Doctor Cha (2023–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - Episode #1.1 - full transcript
DOCTOR CHA
BEAUTIFUL DERMATOLOGY
Hello.
Hello.
BEAUTIFUL DERMATOLOGY
DIRECTOR
What are you doing?
- Good morning.
- At this rate, you might put it on me.
Coats these days
look so refined.
- What color is this?
- Give that to me. I'll wear it myself.
Goodness, I'll
put it on for you.
Gosh, jeez.
Filming finished late,
so I barely made it here on time.
Gosh, you're so cool.
You go to broadcasting stations
and get filmed.
Why are you all dressed up?
Are you going on a blind date
or something?
I use days like this
as an excuse to dress up.
How do you like
it? It's brand new.
Regardless, the face is
what completes a look.
What happened to your face?
What do you mean? I
really worked hard on my makeup today.
Let's go. Let's
drink coffee.
Jeez, that cold-hearted woman.
I look pretty.
Gosh.
My friend, I keep telling you to come
to get treatments before it gets worse.
Why won't you listen?
It doesn't look good to
get free treatments for being a friend.
Then you can just pay for it.
Your mother-in-law is over 70,
and she comes here
more often than to the grocery store.
Hey, my mother-in-law
has always lived that kind of lifestyle.
Hey, do I look that awful?
Yes. Are you
not eating well?
I mean, your face
seems yellowish.
- What?
- And your eyes look a little jaundiced.
What?
I'm just tired.
I haven't been feeling well
the past few days.
Jeez.
Hey, that's that.
Do you have any good news these days?
- What good news?
- You have everything
but marriage.
Marriage, my foot.
That's so ridiculous.
- Stop trying to be funny.
- You'll be a virgin forever at this rate.
Honestly, on that subject,
aren't you purer than me?
It's been over ten years
since you and your husband
started sleeping in separate rooms.
Doesn't that practically make you
a born-again virgin?
You little…
Listen, the love
between a married couple
isn't always maintained
through physical aspects.
It's a world of complexities
and subtleties
that a spinster like you
wouldn't know about.
Fine, you can spend
the rest of your life
having your heart flutter
at even the sight of your husband.
You'll be like that little girl Candy
from that romantic series.
Hey, let's tackle
those freckles first.
You're such a mess.
It's hard to know where to start.
Let's go, Ms. Cha Candy.
Come on.
Most people throw a fit
because they couldn't become a doctor,
so why did you choose
to become a full-time housewife?
Don't you think it's a waste
of your medical license? I'm done.
I don't think it's
a waste at all.
While you were diligently looking after
your patients and starting this clinic,
do you think I was
just relaxing at home?
I gave birth to two kids and raised them
into proper human beings.
You've worked
hard to study medicine
and used it to work
to create a great life for yourself.
But isn't raising
two human beings like I did
future-oriented and a contribution
to the development of this country?
Candy's leaving.
Hey, are you mad?
- I'm fine.
- You are mad. Jeong-suk…
AWARD FOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
BAEK MI-HEE
LETTER OF APPOINTMENT
BAEK MI-HEE
EPISODE 1
PLASTIC SURGERY
CLINIC, CLINIC
Most people throw a fit
because they couldn't become a doctor,
so why did you choose
to become a full-time housewife?
Don't you think
it's a waste of your medical license?
Goodness. Young
man, are you okay?
Try to breathe.
Someone help!
Someone help! Is
there a doctor here?
Are there no doctors here?
There's no doctor?
I'm a doctor…
Here! This person
said she's a doctor!
There's a doctor!
- Save him.
- No.
What I meant was…
Gosh.
Give me this.
Lift your head.
Sir, hang in there.
Intubation.
Call 911!
Come on, wake up, sir!
We need an ambulance!
Driver, stop!
We're going to transfer him
to a nearby hospital.
You may not be his guardian,
but we heard you're a doctor.
Could you come with us?
Isn't that lady a little weird?
Right? She said
she was a doctor,
but did you see her hands tremble
in front of the guy?
We have to get going quickly.
Yes, I'll go.
SEOMYEONG UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
DOCTOR ROY KIM
I'm a surgeon.
I'll go with you too.
The LMA won't go in
because of his swollen airway.
What should we do?
Please help me.
What should we do?
Doctor.
Step aside.
Sir.
He has a pulse.
We need to do a tracheotomy.
Okay.
Please give me an antiseptic.
Bag, please.
Sir, are you awake?
If you can hear my voice,
please move your hand.
My goodness,
Doctor! It worked!
God, thank you so much!
You did so great, Doctor!
EMERGENCY MEDICAL CENTER
Excuse me, but
what line of work are you in?
Sorry?
I heard you said
you were a doctor.
Yes.
You shouldn't do that.
It's illegal for non-medical personnel
to practice medicine.
Well,
I know you may not believe this,
but I am a doctor.
The thing is, I
haven't practiced for over 20 years,
so my mind went blank
when I came upon that situation.
I'm sorry.
Today is such a great day
since that patient met you.
You were really impressive.
Then I'll get going first.
What's the topic
for this week's conference?
It's robotic surgery
for low rectal cancer.
Professor, what should we do
for the patient, Na Tae-gyeong?
Monitor the Hemovac
and ask the Psychiatry Department
about his depression.
Yes, sir.
Professor, for
tomorrow's conference,
should the first case
be Jeon Sang-hyeok?
No, put Kim Jae-hui's surgery
as the first case.
Yes, sir.
- You can go first.
- Okay.
I get shocked every
time I see Jung-min
because he looks so much like you
when you were young.
I think I looked better, no?
I think we should
be more discreet.
It'll be bad if your son finds out,
don't you think?
- Should we have dinner together?
- I can't. I have plans.
- What kind of plans?
- Why? Do you think it's a date with a man?
- I'm not going to tell you.
- Fine.
I'll go now.
ALARM, GANGNAM SEMINAR
7:00 P.M.
Come on, wake up, sir!
We need an ambulance!
Excuse me, but
what line of work are you in?
- Sorry?
- I heard you said you were a doctor.
- Yes.
- You shouldn't do that.
It's illegal for non-medical personnel
to practice medicine.
Mother, are you getting back
from exercising?
- Yes. You must have just gotten back too.
- Yes.
- Will you make me a glass of detox juice?
- Sure.
I made some earlier and put it
in the fridge. I'll get you a glass.
Jeez, the key to juice is its freshness.
You have to make it fresh on the spot.
I'm sorry, Mother.
I made it in advance
because I had to go out today.
Could you drink
it just for today?
- By the way, Mother.
- What?
Thank you for lending me
your clothes and bag today.
- I'll dry-clean the clothes.
- Sure.
I have dinner plans tonight,
so don't worry about making dinner for me.
Okay.
Is Director Baek doing well?
Very well.
- Mother, she treated my freckles today.
- That's good.
The new clinic is two times bigger
than the last one,
and the interior
was designed incredibly well.
So were you incredibly jealous?
Of course, I was jealous.
She even appears on TV.
She's so impressive.
Even if a woman is skilled
and attains fame and prestige,
it means nothing
if she doesn't have a healthy family.
Dr. Baek goes on a vacation
abroad every season, right?
But how can you call that a vacation?
She has no husband and no kids.
She rides on planes and wanders around
the world because she's empty inside.
To put it nicely,
she's a successful career woman,
but just wait ten years.
She'll look sad and pitiful.
You're a hundred times better off.
You have a son and a daughter.
Why are you jealous
of her? Goodness.
Rice cooking will now begin.
- Mom.
- Welcome home.
You must be tired.
You didn't even send the fees
for my art academy?
- Right.
- The teacher was pressuring me for them.
Oh, no. I'm sorry.
I forgot because
I was all out of sorts today.
- Tomorrow's the competition, right?
- Yes.
If I win an award this time,
I can apply for Hanguk
and Hongin University.
Goodness, really?
I'm home.
You're home late.
Yes, Father.
Welcome home.
Jung-min, hurry up and come here.
Okay.
I-rang, when is
your next mock exam?
It's next Tuesday.
