# Ghost Doctor (고스트 닥터)

**Ghost Doctor** (고스트 닥터) is a 2022 South Korean fantasy medical comedy television series broadcast on the cable network tvN, in which the spirit of a comatose star surgeon possesses the body of a first-year resident and the two men end up sharing one body while treating patients.<sup>[1](https://tvn.cjenm.com/ko/ghostdoctor/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://zapzee.net/2022/02/17/k-drama-review-ghost-doctor-two-reasons-we-cant-help-but-fall-for-this-medical-possessing-bromance/)</sup> It ran for 16 episodes from January 3 to February 22, 2022, in tvN's Monday and Tuesday 22:30 time slot, starring the singer-actor Jung Ji-hoon, known professionally as [Rain](https://www.edgepedia.org/rain-entertainer), and [Kim Bum](https://www.edgepedia.org/kim-bum).<sup>[3](https://asianwiki.com/Ghost_Doctor)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[4](https://studiodragon.irplus.co.kr/fileupload/analyst_e/202204/20220406_sd1.pdf)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Native title | 고스트 닥터 (Ghost Doctor)<sup>[3](https://asianwiki.com/Ghost_Doctor)</sup> |
| Network and slot | tvN, Mondays and Tuesdays at 22:30<sup>[3](https://asianwiki.com/Ghost_Doctor)</sup> |
| Original run | January 3 to February 22, 2022, 16 episodes<sup>[1](https://tvn.cjenm.com/ko/ghostdoctor/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[4](https://studiodragon.irplus.co.kr/fileupload/analyst_e/202204/20220406_sd1.pdf)</sup> |
| Genre | Fantasy medical comedy combining a doctor-ghost story with a hospital setting<sup>[5](https://tvn.cjenm.com/ko/ghostdoctor/about/)</sup> |
| Main cast | Jung Ji-hoon (Rain), Kim Bum, Uee, Son Na-eun<sup>[4](https://studiodragon.irplus.co.kr/fileupload/analyst_e/202204/20220406_sd1.pdf)</sup> |
| Director | Boo Seong-cheol (부성철)<sup>[4](https://studiodragon.irplus.co.kr/fileupload/analyst_e/202204/20220406_sd1.pdf)</sup> |
| Ratings | Reported in the 5 to 6% range during its run; peak rating 8.0%<sup>[6](https://jazminemedia.com/kdrama-review/ghost-doctor-episode-1-to-8-review/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[7](https://invest.kiwoom.com/inv/resource/202205/UploadFile_20220512105413000587.pdf)</sup> |

## Premise

tvN's synopsis frames the series as the story of an arrogant genius doctor with uncanny surgical skill and a wealthy "golden spoon" resident with no sense of mission, two doctors at opposite extremes in background and ability who come to share one body.<sup>[1](https://tvn.cjenm.com/ko/ghostdoctor/)</sup> When the thoracic surgeon Cha Young-min (차영민) lapses into unconsciousness after a car accident, his soul enters the body of the resident Go Seung-tak (고승탁), a doctor described as having zero sense of duty.<sup>[2](https://zapzee.net/2022/02/17/k-drama-review-ghost-doctor-two-reasons-we-cant-help-but-fall-for-this-medical-possessing-bromance/)</sup>

**The setup.** In the OSEN columnist Kim Jae-dong's recap, Young-min practices at Eunsang University Hospital (은성대학병원), where cynicism, sharp talk, and arrogance are his trademarks even though his surgical skill is outstanding. Seung-tak, a resident who cannot steady his hands in the operating room, is the grandson of the hospital's founder and the son of its chairwoman. Since childhood Seung-tak has been able to see and hear ghosts, and he has lived pretending not to see or hear the hundreds of spirits that torment him.<sup>[8](https://www.osen.co.kr/article/G1111750451)</sup> Forbes described the character as book-smart but procedure-shy: during hospital rounds he mostly tries to avoid participating, and although he can cite textbook diagnoses with ease, he lacks the confidence to handle emergencies physically.<sup>[9](https://www.forbes.com/sites/joanmacdonald/2022/01/14/rain-and-kim-beom-get-a-little-too-close-in-buddy-drama-ghost-doctor/)</sup>

The two men dislike each other, but their interests align: Young-min wants to return to his living body, and Seung-tak wants to earn his specialty and take over the hospital with pride. They conclude a body rental contract, and the legend of Eunsang University's ghost-possessed first-year resident begins.<sup>[8](https://www.osen.co.kr/article/G1111750451)</sup>

**The cost of possession.** The series gives its possession premise a price. Possessing a body burdens Young-min's comatose body and eventually pushes it toward death, a fact the guardian spirit Tes (테스) relays to Seung-tak. When Young-min decides to operate on a patient named Jessica without Seung-tak's consent, Seung-tak refuses to appear; the surgery deteriorates through the operating surgeon's error until Seung-tak finally shows up in the operating room. After the possession and the cleanup, Seung-tak declares the contract terminated, because he has come to like and respect Young-min and cannot stand by and watch him die.<sup>[8](https://www.osen.co.kr/article/G1111750451)</sup>

