TV
How did ‘Dr. Cha Jeong-sook’ overcome ‘10% of evil’?
The response to JTBC's Saturday-Sunday drama 'Doctor Cha Jeong-sook' (directed by Kim Dae-jin and Kim Jeong-wook, written by Jeong Yeo-rang, and produced by Studio & New Co., Ltd., SLL, and JCN) is hot. The residency challenge of Cha Jeong-sook (played by Eom Jeong-hwa), a full-time housewife of 20 years, is showing a frightening power, evoking not only exhilarating catharsis but also empathy with reality. Amidst enthusiastic reviews, the viewership ratings and topicality were also 'all-kill'. In just four episodes, the viewership rating surpassed 11.7% (Nielsen Korea, based on paid households, metropolitan area), breaking its own record and ranking first among non-terrestrial channels.
The popularity index also proved its popularity. In the topicality survey for the third week of April (April 17 to April 23) announced by Good Data Corporation, it ranked first in the drama category and also ranked first in the comprehensive chart including OTT. In particular, Uhm Jung-hwa and Kim Byeong-cheol swept first and second places, drawing attention in terms of the popularity of the performers. In addition, Myung Se-bin (5th place) and Min Woo-hyuk (9th place) were also listed in the TOP 10, demonstrating their popularity.
Cha Jeong-sook awakens to live as her true self rather than someone else's wife, mother, or daughter-in-law. Sympathetic support poured in for his challenge as he puts his dreams and happiness first and struggles not to miss an opportunity that will never come again. Accordingly, we looked at the turning point in Cha Jeong-sook's life, the moment of awakening that caused 'empathy
# A doctor's dream that was forgotten, “Now that I think about it, I really miss the operating room” (Episode 1)
For Cha Jeong-sook, who was once an elite financial resource but gave up her career for her family, her medical license was no different from a closet license that had been neglected for 20 years. He was hit hard by the fact that he couldn't even lift a finger in front of an emergency patient, and Roy Kim (played by Min Woo-hyuk) even pointed out that "non-medical personnel should not practice medicine." Cha Jeong-suk, who had completely forgotten that she was a doctor, began to feel empty. And it was only when Cha Jeong-sook faced the crossroads of life and death that she looked back on her life. At the hospital where he was hospitalized with acute hepatitis, he said, “Now that I think about it, I really miss the operating room,” and recalled his past internship days, which were short but lived more intensely than anyone else. Cha Jeong-sook, who rekindled the ‘doctor’s dream’ that still remained in her heart. The moment of awakening to change my life has come. It was the beginning of Cha Jeong-sook's refreshing rebellion to live as 'me'.
# New resident Cha Jeong-sook’s will, “Mom is stronger now than ever” (Episode 3)
Cha Jeong-suk, a new resident who took on the challenge despite opposition from her husband, mother-in-law, and high school senior daughter, returned with the joy of passing the exam, but the walls of reality were high and harsh. There was no need for an older resident, and the liver transplant surgery handicap also hindered him. The reality that Cha Jeong-sook had to overcome was that she could not even get a position unless the successful candidate voluntarily resigned. Cha Jeong-suk, a new resident, had to fight against prejudice, but her will was straight and firm. Her son Seo Jeong-min (played by Song Ji-ho), who became her resident classmate, was worried as she watched her mother struggle, but Cha Jeong-sook dismissed it, expressing her firm will, saying, “Mom is stronger than ever now.” Cha Jeong-sook's smile, saying that she needed encouragement rather than worry because it was an opportunity she had hoped for more earnestly than anyone else and worked hard to obtain, aroused support from viewers.
#Unbreakable resolution, “I remembered how much I wanted to become a good doctor” (Episode 3)
Cha Jeong-sook's residency challenge was not welcomed even at home. Cha Jeong-suk did not give up despite the reality that no one was cheering her on. The mother-in-law, who was more concerned about her son and grandson who would be uncomfortable in the same hospital than her daughter-in-law's life reboot, and her high school senior daughter's complaint that she was neglecting her stimulated the mother Cha Jeong-suk's guilt. However, the most fierce opposition came from none other than her husband, Seo In-ho (played by Kim Byeong-cheol). As her double life with her first love, Choi Seung-hee (played by Myung Se-bin), was at risk of being discovered, the sabotage operation to somehow get Cha Jeong-sook to quit brought in fists. Cha Jeong-suk remains unwavering even after harsh words like, “Do you know that hospitals help the wife who wants to have the title of doctor realize herself?” Despite the opposition of her husband, who believed that he would understand her more than anyone else since they were a married couple and classmates in medical school, Cha Jeong-sook persuaded him by saying, “After I got sick, I remembered how precious the profession of a doctor was and how much I wanted to become a good doctor.” In the midst of a life-and-death crisis, Cha Jeong-sook's awakening, as she remembered how precious the profession of a doctor was and how much she actually wanted to become a good doctor, overshadowed everyone's opposition for the simplest and most obvious reason.
# The challenge of finding the true ‘me’, “Mom, I want to live as myself at least once” (Episode 4)
Cha Jeong-sook spent her busy days as a new resident, but also tried to be faithful to her family. In response to her daughter’s complaints, Cha Jeong-sook said, “Are you saying that a mother’s sacrifice is natural? “It’s time for you to start your own life without my help,” he said coldly, but his sincerity was different. In a letter written by Cha Jeong-sook to her daughter Seo Yi-rang, “Mom, I want to live as myself at least once. The sincerity of “What my mom needs most right now is your support and support” touched the hearts of those who watched. Cha Jeong-suk has lived a life tailored to her family, down to the smallest and most trivial details. His clear and firm will to live his life, which could not be postponed any longer, made him look forward to future rebellion even more.
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