To get into a med school,
you need to be at least
in the top 500 in Korea.
- Okay.
- Gosh.
Mom, you're doing this all by yourself?
You're going to work yourself sick.
It's okay. I
can get it done.
You should've taken off the doors
during the day.
I couldn't sleep
because of the drilling.
Sorry. I'll
finish it up today.
This looks good.
Let's eat.
Jung-min.
Yes, Father.
Doctors have to
deal with people.
I know being an intern is hard,
but always maintain a neat look.
That's part of
being professional.
Okay.
Have you decided
on your specialty?
Yes, it's surgery, of course.
You still have a lot of time.
Think it over before you decide.
No, that way of talking
just makes the kids soft.
People can be a little soft,
and they can be strong too.
They can't all be
the same. Eat up.
Only other people's
kids can be soft.
They say that you should treat
your kids like you would treat others.
- Why is the soup like this?
- What?
Why does it taste
like this? Oh, no.
I forgot to put any salt in it.
I'll hurry up and
season it. Sorry.
Where has your mind wandered off to?
Are you already getting old?
I guess I am.
Did you change the coffee beans?
The taste was weird.
Why? I thought
it was good.
I mean, there's a thing called preference.
Not everything can be nice and tasty.
Okay, I'll buy a whole bunch
of the coffee beans you like.
Assemblyman,
please get home safely.
Would you like to go in now?
It's very strange, isn't it?
Though the times have changed,
women with a lot of talent and abilities
strangely have no luck with men.
Is that what I'm like?
If you were born a man,
your talent would have been great enough
to take you to the very top.
But unfortunately,
you were born a woman.
I'm sorry, but you have
the fortune of a mistress.
Marriage has no meaning
for people with this kind of fate.
It's a shame this
fate never lets you go.
I see.
Do you really have
to live with that person?
I want to show them, you see.
People may say it's such a waste for me
to cling to a married man.
But being this foolish and immature
is what makes us human, is it not?
Since you've waited this long,
let's wait a bit more.
A single opportunity may come.
And it will come soon.
I know you don't wear sunglasses
because they bother you.
But the sun is really strong in Europe,
so you have to wear them.
- Okay?
- Okay.
But these are so old.
You need a new pair.
- Honey.
- What is it?
How about sleeping…
in the main bedroom from now on?
You slept in this room
when you'd come home late after surgery,
but that just turned into us
sleeping in separate rooms.
It's not like we
don't have needs.
So sleeping in separate rooms
when we're still young doesn't seem right.
Jeez, that's a bit
too out of the blue.
Is it?
This is too abrupt.
Right, I got my freckles treated today.
At Mi-hee's clinic.
- My face is still red, right? Look.
- It's really red.
I feel so lethargic these days.
It feels like chronic fatigue.
Then lay down for a bit.
Even a dog would laugh
if it heard someone as lucky as you
say they have chronic fatigue.
It's menopause.
Start working out.
Would it kill you to
speak nicely to me?
I'm just telling you the facts.
I don't care
whether you wear sunglasses or not.
They're your eyes, not mine.
This style is very
popular this season.
I'm looking for a
pair for my husband.
I see. In that case,
please wait one moment.
What do you think of these?
Middle-aged men
prefer this kind of style a lot.
- They're nice. I'll take these.
- Okay.
Here you go.
Excuse me,
ma'am. Are you okay?
You don't look well.
Yes, I'm fine. Thank you.
Ma'am! Are you all right?
Hurry up and call 911!
Ma'am, are you all right?
- Try these on.
- What?
- They look good. Look in the mirror.
- I already know what they look like.
- You look like a singer.
- I do.
- I'll buy these for you.
- No need. Forget it.
Just say yes before
I change my mind.
Honestly. I
said it's fine.
JUNG-MIN'S MOM
I'll go pay for these.
Okay.
- Hello?
- What are you doing?
What do you think?
Waiting for my flight.
Honey, guess
where I am right now.
- What?
- I'm in the emergency room.
Why?
I fainted in the
department store.
Who did?
What do you mean "who"?
Me. Your wife.
- Why did you suddenly faint?
- I don't know.
I fainted, and when I woke up,
I was in the emergency room.
The resident here says
my eyes look jaundiced,
so they're running
a liver panel.
They just took my blood.
- They told me to contact a guardian.
- One moment.
Jung-min is probably preoccupied
with his internship,
your mother went to
a class reunion today,
and you're at the airport.
What should I do?
How do you feel?
I feel a little
better after resting.
Is your condition bad enough
that I have to cancel my conference?
The test results aren't even back yet,
so you don't have to do that.
We'll wait for the results,
and my mother or
your mother can come.
Sure, okay.
- Let me know when the results are out.
- Okay, have a good conference.
It looks like I'm just making you worry
when you're going so far away.
No, it's fine.
Get some rest.
Ma'am, I'm going
to take your blood one more time.
- Why?
- Your levels are abnormally high.
What's up?
- Who is it?
- Her name is Cha Jeong-suk.
What is this? The
results are the same.
The GOT and GPT levels
both came out to over 3,000.
Jeez, it wasn't an
issue with the sample.
Ms. Cha Jeong-suk.
Hello.
Normal liver panel levels
come out to under 40,
but right now yours
are coming out as over 3,000.
Does that mean
it's acute hepatitis?
You're well aware.
Do I need to be admitted?
Yes. Have you
called your guardian?
Do I…
really need a guardian to come?
SEHWA WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY
'70 FRESHMEN REUNION
Goodness, walking on eggshells?
I'm the matriarch of the family.
They should walk on eggshells around me.
My daughter-in-law still prepares
a lavish meal for me every morning.
Your daughter-in-law deserves an award
for that kind of filial love.
No daughter-in-law
is like that these days.
Smart girls know how to manage a family
when they put their minds to it.
Maybe it's because she went to
medical school, but she's really clever.
She's great with the kids' education
and managing the house.
She didn't use a tutor
and taught her kids herself.
And the oldest went
to medical school.
Isn't it a waste that such a capable woman
only does housework?
Only a struggling household would make
their doctor daughter-in-law work.
Being as well-off as we are,
why send her to work?
When she'd only
earn a small amount?
It looks like you've saved more money
by not sending her off to work.
Most families spend
hundreds of millions
to send their
kids to med school.
Hello?
Hello?
It's such a relief
to not be that pretentious
woman's in-law.
It's the daughter-in-law
I feel bad for.
If I were her daughter-in-law,
I would have probably already come down
with a serious illness.
Emergency room?
I have a spa
reservation later too.
Is it something serious?
MOM
Please give me some salt too.
Mom?
Is everything okay?
Yes. Where are you?
I'm at the mill.
I was going to make
rice cakes with mugwort.
You like mugwort rice cakes.
Jeez, why make rice cakes?
You can just buy them.
Handmade ones are much better.
The rice cakes in stores have spinach
mixed in to make them seem green.
- Have you eaten?
- Yes.
But why does your voice sound so down
when you said you've already eaten?
Mom, then I guess
you're off today.
I'm off until tomorrow.
Why? Is something wrong?
If you're that worried,
then just go to the hospital.
What?
It's fine. It's not
like she's a kid.
But you feel uneasy.
I have a sense of decency, you know.
How could I just leave you here and go?
But what if it's serious?
Wouldn't it make you
feel better to just go?
What? No, don't
worry about it.
But you are worrying about it.
Well, it's hard not to worry
when someone fainted.
But it's probably not a big deal,
so let's stop talking about this.
What is this?
I was going to give it to you
on the plane later at night,
but you can just open it.
I'll help you put it on.
Okay, let's be on our way.
Doctor, this patient says
- their neck hurts a lot, but I said…
- Yes.
Tell them they can go home.
Okay, thank you.
Dr. Cha Jeong-suk.
Yes?
A TA patient came in.
Can you please check her status?
Okay.
INTERN CHA JEONG-SUK
Hello.
Hello.
Are you feeling okay?
No, my leg hurts so much.
If you get treated and take medication,
you'll get better in no time.
Thank you.
If you need anything
else, please let me know.
Okay.
Gosh.
