Yong-pal (Korean: 용팔이) is a 2015 South Korean drama series starring Joo Won, Kim Tae-hee, Chae Jung-an and Jo Hyun-jae. It aired on SBS from August 5 to October 1, 2015, on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 18 episodes. Originally slated for 16 episodes, due to the high ratings and popularity of the drama, it was extended by two episodes.
This drama reunites Kim Tae-hee and Jo Hyun-jae who first worked together in the 2004 drama Forbidden Love.
Contents
Synopsis
Kim Tae Hyun is a talented surgeon. Desperate for money to pay for his sister's medical bills, he adopts the code name Yong-pal and offers his medical skills to those in need of medical attention but who cannot do so publicly, dealing with criminals and corrupt plutocrats. Joining a team of corrupt physicians Kim rescues "sleeping beauty" Han Yeo Jin, a chaebol heiress, from a medically induced coma, leading to unintended consequences.
Cast
Main
Joo Won as Kim Tae-hyun
Jung Yoon-seok as young Tae-hyun
A skilled surgeon, who under the alias Yong-pal moonlights as a mercenary doctor for hire. He falls in love with Yeo-jin.
Kim Tae-hee as Han Yeo-jin
A chaebol heiress placed in a coma by her enemies to get their revenge. She falls in love with Tae-hyun.
Jo Hyun-jae as Han Do-joon
Han Yeo-jin's half-brother, who covets his sister's inheritance.
Chae Jung-an as Lee Chae-young
Han Do-joon's wife.
Supporting
Jung Woong-in as Chief Lee Ho-joon
Stephanie Lee as Cynthia Park
Song Kyung-chul as Doo-chul
Min Jin-Woong as Lee Sang-Chul
Ahn Se-ha as Man-sik
Bae Hae-sun as Nurse Hwang
Im Kang-sung as Cha Sae-hoon
Jo Bok-rae as Park Tae-yong
Cha Soon-bae as Chief Shin
Kim Mi-kyung as Kang Soo-min, Charge nurse, surgery
Oh Na-ra as Charge nurse, intensive care
Park Pal-young as Hospital director
Park Hye-su as Kim So-hyun
Choi Joon-Yong as Tae-hyun's father
Kim Na-woon as Tae-hyun's mother
Nam Myeong-ryeol as Chae-young's father
Jang Gwang as Chairman Go
Yoo Seung-mok as Detective Lee Hyung-sa
Jo Hwi as Detective Kim
Choi Min as Choi Sung-hoon (guest)
Special appearances
Lim Hwa-young as Han Song-yi
Kim Jae-young as Yong Pal 2 (ep.18)
Original soundtrack
Viewership
Since it began airing, Yong-pal recorded steadily increasing viewership ratings, eventually hitting an impressive 20 percent by its sixth episode. It consistently topped other shows in its Wednesday-Thursday timeslot, eventually becoming one of the top-rated Korean drama primetime miniseries of 2015.
Remake
There was a talk that the drama Yong-pal which starred Joo Won and Kim Tae-hee could be remade for American audiences. It was reported in December 2015 that a Russian remake produced by Sony Pictures Studios was in development.