# Dr. Brain (Dr. 브레인)
**Dr. Brain** (Dr. 브레인) is a 2021 South Korean science fiction thriller television series directed by Kim Jee-woon for Apple TV+, based on the Korean webtoon of the same name by Hongjacga. It follows brain scientist Sewon Koh, who after a family tragedy conducts "brain syncs" with the dead to access their memories for clues.[1](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/dr-brain/umc.cmc.60vbrno9xpmmax8wmdo4ow05u) The series was the first Korean-language original produced for Apple TV+ and launched the streaming service in South Korea on November 4, 2021.[2](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2021/03/apple-orders-international-series-dr-brain-from-visionary-filmmaker-kim-jee-woon-and-starring-lee-sun-kyun/) • [3](https://v.daum.net/v/k3GNno6AM8)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Platform milestone | First Korean-language original series for Apple TV+; launched the service in South Korea[2](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2021/03/apple-orders-international-series-dr-brain-from-visionary-filmmaker-kim-jee-woon-and-starring-lee-sun-kyun/) • [3](https://v.daum.net/v/k3GNno6AM8) |
| Run | Premiered November 4, 2021; six episodes released weekly; finale December 10, 2021[4](https://www.apple.com/uk/tv-pr/originals/dr-brain/) • [5](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/53902/dr-brain) |
| Source | Webtoon by Hongjacga, original story by Cho Jae-hong; screenplay by Kim Jin A, Koh YoungJae, and Kim Jee-woon[2](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2021/03/apple-orders-international-series-dr-brain-from-visionary-filmmaker-kim-jee-woon-and-starring-lee-sun-kyun/) |
| Lead cast | Lee Sun-kyun as Sewon Koh, with Lee Yoo-young, Park Hee-soon, and Seo Ji-hye[1](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/dr-brain/umc.cmc.60vbrno9xpmmax8wmdo4ow05u) |
| Production companies | Bound Entertainment, Kakao Entertainment, StudioPlex, and Dark Circle Pictures[2](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2021/03/apple-orders-international-series-dr-brain-from-visionary-filmmaker-kim-jee-woon-and-starring-lee-sun-kyun/) |
| Reception | 85% Tomatometer and 77% Popcornmeter on Rotten Tomatoes; 6.7 on IMDb[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/dr_brain) • [7](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/dr-brain) |
| Recognition | Lee Sun-kyun nominated for the 2022 International Emmy for Best Performance by an Actor[8](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15758760/awards/) |
## Spoilers
### Premise
Sewon Koh ([Lee Sun-kyun](https://www.edgepedia.org/lee-sun-kyun)) is a brilliant, research-obsessed brain scientist whose family falls victim to a mysterious accident. Desperate to uncover what happened to his wife Jaeyi ([Lee Yoo-young](https://www.edgepedia.org/lee-yoo-young)) and son Doyoon, he advances a risky "brain sync" system that lets him access the consciousness and memories of the dead, including his wife's, to piece together the mystery.[1](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/dr-brain/umc.cmc.60vbrno9xpmmax8wmdo4ow05u) • [2](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2021/03/apple-orders-international-series-dr-brain-from-visionary-filmmaker-kim-jee-woon-and-starring-lee-sun-kyun/) The investigation draws in a private investigator, Kangmu Lee ([Park Hee-soon](https://www.edgepedia.org/park-hee-soon)), and Lieutenant Choi (Seo Ji-hye), and makes Sewon a target as he uncovers a plan set in motion around him and his family.[1](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/dr-brain/umc.cmc.60vbrno9xpmmax8wmdo4ow05u)
The series mixes genres. Reviewers describe it as alternating between family melodrama, science fiction, and police thriller,[9](https://www.lemonde.fr/culture/article/2021/11/16/dr-brain-paraiso-the-unusual-suspects-notre-choix-de-series_6102187_3246.html) and Common Sense Media characterizes it as a morbid Korean sci-fi thriller with violence and drinking, rated TV-MA.[1](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/dr-brain/umc.cmc.60vbrno9xpmmax8wmdo4ow05u)