I'm hungry.
Ms. Cha Jeong-suk.
Your IV drip is done.
I'll take it out for you.
Thank you.
Excuse me, where is
the convenience store?
- It is on the fifth floor.
- Okay.
Why is the convenience store
on the fifth floor?
I'm hungry.
- Does it hurt?
- Yes, it hurts.
It'll be over soon.
Be more gentle.
- It hurts, gosh.
- Hold on just a little longer.
Excuse me!
You shouldn't do that here.
She's a minor at that!
Oh, my.
Thank you!
You're handsome!
She was riding a motorcycle
with older kids in the neighborhood
and got into an accident.
She tried to leave,
saying she had no money,
but I insisted on treating her.
What did you think I was doing?
I misunderstood
the situation…
I'm really sorry.
I guess you can't just walk by
a patient in need.
It was like that time
when you got into the ambulance
and today too.
You see, I'm a decent doctor.
But anyway,
we don't know each other well enough
to say that it's nice to see you again.
What brings you
to this hospital?
I was brought into
the emergency room
after fainting at a
department store.
Are you okay now?
I'm sure I'll be okay.
All right, I have to
see outpatients now.
I wish you good luck.
Yes, Doctor. Goodbye.
We run into each other often.
I guess so.
I didn't realize
we'd meet again like this…
We can talk about
this special connection next time.
Is your guardian here?
The thing is, my
husband is just so busy…
He should come no
matter how busy he is.
The situation
isn't good right now.
Is it really bad?
I know you got out of
med school long ago,
but you must know how serious it is
when liver panel results are 3,600, right?
Your jaundice level
is really high too.
If this leads to liver failure,
then there's no going back.
Call your guardian immediately.
NAME: CHA JEONG-SUK
Gosh, what in the world?
What happened?
Mom.
I just have to stay at the hospital
for a couple of days and rest.
You don't have to worry.
But you have to be admitted,
no matter what?
Yes, they need to confirm
that my liver panel results
and jaundice levels decrease.
I see. You're a doctor,
so do what you think is best.
I'm not a doctor.
Mom, if I haven't practiced
in over 20 years, then I'm not a doctor.
It's like having a driver's license
you never use.
Hey, if a baker can't sell any bread,
does that mean he's not a baker?
How is that the same thing?
But your husband is a doctor
at a university hospital.
Why are you staying here?
He went to a conference
in Europe today.
Jung-min is an intern.
If I ask him to make time for me,
it'll put him in a tight spot.
If I stay at the hospital,
I won't be able to go home
for a couple of days.
What should I do?
They need me there
since it'll be I-rang's midterms soon,
and Jung-min needs to prepare
for his resident exam.
This is bad. There's no one
to prepare food for the kids.
They aren't babies.
Studying is up to them,
and they can feed themselves.
Ever since you were a third grader,
you made your own food and studied alone
and still managed
to get good grades.
Gosh, Mom.
That was ages ago.
The times are different, Mom.
By the way,
where did you get
that medicine you gave me?
From the medicine
shop at the market...
Why?
Was that the issue?
Yes, it seems like it.
Sometimes if you eat something
that doesn't sit well with you,
it can result in
acute hepatitis.
These terrible hacks.
How dare they mess around
with something like that?
I should've taken you
to a proper Korean medical clinic
to have the
medicine made for you.
I just trusted that medicine shop
because I heard they were good.
I must've lost my mind.
Don't blame yourself.
I'll be back on my
feet in a few days.
Don't go there
and take out your anger on them.
- You're really going to get better, right?
- Gosh, of course.
It's not a big deal.
It's okay, Ms. Oh.
1 DAY LATER
SEOMYEONG
UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
30 DAYS LATER
Hello.
- Please sit over here.
- Sit here.
Okay.
The donor compatibility results
for a liver transplant came out.
Your son's blood type doesn't match,
your daughter is still a minor,
and your mother
and mother-in-law are elderly.
But thankfully, the results
of your husband's test look good.
He has taken great care of his body,
so he doesn't have a fatty liver.
Goodness.
Thank you, Doctor.
The most important thing
is your husband's consent as the donor.
Are you saying my son
has to give his liver to her?
I'm not saying that he must.
I'm just saying that it is possible.
That can't happen.
Cutting open a perfectly healthy person
to give away part of his liver?
He can't take the risk
of going under the knife.
Please don't recommend
that surgery to my son.
- I'll never allow it.
- Mother.
Please stop.
Stop what?
Even if you say
yes, I'm against it.
Get out of the way.
Jeong-suk, it's not like
you're on the brink of death,
so let's just wait
for a brain-dead donor, okay?
Gosh, my
head. I'm so dizzy.
- Grandma.
- Mother!
- Mother, are you all right?
- Why do I feel like this?
Come this way.
- Why do I feel like this?
- Here, sit here.
- Careful.
- What's wrong with me?
- Look at me, Mother.
- I think I'm going to throw up.
Can you see me? Are
you going to throw up?
Are you okay?
How sick do you feel, Mother?
No, wait.
- Hold on.
- My gosh.
You don't have a fever.
Mother, look at me.
Ms. Kwak. Are you awake?
Please open your eyes.
Just keep your eyes closed then.
Of course, I understand
how a mother would feel
at the thought of their perfectly
healthy child going under the knife.
But no matter how bad you felt,
you shouldn't have said those things
in front of a person that's sick.
If it was In-ho that was sick,
my daughter would've given him
all her organs.
Ms. Oh! Talking in
hypotheticals is wrong.
Right now, the healthy person
that has to give up their liver is my son,
not that daughter of yours.
The word "if" doesn't
fit this situation.
Did you just say "that
daughter of yours"?
When things were good,
she was your daughter-in-law,
but now she's "that
daughter of yours"?
Don't change the
subject like that.
To be honest, aren't you
the person to blame for all this?
It's all because of
that cheap medicine!
And while we're on the topic,
Jung-min got into that car accident
while you were watching him
when he was seven.
This whole time, you've been going on
about how Jeong-suk quit her practice.
But don't feel upset
about her giving up her practice.
Frankly speaking,
it's that accident that made her
a full-time housewife.
Gosh, I'm so furious.
My goodness.
You were more injured
than Jung-min was back then.
You still have that herniated disc
in your back from that accident.
How could she talk
about that accident like that?
I don't care whether your mother-in-law
thinks like that or not.
Rather than that, I
feel like In-ho is just so cold-hearted.
It always made me uncomfortable
that my son-in-law was so cold and fussy.
But given his upbringing,
I just accepted it.
But when his own mother
talked like that in front of the kids,
he barely did
anything to stop her.
His wife is in this condition,
and even if it was just empty words,
he didn't even say
he'd go through with the surgery.
Even if we're family,
going under the
knife isn't easy, Mom.
In this day and age,
someone as educated
and smart as you
spent your entire youth
taking care of your ailing father-in-law
and putting up with
your mother-in-law.
So how could
they do this to you?
Mom.
Mom, look at me.
Mom, don't beg.
Then who will?
Who will beg for your life?
Risking her life for her child
is what a mother does.
So begging for
your life is nothing.
If you can just live,
I'd get down on my knees and beg.
Mom.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, Mom.
What is this mess?
Why on earth are you doing this?
You bunch of hacks.
How could you trick people
by using such lousy ingredients?
My daughter ate this garbage,
and now she might die.
- What are you going to do about that?
- My goodness, these are expensive!
What are you going to do?
Can't you just use your words?
Jong-su,
you're the best candidate
for the surgery.
But her husband can do it.
So why are you doing this to me?
I wouldn't be asking you a favor like this
if I wasn't this desperate.
Here. Take this.
This is everything I have.
It's not a small amount.
I'll give all of this to you.
Just please save my daughter.
When my mother died young,
I will never forget how you took us in
and raised us as if
we were your children.
And the fact I can live as a proper adult
like this is all thanks to you.
But you doing this
feels like you're pressuring me
to pay back the debt.
It's agonizing.
Jong-su, you're the only one
I can cling to.
I heard Professor Seo's wife's
condition is pretty serious.
