Doctor Shin (Korean: 닥터신) is an ongoing South Korean medical melodrama thriller television series written by Phoebe, directed by Lee Seung-hoon, and starring Jung E-chan in the title role, along with Baek Seo-ra, Ahn Woo-yeon, Joo Se-bin, Cheon Young-min, Song Ji-in, Jeon No-min, and Ji Young-san. The series tells the story of a genius neurosurgeon, Doctor Shin, who dares to defy the boundaries of life and death, and a woman, whose soul is lost after a brain injury leaves her in a coma. It premiered on TV Chosun on March 14, 2026, and airs every Saturday and Sunday at 22:30 (KST). It is also available for streaming on Coupang Play.
Synopsis
Shin Ju-shin, a neurosurgeon at Nua Hospital, is engaged to a top actress Momo. Following a mysterious accident, Momo falls into a coma and suffers brain death. Unable to bear watching her unconscious, Momo’s mother, Hyun Ran-hee, begs the doctor to perform a risky brain transplant. Driven by obsessive love, Shin pursues a forbidden medical procedure and swaps the mother’s and daughter’s brains. The body survives, but an unexpected event unfolds later.
Cast
Main
- Jung E-chan as Shin Ju-shin[1]
- A genius brain surgery expert, he is the director of the neurosurgery department at Nua Hospital and the chairman of the Nua Foundation. Inheriting his father Dr. Shin Woo-pil’s exceptional skill in brain surgery, he boasts an aristocratic appearance and strong social standing. After losing his love Momo, his obsessive love for her led him to attempt a dangerous procedure to revive her body through a brain swap. He is a character who acts on his desires, prioritizing control over emotions and disregarding others’ feelings.
- Baek Seo-ra as Momo[1]
- A top actress, engaged to Doctor Shin, suffers a catastrophic scuba diving accident in the ocean, loses consciousness, and her condition becomes critical. It severely damages her brain, leaving her in a coma, although her body is unharmed. As her brain is successfully swapped with another’s by her fiancé, her body is inhabited by another soul, while her soul inhabits another’s body. She later started losing her mind and eventually passed away in another body. Her body was taken over by other souls to fulfill their desires, and her personality was altered.
- Ahn Woo-yeon as Ha Yong-joong[1]
- A successful game developer, who is Ju-shin’s close friend. He has a crush on Momo, who flirted with him provocatively while he played double bass at the Nua Foundation orphanage’s “Night of Gratitude” event. While Geum Ba-ra has feelings for him, he doesn’t realize it because he views their relationship as sibling-like, leaving her feeling bittersweet.
- Joo Se-bin as Geum Ba-ra[1]
- Comes from the Nua orphanage, she is the youngest journalist in Seongwoo Ilbo’s culture department. She has feelings for Yong-joong, whom he protected and called “baby” in her childhood. But as he focuses on Momo, her feelings for him slowly fade, and she’s secretly jealous of Momo.
- Cheon Young-min as Kim Jin-ju[1]
- Momo’s stylist at Jaeim Company, who also came from the Nua orphanage. Upon learning from Geum Ba-ra that Kim Gwang-cheol, a man she met at the Independence Support Center, was searching for her instead of Ba-ra, she felt a surge of anticipation to meet the biological father she’d longed for her entire life. However, Jin-ju’s excitement was shattered when she followed Gwang-cheol to a restaurant and spotted an electronic ankle monitor on his leg. After a false hope, she was offered a brain swap with Momo (Hyun Ran-hee’s brain) by Doctor Shin. She agreed immediately to live Momo’s life and be his lover.
- Song Ji-in as Hyun Ran-hee[1]
- Momo’s mother, who is a gallery owner. As her daughter Momo passed away, Ran-hee, in Momo’s body, decided to live her life but began to show her desire by seducing Doctor Shin. But no matter what she did, she failed to make him fall in love with her, despite being in Momo’s body, the woman he obsessively loved.
