Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist (Korean: 조선 정신과 의사 유세풍) is a South Korean television series broadcast by tvN, starring Kim Min-jae in the title role, along with Kim Hyang-gi and Kim Sang-kyung. Based on the novel of the same title that won the Excellence Award in the 2016 Korea Story Contest, it depicts the stories of psychiatrists in Joseon. The first season aired from August to September 2022 with a total of 12 episodes. The second season aired from January to February 2023 with a total of 10 episodes. It is also available for streaming on Viu in selected regions.
Contents
Synopsis
Yoo Se-yeop (Kim Min-jae) is a genius physician for the royal family, but is expelled from the capital after falling victim to a conspiracy. He later meets an eccentric teacher, Gye Ji-han (Kim Sang-kyung), and a widow, Seo Eun-woo (Kim Hyang-gi), in the mysterious and beautiful Gyesu Village. He is reborn as a true doctor who aims to heal people's hearts, writing the prescription of happiness.
Cast
Main
Kim Min-jae as Yoo Se-yeop / Yoo Se-poong
Born to a noble family, he becomes the head acupuncturist of the palace. When the King dies after he performs acupuncture on him, he is expelled from the palace and his father is murdered. Traumatised by these events, he can no longer practice acupuncture and cannot sleep because of nightmares. After wandering around for a year, he arrives at Gyesu Village, where he gains the nickname Poong.
Kim Hyang-gi as Seo Eun-woo
A young widow who listens to the stories of those who are sick. She is the daughter of the magistrate of Sorak. Following her husband's death on her wedding day, she was constantly bullied by her in-laws, who attempt to enforce her to suicide (multiple times), so that the family will reap the rewards of her being declared a virtuous woman (Yeolnyeo). After being freed from her in-laws, she starts learning medicine at Gyesu Clinic in order to become a female physician.
Kim Sang-kyung as Gye Ji-han
The head of Gyesu Clinic. A geeky doctor and Yoo Se-poong's 'outside-of-the-box' teacher. Though he appears to be greedy for money, he is a warm-hearted person who helps those in need.
Supporting
Gyesu Village
Ahn Chang-hwan as Man-bok
Yoo Se-poong's loyal servant who stays with him after his expulsion from the capital. Together they relocate to Gyesu Village after wandering around the countryside for a year.
Jeon Guk-hyang as 'Grandmother'
An old woman with dementia who mistakes Yoo Se-yeop for her son, Poong.
Yeon Bora as Nam-hae
The housekeeper and cook of Gyesu Clinic.
Kim Su-an as Ip-bun
Gye Ji-han's daughter.
Han Chang-min as Jang-goon
An autistic boy in charge of the medicine warehouse of Gyesu Clinic.
Royal Court
Yoo Sung-joo as Cho Tae-hak
The Left State Councillor. He controls the court and moves Joseon behind the king.
Lee Seo-hwan as Shin Gwi-soo
An ambitious physician in the royal court.
Oh Kyung-joo as the Crown Prince
The Crown Prince, who becomes the King following his father's death. He has a close relationship with Yoo Se-poong.
Kang Young-seok as Jeon Kang-il
Special appearances
Ahn Nae-sang as the King
Jang Hyun-sung as Minister Yoo Hoo-myung
Yoo Se-poong's father.
Oh Dae-hwan as a palace physician
Yoon Byung-hee as a tightrope-walker
Kim Joo-ryoung as Seo Eun-woo's mother-in-law
Go Geon-han as Lee Ho-jun
Seo Eun-woo's brother-in-law.
Lee Sang-yi as Kim Yun-gyeom
The son of Grandmother.
Jang Hee-ryung as Hyo-yeon
A noble lady.
Baek Seok-kwang as Gil-su
Hyo-yeon's fiancé.
Moon Yong-il as Gaeban
Hyo-yeon's servant.
Lee Ji-ha as Lord Jo's wife
Oh Han-gyeol as Seok-cheol
The illegitimate son of Lord Jo.
Son Jong-hak as Lord Jo
Seok-cheol's father.
Jung Ye-bin as Seok-cheol's mother and Lord Jo's concubine
Kim Han-na as Jang Yoo-jeong
Production
On March 31, 2022, a bus carrying the production staff of Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist was involved in a collision. A PD from the directing department was killed, and ten others were injured in the accident. Filming of the drama was halted. On May 11, 2022, the production company announced that the drama had resumed filming the previous week.