## Production
**From film plan to series.** Apple announced the series order in March 2021, when the show was already in production in South Korea.[2](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2021/03/apple-orders-international-series-dr-brain-from-visionary-filmmaker-kim-jee-woon-and-starring-lee-sun-kyun/) Kim Jee-woon, known for films including *A Tale of Two Sisters*, *I Saw the Devil*, and *The Age of Shadows*, said he first thought the story could work as a film but chose a series to take the narrative in a richer, deeper direction.[10](https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20211110124000005) • [11](https://www.nme.com/news/tv/dr-brain-director-reveals-he-initially-wanted-to-adapt-film-3093949) He structured the six episodes in three movements: episodes 1 and 2 build the story, episodes 3 and 4 accelerate the unraveling, and episodes 5 and 6 resolve it.[10](https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20211110124000005)
**Scientific consultation.** Kim consulted Jeong Jae-seung, a brain scientist at KAIST, on whether entering a person's memories is theoretically possible. Kim said he confirmed the idea was possible in principle, grounded in real experiments, and then added dramatic elements on top of that basis.[12](https://view.asiae.co.kr/article/2021111015243659868)
**Release pattern.** Unlike many streaming originals that release a full season at once, Apple TV+ released one episode per week.[12](https://view.asiae.co.kr/article/2021111015243659868) Episodes run roughly 50 to 70 minutes each.[1](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/dr-brain/umc.cmc.60vbrno9xpmmax8wmdo4ow05u)
## Adaptation approach
Kim said he wanted to preserve the webtoon's atmosphere, which he described as a noir style with strong contrasts of light and dark, a graphic-novel format he personally likes.[12](https://view.asiae.co.kr/article/2021111015243659868) Compared with the original, which he described as a fast-paced murder mystery, he added his own vision and narrative to enrich the series, framing the story of looking into other people's brains as also a story of looking into oneself, confronting one's own deficiencies and growing from them.[13](https://kstar.kbs.co.kr/list_view.html?idx=178654)
## Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes the first season holds an 85% Tomatometer from 20 reviews and a 77% Popcornmeter audience score; the critics consensus describes a heady premise worked through somewhat ponderously, but with plenty of cerebral thrills.[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/dr_brain) IMDb users give the series 6.7 out of 10.[7](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/dr-brain) Lee Sun-kyun received a 2022 International Emmy nomination for Best Performance by an Actor for the role.[8](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15758760/awards/)
The series ran for one season and ended in 2021.[5](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/53902/dr-brain) It remains available on Apple TV+ and its Amazon Channel.[7](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/dr-brain)
## References
1. [Dr. Brain, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/dr-brain/umc.cmc.60vbrno9xpmmax8wmdo4ow05u)
2. [Apple orders international series "Dr. Brain" from visionary filmmaker Kim Jee-Woon and starring Lee Sun-Kyun, Apple TV Press (March 3, 2021)](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2021/03/apple-orders-international-series-dr-brain-from-visionary-filmmaker-kim-jee-woon-and-starring-lee-sun-kyun/)
3. [Interview: Kim Jee-woon on Apple TV+'s first Korean original series, Daum News (November 2021)](https://v.daum.net/v/k3GNno6AM8)
4. [Dr. Brain, Apple TV Press (UK)](https://www.apple.com/uk/tv-pr/originals/dr-brain/)
5. [Dr. Brain, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/53902/dr-brain)
6. [Dr. Brain, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/dr_brain)
7. [Dr. Brain streaming information, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/dr-brain)
8. [Dr. Brain (TV Series 2021) Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15758760/awards/)
9. [« Dr. Brain », « Paraiso », « The Unusual Suspects » : notre choix de séries, Le Monde (November 16, 2021)](https://www.lemonde.fr/culture/article/2021/11/16/dr-brain-paraiso-the-unusual-suspects-notre-choix-de-series_6102187_3246.html)
10. [Drama debut for director Kim Jee-woon: "OTT is a new room for creators", Yonhap News (November 10, 2021)](https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20211110124000005)
11. [Dr. Brain director reveals he initially wanted to adapt the story to film, NME (November 12, 2021)](https://www.nme.com/news/tv/dr-brain-director-reveals-he-initially-wanted-to-adapt-film-3093949)
12. [Interview: Dr. Brain director Kim Jee-woon, Asia Economy (November 10, 2021)](https://view.asiae.co.kr/article/2021111015243659868)
13. [Interview with director Kim Jee-woon on Apple's first Korean drama, KBS kstar (December 10, 2021)](https://kstar.kbs.co.kr/list_view.html?idx=178654)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › International serial drama and telenovelas › East Asian drama series › Korean contemporary drama › Fantasy, supernatural, and science fiction series › Premiered 2010 to 2022*
*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license