Title: 명불허전 | Myeongbulheojeon | Live Up to Your Name Deserving of the Name
Genre: Medical | Fantasy | Period | Historical | Romance | Comedy
Episodes: 16
Broadcast Network: tvN
Broadcast Period: August 12, 2017 to October 1, 2017
Synopsis:
Heo Im is known as a very talented doctor practicing acupuncture in the Joseon Era. Because he came from a lowly background, no matter how talented he was, he was never publicly recognized as a good doctor by those in power. So, he treats the poor in the morning and clandestinely treats the rich and powerful in the evening to amass wealth. He thought having richness will be the answer to feel pride of what he does and be recognized until destiny showed him the answer otherwise. He got transported to the present period and met Dr. Choi Yun Kyung, who is a talented but emotionally detached surgeon at Shinhae Hospital. She is wrestling her own demons as well of a tragic childhood memory she has lost. By twist of fate, they met and both were able to share their different time periods to make them realized what it takes to be deserving of the name and be called a doctor.
Characters:
- Kim Nam Gil as Heo Im | Heo Bong Tak
- Kim Ah Joong as Choi Yun Kyung
- Moon Woo Jin as Young Heo Im
- Shin Rin Ah as Yun Yi
- Moon Ga Young as Gong Mak Gae
- Kim Byung Choon as Kwon Ji
- Oh Dae Hwan as Doo Chil
- Jin Sun Kyu as Yun Yi’s Father
- Takeda Hiromitsu as Sayaga | Kim Choong Sun
- Choi Jae Sup as Ddak Sae
- Ahn Suk Hwan as Minister of War | Shin Myung Hoon
- Jo Seung Yun as King Sun Jo
- Maeng Sang Hoon as Yoo Chan Sung
- Yoo Min Kyu as Yoo Jin Oh
- Jang Woo Hyuk as Choong Ho
- Uhm Hyo Sup as Heo Jun
- Byun Woo Suk as Black Man
- Cha Soon Hyung as Suzuki
- Park Min Soo as Kang
- Uhm Chae Young as Young Yun Kyung
- Ryu Han Bi as Teenager Yun Kyung
- Noh Jung Ui as Oh Ha Ra
- Lee Dae Yeon as Professor Hwang
- Lee Jae Won as Kang Man Soo
- Sung Joo as Kim Min Jae
- Seo Jung Yeon as Jung Yi Yun
- Oh Jung Sook as Soo Ho
- Lee Bo Yun as Nurse Kim
- Yoon Joo Sang as Choi Chun Sool
- Tae Hang Ho as Min Byung Ki
- Min Ji Ah as Jun Jae Sook
- Yoo Min Kyu as Yoo Jae Ha
- Choi Seung Hoon as Young Jae Ha
- Kim Myung Gon as Ma Sung Tae
- ?? as Goo Ji Woong
- Lee Jae Kyoon as Jin Young Hoon
- Kim Jung Hwan as Sung Tae’s Secretary
- Maeng Sang Hoon as Homeless
My Review:
So, What do I Like About this K-Drama?
This k-drama is one of those that reminds me why I am addicted to k-dramas in the first place. It has nothing to do who the actors and actresses are but it’s the blend of both the heartwarming and heartbreaking story that delivers a hopeful message in the end. “Deserving of the Name” is indeed deserving of its title.
(1) I am familiar with the lead actor and actress but they are not from those with big names that the international community knows by name. However, after watching Kim Nam Gil as Heo Im and Kim Ah Joong as Choi Yun Kyung in this, they do deserve their names to be known even outside South Korea. They have delivered excellent portrayal of their characters. The subtle emotions and nuances of breathing life to their characters have brought me to laugh and cry. Like their characters, they did their profession in accordance as to really why they got into the entertainment business anyway. They performed with sincerity in order to bring happiness to the audience who are watching it to be entertained and provide solace to those who are tired and weary after their day.
(2) I enjoy the supporting characters and they all enhance the level of quality this k-drama brought to those who are watching. This is what I love to see on supporting actors and side stories. And, like the leads, they deserve praise for a job well done.
(3) The actors and actresses can only do so much with their talent but I believe what makes a drama or movie a perfect one is when the director is able to successfully put on film what was superbly written on paper by the writer. It is when the director and writer work hand in hand that the end product deserves recognition from the audience. On this k-drama, both deserves their names to be recognized, Hong Jong-Chan, the director and Kim Eun-Hee, the writer.
(4) It is always dangerous when the story has an element of fantasy especially time travel because it brings out a lot of questions and sometimes can go haywire in making something illogical logical. The time travel element was incorporated with such brilliance in its explanation and importance to the story. Another thing, that is wonderful on this k-drama is that it touches the significance of both what’s known and unknown in the world of science and medicine. There was scene that both Heo Im and Choi Yun Kyung worked together and operated on a child, combining both their talents on western and eastern medicine with one main goal, to save a life. It was fascinating to watch. This k-drama has not only been successful in making its audience appreciate the fact that modern and oriental medicine should not be in adversity with each other but it also showed that the preference didn’t really matter for a doctor to heal our body. What matters are the willingness of the patient to live and the pure intent of the doctor to heal. This is how doctors should live up to the name of their profession like in any other profession. We need to go back as to really why we wanted be in that profession in the first place.
(5) This k-drama has so many memorable and defining moments like the scene of Heo Im begging and sacrificing who he was as a human being so a life of another can be spared and when a dear patient of Choi Yun Kyung died on the operating table. I won’t provide details because I want you to enjoy the impact of those scenes, besides, you’ll know what I am talking about once you’ve seen them. Those scenes were totally heartbreaking because they were delivered in such depth and excellence that all those involved in it to make them truly live up to their names as being superb professionals in the entertainment industry.
(6) This k-drama had affected me in so many levels both personal and professional. However, since I am not reviewing my own life, all I can say is that this k-drama should be watched by those in health services especially doctors because sometimes we lose the sight of what’s truly noble in our profession. And, though, it is indeed true that we lose patients more than we can save, it’s our intent when we practice our profession that will make us deserving to be called in our title.
What I do Not Like About this K-Drama?
There’s nothing I would change on this k-drama. It was excellent from start to finish.
Would I recommend this K-Drama? YES, 110%. A K-Drama who truly live up to its name.
My Rating to this Drama
( See My Rating System: ) 5/5 Stars
OST:
01. Always – Hyolyn
Play Me:
02. Not Gonna Wait – Park Jae Jung
Play Me:
03. Here I Am – Min Kyung Hoon
04. Beauty Queen – The Barberettes
05. Dream Or Reality – Car, The Garden (카더가든)
06. Hyeminseo – Various Artists
07. Mister Heo – Various Artists
08. Returned Hero – Various Artists
09. Live Up to Heo Im – Various Artists
10. Master – Various Artists
11. Destiny of Time – Various Artists
12. Romantic Guy – Various Artists
13. Busy Now – Various Artists
14. I Must Live – Various Artists
15. Trauma – Various Artists
16. Secret of Healing Art – Various Artists
17. What is This – Various Artists
18. New World March – Various Artists
19. Life and Death – Various Artists
20. Destiny – Various Artists
21. Forgotten Memory – Various Artists
22. Troubleshooter – Various Artists
23. Deserving of the Name Title – Various Artists
For Lyrics in English, Romanization and Hangul, CLICK HERE