I mean, how did he let it
get to that point?
I heard Professor
Seo was a match.
I know, right?
It's going to be hard
if they still can't find a donor.
Professor Seo was in the same class
as you in medical school, right?
- Yes, he was.
- Then do you know his wife too?
I don't. I wasn't close
with Professor Seo back then.
But why is he having his wife
treated at a different hospital
and not this one?
His wife said being at this hospital
would be uncomfortable.
His son is an intern here.
Professor Seo must be
all out of sorts right now.
- That's what I heard.
- It must be so nice for you.
- We should eat something delicious.
- What do you want to eat for lunch?
I'm hungry.
Patient Kim Yeon-suk
from Ward 151…
- Doctor.
- What are you doing here?
Just observing people.
When you're at a hospital,
you see all kinds of things.
There are more cases than you think
of donors suddenly changing their minds.
It isn't an easy decision
to donate your organ,
even if it's to your family.
I just feel so bad…
putting this
pressure on my family.
Even if something happens to me,
I hope they don't live
their lives feeling guilty.
Don't think about that.
Just get better.
When I was an intern,
I saw mothers who
were just in their early thirties
develop cancer
and die several times.
Maybe it's because of that,
but once I reached my forties,
I thought even if I came down
with a terminal illness,
there wouldn't be anything
to be bitter about.
Even though I
always worried that
something terrible might happen
to my husband or kids if I was gone,
I would have those kinds
of thoughts from time to time.
Doctor, I'm so jealous of you.
When I was an intern,
I wanted to become a surgeon.
When I was doing my training,
the first surgery
I observed was a liver transplant.
I had no idea I'd end up
needing to receive one.
Now that I think about it,
I really miss the
operating room.
Then…
would you like to visit one?
INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
PEDIATRIC OPERATING ROOM
Doctor.
A photo to
commemorate the event.
You should take a
selfie in those clothes.
Gosh, no.
Thank you.
Doctor, but isn't
this not allowed?
Just for today, you're a colleague
who has come to observe a surgery.
A colleague?
Yes, you have
a medical license, don't you?
- I do.
- Then you're a colleague.
It's a 40-year-old man
suffering from Crohn's disease.
He has an intestinal obstruction
and an abscess,
so we will be performing
a bowel resection surgery.
Scalpel.
- Do I have to feel guilty?
- Why?
You went on a trip with me
on the day your wife went to the ER.
It would've happened
even if I had gone to the hospital.
But it's a relief that
a donor was found.
Her cousin, right?
Yes.
It's times like this
that I envy your wife.
When I'm sick,
will you be able to stay by my side?
Will I die all alone
in my later years?
- I think about these things.
- Choi Seung-hi.
Sometimes I have to nag like this
so I can relieve my stress too.
The three of us have
a maze-like complicated relationship.
There are no answers
and there is no end.
I have nothing I can say to you.
I don't know if there will ever
be answers or an end,
but I can promise you this.
I won't leave
you to be all alone.
Hello.
Where is Jong-su?
I'm sorry, Ms. Oh.
What do you mean, sorry?
EMERGENCY BELL
We can't accept this.
Ms. Oh, I don't want him
to get the surgery either.
Our child is still so young,
and I'm scared.
He couldn't bring himself to tell you,
so I came here to tell you instead.
But the surgery is
booked for tomorrow.
I'm so sorry.
Cold blue. Room
306, code blue.
- Ma'am, you can't go in right now.
- That's my daughter…
My daughter suddenly
slipped into a coma
and went into the
intensive care unit.
I can't even see her
face for a moment?
She's in a critical state right now,
so you can't visit her.
Jeong-suk…
- Mom.
- Mom.
Mom, are you okay?
Mom.
Dad.
Can't you just
donate your liver?
It's not that simple.
This is a much more dangerous surgery
than you think…
As long as it's fine with you,
I also think it'd be great
if you could donate your liver.
There's no other
alternative, Father.
Mother, I think I have
to go through with the surgery.
We have to save
the children's mother.
Her condition is too critical
to wait for a donor.
Please give me
permission, Mother!
If I don't give you permission,
will you not do the surgery?
Get up.
Why are you on your knees?
You did nothing wrong.
Why are you on your knees?
I'm sorry.
This is why I told you
not to get into a marriage like this.
I was against it
from the get-go.
How could someone so smart
be so daft at the same time?
To leave that
perfect girl, Seung-hi…
I never forgot her name
because it was such a waste.
You kicked your
own luck away like that
and got a good-for-nothing
girl pregnant.
Gosh, men are unbelievable.
Get out, you bastard.
Get out!
- Get out!
- I'm leaving.
I'm so furious. Gosh…
Goodness! Filthy
little bastards!
SEOMYEONG
UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
In-ho,
thank you for making
such a difficult decision.
I'll never forget this.
No. I…
should've said yes
from the beginning. I'm sorry.
Gosh, don't say that.
It isn't easy to decide
to donate your liver to someone.
Let me go get some water.
Honey.
I know you made
a difficult decision.
This might just be an excuse,
but if I think of Mom and the kids,
I want to live a
little bit longer.
It'd be a lie to say there has
never been a time when I hated you.
Every time you made me think
that you'd be okay
whether or not I was here,
I wanted to confirm
that wasn't true.
And it made me become
even more engrossed in household work.
But still, there was a part of me
that held feelings of hate
and resentment toward you.
But after
falling ill like this…
it turns out my husband
is the one who will save my life.
I'll never stop being grateful to you
for the rest of my life.
I mean it.
Thank you.
And…
I'm so sorry.
I'm sorry.
- Is this really the only option?
- It is.
Will you donate your liver to me too
if I get sick?
I will.
Then give me your liver,
your kidney, and your heart!
Give me everything!
All of it!
Then I'll die.
- Seung-hi.
- What?
I'll call you when
the surgery is over.
Until then, be brave and well,
just like you always are.
Actually…
I went to Gusan University
School of Medicine in 1995.
May I ask which
university you went to?
I was raised in the US.
I did my undergrad at Stanford
and then went to
Harvard Medical School.
Well, I've heard all the rumors
about what a talented doctor you are,
but as a fellow surgeon,
I need to be able to continue to perform
long surgeries, don't you think?
If there are any aftereffects
I should be aware of,
please tell me
everything honestly.
Not to your wife, but to you?
Yes.
You'll have a scar.
A scar?
Yes.
You could suffer from jaundice
or a high fever,
but if you take
good care of yourself,
there's nothing to worry about.
I'm not sitting here
to hear obvious answers.
Could you let me know
how many liver transplants
you've performed
and their success rate?
- Mr. Seo.
- Yes?
You're a surgeon,
so I'm sure you know
the surgery process and the aftereffects.
But if you find yourself
hesitating about the surgery,
you can give it more thought
before deciding.
That's not what I meant.
SURGERY, ANESTHESIA,
BLOOD TRANSFUSION CONSENT FORM
CONSENTING PARTY'S
SIGNATURE OR SEAL
I'm getting a call.
INCOMING CALL
CHOI SEUNG-HI
In-ho.
In-ho, don't do it!
You absolutely can't!
It's okay.
OPERATING ROOM 1
PATIENT NAME: CHA JEONG-SUK
SURGEON: ROY KIM
We will now begin
Cha Jeong-suk's liver transplant.
Scalpel.
In-ho, don't do it!
Don't sign it!
No! You absolutely can't!
No, I won't let you!
Mom, are you okay?
Mom.
- Honey.
- Yes?
Yes, tell me. What is it?
What?
What did you say?
You…
little…
bastard.
Excuse me, the patient
here has woken up!
DOCTOR CHA
After coming back from the brink of death,
it turns out all of that was meaningless.
Has she lost her mind?
You said I didn't have to worry
about the household chores anymore.
- Is my juice not ready yet?
- You can make it yourself.
Maybe it's because
I escaped death.
I wanted to start doing
things I hadn't done before.
Did the big surgery
mess with her head or something?
Why are you
suddenly acting weird?
I spent the last 20 years
not doing stuff like this.
I'm going to live
however I please from now on.
