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| TThe medical drama has been receiving tremendous reviews. Backed by a
strong cast, the high voltage drama is making its mark in prime time. Characters
include the skilled Dr. Choi Gang-Guk, a doctor putting the well-being of
patients above all else; Eun-Seong, a passionate and talented doctor from a
third-class hospital; and Hye-Seok, an amazingly intelligent female doctor who
is a cold-hearted realist. The drama follows the diverse character personalities
as they undergo the daily chaotic routines at Kwanghee University Hospital. The
drama’s main strength is that all episodes are not linked – each story stands on
its own, which makes for a fast-pace drama. Furthermore, New Heart brings in
patients with different ailments and different stories every day, keeping the
drama constantly interesting and fresh. The medical drama also unfolds a love
triangle between top-star Lee Dong-Gwon, Eun-Seong, and Hye-Seok. | |
| Drama Information |
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Network: MBC |
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Airing Date: December 12, 2007~ Every Wednesday, Thursday at 9:55pm |
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Directors: Park Hong-Gyun, Lee Min-Woo |
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Cast: Ji-Seong, Jo Jae-Hyeon, Kim Min-Jeong |
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Homepage: http://www.imbc.com/broad/tv/drama/newheart/
(Korean) | | |
| Drama Synopsis |
|
 Lee Eun-Seong, a doctor from a third-class hospital, coincidentally joins the
Heart Surgery Department of the Kwanghee University Medical Center as a
resident, after being fascinated by the skills of Dr. Choi Gang-Guk. Nam
Hye-Seok, an intelligent medical college graduate with great potential is
declined from the Heart Surgery Department due to the fact that she is a female.
Eventually, Eun-Seong and Hye-Seok are both admitted into the Kwanghee
University Heart Surgery Department after a series of demonstrations, beginning
their busy lives in daily battles with patients carrying various ailments. The
drama goes through 20 episodes as the characters wrestle to save the lives of
their patients and struggle with their own love dramas as well. | |
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| Character Introductions |
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Lee Eun-Seong played by
Ji-Seong
Lee Eun-Seong is a doctor from a so-called third-class hospital
in the countryside, who decides to apply for Kwanghee University’s Heart Surgery
Department. Though he has a rough time being scolded by Dr. Choi Gang-Guk, he
begins to receive recognition as he shows his innate talents with a passion for
saving patients. In order to further his left-hand techniques, he practices
using his left hand by making teddy bears. Though he had a hard childhood
growing up in an orphanage, he always carries a bright and cheerful personality,
popular among the patients as he shows a great passion and love for his
patients.
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Nam Hye-Seok played by Kim
Min-Jeong
Not only does Nam Hye-Seok enter Kwanghee University’s Medical
College at the top of her class, but she also graduates at the top of her class,
and then applies for the least popular Heart Surgery Department. She shows her
strong character as she organizes a demonstration when she is declined by the
Heart Surgery Department by Dr. Choi Gang-Guk due to the fact of her being a
female. Hye-Seok is a character who confronts her patients textbook-style, using
reason and logic instead of treating her patients with heart. Though she
constantly bumps head with the passionate and heartfelt Eun-Seong, she
eventually finds herself being charmed by him and slowly opens up to her
patients as well. Hye-Seok is the only daughter of a well-known Hanbok designer
named Park Jun-Hee, and the truth of her father remains a mystery.
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Choi Gang-Guk played by Jo
Jae-Hyeon
Choi Gang-Guk is Korea’s most elite doctor in the Heart Surgery
Department. Though he portrays a strong self-pride, he reveals a deep heart for
his patients. He not only shows a strong determination to his beliefs, but is
extremely stubborn when dealing with his patients, which in turn results in
constant disputes with his colleagues. Dr. Choi Gang-Guk even gives discounts
for patients who don’t have enough money for their hospital bills, or even tells
them to just run away. Even though his passion for his hospital work creates a
problem with his wife, he still puts in all heart for his patients. |
 Lee Dong-Gwon played by Lee
Ji-Hoon
Lee Dong-Gwon is Korea’s top star actor and also Hye-Seok’s
elementary school friend. He coincidentally reunites with Hye-Seok, when he
suddenly faints while filming at Kwanghee University Hospital. Dong-Gwon is
extremely excited when he meets Hye-Seok as he takes an interest in her, and
makes an excuse to stay at the hospital longer. He continuously sends her gifts,
and reveals his true feelings for Hye-Seok, but all to no effect. Though his
efforts seem to be in vain, he remains consistent with his feelings and
eventually starts a scandal in the news. Although he seems to be a stubborn
personality, he is not one to play around with love. | |
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| Filming Locations |
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Chung-Ang University Medical Center |
| The drama’s main setting of Gwanghee University Medical Center is all filmed at
the Chung-Ang University Medical Center. However, the Chung-Ang University
Medical Center is only used for filming of its exterior, while filming that
takes place inside of the hospital is located in a large film set located at
Gonjiam. Aside from the medical center’s outside exterior filming, the Chung-Ang
University Medical Center is also used for filming in the lobby area, stairways,
hallways, and various indoor facilities.
The Chung-Ang University Medical
Center is a general hospital that stands tall from the basement 3rd floor to 15
floors above ground, with a total of 562 patient rooms. The basement 1st floor
consists of a bank, a convenience store, coffee shop, restaurant, and other
various convenience facilities along with concerts performed on the 1st floor
lobby.
