Doctor John Ending Explained: Do Cha Yu-han and Kang Shi-young end up together?

Summary:

• Doctor John concludes with a happy ending where Cha Yu-han returns to Korea and reunites with Kang Shi-young. The couple confess their love and promise to remain together.
• The series ends with the declaration that life is a miracle that happens only once. It hints at Cha Yu-han’s condition and how it’s incurable.

Doctor John deals with a unique subject, much of which has to do with the idea of pain management, euthanasia and its ethical implications. Therefore, expecting a conventional happy ending from the series is hard.

But Doctor John takes us by surprise, as it gives viewers a bittersweet feeling that lingers on even after one finishes the show.

The medical drama follows two anesthesiologists, Dr Cha Yu-han and Kang Shi-young, who deal with patients suffering from excruciating pain and rare uncurable diseases. The series deals with the ethical debate concerning euthanasia (assisted suicide) and pain management.

Yu-han and Shi-young begin working together as colleagues but eventually fall in love with each other over the course of the show. However, things don’t go smoothly for them as Dr Cha suffers from a rare genetic condition called CIPA that makes him immune to pain.

In other words, Dr Cha is unable to experience pain, which questions his very identity as a doctor and his ability to understand his patients’ situations. Dr Cha also gets into legal trouble for being a part of assisted suicide cases, which further complicates things.

Doctor John has a happy ending, as it ends with Cha Yu-han and Kang Shi-young reuniting and confessing their love for each other. However, the series hints that Yu-han’s disease is incurable and he might die soon.

Doctor John Episodes 31 and 32 Ending Explained

The Doctor John finale aired in two parts in episodes 31 and 32. Episode 31 begins with the death of a patient called Lee Gi-suk, who suffered from CIPA like Dr Cha. Although Dr Cha tries his best to save him, he fails to do so.

Meanwhile, Dr Cha’s mentor and former chief of anesthesiology, Son Suk-gi, is arrested for his involvement in assisted suicide cases as it is against the law. Although he tries his best to save the other doctors, the police become determined to arrest Dr Cha as they have proof of his involvement in cases of euthanasia.

Amidst all the mess, Dr Cha applies to a research organization in Cleveland to further study pain management and CIPA. When he’s about to leave, Shi-young confesses her love for him, and Dr Cha reciprocates.

But their reunion is short-lived, as the police arrest Dr Cha at the airport. He is taken to the station for questioning, where he explains his point of view.

Dr Cha says that he only acted in the best interests of his patients and with their approval. He believes that the law is outdated and doctors should be able to decide the right course of treatment for their patients.

In episode 32, Dr Cha goes through trial for his involvement and is finally acquitted of all charges after his lawyer plays a recording of him explaining his ethos and philosophy.

Later, Dr Cha gets a call from the research center in Cleveland with the news that he has been accepted. He informs Shi-young that he will be leaving soon. Although Shi-young agrees, she is heartbroken. The couple promise to keep in touch and wait for each other.

The two spend their last night together, after which Yu-han leaves Korea. At this point, there’s a time jump of two years. We see that Shi-young is now a successful doctor and still works at the pain management center. She misses Dr Cha dearly and keeps in touch with him.

The Doctor John finale ends with Shi-young and Dr Cha rekindling their romance after Dr Cha returns to Korea. The couple promise to be together and not leave each other again.

What does the final scene of Doctor John mean?

The final scene of Doctor John features Cha Yu-han’s voiceover, saying how life is a miracle that happens only once. It reminds us that Yu-han could die soon due to his condition and is, hence, living his life to the fullest for as long as possible.

The scene reminds us that Cha Yu-han’s rare genetic condition, CIPA, is not easily curable. In real life, CIPA patients can die really young. Therefore, although the series ends on a happy note, there’s a bittersweet feeling to it as it reminds us how precious human life is.

The final scene goes well with the theme of the series. It reminds us that life is precious, and we never know when it ends. It is a blessing, and we must try to live every moment of it.

About Doctor John

Doctor John is a Korean medical drama series that aired on SBS in 2019. It is based on the Japanese novel On Hand of God by Yo Kusakabe and stars Ji Sung, Lee Se Young, Lee Kyu Hyung, and Hwang Hee.

The series follows the lives and work of doctors who specialize in pain management and euthanasia. It also explores the ethical and emotional issues related to death and dying with dignity.

The series received positive reviews for its realistic and sensitive portrayal of the medical field and the human condition.