‘Poong, The Joseon Psychiatrist’ Diagnoses The Heart Of The Matter

The character, Yoo Sae-poong, played by Kim Min-jae, has everything going for him in the Korean drama Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist. He’s the handsome son of an influential minister, got top grades at Sungkyunkwan University and is honored by the nation’s king as the best acupuncturist in the land. There’s only one road block on his road to success: those opposed to the king are engaged in a plot that will ruin Sae-poong’s life.

When their plans result in the death of the king, Sae-poong is locked up for failing to save him. Rather than face the execution demanded of a royal physician when a king dies, Sae-poong is pardoned by the king’s successor and exiled from the capitol. Those who planned the king’s demise are confident in their success.

Sae-poong is not only homeless and penniless, he’s traumatized by his inability to save the king. He’s ready to give up on medicine and even his life. However, he gets another chance when he encounters the do-it-yourself medical investigator Seo Eun-woo, played by Kim Hyang-gi, and a dedicated country doctor, played by Kim Sang-kyung. Aided by his loyal servant, played energetically by Ahn Chan-hwang, they will help steer him toward a new purpose in life.

Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist is an upbeat historical drama, emphasizing the importance of facing your fears and moving on when life prevents you from realizing a dream. Although Sae-poong is too traumatized to use his acupuncture needles, he discovers that sometimes patients feel better when he listens to what’s troubling them. While the term psychiatry was first coined in the early 19th century, the practice of considering emotions as a source of suffering is an approach as old as time. This drama offers an entertaining look into how that might have played out during the Joseon era. Hopefully, helping others heal will allow Sae-poong to heal his own heart.

Kim Min-jae previously appeared in Dali and Cocky Prince, Do You Like Brahms and Dr. Romantic 2. Kim Hyang-yi can be seen in the hit film Hansan: Rising Dragon, as well as the films Space Sweepers and Innocent Witness and the TV drama At Eighteen.