'Doctor Cha' Faces Backlash from Crohn's Disease Community

The popular drama series 'Doctor Cha' has been making waves with its record-breaking viewership ratings and immense popularity.

However, it is now facing criticism from patients and families affected by Crohn's disease.

In the seventh episode of JTBC's 'Doctor Cha,' which aired on May 6th, a scene has sparked controversy. The episode portrayed the story of a patient (played by Kim Hyun Mok) suffering from Crohn's disease.

During a crucial moment when the patient was about to undergo rectal restoration surgery, family members in the drama made derogatory comments, such as "How can you hide such a terrible disease?" and "They say this disease is hereditary."

The situation escalated, leading the distressed patient to write a will and jump off the rooftop.

Following the release of this scene, the Crohn's disease community and viewer bulletin boards were flooded with criticism.

The main point of contention was the use of words like 'hereditary' and 'terrible disease,' which were chosen without accurate understanding or information about the condition.

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that can affect any part of the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus.

While it is a challenging condition that requires long-term management, timely treatment not only improves symptoms but also helps prevent complications, allowing patients to lead a normal life similar to that of a healthy individual.

Netizens raised concerns about the excessive dialogue in the drama, highlighting its potential to mislead and distort viewers' perception of the disease.

They argued that such inaccuracies could perpetuate misunderstandings and contribute to a distorted public understanding of Crohn's disease.

On viewer bulletin boards, numerous posts demanding an official apology regarding Crohn's disease and requesting corrections and deletions related to the inaccurate portrayal have surfaced.

Patients and their families also expressed their worries, stating, "Our child, who disclosed their disease to their friends, must have experienced immense anxiety when going to school today."

Meanwhile, 'Doctor Cha' tells the story of Cha Jung-sook, a former 20-year housewife who embarks on a journey to become a first-year resident. The drama airs on JTBC every Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 PM.

Despite the drama's initial success and steadily growing popularity, it has recently become entangled in controversy due to derogatory remarks made about traditional medicine within the storyline.

This has further contributed to the ongoing discussions and criticisms surrounding 'Doctor Cha' and its portrayal of Crohn's disease.

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Hyun Bin is finally addressing the long-standing "ddongcha" (poop car) theory surrounding his character from My Name is Kim Sam-soon—and he's not holding back!

In an interview on the 19th with Star News, the beloved actor confessed, "I was wrong," responding to the reevaluation of his iconic role as Hyun Jin-heon from the 2005 hit drama. The "ddongcha" theory has been a subject of online debate for years, with many viewers critiquing Hyun Jin-heon’s character as overly arrogant and entitled.

Hyun Bin, who first rose to fame in My Name is Kim Sam-soon, took the time to reflect on the character that made him a household name. He shared, “I was just following the script; there were no personal opinions added to the character of Hyun Jin-heon. At that time, I knew Hyun Jin-heon was portrayed as a ‘bad boy,’ and the way it was expressed was different from today’s standards.”

With My Name is Kim Sam-soon now being re-released as part of Wavve's "New Classic" project, fans are revisiting the 2005 drama, and the character of Hyun Jin-heon is under fresh scrutiny. Director Kim Yun-cheol even admitted that the "prince on a white horse" and "bad boy" tropes that once worked in 2005 don’t quite match today's sensibilities, leading to edits in the 2024 version.

Hyun Bin humbly acknowledged his gratitude for his successful career and hit works, saying, "It’s wonderful and I am grateful to have so many hit works. I’ve been fortunate to work with amazing writers, directors, and actors. Thanks to them, I’ve received a lot of attention and love." He also shared a sense of humility, noting, “But I never know when that luck will come again."

Despite the dramatic shift in perspective on his character, Hyun Bin’s charm and dedication remain strong. Fans are eager to see him in his upcoming film Harbin (directed by Woo Min-ho), set to be released on the 24th.

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