Yong Pal (2015) is a South Korean medical action drama that blends adrenaline-fueled suspense with emotionally charged storytelling. Directed by Oh Jin-suk and starring Joo Won and Kim Tae-hee, the series aired on SBS from August to October 2015. Originally planned for 16 episodes, it was extended to 18 due to soaring viewership.
Kim Tae-hyun (Joo Won) is a brilliant yet desperate surgeon buried under debt from his sister’s dialysis treatments. By night, he becomes “Yong Pal,” a back-alley doctor who secretly treats gangsters and corrupt elites. His double life leads him to a hidden VIP room—where Han Yeo-jin (Kim Tae-hee), a chaebol heiress, lies in a medically induced coma.
As Tae-hyun risks everything to awaken her, he is pulled into a shadowy world of corporate betrayal and power struggles. Meanwhile, Yeo-jin’s transformation from helpless patient to calculating survivor adds complexity and tension to their evolving relationship.
The drama’s appeal lies in its pacing and unpredictable narrative. Joo Won brings emotional urgency to his role, while Kim Tae-hee shifts from vulnerability to icy resolve with remarkable control. Additionally, the show’s mix of hospital politics, underground medicine, and boardroom conspiracies creates a layered and immersive experience.
Although some critics noted a slower tempo in later episodes, Yong Pal maintained strong ratings and left a lasting impression. It also marked a notable reunion for Kim Tae-hee and Jo Hyun-jae, more than a decade after Forbidden Love (2004).
In the end, Yong Pal isn’t just a story about medicine—it’s about survival, reinvention, and the price of saving a life in a world that values power above all.