Homepage: http://ch.caumc.or.kr/ (Korean)
Address: Seoul Dongjak-gu Heukseok-dong 224-1
Telephone: +82-2-6299-1114
Tourist Information Telephone: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
Directions:
Subway line 7 Sangdo Station-> take a taxi from the exit #5 bus stop (5min) |
In episode 1, Dr. Choi Gang-Guk is demoted to the Kwanghee Medical Center
located in the countryside, when he quickly goes up to the medical center in
Seoul for an emergency surgery. The scene shot while he drives back to Seoul
boasts the beautiful scenery of Tongyeong with the Tongyeong Bridge and Chungmu
Bridge to the rear. Also, the Haesong Hospital, the place of Eun-Seong’s
internship, is actually not a real hospital, but the Tongyeong Citizen’s Center
located at the Nammangsan Sculpture Park. The location is more widely known as
the Nammangsan Sculpture Park rather than as the Tongyeong Citizen’s Center, so
it is easier to look for the sculpture park.
Directions: Subway line 3 or 7 Central Station-> take a bus to Tongyeong from the Gangnam Express Bus Terminal (7:10am, 8:20am, 9:40am, 10:50am, 12:20pm, 1:40pm, 2:40pm, 3:40pm, 4:40pm, 5:40pm, 6:40pm, 11:00pm, 11:50pm, 12:30am, 14 buses daily, 4hrs
10min travel time, general fee 18,700 won, first-class 27,800 won, late-night bus 30,600 won)
Tourist Information Telephone: +82-55-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) |
 Due to evacuated casualties, Hye-Seok goes down to Yeosu, then is in a hurry to
find an airport to return to Seoul for a conference. However, when she is about
to purchase a plane ticket, she finds that she didn’t bring her wallet with her.
Eun-Seong then shows up in front of Hye-Seok, bringing with him, her wallet and
cell phone. The filming location for the Yeosu gateway was the Yeosu Airport.
Before the flight, Hye-Seok and Eun-Seong spends time together at the Hamel
Lighthouse eating cup ramen. When Eun-Seong carefully bandages the blisters on
Hye-Seok’s hands, she finds her heart beating faster and faster. The filming
location of this scene was shot at the Hamel Lighthouse in front of the Yeosu
Jonghwa-dong Haeyang Park. The uniquely red lighthouse of Yeosu is a date course
sought out by many couples. Yeosu is the location of Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea, a
city boasting clean, natural scenery. Yeosu is perfect for tourists to enjoy as
the ocean waters are clean and nearby area is quiet.
Directions: Tour Yeosu Airport ①, Tour Hamel Lighthouse ① + ②
① From Gimpo Airport take a domestic flight to Yeosu (7:20am, 7:30am, 10:10am, 10:30am, 12:50pm, 2:05pm, 5:40pm, 6:50pm, 8 flights daily, 55min flight, starting at 66,900 won → get off at Yeosu Airport →
② Take a bus to the Siwoe Bus Terminal from the Airport Bus Terminal → take a bus to Jinnamgwan from the bus stop next to the Siwoe Bus Terminal → get off at the Jinnamgwan bus stop and take a taxi
Tourist Information Telephone: +82-61-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) |
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Yosuseongsim General Hospital |
| Hye-Seok is forced to follow a maternity patient who falls brain dead after
refusing to listen to doctors. The place Hye-Seok escorts the patient to in the
ambulance is actually the Yosuseongsim General Hospital. The Yosuseongsim
General Hospital is situated in the green lands of Yeosu, as the general
hospital representing the region.
Address:
Jeollanam-do Yeosu-si Dundeok-dong 471-77
Telephone: +82-61-650-8000
Tourist Information Telephone: +82-61-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) |
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The Renaissance Seoul Hotel |
| In episode 10, Hye-Seok gets splattered with the blood of an AIDS patient and
becomes ill as she begins taking medicine. After discovering that she may have
been infected with AIDS, she takes a break from the hospital and Eun-Seong
escorts her to a hotel. The Renaissance Seoul Hotel of Seoul Yeoksam-dong is the
location where Eun-Seong’s fascination with the hotel gets him overly excited,
and where Hye-Seok shows a big smile as they eat strawberries and drink
champagne together. This cozy hotel is enjoyed by many tourists looking for a
place situated in the middle of Gangnam, Seoul, standing 23 floors above ground
and 2 floors underground. There is also a limousine bus directly in route from
Incheon International Airport as well.
Address:
Seoul-si Gangnam-gu Yeoksam-dong 676-beonji.
Telephone:
+82-2-555-0501
Homepage: http://www.renaissance-seoul.com/ (Korean, English)
Directions: Subway line 2 Yeoksam Station exit #8 → walk 10min straight and the hotel is located on the corner of the intersection |
In episode 11, Hye-Seok confesses her love for Eun-Seong, but Eun-Seong rejects
her. Hye-Seok, hurt from the rejection, decides to watch a movie by herself. The
theater she visits is Seoul Cinema, situated in Jongno. Seoul Cinema holds 12
theaters, also with a snack corner and a game facility as well. Not only does
the theater provide various domestic and international movies, but is also
closely connected to Insa-dong, Jongno, Cheonggyecheon, and other various
tourist areas.
Address:
Seoul-si Jongno-gu Gwansu-dong 59-7
Tourist Information Telephone: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
Directions: Subway line 1 or 3 Jongno 3-ga Station exit #14 → walk 100m straight | | |
| * Photographs from iMBC and Cine 21 | |
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