- Jeon No-min as James[1]
- Yong-joong’s older brother, whose real name is Ha Jae-im, lives in his late father’s body after a successful brain swap. He is a top stylist and CEO of Jaeim Company.
- Ji Young-san as Paul Kim[1]
- A western painter. He is searching for his biological daughter with Hyun Ran-hee, with whom he has a complicated relationship from high school. In Germany, he was in a traffic accident and had surgery that altered his face, which is why Hyun Ran-hee didn’t recognize him when they reunited.
Supporting
- Cha Gwang-su as Kim Gwang-cheol
- Jin-ju’s biological father.
- Cha Ji-hyuk as Ji An-hee[2]
- A former soldier who was a childhood friend of Yong-joong and Ba-ra. He was killed by an unknown suspect in episode 2.
- Kang Na-eon as Tae Ye-jeong[3]
- Daughter of an attorney and the high school “queen bee” who bullied Ba-ra and Jin-ju. In episode 4, she was found dead in her family’s vacation home.
Episodes
| No. | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 14, 2026 | |
|
Shin Ju-shin was captivated by Momo’s thriller performance in A Girl’s Prayer. He asked Ha Yong-joong’s brother James to arrange a meeting with her. Momo wore an all-black outfit to her meeting with Shin, giving off a somber vibe. She later declined his dinner invitation and shot down his after-date plans, citing a reshoot.[4] | ||
| 2 | March 15, 2026 | |
|
Following their initial encounter, Shin Ju-shin appeared at Momo’s house with flowers and, despite her prickly attitude, made a sudden proposal. Momo revealed her feelings for Shin to her mother, Hyun Ran-hee, but Ran-hee opposed the relationship, and obtained her consent to get engaged before marriage.[5] | ||
| 3 | March 21, 2026 | |
|
After brain-swap surgery, Hyun Ran-hee found herself in her daughter Momo’s body. Momo, now in Ran-hee’s body, was frustrated by her own physical limitations, struggling to walk or speak, while Ran-hee, in Momo’s body, seemed unaffected. When Shin got back from his seminar, the recovery room was empty, which made him uneasy.[6] | ||
| 4 | March 22, 2026 | |
|
Hyun Ran-hee, in Momo’s body, burst into tears in front of responders, clearing her name. She rushed to Momo, in Hyun Ran-hee’s body, crying out for her mother. Shin Ju-shin arrived late and saw the ambulance, reminded of Momo. He was hit with grief learning Hyun Ran-hee (with Momo’s brain) had died.[7] | ||
| 5 | March 28, 2026 | |
|
Paul Kim searches for his biological daughter with Hyun Ran-hee. A private detective agency informs him his daughter is found. Kim Jin-ju meets him face-to-face for the first time to determine if they’re biologically related.[8] | ||
| 6 | March 29, 2026 | |
|
Shin Ju-shin proposed brain-swap surgery to Kim Jin-ju after a conflict with Momo, who has his mother-in-law Hyun Ran-hee’s brain. Torn between anxiety and desire, Kim Jin-ju decided to have the surgery to live Momo’s life and become Ju-shin’s lover.[9] | ||
| 7 | April 4, 2026 | |
|
After completing the second brain-swap surgery, transferring Kim Jin-ju’s brain into Momo, Ju-shin later reveals his interest in Geum Ba-ra. Jin-ju immersed herself in Momo’s life, trying on her jewelry and clothes. Meanwhile, Doctor Shin warned Momo (Jin-ju’s brain) that she was now Momo, and Kim Jin-ju was gone.[10] | ||
| 8 | April 5, 2026 | |
|
Momo (Kim Jin-ju’s brain) found out she was pregnant via a test. She didn’t want to keep the pregnancy, feeling the baby wasn’t hers. Later, Momo (Jin-ju’s brain) seduced Ha Yong-joong, seemingly to provoke Geum Ba-ra, whose feelings for Yong-joong she was aware of.[11] | ||
