“Doctor Prisoner” (닥터 프리즈너)

By Jae-Ha Kim
Substack
September 24, 2023

☆☆☆☆
Na Ji-je (played by Namkoong Min)
Han So-geum (played by Kwon Nara)
↑Note: Korean names denote the surname followed by the given name.

“Doctor Prisoner” debuted with a nationwide rating of 8.4% on March 20, 2019, according to AGB Nielsen Media Research. Figures for the April 11th episode saw viewership rise to 14.7%. It was the most-watched series in its time slot, where it faced anemic competition from SBS’ “Big Issue” (3.3%) and MBC’s “The Banker” (5.2%).

One reason for the popularity of “Doctor Prisoner” may be that it has incorporated some real-life news into its story arcs, similar to how American shows such as “Law & Order” draw ideas from sensational headlines. One of the biggest stories in Korea at the time was the Burning Sun scandal, where well-known K-Pop idols had been accused of drugging women and then videotaping their assaults to share with each other on group chats.

In “Doctor Prisoner,” Namkoong Min plays Dr. Na Yi-je, who has been forced to leave his hospital after he was made into a scapegoat. Bitter and wanting revenge, he gets a job at a prison where he has access to powerful, wealthy criminals who can can and does manipulate.

He begins providing false medical reports for his entitled clients, with the intent of earning their trust so he can get the information he wants. He doesn’t mind dirtying himself, because the justice system he once trusted has proven to be fallible. One of his patients is a chaebol heir who views women as nothing more than disposable, pretty playthings. He sees no problem with drugging girls for his own use. And he enjoys going to a Burning Sun-style nightclub known for offering women — drugged or not — to the elite.

Namkoong Min was previously seen in 2016’s “Doctor Crush,” where he played the sole caretaker for two young sons. Not poor enough to qualify for financial aid programs designed to help the indigent meet their hospital costs, he learns that social service will provide free care for orphans. So he contemplates suicide so that his child can get the surgery he needs. His story arc stayed with me long after the series finale.

Airdates: Thirty-two 35-minute episodes aired on KBS2 from March 20 to May 15, 2019. (I watched this on Viki.)