A pediatric surgery unit on the brink — and the fight to save the smallest lives

Netflix's "First Doctor" [Provided by Netflix]
Netflix's "First Doctor" [Provided by Netflix]

Hong Jong-chan, the director behind the globally acclaimed Netflix series "Teach You a Lesson," is returning with a medical drama set in a pediatric surgery unit. Actor Kim Mu-yeol will team up with Hong for the third time, following their previous collaborations on "Juvenile Justice" and "Teach You a Lesson."

Netflix confirmed Tuesday the production of the new series "First Doctor" and unveiled its main cast, including Jung Ryeo-won, Ha Yoon-kyung, Baek Hyun-jin, Kim Jong-su and Kim Mu-yeol.

"First Doctor" centers on Heo Ji-wan (Jung Ryeo-won), a doctor pushed to the edge, and a pediatric surgery department on the verge of closure. The series follows those on the front lines of life as they face its most fragile moments.

The drama reunites Hong with writer Kim Min-seok, who previously collaborated with him on "Juvenile Justice." Through the story of people fighting to protect the smallest lives, the series aims to convey the value of life, solidarity and empathy.

Jung plays Heo Ji-wan, a pediatric surgery professor suddenly cornered. Highly skilled and driven by a strong sense of mission, Heo is known within the hospital as a "troublemaker" for her blunt, unfiltered personality. She fights to protect the pediatric surgery department at Yeonhwa University Hospital and the futures of its young patients.

Ha Yoon-kyung, who made her mark in "Undercover Miss Hong," "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" and "Hospital Playlist" Season 2, plays Ki Eun-gyeol, a third-year resident at Yeonhwa University Hospital. Bold and spirited, Ki may come across as rebellious, but her sharp instincts and quick hands caught the chief surgeon's eye from her very first year. She and Heo Ji-wan will clash at every turn while developing an intriguing mentor-mentee dynamic.

Baek Hyun-jin plays Son Sang-baek, the chief of surgery at Yeonhwa University Hospital, bringing grounded realism to the role. Kim Jong-su takes on the role of Lee Chang-gon, the hospital's deputy director, serving as a stabilizing force in the drama.

Kim Mu-yeol, who left a strong impression in both "Juvenile Justice" and "Teach You a Lesson," joins the cast as Bae Su-wol, a professor of anesthesiology and pain medicine. Bae shares a long history with Heo Ji-wan and is expected to bring energy and warmth to the series with his characteristically affable personality.


balme@heraldcorp.com