| 9 | April 11, 2026 | |
|
Ha Yong-joong treats Geum Ba-ra like a sister, even closer than family, but Ba-ra longs for him to see her as a woman. Momo (Jin-ju) seeks help from Yong-joong and Ba-ra to escape Shin Ju-shin. After the engagement is dissolved, Momo (Jin-ju) began seducing Yong-joong out of a desire for revenge against Ba-ra, while Shin Ju-shin envisions a romance with Ba-ra.[12] | ||
| 10 | April 12, 2026 | |
|
Kim Gwang-cheol, Kim Jin-ju’s biological father, refuses to accept her death and continues investigating. He’d even consulted a shaman and now wants to meet with Geum Ba-ra. While Momo (Jin-ju) and Ha Yong-joong were having a meal together, Shin Ju-shin surprised Geum Ba-ra with a proposal. Despite Ba-ra’s refusal, citing her concern for Momo and not seeing him romantically, Shin suggested they casually date, have a child, and cohabitate.[13] | ||
Production
The development of Doctor Shin began when screenwriter Im Sung-han (credited as Phoebe), who penned Durian’s Affair (2023), Love (ft. Marriage and Divorce) (2021), and Princess Aurora (2013), joined Arc Media[14] (now known as Syn&Studio[15]) in August 2023. Scheduling discussions were already underway in March 2025 for TV Chosun.[16] Five months later, Min Sun-hong,[note 1] Baek Seo-ra,[note 2] Ahn Woo-yeon, Song Ji-in, Ji Young-san, Joo Se-bin, and Cheon Young-min were cast to lead the series.[19] The lead and supporting actors were all chosen through auditions.[20] The series is a medical melodrama thriller directed by Lee Seung-hoon and produced by Syn&Studio and TME Group.[21]
Principal photography commenced in July 2025 and ended after seven months. It concluded in the Eulwang-ri area of Incheon.[22]
The screenwriter Phoebe describes the series as a story exploring how medicine and medical practice impact human lives and destinies, rather than a traditional medical drama. She named the protagonist Shin Ju-shin, using the character for ‘spirit’ (神), given the show’s theme of altering the human brain. She and the producer sought novice actors who fit the characters’ “unconventional, unique, and mysterious charm”, and felt the auditions succeeded in finding them. Shin Ju-shin is described as a character who inherits his father’s hospital, possessing confidence in his skills and a free spirit. To reflect the character’s personality, Phoebe asked Jung E-chan to keep his hair long. This is the writer’s debut medical thriller, exploring love’s true target – body or soul – through brain swapping.[23]
Release
Doctor Shin was reportedly scheduled to premiere on TV Chosun in the first half of 2026.[20] By February 2026, the premiere date was confirmed to be on March 14, 2026, airing every Saturday and Sunday at 22:30 (KST).[24][21] It is also available for streaming on Coupang Play.[25]
Original soundtrack
The series’ original soundtrack was produced by Storypeak and XP. A new track will be released every Sunday. Lead actress Baek Seo-ra performed “Call My Name” (이름을 불러줘), a song from the third installment, released on April 5, 2026, depicting her character’s identity confusion.[26]
Part 1
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | “Remember” | Loner | Loner | Hajin | 2:39 |
Part 2
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | “All You Left Me Was Your Scent” (그댄 내게 향기만 남기고) |
|
| Lee Solomon | 4:06 |
Part 3
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | “Call My Name” (이름을 불러줘) | Loner | Loner | Baek Seo-ra | 3:50 |
Part 4
