Doctor Slump (TV series)

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For the Japanese manga and anime series, see Dr. Slump.
Doctor Slump
The poster features the two main actors in their casual attires sitting in a neighborhood store while eating ice creams. Bigger font text reveals the title of the series and a quote in the middle. While the text at the bottom of the poster reveals the name of the distributor, the name of the production company, the name of the main cast, the release date and the rest of the credits.
Promotional poster
Hangul
닥터슬럼프
Revised RomanizationDakteoseulleompeu
McCune–ReischauerTakt'ŏsŭllŏmp'ŭ
Genre
Written byBaek Seon-woo [ko]
Directed byOh Hyun-jong [ko]
Starring
Music by
  • Kim Jun-seok[3]
  • Jeong Se-rin[3]
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes16
Production
Executive producers
  • Kim Se-ah (CP)[4]
  • Kim Da-hee[4]
  • Lee Soo-bum[4]
Producers
  • Han Suk-won[4]
  • Hwang Gi-yong[4]
Cinematography
  • Kim Sun-cheol[4]
  • Song Hyun-joon[4]
EditorOh Selena[4]
Running time60 minutes[5]
Production companies
  • SLL
  • HighZium Studio
Original release
NetworkJTBC
ReleaseJanuary 27 (2024-01-27) –
March 17, 2024 (2024-03-17)

Doctor Slump (

South Korean television series written by Baek Seon-woo [ko], directed by Oh Hyun-jong [ko], and starring Park Hyung-sik, Park Shin-hye, Yoon Park, and Gong Seong-ha [ko]. It aired on JTBC from January 27, to March 17, 2024, every Saturday and Sunday at 22:30 (KST). It is also available for streaming on TVING in South Korea, and on Netflix
in selected regions.

Synopsis

It is a romantic comedy series about the hate turned to love relationship of Nam Ha-neul and Yeo Jeong-woo who had promising prospects in their careers, but fell into a slump due to different circumstances. Ha-neul and Jeong-woo were high school rivals who despised each other and parted ways after high school. But when they are forced to quit their jobs as doctors they end up living together at Ha-neul's house.

Cast

Main

  • Park Hyung-sik as Yeo Jeong-woo: a carefree student but who always came first in exams and become a plastic surgeon who was popular but suffered from a medical accident.[6]
  • anesthesiologist after a lot of struggles but runs out of the hospital after being burnout by a medical professor.[6]
  • Yoon Park as Bin Dae-yeong: a plastic surgeon who has an 'alone' rivalry with his well-known college classmate Jeong-woo.[7]
  • Gong Seong-ha [ko] as Lee Hong-ran: an anesthesiologist and Ha-neul's best friend.[7]
  • Oh Dong-min [ko] as Min Kyung-min: Jeong-woo's friend and Ha-neul's senior who is the youngest professor in the anesthesiology department.[8]

Supporting

Ha-neul's family

People of Yeongwon High School

  • Jeong Ji-sun [ko] as Han Sang-chul: Jeong-woo and Haneul's homeroom teacher during their third year of high school.[10]
  • Park Won-ho [ko] as Kim Mu-geun: Jeong-woo's friend since high school.[10]
  • Kang Sang-jun [ko] as Son Chan-yeong: Jeong-woo's friend since high school.[10]

Others

  • Song Ji-woo [ko] as Do Hye-ji: a nurse at Bin Dae-young Plastic Surgery.[11]
  • Kim Jae-beom [ko] as Kang Jin-seok: an anesthesiologist who went into surgery together with Jeong-woo and dropped him into the abyss due to a medical incident.[11]

Extended

Special appearances

Production

Development

It was reported by Xports News that the production would began in 2023 and to air on JTBC in October of the same year.[16]

The first script reading was held on March 4, 2023, and filming began on the same month.[17]

It was written by writer Baek Seon-woo [ko], directed by PD Oh Hyun-jong [ko], and produced by SLL and HighZium Studio.[18]

Casting

In November 2022, Park Shin-hye and Park Hyung-sik were reportedly cast as the main characters for the series and this would be their reunion since working together in The Heirs (2013).[19]

In March 2023, Park Hyung-sik, Park Shin-hye, Yoon Park and Kong Seong-ha [ko] were confirmed to play various roles in the series.[20]