## Cast and characters

tvN lists four central characters: Cha Young-min, Go Seung-tak, Jang Se-jin (장세진), and Oh Soo-jung (오수정).<sup>[1](https://tvn.cjenm.com/ko/ghostdoctor/)</sup> Jung Ji-hoon (정지훈) played Young-min. According to The Korea Times, the role marked his return to the small screen about three years after the romantic comedy series Welcome 2 Life; at the series' online press conference he said he hesitated at first because of the heavy length of the lines, the CGI, and a medical series with an unfolding romance story.<sup>[10](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/shows-dramas/20220104/rain-returns-to-small-screen-with-fantasy-series-ghost-doctor)</sup>

Kim Bum (김범) played Seung-tak. Uee (유이) played Jang Se-jin, Young-min's ex-girlfriend, a neurosurgeon who returns to Korea to care for her father and later for the comatose Young-min himself.<sup>[9](https://www.forbes.com/sites/joanmacdonald/2022/01/14/rain-and-kim-beom-get-a-little-too-close-in-buddy-drama-ghost-doctor/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[11](https://dryedmangoez.com/2022/03/19/good-ol-review-rain-and-kim-bum-lead-the-fun-and-emotionally-satisfying-ghost-doctor/)</sup> [Son Na-eun](https://www.edgepedia.org/son-na-eun) (손나은) played Seung-tak's friend and fellow doctor.<sup>[9](https://www.forbes.com/sites/joanmacdonald/2022/01/14/rain-and-kim-beom-get-a-little-too-close-in-buddy-drama-ghost-doctor/)</sup> [Sung Dong-il](https://www.edgepedia.org/sung-dong-il) (성동일) played Tes, a guardian-spirit figure attached to the hospital.<sup>[8](https://www.osen.co.kr/article/G1111750451)</sup>

Reviewers singled out Kim Bum's double role. In the final review at The Cat That Watches TV, he was praised for portraying the more matured Young-min while possessed and switching back to the chirpy Seung-tak once the spirit left his body, at one point even playing Romeo to Uee's Se-jin in Young-min's place.<sup>[12](https://nekosdrama.wordpress.com/2022/02/26/final-review-ghost-doctor/)</sup>

## Production and broadcast

The series was produced by [Studio Dragon](https://www.edgepedia.org/studio-dragon) with Bon Factory for tvN.<sup>[13](https://studiodragon.irplus.co.kr/fileupload/analyst/202204/20220419_sd1.pdf)</sup> Its time slot previously carried Secret Royal Inspector & Joy and was taken over by [Military Prosecutor Doberman](https://www.edgepedia.org/military-prosecutor-doberman) on February 28, 2022.<sup>[3](https://asianwiki.com/Ghost_Doctor)</sup> tvN's production notes describe the concept as a medical drama fused with a ghost story, in which the possessing ghost happens to be a gifted "golden hands" surgeon and the body he enters belongs to a doctor who cannot steady his hands, and which asks what makes a good doctor through the spirits of physicians who cannot leave their hospital even after death.<sup>[5](https://tvn.cjenm.com/ko/ghostdoctor/about/)</sup>

The series later circulated internationally. A Korean Foundation report on Indonesian content consumption lists Ghost Doctor on NET TV from January 6 to February 2024, airing weekdays from 11:30 to 12:30.<sup>[14](https://welcon.kocca.kr/cmm/fms/crawling/%5B%EC%9D%B8%EB%8B%88%20%ED%8A%B9%ED%99%94%EB%B3%B4%EA%B3%A0%EC%84%9C%2025-02%ED%98%B8%5D%202025%EB%85%84%20%EC%9D%B8%EB%8F%84%EB%84%A4%EC%8B%9C%EC%95%84%EC%9D%98%20K-%EC%BD%98%ED%85%90%EC%B8%A0%20%EC%86%8C%EB%B9%84%20%ED%98%84%ED%99%A9_%EB%AF%B8%EB%A6%AC%EB%B3%B4%EA%B8%B0?atchFileId=FILE_1d6f969b-81f6-4f44-9203-72a0dbec19f8&fileSn=1)</sup> The streaming service Viki offers the series with English subtitles.<sup>[15](https://www.viki.com/tv/38292c-ghost-doctor)</sup>

## Reception

Ratings held in the 5 to 6% range through the first eight episodes, which the review site JazmineMedia called strong for a cable drama.<sup>[6](https://jazminemedia.com/kdrama-review/ghost-doctor-episode-1-to-8-review/)</sup> A Kiwoom Securities research note lists the series' peak rating at 8.0%.<sup>[7](https://invest.kiwoom.com/inv/resource/202205/UploadFile_20220512105413000587.pdf)</sup>

