Doctor Shin
Upcoming South Korean television series
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Doctor Shin (Korean: 닥터신) is an upcoming South Korean medical melodrama thriller television series written by Phoebe, directed by Lee Seung-hoon, and starring Jeong Yi-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 is scheduled to premiere on TV Chosun on March 14, 2026, and will air every Saturday and Sunday at 22:30 (KST). It will also be available for streaming on Coupang Play.
| Doctor Shin | |
|---|---|
Promotional poster | |
| Hangul | 닥터신 |
| RR | Dakteo Sin |
| MR | Takt'ŏ Sin |
| Genre | |
| Written by | Phoebe |
| Directed by | Lee Seung-hoon |
| Starring |
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| Country of origin | South Korea |
| Original language | Korean |
| Production | |
| Producers |
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| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | TV Chosun |
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. When Hyun Ran-hee, learns about her daughter, she 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 lives, but an unexpected thing happens later.
Cast and characters
Main
- Jeong Yi-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.
- Baek Seo-ra as Momo[1]
- Ju-shin's fiancée, is a top actress who is about to marry him, but after a catastrophic scuba diving accident in the ocean, she loses consciousness, and her condition becomes more critical. It severely damages her brain, leaving her in a coma, although her body is unharmed. As her brain is swapped with another's by her fiancé, her body is inhabited by another soul.
- Ahn Woo-yeon as Ha Yong-joong[1]
- A successful game developer, who is Ju-shin's close friend.
- Joo Se-bin as Geum Ba-ra[1]
- The youngest reporter on Sungwoo Ilbo's culture desk.
- Cheon Young-min as Kim Jin-ju[1]
- Momo's stylist.
- Song Ji-in as Hyun Ran-hee[1]
- Momo's mother, who is a gallery owner.
- Jeon No-min as James[1]
- Yong-joong's older brother, who is the CEO of Jaeim Company.
- Ji Young-san as Paul Kim[1]
- A western painter.
Supporting
- Kang Na-eon as TBA[2]
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[3] (now known as Syn&Studio[4]) in August 2023. Scheduling discussions were already underway in March 2025 for TV Chosun.[5] 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.[8] The lead and supporting actors were all chosen through auditions.[9] The series is a medical melodrama thriller directed by Lee Seung-hoon and produced by Syn&Studio and TME Group.[10]
Principal photography commenced in July 2025 and ended after seven months. It concluded in the Eulwang-ri area of Incheon.[11]
The screenwriter Phoebe aimed to avoid common themes from the start of her career. The film Get Out (2017) gave her the courage to tackle the drama. The drama explores emotions of exceptionally devoted mothers. The title "Doctor Shin" and the name Shin Ju-shin echo "神" (god), fitting the theme of manipulating human brains, a quasi-divine act. 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 Jeong Yi-chan to keep his hair long. For the role of Momo, Baek Seo-ra was chosen for her charisma and ability to convey a pure soul.[12]