Original soundtrack

Part 1

Released on January 27, 2024
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."In My Memory" (기억속에 너와)
  • Lee Ki-hwan
  • Eunrim
  • Lee Ki-hwan
  • Eunrim
Seulgi3:25
2."In My Memory" (기억속에 너와; Inst.) 
  • Lee Ki-hwan
  • Eunrim
 3:25
Total length:6:50

Part 2

Released on February 3, 2024
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Not Alone" (혼자가 아니야)Taibian
  • Taibian
  • Kim Jung-woo (Toxic)
  • Director Ahn
Hynn4:12
2."Not Alone" (혼자가 아니야; Inst.) 
  • Taibian
  • Kim Jung-woo (Toxic)
  • Director Ahn
 4:12
Total length:8:24

Part 3

Released on February 10, 2024
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."The Way to Love Myself" (나 사랑법)Lee Chi-hoonPark Sung-ilChen (Exo)3:29
2."The Way to Love Myself" (나 사랑법; Inst.) Park Sung-il 3:29
Total length:6:58

Part 4

Released on February 24, 2024
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Actually I Love You" (사실 너를)In WooIn WooJunggigo3:45
2."Actually I Love You" (사실 너를; Inst.) In Woo 3:45
Total length:7:30

Part 5

Released on March 2, 2024
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Love Is" (사랑한다는 말은)Park Purple
  • Park Purple
  • In Woo
Dayoung (WJSN) & Eden3:11
2."Love Is" (사랑한다는 말은; Inst.) 
  • Park Purple
  • In Woo
 3:11
Total length:6:22

Part 6

Released on March 10, 2024
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Lean On Me" (내게 기대)
  • Shim Gyu-tae
  • Kim Jae-won
  • Jay Lee
  • Jay Lee
  • Shim Gyu-tae
  • Kim Jae-won
Park Hyung-sik3:26
2."Lean On Me" (내게 기대; Inst.) 
  • Jay Lee
  • Shim Gyu-tae
  • Kim Jae-won
 3:26
Total length:6:52

Release

JTBC released the premiere date of the series which would air every Saturday and Sunday at 22:30 (KST) on January 27, 2024.[21] It is also available for streaming on TVING and Netflix.[22]

Reception

Critical response

The series received a mixed to positive response from critics. Johnny Loftus of

Decider wrote that "with Park Shin-hye and Park Hyung-sik leading the way, Doctor Slump has us curious about how their characters’ lifelong rivalry will evolve into romance".[23] In Bollywood Hungama, Nandini Iyengar stated that "with an endearing plotline, funny yet strong leads and great watch value, Doctor Slump is undoubtedly heading to become one of the most loved dramas of 2024".[24] Joly Herman of Common Sense Media gave it 3/5 stars and proclaimed that "Doctor Slump is catchy without being edgy" and "it's quickly paced and pretty cute".[25] NME's Tanu I. Raj gave it a 3/5 stars and wrote that "it dilutes the show's impactful story, which has so far treated mental health issues surprisingly realistically and sensitively" and "is nevertheless an engaging, fast-paced watch, especially if you’re a sucker for witty banter and newfound friendships".[26] In But Why Tho?, Sarah Musnicky rated it 6.5/10 and criticized the series "as directionless as its leading character, Ha-Neul" and "it tries to figure out which course to take, with its primary messaging getting muddied in the process".[27] South China Morning Post's Pierce Conrad gave it 3/5 stars and described "Park Shin-hye gave a balanced and grounded performance in Doctor Slump, while Park Hyung-sik’s showier outing often veered close to the realm of caricature" and "promised to focus on mental health and the stigmas surrounding it in South Korean society" but "failed to do so, instead focusing on relationships".[28] S. Poorvaja of The Hindu wrote that "Doctor Slump's lead performances and sensitivity for the most part almost make up for its pacing issues".[29]

Viewership

Doctor Slump ranked ninth in Netflix's Global Top 10 TV (Non-English) category after two days of its release and received a warm response in 11 countries from January 22–28, with 1.9 million hours watched by 1.4 million viewers in its first week.[30] During its second week, the series rose to the top and accumulated 10.2 million hours watched by 2.9 million viewers.[31] The series remained at the chart for another seven consecutive weeks.[32]

Viewers per episode (millions)