**Critical response.** The South China Morning Post's review by Pierce Conran gave the series 3 out of 5 stars, describing it as a bromance between a star surgeon learning to shed his arrogance and a cocky young resident, and noting that as the supernatural elements ramped up the plot became more static and the ending came as no surprise.<sup>[16](https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3168328/k-drama-review-ghost-doctor-supernatural-medical-drama)</sup> The midseason recap in the same newspaper found that the show, after an unsure start, had found a balance between comic banter and smooth emotional beats.<sup>[17](https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3165863/k-drama-midseason-recap-ghost-doctor-medical-drama-starring)</sup> The DryedMangoez review called Rain and Kim Bum irresistibly charming and described the series at heart as an emotional, character-driven look at the bonds forged in unexpected places.<sup>[11](https://dryedmangoez.com/2022/03/19/good-ol-review-rain-and-kim-bum-lead-the-fun-and-emotionally-satisfying-ghost-doctor/)</sup>

## References

1. [고스트 닥터, tvN official program page](https://tvn.cjenm.com/ko/ghostdoctor/)
2. [K-Drama Review: 'Ghost Doctor' Two Reasons We Can't Help But Fall for This Medical Bromance Drama, ZAPZEE (February 17, 2022)](https://zapzee.net/2022/02/17/k-drama-review-ghost-doctor-two-reasons-we-cant-help-but-fall-for-this-medical-possessing-bromance/)
3. [Ghost Doctor, AsianWiki](https://asianwiki.com/Ghost_Doctor)
4. [Studio Dragon (253450) analyst report, drama lineup (April 6, 2022)](https://studiodragon.irplus.co.kr/fileupload/analyst_e/202204/20220406_sd1.pdf)
5. [고스트 닥터 기획 의도, tvN](https://tvn.cjenm.com/ko/ghostdoctor/about/)
6. ["Ghost Doctor" Episode 1 To 8 Review: Unexpectedly Fun And Endearing, JazmineMedia (February 2, 2022)](https://jazminemedia.com/kdrama-review/ghost-doctor-episode-1-to-8-review/)
7. [Kiwoom Securities research report, Studio Dragon drama library (May 12, 2022)](https://invest.kiwoom.com/inv/resource/202205/UploadFile_20220512105413000587.pdf)
8. ['고스트 닥터'.. 평균치 인성 정지훈·김범의 티키타카 영웅행보 볼 만, OSEN, Kim Jae-dong (January 25, 2022)](https://www.osen.co.kr/article/G1111750451)
9. [Rain And Kim Beom Get A Little Too Close In Buddy Drama 'Ghost Doctor', Forbes, Joan MacDonald (January 14, 2022)](https://www.forbes.com/sites/joanmacdonald/2022/01/14/rain-and-kim-beom-get-a-little-too-close-in-buddy-drama-ghost-doctor/)
10. [Rain returns to small screen with fantasy series 'Ghost Doctor', The Korea Times, Lee Gyu-lee (January 4, 2022)](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/shows-dramas/20220104/rain-returns-to-small-screen-with-fantasy-series-ghost-doctor)
11. [Good Ol' Review: Rain and Kim Bum Lead the Fun and Emotionally Satisfying "Ghost Doctor", DryedMangoez.com (March 19, 2022)](https://dryedmangoez.com/2022/03/19/good-ol-review-rain-and-kim-bum-lead-the-fun-and-emotionally-satisfying-ghost-doctor/)
12. [Final Review: Ghost Doctor, The Cat That Watches TV (February 26, 2022)](https://nekosdrama.wordpress.com/2022/02/26/final-review-ghost-doctor/)
13. [Studio Dragon analyst report, 2022 drama library (April 19, 2022)](https://studiodragon.irplus.co.kr/fileupload/analyst/202204/20220419_sd1.pdf)
14. [2025년 인도네시아의 K-콘텐츠 소비 현황, 인니 특화보고서 25-02호, KOCCA Welcon](https://welcon.kocca.kr/cmm/fms/crawling/%5B%EC%9D%B8%EB%8B%88%20%ED%8A%B9%ED%99%94%EB%B3%B4%EA%B3%A0%EC%84%9C%2025-02%ED%98%B8%5D%202025%EB%85%84%20%EC%9D%B8%EB%8F%84%EB%84%A4%EC%8B%9C%EC%95%84%EC%9D%98%20K-%EC%BD%98%ED%85%90%EC%B8%A0%20%EC%86%8C%EB%B9%84%20%ED%98%84%ED%99%A9_%EB%AF%B8%EB%A6%AC%EB%B3%B4%EA%B8%B0?atchFileId=FILE_1d6f969b-81f6-4f44-9203-72a0dbec19f8&fileSn=1)
15. [Ghost Doctor, Rakuten Viki](https://www.viki.com/tv/38292c-ghost-doctor)
16. [K-drama review: Ghost Doctor – supernatural medical drama starring Rain ends comfortable journey where you expect it to, South China Morning Post, Pierce Conran (February 25, 2022)](https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3168328/k-drama-review-ghost-doctor-supernatural-medical-drama)
17. [K-drama midseason recap: Ghost Doctor – medical drama starring Rain and Kim Beom delivers comic banter and smooth emotional beats, South China Morning Post](https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3165863/k-drama-midseason-recap-ghost-doctor-medical-drama-starring)

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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 › Medical, legal, and workplace series*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 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