Yong Pal (2015) poster
7.8
Your Rating: 0/10
Ratings: 7.8/10 from 12,310 users
# of Watchers: 25,822
Reviews: 41 users
Ranked #3696
Popularity #543
Watchers 12,310

Kim Tae Hyeon is a talented surgeon. Desperate for money to pay his sister's medical bills, he adopts the code name Yong Pal and offers his medical skills to those in need of medical attention but who cannot do so publicly, dealing with gangsters and corrupt plutocrats. It is while making such a house call that Tae Hyeon rescues "sleeping beauty" Han Yeo Jin, a chaebol heiress, from a medically induced coma, leading to unintended consequences. Edit Translation

  • English
  • Italiano
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Türkçe
  • Country: South Korea
  • Type: Drama
  • Episodes: 18
  • Aired: Aug 5, 2015 - Oct 1, 2015
  • Aired On: Wednesday, Thursday
  • Original Network: SBS
  • Duration: 1 hr. 5 min.
  • Score: 7.8 (scored by 12,310 users)
  • Ranked: #3696
  • Popularity: #543
  • Content Rating: 15+ - Teens 15 or older

Where to Watch Yong Pal

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Cast & Credits

Photos

Yong Pal (2015) photo
Yong Pal (2015) photo
Yong Pal (2015) photo
Yong Pal (2015) photo
Yong Pal (2015) photo
Yong Pal (2015) photo

Reviews

Completed
unterwegsimkoreanischenD
30 people found this review helpful
Sep 2, 2022
18 of 18 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 6.5
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

Idiosyncratic SK interpretation of a sequel to 'Sleeping Beauty' from the Prince´s perspective :-)

I would like to see the KDrama "Yong Pal" as an idiosyncratic South Korean interpretation of a sequel to 'Sleeping Beauty' in the modern zeitgeist, which is told from the point of view of the prince - what had actually happened after the two had celebrated their wedding at the time? ..."Yong Pal" gives its own makjang-infused answer several centuries after the Brothers Grimm :-)

Obviously, the story also has a critical focus on recent health care topics. Basically, the Hanshin Hospital takes center stage. This belongs to a Jaebeol conglomerate. Yong Pal is employed here as a talented young intern. But Yong Pal also works illegally as a doctor. Provided the price is right, he treats those who need medical care below the official radar of the health care system. Yong Pal gets promoted as exclusive doctor for the discreet care of the VIPs, too. On the 12th floor, the very rich and most influential patients stay within a separate department of the Hanshin Hospital, where, in addition to plenty of luxury and discretion, only the best medical care is guaranteed. Towards the end, Yong Pal also works as a doctor in a simple, small, rural clinic. Thus, in the course of the KDrama the protagonist's field of activity (and challenges with ethics, or rather the lack of it) covers the broad spectrum and the current focal points of the topics in health care (i.e. in South Korea).

In the beginning, Yong Pal is clearly at the center of the story, captivating the audience. The focus shifts after he meets coma patient Han Yeo-jin and helps her to regain consciousness, strength and her rightful legacy as Jaebeol of the Hanshin Group. From then on, everything revolves more around Yeo-jin and her vendetta. This isn't less impressive, especially with Kim Tae-hee's intense acting. However it is different. The second part thus offers pure Korean-style Makjang: more drama is always possible. As a result, storytelling takes another lane. (Many viewers obviously don't seem to have been very happy with that. Makjang fans, however, will definitely get their money's worth.) The transition between the first and second parts is moderated by a transition, which is filled with the blossoming romance between the two protagonists. From then on, however, there is hardly any room for a love-life in the protagonist's bitter fight for inheritance and revenge, in which she is ready to take any means. (You may want to take that against the KDrama as well.)

All in all, "Yong Pal" is a moving story that is grippingly exciting at the beginning and furthermore tells of a makjang-charged revenge. Love story included. Due to the success of the series at the time of broadcasting, actually two more episodes were added.

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Completed
isuzusan
61 people found this review helpful
Oct 3, 2015
18 of 18 episodes seen
Completed 3
Overall 7.0
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 6.0
So many people were excited about Yong Pal. I mean Joo Won was in a new drama! The amazing Joo Won! And even Kim Tae Hee was making a comeback, the most beautiful actress claimed by netizens. But even those two couldn't save the drama in the end. I'm quite disappointed about how the quality of Yong Pal just suddenly dropped after the second episode. This drama would have been most definitely been a 10/10 drama if that quality remained the same. Also, when I watch a medical drama, I want it to remain a medical drama throughout. And I gave up all hope of that happening even before the half way point was reached.

The story was all over the place. It started off exciting and I loved the thrill, but as soon as Han Yeo Jin became a part of Kim Tae Hyun's life, it started to drop from there onward. I watch medical dramas for the medical stuff (e.g. surgeries, transplants, medical dilemmas, etc.), but we only ever got the occasional one after the fourth episode. I hated how this become a soppy love story between the money-loving surgeon and the suicidal, rich chaebol's daughter. Not only was it really cringy to watch, I felt like that Tae Hyun was the only one who cared for their relationship. Yeo Jin only saw it as something to rely on when her plans failed, and she even put her revenge over Tae Hyun himself. That's not how a love story should be portrayed and I never want to see something like that done again. Also, too many political scenes.

A lot of people I know exclaim how much they love Joo Won and Kim Tae Hee as actors, and I can certainly understand for Joo Won, but not Kim Tae Hee. Her acting wasn't all that well done in my opinion, and I believe she made no more than three facial expressions. Although she did fit well with her character, her acting still can't be accepted for the way it was done. Anyway, Joo Won was so lovely to watch and I am most definitely watching some of his older dramas now.

Hmm, I can't say I enjoyed many of the quiet, relaxed soundtracks that Yong Pal gave to us, but I most certainly loved listening to Come To Me by K. Will. His voice is so beautiful to listen to, and he definitely makes up for the rest of the album. Oh, but I did also really like the action soundtracks. They were so exhilarating to listen to, even if the scene that accompanied it was boring as could be.

Would I want to re-watch Yong Pal again if I was given some free time? No.

Overall, the writers of Yong Pal should be glad that I even gave it a 7 out of 10. If it wasn't for Joo Won and most of the other actors, and the soundtracks, this drama would have definitely been a lower rating.

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Details

  • Drama: Yong Pal
  • Country: South Korea
  • Episodes: 18
  • Aired: Aug 5, 2015 - Oct 1, 2015
  • Aired On: Wednesday, Thursday
  • Original Network: SBS
  • Duration: 1 hr. 5 min.
  • Content Rating: 15+ - Teens 15 or older

Statistics

  • Score: 7.8 (scored by 12,310 users)
  • Ranked: #3696
  • Popularity: #543
  • Watchers: 25,822

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