Netflix's Newest K-Drama is a Must-Watch for Grey's Anatomy Fans

Summary

• Grey's Anatomy is known for being a show that is as much about steamy romance as it is about criticizing the state of the medical system.
• The new season won't be out for another month, so we have time to familiarize ourselves with another fascinating medical drama, the Korean series Doctor Slump.
• Doctor Slump is a lava-hei story about a surgeon with a ruined career and an anesthesiologist experiencing burnout.

Since its premiere in 2005, Grey's Anatomy has captivated a global audience that has fallen in love with this medical drama for its compelling emotional storylines, unforgettable tense moments and powerful performances from the cast. It's no wonder the show has become a major part of popular culture, and the unwavering love and devotion of its fans has kept it running for a record-breaking 19 seasons. The show has made history not only for addressing poignant topics and mirroring American social and political realities, but also for offering viewers more than a few romantic twists.

But the new Season 20 (the first without the show's title character, Meredith Grey, played by Ellen Pompeo) won't be out for a while yet, as it's set to premiere on March 14, 2024. Until then, all we have to do is re-watch our favorite episodes from previous seasons. Well, or get acquainted with new medical dramas!

Starting January 27, 2024, Netflix will have a new South Korean series, Doctor Slump. Only four episodes have been released so far (one of the rare instances where a show on a streaming service is released episodically rather than as a full season), but fans are already comparing it to Grey's Anatomy. Let's break down what the show is and why you'll definitely enjoy it if you're a fan of Shonda Rhimes' show.

What Is the New Medical K-Drama About?

At the center of the story are two characters, Nam Ha-neul, played by Park Shin-hye (The Call, #Alive), and Yeo Jeong-woo, played by Park Hyung-sik (Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth, Our Blooming Youth). Both were considered prodigies during their school years: Shin-hye was the great hope of his school in Seoul, always at the top of the rankings thanks to his perfect grades. But his idyll of being the smartest and most popular student crumbled when the school welcomed a new transfer student, Ha-neul, who devoted all her energy and personal life to ambitious achievements, fueled by her family and teachers.

Of course, they immediately saw each other as rivals and hated each other. But school ended and their lives diverged. Today, Shin-hye is an incredibly popular plastic surgeon who runs his own medical network. Ha-neul, on the other hand, is a successful anesthesiologist. But then their lives take a tragic but momentous turn.

Due to the probable interference of a competitor, Shin-hye's patient dies as a result of a medical accident, which literally destroys our hero's career. At the same time, the insane pace of life that began in high school, as well as the constant mistreatment at work by his superiors, lead Ha-neul to develop burnout and clinical depression. Here, the fates of two people who supposedly hated each other intertwine as they meet again to comfort each other.

Why Grey's Anatomy Fans Should Check It Out

Doctor Slump is essentially based on the usual love-hate trope of South Korean TV series. However, medical setting does not detract from the importance of the protagonists' medical endeavors, as it serves as a critical reflection of the state of Korean society, a system that leads to fierce competition and inflated expectations of others. This, in turn, leads to unpleasant consequences in the form of betrayal, overwork, burnout, and depression.

It's reminiscent of Grey's Anatomy, whose writers paid no small amount of attention to the mental state of their doctors, while love, along with medicine, was what made their lives vibrant and passionate.

The next, fifth episode will be released very soon, on Saturday, February 10 on JTBC and TVING in South Korea, and on Netflix in other regions.