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | “The Day We Were” (그날의 우리) | Loner |
| Anda | 3:57 |
Viewership
Doctor Shin : South Korea viewers per episode (thousands)
Source: Audience measurement performed nationwide by Nielsen Korea.[27]
| Season | Episode number | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | ||
| 1 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 395 | N/A | N/A | 285 | N/A | 282 | 357 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | |
| Ep. | Original broadcast date | Average audience share (Nielsen Korea)[27][28] | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nationwide | Seoul | ||
| 1 | March 14, 2026 | 1.4% (12th) | 1.354% (10th) |
| 2 | March 15, 2026 | 1.4% (14th) | N/a |
| 3 | March 21, 2026 | 1.3% (14th) | |
| 4 | March 22, 2026 | 1.501% (10th) | 1.430% (9th) |
| 5 | March 28, 2026 | 0.9% (18th) | N/a |
| 6 | March 29, 2026 | 1.2% (12th) | |
| 7 | April 4, 2026 | 1.307% (10th) | |
| 8 | April 5, 2026 | 1.2% (15th) | |
| 9 | April 11, 2026 | 1.2% (11th) | |
| 10 | April 12, 2026 | 1.466% (8th) | 1.583% (5th) |
| 11 | April 18, 2026 | ||
| 12 | April 19, 2026 | ||
| 13 | April 25, 2026 | ||
| 14 | April 26, 2026 | ||
| 15 | May 2, 2026 | ||
| 16 | May 3, 2026 | ||
| Average | — | — | |
Notes
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Kim, Hyo-jin (February 20, 2026). ‘임성한표 메디컬 스릴러 드라마’ 온다…정이찬→지영산, ‘닥터신’ 캐스팅 확정 [Im Sung-han’s medical thriller drama is coming… Jung E-chan → Ji Young-san confirmed for Doctor Shin]. Ilgan Sports (in Korean). Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ Choi, Yi-jung (March 18, 2026). “그렇게 별로예요. 내가?” 임성한 드라마에 꼭 있는 것 (‘닥터신’) [”Is it really that bad? Me?” Something that is a must-have in Im Sung-han‘s dramas (‘Doctor Shin’)]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved March 26, 2026.
- ^ Lee, Joo-in (March 12, 2026). 강나언, 임성한 ‘픽’ 됐다…’닥터신’ 깜짝 합류 “주요 배역” [Kang Na-eon and Im Sung-han are the “picks” for Doctor Shin, joining the cast in key roles]. Ilgan Sports (in Korean). Retrieved March 12, 2026.
- ^ Jo, Yeon-gyeong (March 15, 2026). 첫방 ‘닥터신’ 명불허전 피비신(神)의 귀환 [Premiere Doctor Shin: The Return of the screenwriter Phoebe]. JTBC (in Korean). Retrieved March 15, 2026.
- ^ Park, Yang-soo (March 16, 2026). ‘닥터신’ 뇌수술 후 깨어난 백서라 소름 미소 엔딩,임성한표 치명적 스릴러 맞네 [Doctor Shin Ending with Baek Seo-ra’s chilling smile after waking up from brain surgery—it really is an Im Sung-han signature deadly thriller]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ^ Park, Yang-soo (March 22, 2026). ‘닥터신’‘잔혹한 운명에 처한 송지인 사망 엔딩 [Doctor Shin Song Ji-in’s Death Ending Facing a Cruel Fate]. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Retrieved March 23, 2026.
- ^ Choi, Yu-na (March 22, 2026). “안아줘야 하는 거 아냐?” 딸의 남자들 향한 욕망 터졌다 (닥터신) [“Shouldn’t you be giving her a hug?” Daughter’s desire for men explodes (Doctor Shin)]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Retrieved March 23, 2026.
- ^ Lee, Min-ji (March 28, 2026). ‘닥터신’ 쳔영민-지영산 만났다, 판도 뒤흔드는 혈연 서스펜스 [Doctor Shin Cheon Young-min and Ji Young-san Meet, a Game-Stopping Blood Suspense]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved March 30, 2026.
- ^ Choi, Yu-na (March 30, 2026). ‘닥터신’ 어디까지 가나…뇌 체인지 또 성공 [How far will ‘lDr. Shin go?… Another brain swap success]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Retrieved March 30, 2026.
- ^ Baek, A-young (April 5, 2026). ‘닥터신’ 어디까지 가나…뇌 체인지 또 성공 [Jung E-chan (Doctor Shin), desires brain swap with Joo Se-bin… Attempts 3rd surgery?!]. iMBC (in Korean). Retrieved April 6, 2026.
