Doctor on the Edge

Doctor on the Edge
Promotional poster
Hangul
닥터 섬보이
RRDakteo seomboi
MRTakt'ŏ sŏmboi
Genre
Based on
Endurance Doctor
by Kim Tae-poong
Written byKim Ji-soo
Directed byLee Myoungwoo
Starring
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes12
Production
Running time60 minutes[1]
Production companyThe Studio M
Original release
Network
ReleaseJune 1 (2026-06-01) –
July 7, 2026 (2026-07-07)

Doctor on the Edge (Korean: 닥터 섬보이) is a 2026 South Korean medical romance television series written by Kim Ji-soo, directed by Lee Myoungwoo, and starring Lee Jae-wook, Shin Ye-eun, Hong Min-gi, Lee Soo-kyung, and Kim Yoon-woo. Based on the webtoon Endurance Doctor by Kim Tae-poong, it tells the story of two people who arrive on an isolated island, where unsettling signs begin to appear from the very first day. It aired on ENA from June 1, to July 7, 2026, every Monday and Tuesday at 22:00 (KST). It is also available for streaming on Genie TV in South Korea and on Disney+ internationally.

Synopsis

Do Ji-ui is a plastic surgeon at a university hospital. He resigns to work as a public health doctor, which counts toward his mandatory military service. He hopes to avoid an island posting because of his trauma related to the sea. Unfortunately, he is assigned to work in the remote island village of Pyeongdong-do, an island that every public health doctor would want to avoid. In Pyeongdong-do, he meets Yuk Ha-ri, a nurse who left a mainland university hospital to work at the Pyeondongdo Health Center.

Serving as Pyeongdong-do's public health doctor, Do Ji-ui helps the villagers and discovers compassion through their stories.

Cast

Main

A former plastic surgeon at a university hospital turned into a public health doctor on Pyeondongdo. Haunted by a deep trauma involving the sea, he gradually overcomes his aversion to island life through his work treating the local residents.
A nurse who moved from a university hospital to a public health center. Beneath her gentle demeanor, she hides a secret past and starts to waver after encountering Ji-ui, who shares similar wounds.
A public health doctor who develops an unspoken rivalry with Ji-ui over Ha-ri.
A Pyeondongdo native working as a nurse in the Oriental Medicine Department.
A traditional Korean medicine doctor.

Supporting

  • Jung Ae-yeon as Choi Hyang-mi[3]
Director of the Public Health Center who has survived the harsh realities of the civil service.
A nurse with 15 years of service at Pyeondongdo Health Center.
Ha-ri's grandmother.
  • Park Jun-seo as an assistant instructor at the Army Training Center where Ji-ui is a trainee.[7]
  • Kim Seong-jeong as Ji-woong[8]

Special appearances

Ji-ui's first love and an emergency medicine specialist.
Ha-ri's ex-boyfriend who spread malicious rumors about her.

Production

Development

Development of Doctor on the Edge started as director Lee Myoungwoo, who helmed The Fiery Priest (2019), One Ordinary Day (2021) and Boyhood (2023), teamed up with KT Studio Genie to adapt Kim Tae-poong's webtoon Endurance Doctor.[10] The production of the series was set to begin in 2024.[11] In September 2025, Kim Ji-soo, writer of Missing Crown Prince (2024) and Pump Up the Healthy Love (2025), was confirmed as screenwriter, with The Studio M producing the series.[12] By early 2026, the production renamed its Korean title from (존버닥터; Jonbeo dakteo) to (닥터 섬보이; Dakteo seomboi), opting for a less vulgar title.[13]

Casting and filming

Casting commenced in March 2025 after Lee Jae-wook's agency confirmed that he had been offered the lead role as doctor Do Ji-ui.[14] Two months later, Shin Ye-eun was reportedly cast as the female lead, Yook Ha-ri, a nurse.[15] Both actors were confirmed as the series leads in September 2025, and principal photography began that month. The project marks Lee's first role as a doctor.[12][16] The same month, Hong Min-gi, Lee Soo-kyung, and Kim Yoon-woo joined the cast.[17] The Gajo Island (Gajodo) area in Sadeung-myeon, Geoje-si, South Gyeongsang Province, served primarily as the filming location for the series. The production team selected Gajo Island in Geoje for its coastal scenery and fishing village setting.[18]