Subtitle translation
by: Yoon-ji Chi
BEAUTIFUL DERMATOLOGY
Hello.
Hello.
BEAUTIFUL DERMATOLOGY
DIRECTOR
What are you doing?
- Good morning.
- At this rate, you might put it on me.
Coats these days
look so refined.
- What color is this?
- Give that to me. I'll wear it myself.
Goodness, I'll
put it on for you.
Gosh, jeez.
Filming finished late,
so I barely made it here on time.
Gosh, you're so cool.
You go to broadcasting stations
and get filmed.
Why are you all dressed up?
Are you going on a blind date
or something?
I use days like this
as an excuse to dress up.
How do you like
it? It's brand new.
Regardless, the face is
what completes a look.
What happened to your face?
What do you mean? I
really worked hard on my makeup today.
Let's go. Let's
drink coffee.
Jeez, that cold-hearted woman.
I look pretty.
Gosh.
My friend, I keep telling you to come
to get treatments before it gets worse.
Why won't you listen?
It doesn't look good to
get free treatments for being a friend.
Then you can just pay for it.
Your mother-in-law is over 70,
and she comes here
more often than to the grocery store.
Hey, my mother-in-law
has always lived that kind of lifestyle.
Hey, do I look that awful?
Yes. Are you
not eating well?
I mean, your face
seems yellowish.
- What?
- And your eyes look a little jaundiced.
What?
I'm just tired.
I haven't been feeling well
the past few days.
Jeez.
Hey, that's that.
Do you have any good news these days?
- What good news?
- You have everything
but marriage.
Marriage, my foot.
That's so ridiculous.
- Stop trying to be funny.
- You'll be a virgin forever at this rate.
Honestly, on that subject,
aren't you purer than me?
It's been over ten years
since you and your husband
started sleeping in separate rooms.
Doesn't that practically make you
a born-again virgin?
You little…
Listen, the love
between a married couple
isn't always maintained
through physical aspects.
It's a world of complexities
and subtleties
that a spinster like you
wouldn't know about.
Fine, you can spend
the rest of your life
having your heart flutter
at even the sight of your husband.
You'll be like that little girl Candy
from that romantic series.
Hey, let's tackle
those freckles first.
You're such a mess.
It's hard to know where to start.
Let's go, Ms. Cha Candy.
Come on.
Most people throw a fit
because they couldn't become a doctor,
so why did you choose
to become a full-time housewife?
Don't you think it's a waste
of your medical license? I'm done.
I don't think it's
a waste at all.
While you were diligently looking after
your patients and starting this clinic,
do you think I was
just relaxing at home?
I gave birth to two kids and raised them
into proper human beings.
You've worked
hard to study medicine
and used it to work
to create a great life for yourself.
But isn't raising
two human beings like I did
future-oriented and a contribution
to the development of this country?
Candy's leaving.
Hey, are you mad?
- I'm fine.
- You are mad. Jeong-suk…
AWARD FOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
BAEK MI-HEE
LETTER OF APPOINTMENT
BAEK MI-HEE
EPISODE 1
PLASTIC SURGERY
CLINIC, CLINIC
Most people throw a fit
because they couldn't become a doctor,
so why did you choose
to become a full-time housewife?
Don't you think
it's a waste of your medical license?
Goodness. Young
man, are you okay?
Try to breathe.
Someone help!
Someone help! Is
there a doctor here?
Are there no doctors here?
There's no doctor?
I'm a doctor…
Here! This person
said she's a doctor!
There's a doctor!
- Save him.
- No.
What I meant was…
Gosh.
Give me this.
Lift your head.
Sir, hang in there.
Intubation.
Call 911!
Come on, wake up, sir!
We need an ambulance!
Driver, stop!
We're going to transfer him
to a nearby hospital.
You may not be his guardian,
but we heard you're a doctor.
Could you come with us?
Isn't that lady a little weird?
Right? She said
she was a doctor,
but did you see her hands tremble
in front of the guy?
We have to get going quickly.
Yes, I'll go.
SEOMYEONG UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
DOCTOR ROY KIM
I'm a surgeon.
I'll go with you too.
The LMA won't go in
because of his swollen airway.
What should we do?
Please help me.
What should we do?
Doctor.
Step aside.
Sir.
He has a pulse.
We need to do a tracheotomy.
Okay.
Please give me an antiseptic.
Bag, please.
Sir, are you awake?
If you can hear my voice,
please move your hand.
My goodness,
Doctor! It worked!
God, thank you so much!
You did so great, Doctor!
EMERGENCY MEDICAL CENTER
Excuse me, but
what line of work are you in?
Sorry?
I heard you said
you were a doctor.
Yes.
You shouldn't do that.
It's illegal for non-medical personnel
to practice medicine.
Well,
I know you may not believe this,
but I am a doctor.
The thing is, I
haven't practiced for over 20 years,
so my mind went blank
when I came upon that situation.
I'm sorry.
Today is such a great day
since that patient met you.
You were really impressive.
Then I'll get going first.
What's the topic
for this week's conference?
It's robotic surgery
for low rectal cancer.
Professor, what should we do
for the patient, Na Tae-gyeong?
Monitor the Hemovac
and ask the Psychiatry Department
about his depression.
Yes, sir.
Professor, for
tomorrow's conference,
should the first case
be Jeon Sang-hyeok?
No, put Kim Jae-hui's surgery
as the first case.
Yes, sir.
- You can go first.
- Okay.
I get shocked every
time I see Jung-min
because he looks so much like you
when you were young.
I think I looked better, no?
I think we should
be more discreet.
It'll be bad if your son finds out,
don't you think?
- Should we have dinner together?
- I can't. I have plans.
- What kind of plans?
- Why? Do you think it's a date with a man?
- I'm not going to tell you.
- Fine.
I'll go now.
ALARM, GANGNAM SEMINAR
7:00 P.M.
Come on, wake up, sir!
We need an ambulance!
Excuse me, but
what line of work are you in?
- Sorry?
- I heard you said you were a doctor.
- Yes.
- You shouldn't do that.
It's illegal for non-medical personnel
to practice medicine.
Mother, are you getting back
from exercising?
- Yes. You must have just gotten back too.
- Yes.
- Will you make me a glass of detox juice?
- Sure.
I made some earlier and put it
in the fridge. I'll get you a glass.
Jeez, the key to juice is its freshness.
You have to make it fresh on the spot.
I'm sorry, Mother.
I made it in advance
because I had to go out today.
Could you drink
it just for today?
- By the way, Mother.
- What?
Thank you for lending me
your clothes and bag today.
- I'll dry-clean the clothes.
- Sure.
I have dinner plans tonight,
so don't worry about making dinner for me.
Okay.
Is Director Baek doing well?
Very well.
- Mother, she treated my freckles today.
- That's good.
The new clinic is two times bigger
than the last one,
and the interior
was designed incredibly well.
So were you incredibly jealous?
Of course, I was jealous.
She even appears on TV.
She's so impressive.
Even if a woman is skilled
and attains fame and prestige,
it means nothing
if she doesn't have a healthy family.
Dr. Baek goes on a vacation
abroad every season, right?
But how can you call that a vacation?
She has no husband and no kids.
She rides on planes and wanders around
the world because she's empty inside.
To put it nicely,
she's a successful career woman,
but just wait ten years.
She'll look sad and pitiful.
You're a hundred times better off.
You have a son and a daughter.
Why are you jealous
of her? Goodness.
Rice cooking will now begin.
- Mom.
- Welcome home.
You must be tired.
You didn't even send the fees
for my art academy?
- Right.
- The teacher was pressuring me for them.
Oh, no. I'm sorry.
I forgot because
I was all out of sorts today.
- Tomorrow's the competition, right?
- Yes.
If I win an award this time,
I can apply for Hanguk
and Hongin University.
Goodness, really?
I'm home.
You're home late.
Yes, Father.
Welcome home.
Jung-min, hurry up and come here.
Okay.
I-rang, when is
your next mock exam?
It's next Tuesday.
To get into a med school,
you need to be at least
in the top 500 in Korea.