- ^ Seo, Yoo-na (April 6, 2026). 약혼녀 유산 겪은 정이찬, 주세빈♥안우연 질투 삼각관계 되나(닥터신)[어제TV] [Jung E-chan, whose fiancée suffered a miscarriage, will a jealousy love triangle develop between Joo Se-bin and Ahn Woo-yeon? (Doctor Shin) [Yesterday TV]]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved April 6, 2026.
- ^ Park, Yang-soo (April 11, 2026). ‘닥터신’ 정이찬 백서라 “파혼하구 끝내요, 맞으면서 안 살래요”비뚤어진 욕망 폭주 [Doctor Shin Jung Yi-chan and Baek Seo-ra: “Let’s break off the engagement and end it. I don’t want to live being beaten.” A rampage of twisted desires.]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved April 13, 2026.
- ^ Seo, Yu-na (April 13, 2026). 뇌수술로 몸 바꾼 천영민, 생부 추적에 자신만만 “백날 찾아봐”(닥터신) [Cheon Young-min, whose body was swapped via brain surgery, is confident in tracking down his biological father: “Look for him all day long” (Doctor Shin)]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved April 13, 2026.
- ^ Yeon, Hwi-sun (OSEN) (August 16, 2023). “임성한 작가 차기작, ‘카지노’ 만든 아크미디어 제작 확정 [공식]” [Im Sung-han’s next project has been confirmed for production by Arc Media]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved March 6, 2026.
- ^ Park, Jong-seo (NewsPim) (September 3, 2025). “콘텐츠 제작사 씬앤스튜디오, 사명 변경 후 새 출발” [Content production company SYN&studio makes a fresh start after changing its name]. NATE (in Korean). Retrieved March 6, 2026.
- ^ Kim, Myung-mee (March 28, 2025). ‘결사곡’ 임성한 작가, 신작 ‘닥터신’으로 복귀…TV조선 “편성 논의 중”[공식] [”Decision Song” writer Im Sung-han to return with new drama Doctor Shin… TV Chosun: “Scheduling discussions underway” [Official]]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved January 21, 2026.
- ^ Kim, Jin-seok (February 20, 2026). 민선홍→정이찬, 임성한 作 ‘닥터신’ 주연 [Min Sun-hong → Jung E-chan, Im Sung-han’s Doctor Shin to star]. My Daily (in Korean). Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ Jang, Jin-ri (August 13, 2025). [단독]핫이슈 형신, 배우 백서라로 ‘임성한 신데렐라’ 된다…’닥터신’ 여주 전격 발탁 [Exclusive: Hot Issue Hyeongshin, actress Baek Seo-ra, becomes “Im Sung-han’s Cinderella”… Surprise casting as the female lead in Doctor Shin]. SPOTV (in Korean). Retrieved January 21, 2026.
- ^ Lead cast confirmation:
- Park, Soo-in (August 13, 2025). 신예 민선홍, 임성한 작가 픽 됐다 “‘닥터신’ 출연 확정”[공식입장] [Official Statement: Rookie Min Sun-hong Confirmed for Doctor Shin by Writer Im Sung-han]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved January 21, 2026.
- Jang, Jin-ri (August 13, 2025). [단독]안우연, ‘닥터신’ 캐스팅…데뷔 10년 만에 ‘임성한의 新남자’ 됐다 [Exclusive: Ahn Woo-yeon cast in Doctor Shin… 10 years after debut, he becomes “Im Sung-han’s new man”]. SPOTV (in Korean). Retrieved January 21, 2026.
- Jang, Jin-ri (August 13, 2025). [단독]송지인, ‘결사곡’ 이어 또 임성한 픽…’닥터신’ 주연으로 ‘임성한 월드’ 재입성 [[Exclusive] Song Ji-in, following Decision to Leave, re-enters the “Im Sung-han World” with her lead role in Doctor Shin]. SPOTV (in Korean). Retrieved February 15, 2026.