Release

Doctor on the Edge was reportedly scheduled to premiere on ENA in 2026, and would also be subsequently streaming on Genie TV.[12] By April 2026, the premiere date was confirmed to be on June 1, 2026, airing every Monday and Tuesday at 22:00 (KST).[19] It is also available for streaming on Disney+ internationally.[20]

Controversy

The Studio M, the production company, issued a statement on January 9, 2026, apologizing for issues arising during drama production, thanking staff for their efforts, and acknowledging concerns about filming hours. They stated they would take responsibility and address the issue. The Studio M further stated that they had adjusted schedules and reviewed production methods, but failed to adequately consider filming intensity and staff fatigue. They committed to adhering to a 52-hour filming week going forward and pledged to discuss solutions with staff for past instances exceeding this limit. The Hanbit Media Labor Rights Center reported the previous day that staff on the series had worked more than 52 hours per week.[16]

Viewership

Doctor on the Edge : South Korea viewers per episode (thousands)
SeasonEpisode numberAverage
123456789101112
1101911621201121011591244939111710341131114813701145
Source: Audience measurement performed nationwide by Nielsen Korea.[21]
Average TV viewership ratings
Ep. Original broadcast date Average audience share
(Nielsen Korea)[21]
Nationwide Seoul
1 June 1, 2026 4.045% (2nd) 3.600% (2nd)
2 June 2, 2026 4.995% (2nd) 5.107% (2nd)
3 June 8, 2026 5.127% (2nd) 4.698% (2nd)
4 June 9, 2026 5.180% (2nd) 4.974% (2nd)
5 June 15, 2026 4.993% (2nd) 5.461% (2nd)
6 June 16, 2026 5.076% (2nd) 4.540% (2nd)
7 June 22, 2026 3.997% (2nd) 3.757% (2nd)
8 June 23, 2026 4.823% (1st) 3.992% (2nd)
9 June 29, 2026 4.468% (2nd) 3.894% (2nd)
10 June 30, 2026 4.780% (1st) 4.618% (2nd)
11 July 6, 2026 4.870% (1st) 4.782% (2nd)
12 July 7, 2026 5.932% (1st) 5.305% (1st)
Average 4.857% 4.561%
  • In the table above, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.
  • This drama aired on a cable channel/pay TV which normally has a relatively smaller audience compared to free-to-air TV/public broadcasters (KBS, SBS, MBC, and EBS).

References

  1. ↑ 닥터 섬보이 [Doctor on the Edge]. studiogenie. May 23, 2026. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 닥터 섬보이 [Doctor on the Edge]. KT ENA (in Korean). Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  3. ↑ Ha, Soo-jung (February 19, 2026). 정애연, 연극 '슈만' 주연으로 관객 만난다...차기작 드라마 ‘닥터 섬보이’도 기대 [Jung Ae-yeon meets audiences as the lead in the play Schumann... Expectations are also high for her next drama, Doctor on the Edge]. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  4. ↑ Jang, Jin-ri (February 24, 2026). [단독]이윤미, 4년 만에 '본업' 컴백...이재욱·신예은과 '닥터 섬보이' [[Exclusive] Lee Yoon-mi Returns to 'Main Profession' After 4 Years... in Doctor on the Edge with Lee Jae-wook and Shin Ye-eun]. SPOTV (in Korean). Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  5. ↑ Son, Bong-seok (March 10, 2026). 주인영, '닥터 섬보이' 15년차 간호사 황신혜 역 낙점 [Joo In-young Cast as Hwang Shin-hye, a 15-Year Veteran Nurse in Doctor on the Edge]. SPOTV (in Korean). Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  6. ↑ Son, Bong-seok (June 1, 2026). 길해연, '닥터 섬보이' 신예은 할머니 오미자 역 출연 [Gil Hae-yeon to appear as Shin Ye-eun's grandmother, Oh Mi-ja, in Doctor on the Edge]. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  7. ↑ Lee, Joo-in (June 1, 2026). 신예 박준서, '닥터 섬보이' 캐스팅...이재욱 곁 눈도장 예고 [Rookie Park Jun-seo Cast in Doctor on the Edge... Teased to Make an Impression Beside Lee Jae-wook]. Ilgan Sports (in Korean). Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  8. ↑ Kim, Chae-yeon (June 1, 2026). 김성정, 이재욱·신예은 만난다..'닥터섬보이' 합류 [공식] [Kim Seong-jeong to meet Lee Jae-wook and Shin Ye-eun.. Joins Doctor on the Edge [Official]]. OSEN (in Korean). Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  9. ↑ Kim, Hye-young (June 2, 2026). 이설, 이재욱 첫사랑으로 등장...'닥터 섬보이' 특별 출연 [Lee Seol appears as Lee Jae-wook's first love... Special appearance in Doctor on the Edge]. iMBC (in Korean). Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  10. ↑ Lee, Min-ji (September 19, 2023). ‘열혈사제’ 이명우 감독 신작 ‘소년시대’ 임시완X이선빈 출연 [Director Lee Myung-woo of 'The Fiery Priest's' new film 'Better Days' stars Im Si-wan and Lee Sun-bin]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved May 1, 2026.
  11. ↑ Choi, Yeon-do (October 29, 2024). 웹툰 밥보다남친, 존버닥터 드라마화된다 [Webtoons Boyfriend Over Food and Doctor on the Edge to be adapted into dramas]. Edaily (in Korean). Retrieved May 1, 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 Ha, Soo-jung (September 18, 2025). 이재욱, 입대 전 마지막 작품은 '존버닥터'..신예은과 호흡 [공식] [Lee Jae-wook's final project before enlistment is Doctor on the Edge..working with Shin Ye-eun]. Osen (in Korean). Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  13. ↑ Ha, Ji-won (February 6, 2026). 로코 제목이 너무 셌나? 이재욱 신예은 ‘존버닥터’→‘닥터 섬보이’ 됐다 [공식입장] [Was the rom-com title too bold? Lee Jae-wook and Shin Ye-eun go from 'Jonbeo Doctor' to 'Doctor Seomboi' [Official Statement]]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  14. ↑ Park, A-reum (March 21, 2025). 이재욱 '존버닥터' 되나 "제안받은 작품 중 하나"[공식] [Lee Jae-wook to Become Doctor on the Edge: "It's One of the Projects I've Been Offered"]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  15. ↑ Ha, Soo-jung (May 5, 2025). [단독] '정년이' 신예은, 이재욱 만난다...'존버닥터' 여주인공 [[Exclusive] Shin Ye-eun of Jeongnyeon to meet Lee Jae-wook as the female lead in Doctor on the Edge]. Osen (in Korean). Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  16. 1 2 Choi, Ji-yoon (January 9, 2026). '존버닥터', 주 65시간 노동 사과 "책임있게 해결" [Doctor on the Edge apologizes for the 65-hour workweek, saying, "We will resolve it responsibly."]. Newsis (in Korean). Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  17. ↑
  18. ↑ Shin, Jeong-cheol (May 28, 2026). 가조도 일대 풍광 담은 드라마 '닥터 섬보이' 6월 1일 첫 방영 [Drama Doctor on the Edge, featuring the scenery of the Gajodo area, premieres on June 1]. Newsis (in Korean). Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  19. ↑ Jang, Jin-ri (April 28, 2026). 이재욱·신예은의 의학 로맨스...'닥터 섬보이' 6월 1일 첫선 [Lee Jae-wook and Shin Ye-eun's medical romance... Doctor on the Edge premieres June 1]. Yonhap News (in Korean). Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Disney Plus Sets New Premiere Date for Lee Jae Wook and Shin Ye Eun's 'Doctor on the Edge'". Zapzee. May 6, 2026. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  21. 1 2 Nielsen Korea ratings:
    • "Ep. 1". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). June 1, 2026. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
    • "Ep. 2". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). June 2, 2026. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
    • "Ep. 3". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). June 8, 2026. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
    • "Ep. 4". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). June 9, 2026. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
    • "Ep. 5". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). June 15, 2026. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
    • "Ep. 6". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). June 16, 2026. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
    • "Ep. 7". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). June 22, 2026. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
    • "Ep. 8". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). June 23, 2026. Retrieved June 24, 2026.
    • "Ep. 9". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). June 29, 2026. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
    • "Ep. 10". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). June 30, 2026. Retrieved July 1, 2026.
    • "Ep. 11". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). July 6, 2026. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
    • "Ep. 12". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). July 7, 2026. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
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