- Okay.
- Gosh.
Mom, you're doing this all by yourself?
You're going to work yourself sick.
It's okay. I
can get it done.
You should've taken off the doors
during the day.
I couldn't sleep
because of the drilling.
Sorry. I'll
finish it up today.
This looks good.
Let's eat.
Jung-min.
Yes, Father.
Doctors have to
deal with people.
I know being an intern is hard,
but always maintain a neat look.
That's part of
being professional.
Okay.
Have you decided
on your specialty?
Yes, it's surgery, of course.
You still have a lot of time.
Think it over before you decide.
No, that way of talking
just makes the kids soft.
People can be a little soft,
and they can be strong too.
They can't all be
the same. Eat up.
Only other people's
kids can be soft.
They say that you should treat
your kids like you would treat others.
- Why is the soup like this?
- What?
Why does it taste
like this? Oh, no.
I forgot to put any salt in it.
I'll hurry up and
season it. Sorry.
Where has your mind wandered off to?
Are you already getting old?
I guess I am.
Did you change the coffee beans?
The taste was weird.
Why? I thought
it was good.
I mean, there's a thing called preference.
Not everything can be nice and tasty.
Okay, I'll buy a whole bunch
of the coffee beans you like.
Assemblyman,
please get home safely.
Would you like to go in now?
It's very strange, isn't it?
Though the times have changed,
women with a lot of talent and abilities
strangely have no luck with men.
Is that what I'm like?
If you were born a man,
your talent would have been great enough
to take you to the very top.
But unfortunately,
you were born a woman.
I'm sorry, but you have
the fortune of a mistress.
Marriage has no meaning
for people with this kind of fate.
It's a shame this
fate never lets you go.
I see.
Do you really have
to live with that person?
I want to show them, you see.
People may say it's such a waste for me
to cling to a married man.
But being this foolish and immature
is what makes us human, is it not?
Since you've waited this long,
let's wait a bit more.
A single opportunity may come.
And it will come soon.
I know you don't wear sunglasses
because they bother you.
But the sun is really strong in Europe,
so you have to wear them.
- Okay?
- Okay.
But these are so old.
You need a new pair.
- Honey.
- What is it?
How about sleeping…
in the main bedroom from now on?
You slept in this room
when you'd come home late after surgery,
but that just turned into us
sleeping in separate rooms.
It's not like we
don't have needs.
So sleeping in separate rooms
when we're still young doesn't seem right.
Jeez, that's a bit
too out of the blue.
Is it?
This is too abrupt.
Right, I got my freckles treated today.
At Mi-hee's clinic.
- My face is still red, right? Look.
- It's really red.
I feel so lethargic these days.
It feels like chronic fatigue.
Then lay down for a bit.
Even a dog would laugh
if it heard someone as lucky as you
say they have chronic fatigue.
It's menopause.
Start working out.
Would it kill you to
speak nicely to me?
I'm just telling you the facts.
I don't care
whether you wear sunglasses or not.
They're your eyes, not mine.
This style is very
popular this season.
I'm looking for a
pair for my husband.
I see. In that case,
please wait one moment.
What do you think of these?
Middle-aged men
prefer this kind of style a lot.
- They're nice. I'll take these.
- Okay.
Here you go.
Excuse me,
ma'am. Are you okay?
You don't look well.
Yes, I'm fine. Thank you.
Ma'am! Are you all right?
Hurry up and call 911!
Ma'am, are you all right?
- Try these on.
- What?
- They look good. Look in the mirror.
- I already know what they look like.
- You look like a singer.
- I do.
- I'll buy these for you.
- No need. Forget it.
Just say yes before
I change my mind.
Honestly. I
said it's fine.
JUNG-MIN'S MOM
I'll go pay for these.
Okay.
- Hello?
- What are you doing?
What do you think?
Waiting for my flight.
Honey, guess
where I am right now.
- What?
- I'm in the emergency room.
Why?
I fainted in the
department store.
Who did?
What do you mean "who"?
Me. Your wife.
- Why did you suddenly faint?
- I don't know.
I fainted, and when I woke up,
I was in the emergency room.
The resident here says
my eyes look jaundiced,
so they're running
a liver panel.
They just took my blood.
- They told me to contact a guardian.
- One moment.
Jung-min is probably preoccupied
with his internship,
your mother went to
a class reunion today,
and you're at the airport.
What should I do?
How do you feel?
I feel a little
better after resting.
Is your condition bad enough
that I have to cancel my conference?
The test results aren't even back yet,
so you don't have to do that.
We'll wait for the results,
and my mother or
your mother can come.
Sure, okay.
- Let me know when the results are out.
- Okay, have a good conference.
It looks like I'm just making you worry
when you're going so far away.
No, it's fine.
Get some rest.
Ma'am, I'm going
to take your blood one more time.
- Why?
- Your levels are abnormally high.
What's up?
- Who is it?
- Her name is Cha Jeong-suk.
What is this? The
results are the same.
The GOT and GPT levels
both came out to over 3,000.
Jeez, it wasn't an
issue with the sample.
Ms. Cha Jeong-suk.
Hello.
Normal liver panel levels
come out to under 40,
but right now yours
are coming out as over 3,000.
Does that mean
it's acute hepatitis?
You're well aware.
Do I need to be admitted?
Yes. Have you
called your guardian?
Do I…
really need a guardian to come?
SEHWA WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY
'70 FRESHMEN REUNION
Goodness, walking on eggshells?
I'm the matriarch of the family.
They should walk on eggshells around me.
My daughter-in-law still prepares
a lavish meal for me every morning.
Your daughter-in-law deserves an award
for that kind of filial love.
No daughter-in-law
is like that these days.
Smart girls know how to manage a family
when they put their minds to it.
Maybe it's because she went to
medical school, but she's really clever.
She's great with the kids' education
and managing the house.
She didn't use a tutor
and taught her kids herself.
And the oldest went
to medical school.
Isn't it a waste that such a capable woman
only does housework?
Only a struggling household would make
their doctor daughter-in-law work.
Being as well-off as we are,
why send her to work?
When she'd only
earn a small amount?
It looks like you've saved more money
by not sending her off to work.
Most families spend
hundreds of millions
to send their
kids to med school.
Hello?
Hello?
It's such a relief
to not be that pretentious
woman's in-law.
It's the daughter-in-law
I feel bad for.
If I were her daughter-in-law,
I would have probably already come down
with a serious illness.
Emergency room?
I have a spa
reservation later too.
Is it something serious?
MOM
Please give me some salt too.
Mom?
Is everything okay?
Yes. Where are you?
I'm at the mill.
I was going to make
rice cakes with mugwort.
You like mugwort rice cakes.
Jeez, why make rice cakes?
You can just buy them.
Handmade ones are much better.
The rice cakes in stores have spinach
mixed in to make them seem green.
- Have you eaten?
- Yes.
But why does your voice sound so down
when you said you've already eaten?
Mom, then I guess
you're off today.
I'm off until tomorrow.
Why? Is something wrong?
If you're that worried,
then just go to the hospital.
What?
It's fine. It's not
like she's a kid.
But you feel uneasy.
I have a sense of decency, you know.
How could I just leave you here and go?
But what if it's serious?
Wouldn't it make you
feel better to just go?
What? No, don't
worry about it.
But you are worrying about it.
Well, it's hard not to worry
when someone fainted.
But it's probably not a big deal,
so let's stop talking about this.
What is this?
I was going to give it to you
on the plane later at night,
but you can just open it.
I'll help you put it on.
Okay, let's be on our way.
Doctor, this patient says
- their neck hurts a lot, but I said…
- Yes.
Tell them they can go home.
Okay, thank you.
Dr. Cha Jeong-suk.
Yes?
A TA patient came in.
Can you please check her status?
Okay.
INTERN CHA JEONG-SUK
Hello.
Hello.
Are you feeling okay?
No, my leg hurts so much.
If you get treated and take medication,
you'll get better in no time.
Thank you.
If you need anything
else, please let me know.
Okay.
Gosh.
I'm hungry.
Ms. Cha Jeong-suk.
Your IV drip is done.
I'll take it out for you.
Thank you.
Excuse me, where is
the convenience store?
- It is on the fifth floor.
- Okay.
Why is the convenience store
on the fifth floor?
I'm hungry.
- Does it hurt?
- Yes, it hurts.
It'll be over soon.
Be more gentle.
- It hurts, gosh.
- Hold on just a little longer.
Excuse me!
You shouldn't do that here.
She's a minor at that!
Oh, my.
Thank you!
You're handsome!
She was riding a motorcycle
with older kids in the neighborhood
and got into an accident.
She tried to leave,
saying she had no money,
but I insisted on treating her.
What did you think I was doing?
I misunderstood
the situation…
I'm really sorry.
I guess you can't just walk by
a patient in need.
It was like that time
when you got into the ambulance
and today too.
You see, I'm a decent doctor.
But anyway,
we don't know each other well enough
to say that it's nice to see you again.
What brings you
to this hospital?
I was brought into
the emergency room
after fainting at a
department store.
Are you okay now?
I'm sure I'll be okay.
All right, I have to
see outpatients now.
I wish you good luck.
Yes, Doctor. Goodbye.
We run into each other often.
I guess so.
I didn't realize
we'd meet again like this…
We can talk about
this special connection next time.
Is your guardian here?
The thing is, my
husband is just so busy…
He should come no
matter how busy he is.
The situation
isn't good right now.
Is it really bad?
I know you got out of
med school long ago,
but you must know how serious it is
when liver panel results are 3,600, right?
Your jaundice level
is really high too.
If this leads to liver failure,
then there's no going back.
Call your guardian immediately.
NAME: CHA JEONG-SUK
Gosh, what in the world?
What happened?
Mom.
I just have to stay at the hospital
for a couple of days and rest.
You don't have to worry.
But you have to be admitted,
no matter what?
Yes, they need to confirm
that my liver panel results
and jaundice levels decrease.
I see. You're a doctor,
so do what you think is best.
I'm not a doctor.
Mom, if I haven't practiced
in over 20 years, then I'm not a doctor.
It's like having a driver's license
you never use.
Hey, if a baker can't sell any bread,
does that mean he's not a baker?
How is that the same thing?
But your husband is a doctor
at a university hospital.
Why are you staying here?
He went to a conference
in Europe today.
Jung-min is an intern.
If I ask him to make time for me,
it'll put him in a tight spot.
If I stay at the hospital,
I won't be able to go home
for a couple of days.
What should I do?
They need me there
since it'll be I-rang's midterms soon,
and Jung-min needs to prepare
for his resident exam.
This is bad. There's no one
to prepare food for the kids.
They aren't babies.
Studying is up to them,
and they can feed themselves.
Ever since you were a third grader,
you made your own food and studied alone
and still managed
to get good grades.
Gosh, Mom.
That was ages ago.
The times are different, Mom.
By the way,
where did you get
that medicine you gave me?
From the medicine
shop at the market...
Why?
Was that the issue?
Yes, it seems like it.
Sometimes if you eat something
that doesn't sit well with you,
it can result in
acute hepatitis.
These terrible hacks.
How dare they mess around
with something like that?
I should've taken you
to a proper Korean medical clinic
to have the
medicine made for you.
I just trusted that medicine shop
because I heard they were good.
I must've lost my mind.
Don't blame yourself.
I'll be back on my
feet in a few days.
Don't go there
and take out your anger on them.
- You're really going to get better, right?
- Gosh, of course.
It's not a big deal.
It's okay, Ms. Oh.
1 DAY LATER
SEOMYEONG
UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
30 DAYS LATER
Hello.
- Please sit over here.
- Sit here.
Okay.
The donor compatibility results
for a liver transplant came out.
Your son's blood type doesn't match,
your daughter is still a minor,
and your mother
and mother-in-law are elderly.
But thankfully, the results
of your husband's test look good.
He has taken great care of his body,
so he doesn't have a fatty liver.
Goodness.
Thank you, Doctor.
The most important thing
is your husband's consent as the donor.
Are you saying my son
has to give his liver to her?
I'm not saying that he must.
I'm just saying that it is possible.
That can't happen.
Cutting open a perfectly healthy person
to give away part of his liver?
He can't take the risk
of going under the knife.
Please don't recommend
that surgery to my son.
- I'll never allow it.
- Mother.
Please stop.
Stop what?
Even if you say
yes, I'm against it.
Get out of the way.
Jeong-suk, it's not like
you're on the brink of death,
so let's just wait
for a brain-dead donor, okay?
Gosh, my
head. I'm so dizzy.
- Grandma.
- Mother!
- Mother, are you all right?
- Why do I feel like this?
Come this way.
- Why do I feel like this?
- Here, sit here.
- Careful.
- What's wrong with me?
- Look at me, Mother.
- I think I'm going to throw up.
Can you see me? Are
you going to throw up?
Are you okay?
How sick do you feel, Mother?
No, wait.
- Hold on.
- My gosh.
You don't have a fever.
Mother, look at me.
Ms. Kwak. Are you awake?
Please open your eyes.
Just keep your eyes closed then.
Of course, I understand
how a mother would feel
at the thought of their perfectly
healthy child going under the knife.
But no matter how bad you felt,
you shouldn't have said those things
in front of a person that's sick.
If it was In-ho that was sick,
my daughter would've given him
all her organs.
Ms. Oh! Talking in
hypotheticals is wrong.
Right now, the healthy person
that has to give up their liver is my son,
not that daughter of yours.
The word "if" doesn't
fit this situation.
Did you just say "that
daughter of yours"?
When things were good,
she was your daughter-in-law,
but now she's "that
daughter of yours"?
Don't change the
subject like that.
To be honest, aren't you
the person to blame for all this?
It's all because of
that cheap medicine!
And while we're on the topic,
Jung-min got into that car accident
while you were watching him
when he was seven.
This whole time, you've been going on
about how Jeong-suk quit her practice.
But don't feel upset
about her giving up her practice.
Frankly speaking,
it's that accident that made her
a full-time housewife.
Gosh, I'm so furious.
My goodness.
You were more injured
than Jung-min was back then.
You still have that herniated disc
in your back from that accident.
How could she talk
about that accident like that?
I don't care whether your mother-in-law
thinks like that or not.
Rather than that, I
feel like In-ho is just so cold-hearted.
It always made me uncomfortable
that my son-in-law was so cold and fussy.
But given his upbringing,
I just accepted it.
But when his own mother
talked like that in front of the kids,
he barely did
anything to stop her.
His wife is in this condition,
and even if it was just empty words,
he didn't even say
he'd go through with the surgery.
Even if we're family,
going under the
knife isn't easy, Mom.
In this day and age,
someone as educated
and smart as you
spent your entire youth
taking care of your ailing father-in-law
and putting up with
your mother-in-law.
So how could
they do this to you?
Mom.
Mom, look at me.
Mom, don't beg.
Then who will?
Who will beg for your life?
Risking her life for her child
is what a mother does.
So begging for
your life is nothing.
If you can just live,
I'd get down on my knees and beg.
Mom.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, Mom.
What is this mess?
Why on earth are you doing this?
You bunch of hacks.
How could you trick people
by using such lousy ingredients?
My daughter ate this garbage,
and now she might die.
- What are you going to do about that?
- My goodness, these are expensive!
What are you going to do?
Can't you just use your words?
Jong-su,
you're the best candidate
for the surgery.
But her husband can do it.
So why are you doing this to me?
I wouldn't be asking you a favor like this
if I wasn't this desperate.
Here. Take this.
This is everything I have.
It's not a small amount.
I'll give all of this to you.
Just please save my daughter.
When my mother died young,
I will never forget how you took us in
and raised us as if
we were your children.
And the fact I can live as a proper adult
like this is all thanks to you.
But you doing this
feels like you're pressuring me
to pay back the debt.
It's agonizing.
Jong-su, you're the only one
I can cling to.
I heard Professor Seo's wife's
condition is pretty serious.
I mean, how did he let it
get to that point?
