'Dr. Cha Jeong-sook' criticizes Crohn's disease

As popular as it is, so is controversy. While JTBC's Saturday-Sunday drama 'Doctor Cha Jeong-sook' is breaking the record for highest viewership ratings for 'Agency' and breaking the record for the highest JTBC drama of the year, some settings in the drama that may lead to distorted perceptions are drawing criticism.

‘Doctor Cha Jeong-sook’ is a work depicting the story of Cha Jeong-sook (Eom Jeong-hwa), who went from a housewife of 20 years to a first-year resident, to stitch up her torn life. Although it is a medical drama set in a hospital, it aims to be a family drama that focuses on stories such as infidelity and conflict between the mother-in-law and the growth history of the main character. So, unlike existing medical dramas, there are no subtitles explaining medical terms. He also emphasized that it is a work that can be viewed comfortably even if you do not know medical terminology.

However, although 'Doctor Cha Jeong-sook' is a family drama disguised as a medical drama, it is definitely a medical genre work. Therefore, some expressions that seem to take this lightly continue to be controversial.

'Doctor Cha Jeong-sook' created a negative perception of herbal medicine from the first episode. Cha Jeong-suk, who was hospitalized with acute hepatitis, said to her mother, who prepared food for the health center, "Where did you make that medicine that you gave me? If you take the wrong herbal medicine, you can get acute hepatitis."

Later, when Cha Jeong-suk's mother-in-law saw that her son had to give her daughter-in-law a liver transplant, there was a scene where she screamed at her in-laws, saying, "Isn't it the in-laws' fault that this happened? Isn't it all because of that cheap tonic?"

Some viewers who saw this criticized 'Dr. Cha Jeong-sook' for including expressions that could belittle or misunderstand oriental medicine. It was reported that the Korean Oriental Medicine Association also sent an official letter to JTBC. This scene was edited or the dialogue was silenced in the replay.

In episode 7, Crohn's disease became a problem by calling it a 'bad disease'. On this day's broadcast, an episode of a patient with Crohn's disease was covered, and the patient's father-in-law and mother-in-law, who came to the hospital, criticized the patient, saying, "How can you hide such a nasty disease and get married? They say this disease can be inherited." Accordingly, a scene appeared where the patient attempted to make an extreme choice.

Afterwards, viewers criticized the bulletin board for saying, "Crohn's disease is not hereditary" and "It's a drama that hurts young patients." It is reported that dozens of complaints were reported to the Korea Communications Standards Commission.

Crohn's disease is a disease in which the normal immune system of the intestines is damaged and cannot overcome harmful substances such as bacteria or food that come from outside, causing ulcers to form throughout the body. Although it is an incurable disease that requires long-term management, early treatment not only improves symptoms but also prevents complications, making it possible to live like a normal person.

As this is a drama that is ranked #1 in viewership ratings, this is a part that leaves one feeling regretful as to what would have happened if they had been more careful. In relation to this, a JTBC official is refraining from commenting, saying, "We are checking into the controversy."

Taeyuna, Ten Asia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr