If you are unfamiliar with Korean culture and traditions, you'll likely enjoy Korean dramas for their educational value. You learn the history, the folklore, and a lot about medicinal herbs and non-Western medical practices. Whether it's a retelling of actual historical events and people, or a creation of fictional stories, Korean Dramas often weave herbal traditions into their narratives with rich symbolism and historical depth, especially in sageuk (historical period dramas).
The K-dramas listed below introduce you to:
Traditional Korean medicine (Hanbang or Hanyak ~ NOTE 1) is introduced through characters like royal physicians or village herbalists.
You'll often note medical practitioners using pulse readings to diagnose patients and prescribe decoctions based on Sasang typology (NOTE 2).
Royal clinics (Hyeminseo) might be featured - a public medical place that offered free or low-cost treatment to the poor, and managed the distribution of herbal medicines (NOTE 3).
There may be references to real-life texts like Donguibogam (a UNESCO-recognized medical encyclopedia) add authenticity (NOTE 4).
♦ (1) Jewel in the Palace (aka Dae Jang Geum) (2003)
♦ (2) TV Novel: Samsaengi (2013)
♦ (3) Live Up to Your Name (2017)
♦ (4) Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist (2022 ‧ 2023)
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