- Jang, Jin-ri (August 13, 2025). [단독]지영산, ‘임성한 프린스’ 맞았다…’닥터신’으로 3연속 ‘임성한 픽’ [Exclusive: Ji Young-san, “Prince Im Sung-han,” is now the third consecutive “Im Sung-han pick” for Doctor Shin]. SPOTV (in Korean). Retrieved January 21, 2026.
- Jang, Jin-ri (August 13, 2025). [단독]주세빈, 임성한이 선택한 새 얼굴이었다…’닥터신’ 캐스팅 [Exclusive: Joo Se-bin, the new face chosen by Im Sung-han… Cast in Doctor Shin]. SPOTV (in Korean). Retrieved January 21, 2026.
- Jang, Jin-ri (August 19, 2025). 배우 천영민, 임성한 신데렐라 되나…’닥터신’ 전격 합류 [Actor Cheon Young-min to become Im Sung-han’s Cinderella… Joining Doctor Shin]. Edaily (in Korean). Retrieved January 21, 2026.
- ^ a b Choi, Ji-yoon (August 13, 2025). 막장대모 임성한 온다…첫 의학물 ‘닥터신’ [The godmother of the makjang drama, Im Sung-han, is coming… The first medical drama, Doctor Shin]. Newsis (in Korean). Retrieved February 26, 2026.
- ^ a b Lee, Kyung-ho (February 19, 2026). 피비 작가의 뇌 체인지 ‘닥터신’, 3월 14일 첫방[공식] [Phoebe’s brain-changing Doctor Shin premieres March 14th [Official]]. Ize (in Korean). Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ^ Kim, Jin-seok (February 25, 2026). [단독]’막장 대모’ 임성한의 ‘닥터신’… 오늘(25일) 대장정 끝 [[Exclusive] Im Sung-han, the “godmother of the worst”, stars in Doctor Shin… The epic journey concludes today (the 25th)]. My Daily (in Korean). Retrieved February 25, 2026.
- ^ Park, A-reum (March 11, 2026). 임성한 작가 메디컬 스릴러로 3년만 컴백 “‘겟아웃’ 있기에 용기냈다”(닥터신) [Writer Im Sung-han returns with a medical thriller Doctor Shin after three years: The film Get Out gave me courage”]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved March 11, 2026.
- ^ “Korea’s ‘shock twists queen’ returns with brain-swap thriller ‘Doctor Shin’“. The Korea Times (in Korean). March 3, 2026. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
- ^ Kim, Soo-jin (February 23, 2026). 정이찬, 장발의 천재의사..임성한 ‘닥터신’ 모습 첫 공개 [Jung E-chan, a long-haired genius doctor… Im Sung-han’s first appearance as Doctor Shin revealed]. Star News (in Korean). Retrieved February 24, 2026.
- ^ Kim, Soo-jin (April 8, 2026). ‘임성한의 신데렐라’ 백서라, ‘닥터신’ OST 직접 불렀다 [Im Sung-han’s Cinderella Baek Seo-ra sang the Doctor Shin OST herself]. iMBC (in Korean). Retrieved April 9, 2026.
- ^ a b Nielsen Korea ratings:
- “Ep. 1” (in Korean). Nielsen Korea. March 14, 2026. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
- “Ep. 2” (in Korean). Nielsen Korea. March 15, 2026. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
- “Ep. 3” (in Korean). Nielsen Korea. March 21, 2026. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
- “Ep. 4” (in Korean). Nielsen Korea. March 22, 2026. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
- “Ep. 7” (in Korean). Nielsen Korea. April 4, 2026. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
- “Ep. 9” (in Korean). Nielsen Korea. April 11, 2026. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
- “Ep. 10” (in Korean). Nielsen Korea. April 12, 2026. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
- ^ 닥터신 시청률 [Doctor Shin ratings] (in Korean). Nielsen Korea. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
External links
- Official website
(in Korean) - Production website at Syn&Studio (in English and Korean)
- Doctor Shin at IMDb
- Doctor Shin at HanCinema