I heard Professor
Seo was a match.
I know, right?
It's going to be hard
if they still can't find a donor.
Professor Seo was in the same class
as you in medical school, right?
- Yes, he was.
- Then do you know his wife too?
I don't. I wasn't close
with Professor Seo back then.
But why is he having his wife
treated at a different hospital
and not this one?
His wife said being at this hospital
would be uncomfortable.
His son is an intern here.
Professor Seo must be
all out of sorts right now.
- That's what I heard.
- It must be so nice for you.
- We should eat something delicious.
- What do you want to eat for lunch?
I'm hungry.
Patient Kim Yeon-suk
from Ward 151…
- Doctor.
- What are you doing here?
Just observing people.
When you're at a hospital,
you see all kinds of things.
There are more cases than you think
of donors suddenly changing their minds.
It isn't an easy decision
to donate your organ,
even if it's to your family.
I just feel so bad…
putting this
pressure on my family.
Even if something happens to me,
I hope they don't live
their lives feeling guilty.
Don't think about that.
Just get better.
When I was an intern,
I saw mothers who
were just in their early thirties
develop cancer
and die several times.
Maybe it's because of that,
but once I reached my forties,
I thought even if I came down
with a terminal illness,
there wouldn't be anything
to be bitter about.
Even though I
always worried that
something terrible might happen
to my husband or kids if I was gone,
I would have those kinds
of thoughts from time to time.
Doctor, I'm so jealous of you.
When I was an intern,
I wanted to become a surgeon.
When I was doing my training,
the first surgery
I observed was a liver transplant.
I had no idea I'd end up
needing to receive one.
Now that I think about it,
I really miss the
operating room.
Then…
would you like to visit one?
INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
PEDIATRIC OPERATING ROOM
Doctor.
A photo to
commemorate the event.
You should take a
selfie in those clothes.
Gosh, no.
Thank you.
Doctor, but isn't
this not allowed?
Just for today, you're a colleague
who has come to observe a surgery.
A colleague?
Yes, you have
a medical license, don't you?
- I do.
- Then you're a colleague.
It's a 40-year-old man
suffering from Crohn's disease.
He has an intestinal obstruction
and an abscess,
so we will be performing
a bowel resection surgery.
Scalpel.
- Do I have to feel guilty?
- Why?
You went on a trip with me
on the day your wife went to the ER.
It would've happened
even if I had gone to the hospital.
But it's a relief that
a donor was found.
Her cousin, right?
Yes.
It's times like this
that I envy your wife.
When I'm sick,
will you be able to stay by my side?
Will I die all alone
in my later years?
- I think about these things.
- Choi Seung-hi.
Sometimes I have to nag like this
so I can relieve my stress too.
The three of us have
a maze-like complicated relationship.
There are no answers
and there is no end.
I have nothing I can say to you.
I don't know if there will ever
be answers or an end,
but I can promise you this.
I won't leave
you to be all alone.
Hello.
Where is Jong-su?
I'm sorry, Ms. Oh.
What do you mean, sorry?
EMERGENCY BELL
We can't accept this.
Ms. Oh, I don't want him
to get the surgery either.
Our child is still so young,
and I'm scared.
He couldn't bring himself to tell you,
so I came here to tell you instead.
But the surgery is
booked for tomorrow.
I'm so sorry.
Cold blue. Room
306, code blue.
- Ma'am, you can't go in right now.
- That's my daughter…
My daughter suddenly
slipped into a coma
and went into the
intensive care unit.
I can't even see her
face for a moment?
She's in a critical state right now,
so you can't visit her.
Jeong-suk…
- Mom.
- Mom.
Mom, are you okay?
Mom.
Dad.
Can't you just
donate your liver?
It's not that simple.
This is a much more dangerous surgery
than you think…
As long as it's fine with you,
I also think it'd be great
if you could donate your liver.
There's no other
alternative, Father.
Mother, I think I have
to go through with the surgery.
We have to save
the children's mother.
Her condition is too critical
to wait for a donor.
Please give me
permission, Mother!
If I don't give you permission,
will you not do the surgery?
Get up.
Why are you on your knees?
You did nothing wrong.
Why are you on your knees?
I'm sorry.
This is why I told you
not to get into a marriage like this.
I was against it
from the get-go.
How could someone so smart
be so daft at the same time?
To leave that
perfect girl, Seung-hi…
I never forgot her name
because it was such a waste.
You kicked your
own luck away like that
and got a good-for-nothing
girl pregnant.
Gosh, men are unbelievable.
Get out, you bastard.
Get out!
- Get out!
- I'm leaving.
I'm so furious. Gosh…
Goodness! Filthy
little bastards!
SEOMYEONG
UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
In-ho,
thank you for making
such a difficult decision.
I'll never forget this.
No. I…
should've said yes
from the beginning. I'm sorry.
Gosh, don't say that.
It isn't easy to decide
to donate your liver to someone.
Let me go get some water.
Honey.
I know you made
a difficult decision.
This might just be an excuse,
but if I think of Mom and the kids,
I want to live a
little bit longer.
It'd be a lie to say there has
never been a time when I hated you.
Every time you made me think
that you'd be okay
whether or not I was here,
I wanted to confirm
that wasn't true.
And it made me become
even more engrossed in household work.
But still, there was a part of me
that held feelings of hate
and resentment toward you.
But after
falling ill like this…
it turns out my husband
is the one who will save my life.
I'll never stop being grateful to you
for the rest of my life.
I mean it.
Thank you.
And…
I'm so sorry.
I'm sorry.
- Is this really the only option?
- It is.
Will you donate your liver to me too
if I get sick?
I will.
Then give me your liver,
your kidney, and your heart!
Give me everything!
All of it!
Then I'll die.
- Seung-hi.
- What?
I'll call you when
the surgery is over.
Until then, be brave and well,
just like you always are.
Actually…
I went to Gusan University
School of Medicine in 1995.
May I ask which
university you went to?
I was raised in the US.
I did my undergrad at Stanford
and then went to
Harvard Medical School.
Well, I've heard all the rumors
about what a talented doctor you are,
but as a fellow surgeon,
I need to be able to continue to perform
long surgeries, don't you think?
If there are any aftereffects
I should be aware of,
please tell me
everything honestly.
Not to your wife, but to you?
Yes.
You'll have a scar.
A scar?
Yes.
You could suffer from jaundice
or a high fever,
but if you take
good care of yourself,
there's nothing to worry about.
I'm not sitting here
to hear obvious answers.
Could you let me know
how many liver transplants
you've performed
and their success rate?
- Mr. Seo.
- Yes?
You're a surgeon,
so I'm sure you know
the surgery process and the aftereffects.
But if you find yourself
hesitating about the surgery,
you can give it more thought
before deciding.
That's not what I meant.
SURGERY, ANESTHESIA,
BLOOD TRANSFUSION CONSENT FORM
CONSENTING PARTY'S
SIGNATURE OR SEAL
I'm getting a call.
INCOMING CALL
CHOI SEUNG-HI
In-ho.
In-ho, don't do it!
You absolutely can't!
It's okay.
OPERATING ROOM 1
PATIENT NAME: CHA JEONG-SUK
SURGEON: ROY KIM
We will now begin
Cha Jeong-suk's liver transplant.
Scalpel.
In-ho, don't do it!
Don't sign it!
No! You absolutely can't!
No, I won't let you!
Mom, are you okay?
Mom.
- Honey.
- Yes?
Yes, tell me. What is it?
What?
What did you say?
You…
little…
bastard.
Excuse me, the patient
here has woken up!
DOCTOR CHA
After coming back from the brink of death,
it turns out all of that was meaningless.
Has she lost her mind?
You said I didn't have to worry
about the household chores anymore.
- Is my juice not ready yet?
- You can make it yourself.
Maybe it's because
I escaped death.
I wanted to start doing
things I hadn't done before.
Did the big surgery
mess with her head or something?
Why are you
suddenly acting weird?
I spent the last 20 years
not doing stuff like this.
I'm going to live
however I please from now on.
Subtitle translation
by: Yoon-ji Chi