. Jeon So-ra (played by Jo A-ram) felt uncomfortable with Cha Jeong-sook and began to have a conflict with her son Seo Jeong-min (played by Song Ji-ho) because she hid the truth. The biggest problem was Choi Seung-hee, whom Cha Jeong-sook met at the family medicine department. Cha Jeong-suk, who returned from medical service, went to see Choi Seung-hee first. Cha Jeong-sook, who chose to attack head-on, shook Choi Seung-hee with a meaningful greeting, “Please take care of me.”
Roy Kim also criticized Cha Jung-sook, asking why she stayed silent even though she knew about the relationship between Seo In-ho and Choi Seung-hee. In response to Roy Kim's question about why they continued their relationship despite knowing all the facts, Cha Jung-sook said, "I want to protect my children's important times in peace." Roy Kim was worried about Cha Jung-sook, telling her to choose the path to be happy on her own. He then said to Cha Jeong-suk, who was trying to somehow overcome the waves that came in her life, "Don't forget that I am your friend," and did not hide his affectionate feelings for Cha Jeong-suk, confessing, "Once I safely cross the waves, a chance will come to me, too."
Meanwhile, Seunghee Choi began to put her mind in order. When Choi Seung-hee asked if he was thinking about ending his marriage, Seo In-ho didn't even say anything. Choi Seung-hee, who had made a decision due to Seo In-ho's indecisiveness, returned the bracelet and coldly turned away, saying that it was time to sort things out. Also, Choi Seung-hee decided to dispose of her inheritance in order to return to the United States. Above all, he selflessly helped new resident Cha Jeong-sook and made viewers wonder.
Cha Jeong-sook's worries also deepened. Cha Jeong-sook's anger surged again at the sight of Seo In-ho drunkenly calling Choi Seung-hee late at night. As her mother Oh Deok-rye (played by Kim Mi-kyung) said, she tried to think of her children and hold on to her heart, but the undeniable truth eventually hit Cha Jeong-suk. I was shocked that my daughter Seo Yi-rang (Lee Seo-yeon) knew about her father's double life and that Choi Seung-hee's daughter was his friend and sister. In the end, Cha Jeong-suk broke down and shed tears of anger. In a moment of pain, Cha Jeong-suk escapes from reality for a moment with the help of Jeon So-ra. As he smiles coolly in the rain, attention is focused on whether he can reset everything and live a new life.
JTBC's Saturday-Sunday drama 'Doctor Cha Jeong-sook' airs every Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 p.m.
Ryu Ye-ji, Ten Asia Reporter ryuperstar@tenasia.co.kr
