‘닥터신’ 신주신, 리트리버 되며 종영…정이찬 “죗값 받아야”[인터뷰]③

“Those who do wrong must face the consequences,” stated actor Jung Yi-chan when discussing the finale of his character Shin Joo-shin in TV Chosun’s ‘Doctor Shin’.

In a recent interview, Jung explained that regardless of the circumstances, his character committed murder through brain-transplant surgeries. “The ending was inevitable given the crimes committed,” he noted.

Despite this, the actor expressed affection for his character: “Knowing how it all ends made me feel sorry for Joo-shin. He had no hobbies and was just learning about love.”

About the Drama

The series follows a brilliant surgeon who challenges divine boundaries and a woman whose deteriorating brain causes her to lose her essence. Jung portrayed Shin Joo-shin, chief of neurosurgery at Nua Hospital and chairman of the Nua Foundation orphanage—a brain surgery expert surpassing even his late father, Dr. Shin Woo-pil.

After losing the woman he loved, Shin Joo-shin began transplanting other people’s brains into her body. The unpredictable storyline concluded when Kim Gwang-chul (the father of Kim Jin-joo, who died during a brain-transfer operation) killed him. The shocking finale showed the character reappearing as a retriever dog.

Writer’s Detailed Approach

“Some might say it’s unrealistic, but reading the script revealed the writer’s meticulous attention to detail,” Jung shared. He praised how the writer portrayed human duality—Jin-joo appearing villainous yet deeply lonely, Joo-shin seeming robotic but profoundly pitiful, and reporter Bara looking sharp while being vulnerable in matters of the heart.

The actor highlighted how even the dialogue revealed the futility felt after brain transplants, showcasing the writer’s thoroughness.

Memorable Dialogue

The drama featured distinctive lines characteristic of writer Im Sung-han’s unique style. Jung recalled being impressed by phrases like “Just don’t steam the brain” from early episodes, finding them both amusing and revealing of his character’s personality.

Other memorable moments included romantic lines like “Want to share some beneficial microorganisms?” during a kiss, and confessing with “I’ll be a chicken instead of a pheasant.”

Jung admitted the writer’s distinctive dialogue style influenced his own speech patterns: “Cast members started calling each other by character names and adopting the script’s speaking style, sometimes even in daily life unrelated to filming.”

Personal Reflection

When asked about real-life brain transplantation, Jung revealed he’d want to enter his aging dog’s body: “I’ve raised my dog since puppyhood, but now he’s elderly. His eyes are cloudy, his hearing is fading, and sometimes he seems to be in pain but can’t tell me. I’d love to spend just one minute inside to examine him and understand what he’s experiencing. I want to check on my beloved Leon.”