Yong-pal () 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.
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
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
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.
Original broadcast date Average audience share Nielsen Korea TNmS Nationwide Seoul Nationwide Seoul 1 August 5, 2015 2 August 6, 2015 14.1% 16.0% 11.8% 14.9% 3 August 12, 2015 14.5% 16.3% 12.5% 15.8% 4 August 13, 2015 16.3% 17.8% 15.3% 18.8% 5 August 19, 2015 18.0% 20.3% 16.4% 19.4% 6 August 20, 2015 20.4% 22.2% 18.1% 20.7% 7 August 26, 2015 19.2% 21.4% 17.1% 21.2% 8 August 27, 2015 20.5% 22.8% 18.4% 9 September 2, 2015 17.0% 19.1% 15.7% 18.2% 10 September 3, 2015 17.4% 19.3% 16.3% 19.3% 11 September 9, 2015 19.3% 21.7% 15.9% 18.4% 12 September 10, 2015 19.1% 21.0% 18.2% 21.3% 13 September 16, 2015 18.0% 21.0% 14 September 17, 2015 20.9% 22.3% 19.5% 21.8% 15 September 23, 2015 20.0% 22.3% 17.8% 20.0% 16 September 24, 2015 20.2% 22.3% 19.2% 21.0% 17 September 30, 2015 18.4% 20.0% 16.4% 18.2% 18 October 1, 2015 20.4% 21.6% 21.4% Average In the table above, the represent the lowest ratings and the represent the highest ratings.
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Recipient Result2015 Grand Prize (Daesang) Joo Won Best Drama Yong-pal Top Excellence Award, actress Kim Tae-hee Best Screenplay Jang Hyuk-rin Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Joo Won Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Kim Tae-hee Best Supporting Actress Chae Jung-an Best Drama Yong-pal Grand Prize Yoon Dae-young, Choi Je-rak Best Director Oh Jin-seok Grand Prize (Daesang) Joo Won Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Joo Won Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Kim Tae-hee Special Award, Actor in a Miniseries Jung Woong-in Jo Hyun-jae Special Award, Actress in a Miniseries Bae Hae-sun PD Award Joo Won Top 10 Stars Joo Won Kim Tae-hee Chinese Netizen Popularity Award Joo Won Kim Tae-hee Netizen Popularity Award Joo Won Kim Tae-hee Best Couple Award Joo Won and Kim Tae-hee 2016 Best Actor (TV) Joo Won
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.
References
External links