Jung Yi-chan, the surgeon behind the “brain change,” meets his end.
The final episode (16th) of TV Chosun’s weekend drama ‘Dr. Shin’ (written by Phoebe (Im Sung-han) and directed by Lee Seung-hoon), which aired on the 3rd, depicted Shin Ju-shin (played by Jung Yi-chan) finally paying for his crimes. This poetic justice ending provided a sense of catharsis for viewers, recording a rating of 2.3% (Nielsen Korea, nationwide paid households). This marks the series’ highest rating, surpassing the 2.2% recorded in episode 14.
In the finale, the body of Geum Ba-ra (played by Ju Se-bin), which housed the brain of Kim Jin-ju (played by Cheon Young-min), passed away, and a funeral and cremation were held. Momo (played by Baek Seo-ra), who possessed Geum Ba-ra’s brain, felt heartbroken seeing the grieving Ha Yong-jung (played by An Woo-yeon). Meanwhile, a shocking revelation emerged: Shin Ju-shin had intentionally caused the death of Kim Jin-ju’s brain.
At the same time, Kim Jin-ju’s biological father, Kim Kwang-chul (played by Cha Kwang-soo), realized that Momo was no longer his daughter and that Kim Jin-ju had completely vanished. It was also revealed that Kim Jin-ju had chosen the brain change herself to escape Kim Kwang-chul. Later, Kim Kwang-chul tracked down Shin Ju-shin and stabbed him; Shin Ju-shin met his death while thinking of Geum Ba-ra.
In the final moments, as Ha Yong-jung entered Shin Ju-shin’s family home holding his son and daughter’s hands, a mysterious scene unfolded. Momo told a Golden Retriever in the yard, “I love you,” and the dog transformed into Shin Ju-shin, leaving viewers with a lingering sense of wonder.
As such, ‘Dr. Shin’ captivated audiences by exploring the destinies of characters with swapped brains and bodies through its provocative “brain change surgery” premise. In particular, the direction of visualizing characters’ inner thoughts via subtitles maximized the “Phoebe-style universe,” offering a unique kind of entertainment.
Rising stars Jung Yi-chan, Baek Seo-ra, An Woo-yeon, Ju Se-bin, and Cheon Young-min proved their potential with stable performances in their first lead roles. Baek Seo-ra, in particular, left a strong impression by seamlessly switching between four different characters: Momo, Hyun Ran-hee (played by Song Ji-in), Kim Jin-ju, and Geum Ba-ra.
The production team shared their thoughts, saying, “We are grateful to the viewers who supported and watched ‘Dr. Shin.’ As the first medical thriller by writer Phoebe, we hope ‘Dr. Shin’ remains a memorable drama that showcased a unique narrative.”
