Dr. Romantic — Season 2 (2020) 낭만닥터 김사부 시즌2
Directed by Yoo In-shik and Lee Gil-bok, starring Han Suk-kyu as Kim Sa-bu (Teacher Kim) / Boo Yong-joo, Ahn Hyo-seop as Seo Woo-jin, Lee Sung-kyoung as Cha Eun-jae, Kim Joo-heon as Park Min-gook, Jin Kyung as Oh Myung-sim, Byun Woo-min as Nam Do-il, Im Won-hee as Jang Gi-tae, Kim Min-jae as Park Eun-tak, Shin Dong-wook as Bae Moon-jeong 'Dr. Bones', So Joo-yeon as Yoon Ah-reum, and Yoon Na-moo as Jung In-su.
Watched 27 July - 14 August 2026 — 16 episodes (NETFLIX)
Why did I choose this drama? — I have seen Season 1 some time ago and enjoyed it. I expected to love Season 2 more because I like the actors Ahn Hyo-seop and Lee Sung-kyoung (who play the new doctors) better than Yoo Yeon-seok and Seo Hyun-jin from the first season, and the show has good ratings too.
What's it about? — Dr. Kim visits Geosan University Hospital in order to scout and recruit new doctors for his country hospital. He finds two troubled doctors, the second-year fellows Seo Woo-jin and Cha Eun-jae, who have no other choice than to follow him, albeit reluctantly, to Doldam Hospital. The show depicts the everyday life of the hospital staff and their patients, and the arrival of other doctors from the main hospital.
Overall thoughts — I preferred this to the first season. It was nice to already know Dr. Kim and many characters from Season 1. As expected, I liked the couple Seo Woo-jin and Cha Eun-jae better than Kang Dong-joo and Yoon Seo-jung from the first season. Their characters are just more likeable and I like their romance better. I can remember from the first show that I didn't like Kang Dong-joo right away nor the way he forced a kiss from Yoon Seo-jung in the first episode. I found this season very addictive to watch. It gives us impressive medical cases (with graphic visuals), a good dose of life lessons by Dr. Kim, and a mostly lovable cast. And I like how the unlikeable doctors from Geosan University Hospital are nuanced and grey characters and not one-dimensional.
Main character — While I had to get used to Dr. Kim in Season 1, here I had already grown to love him and was familiar with his approach and behaviour towards his staff and patients. He is supportive of his team and I love how he gives guidance and advice to his new second-year fellows. At first he is a bit gruff with Woo-jin and Eun-jae but he means well, and it has the desired effect. Woo-jin and Eun-jae are eager to learn from Dr. Kim and he has their full respect. I love how Dr. Kim puts his patients first, how for him it's all about saving lives, and how he doesn't want to have anything to do with hospital politics.
Romance & chemistry — I like the slow-burn romance of Seo Woo-jin and Cha Eun-jae. They have great chemistry and are very natural together. Their characters are both struggling and easy to root for. I'd only wished that Woo-jin had opened up more to Eun-jae and had told her of his tragic past. Incidentally, I really like Woo-jin, how honest and just he is, and his growing relationship with Dr. Kim is one of the highlights of the show. Going back to the topic of romances: I had hoped to see a romance unfold between Head Nurse Oh and Dr. Kim but she spent more time off work with the friendly Nam Do-il. The very likeable Nurse Park Eun-tak found himself romantically involved with the new doctor Yoon Ah-reum. I would have liked to see more of them because they were cute together.
Villain/antagonist — At first Professor Park Min-gook from Geosan University Hospital looks like he's one of the bad guys. Yet he's a more human and interesting villain/antagonist than Do Yoon-wan (former Director of Geosan University Hospital, now Chairman of Geosan University Foundation), who is plain bad and unpleasant. Initially I disliked Park Min-gook (because he was taking orders from Do Yoon-wan) but it was clear from the start that he was not beyond redemption. Dr. Kim challenged and provoked him and laid bare his insecurities. Min-gook resented Dr. Kim but also admired and respected him. I knew Park Min-gook was part of Season 3 too and I was hoping he would become one of the good guys before this season was over. Which fortunately was the case.
Other characters — Apart from the characters already mentioned above, other recurring Doldam Hospital staff members are emergency doctor Jung In-su and Jang Gi-tae, the manager who can still be annoying. I hadn't really noticed much of Jung In-su in the first season — maybe his role was smaller — but in this season I really liked him. I also loved the new doctor Bae Moon-jeong 'Dr. Bones'. I had briefly feared a love triangle with Woo-jin and Eun-jae, but luckily that didn't happen. Dr. Bones was just a sweetie and really only in love with his skeleton and bones models. Park Min-gook's assistant in surgery Yang Ho-joon (played by Go Sang-ho) was probably the one person I hated the most. (Yet at some point I felt sorry for him.) I loved Cha Eun-jae for not putting up with his shit anymore. Park Hyo-ju as Sim Hye-jin, the anesthesiologist, was very unlikeable too, but already early on there were small things she did or said which indicated she was more decent than she appeared to be. The visit from doctor Do In-beom (played by Yang Se-jong), whom I didn't like very much in the first season, was a nice surprise. Dr. Song Hyun-cheol and Manager Joo (Chairman Shin's assistant) from Season 1 also made guest appearances.
Highlighted episode — Ep. 8 with the donor transplant was an emotional episode. I loved how they all paid respect to the donor and her mother. The operation was also fascinating, how they harvested the different organs and how small some of them looked. Kidneys are tiny! This episode has Seo Woo-jin and Cha Eun-jae's kiss at the ending. Also, the episode where we see the hospital staff saying goodbye to Yeo Woon-young, the ex-director of Doldam Hospital, lying on his sickbed and about to be taken off life support, was very emotional and made me shed some tears. The story around Yeo Woon-young has a rare moment where Dr. Kim is showing his emotions, and we see him break down and cry.
Final episode — It was a satisfying finale with Dr. Kim having managed to separate Doldam's administration from the Geosan University Foundation, and it was great to see Do Yoon-wan totally losing it upon hearing this. The best part of the episode was seeing Park Min-gook help Woo-jin with his emergency patient (dropping his briefcase and jacket on the floor!) and deciding to open a government-funded trauma center with Dr. Kim. And Eun-jae, of course, chooses to stay at Doldam's. I was slightly disappointed there was no reunion scene with Woo-jin but knowing there would be a Season 3 anyway, I got over it.
Misc. — Why is everybody eavesdropping at doors all the time??!
Recommended? — YES! Love Dr. Kim and the characters, and will continue with the third season right away. (At the time of writing this, I have watched 4 episodes of Season 3 already and love it!)