In the 3rd 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 22nd, Cha Jeong-sook (played by Eom Jeong-hwa) overcomes all kinds of handicaps and enters the Department of Family Medicine at Gusan University Hospital. He was depicted struggling after being accepted as a resident. There was enthusiastic sympathy and support for Cha Jeong-sook's challenge of continuing her residency despite the sabotage by her husband, Seo In-ho (played by Kim Byeong-cheol). In addition, Cha Jung-sook, Seo In-ho, Choi Seung-hee (Myung Se-bin), and Roy Kim (Min Woo-hyuk) reunited at the same hospital, adding to the curiosity about the exciting change in their relationship. The viewer ratings for the third episode were 7.8% nationwide and 8.5% in the metropolitan area (Nielsen Korea, based on paid households), continuing to rank first among non-terrestrial channels. The target 2049 audience rating was also 2.8%, ranking first among non-terrestrial channels, continuing the craze.
On this day, Cha Jeong-sook miraculously received notification of acceptance. Seo In-ho and Choi Seung-hee, who were in danger of having their double life exposed by the unexpected appearance of Cha Jeong-sook, could not hide their embarrassment. Cha Jeong-suk's residency life was full of challenges and challenges. Above all, the person who gave Jeongsuk the most trouble was her husband, Seo In-ho. Due to Choi Seung-hee's trick, Cha Jeong-sook is dispatched to the surgery department where her husband is the chief and her son Seo Jeong-min (Song Ji-ho) is a resident. Seo In-ho openly ignored her, saying, “Can you at least imitate a doctor?” and made Cha Jeong-sook’s heart heavy, saying that she didn’t know how much of a burden she and her son would feel. In response to her son's concern about what if he collapses while working, Cha Jeong-sook showed her firm resolve by saying, "Mom, I'm stronger than ever now."
Cha Jeong-sook's residency challenge was not welcomed even at home. Her mother-in-law, Kwak Ae-sim (played by Park Joon-geum), urged her to quit for the sake of her family, and her daughter, Seo Yi-rang (played by Lee Seo-yeon), complained all sorts of things about the fact that she, a senior in high school, could not receive her mother's support. Cha Jeong-sook did not give up despite the reality that no one supported her. She asked her daughter, “Is it natural for you to sacrifice, mom?” and “Now it’s time for you to build your own life without my help.” To her husband, who only objected, she responded by saying, “Isn’t there another reason?” and stopped him from speaking.
But it wasn't just the enemy. Roy Kim, who performed Jeong-suk's liver transplant surgery and encouraged her will to become a resident, moved to the Department of Surgery at Gusan University Hospital. Seo In-ho, who found out about this, went to see him and suggested that he persuade Cha Jeong-sook to give up her residency program as there may be side effects from the surgery. However, Roy Kim not only refused Seo In-ho's request outright, but also did not hide his support for Cha Jung-sook, which embarrassed him. Cha Jeong-sook's mother, Oh Deok-rye (played by Kim Mi-kyung), is also a strong supporter. It was refreshing to see Kwak Ae-sim, who tried to block her daughter-in-law's challenge with words that were different on the outside and inside, sternly telling her to "stay still and not interfere."
Meanwhile, a subtle sabotage operation by Seo In-ho and Choi Seung-hee, who even threatened him not to pretend to know him at the hospital, began. “I am a person who has stayed at home for 20 years. He believed that Cha Jeong-sook would give up soon, saying, “I’m going to get scolded on a false day and it’s only a matter of time before I fall into a sense of shame.” For a moment, Seo In-ho thought he had found a way to make Cha Jeong-suk quit on his own, when he encountered an unexpected situation at a surgical dinner party. Seo In-ho, who saw Cha Jung-sook and Roy Kim in a friendly relationship, clearly looked uncomfortable, and Cha Jung-sook's answer to a colleague's question about her husband without hesitation, saying "He is dead," foreshadowed the drastic changes that had come to them and heightened curiosity.
Episode 4 of JTBC's Saturday-Sunday drama 'Doctor Cha Jeong-sook' will be broadcast at 10:30 pm today (23rd).
Ryu Ye-ji, Ten Asia Reporter ryuperstar@tenasia.co.kr