''Behind the White Tower'' () is a 2007 South Korean television series that aired on MBC from January 6 to March 11, 2007 on Saturdays and Sundays at 21:40 for 20 episodes. Based on renowned Japanese novelist

Toyoko Yamasaki was a Japanese novelist. A native of Osaka, Yamasaki worked as a journalist for the Mainichi Shimbun from 1945 to 1959 after graduating from Kyoto Women's University in Japanese literature. She published her first story, ''Noren'' (1957), a st ...

's representative work ''

Shiroi Kyotō is a 1965 novel by Toyoko Yamasaki. It has been adapted into a film in 1966 and then five times as a television series in 1967, 1978, 1990, 2003, and 2019. The 1966 film was entered into the 5th Moscow International Film Festival where it won a ...

'', the

drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been ...

brings viewers deep into the political inner workings of the medical field by taking a satirical look at

malpractice In the law of torts, malpractice, also known as professional negligence, is an "instance of negligence or incompetence on the part of a professional".Malpractice definition, Professionals who may become the subject of malpractice actions inc ...

and power plays at a university hospital, and contrasting the paths and personalities of two doctors played by

Kim Myung-min Kim Myung-min (, born October 8, 1972) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his leading roles in the television series '' Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-shin'' (2004), '' White Tower'' (2007), ''Beethoven Virus'' (2008), ''Six Flying Dragons'' ...

and

Lee Sun-kyun Lee Sun-kyun (born March 2, 1975) is a South Korean actor. After beginning his career in musical theatre, for many years Lee was relegated to minor and supporting roles onscreen, only getting to play lead characters in one-act dramas on KBS '' ...

. The

medical drama A medical drama is a television show or film in which events center upon a hospital, an ambulance staff, or any medical environment. Most recent medical drama (film and television), dramatic programming go beyond the events pertaining to the chara ...

was a critical and ratings hit in South Korea, gaining praise for its acting (particularly by Kim), writing, direction, and its intelligent and uncompromising story without concessions to melodrama or romance.

Plot

Brilliant and ambitious, assistant professor Jang Joon-hyuk (

) is a rising star in the Myeongin University Hospital

surgery Surgery ''cheirourgikē'' (composed of χείρ, "hand", and ἔργον, "work"), via la, chirurgiae, meaning "hand work". is a medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a person to investigate or treat a pat ...

department. His knowledge and expertise is undeniable, but his cavalier confidence and cold personality has earned him more than a few enemies, including the department head. While Jang's drive stems from a desire for success and advancement, fellow doctor Choi Do-young (

) is committed to the well-being of his patients, leading to frequent clashes with the practices and personnel within the hospital. With the head of the surgery department retiring, Jang seems to be the clear successor until a new rival emerges in the form of Noh Min-guk (

Cha In-pyo Cha In-pyo (; born October 14, 1967) is a South Korean actor and director. Early life Cha graduated from Rutgers University in the U.S. with a degree in economics. His father ran a shipping company and had intended for Cha to take over the f ...

), who has the backing of the department head. Jang, however, is determined to win at all costs.

Cast

as Jang Joon-hyuk *

as Choi Do-young *

as Noh Min-guk *

Song Seon-mi A song is a musical composition intended to be performed by the human voice. This is often done at distinct and fixed pitches (melodies) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs contain various forms, such as those including the repetitio ...

as Lee Yoon-jin *

Kim Bo-kyung Kim Bo-kyung (; or ; born 6 October 1989) is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Korean club Suwon Samsung Bluewings. Club career Cerezo Osaka In 2010, Kim dropped out of Hongik University and signed a thr ...

as Kang Hee-jae *

Lee Jung-gil Lee Jung-gil (born October 1, 1944) is a South Korean actor. After making his acting debut in 1967 in the stage play ''Sakhalinsk's The Sky and the Earth'', Lee has had a prolific career in Korean television and film. Filmography Television ser ...

as Lee Joo-wan *

Kim Chang-wan Kim Chang Wan (born February 22, 1954) is a South Korean singer, composer, musician, actor, host, radio DJ and writer. Career Sanulrim Kim Chang-wan, along with his younger brothers Kim Chang-hoon and Kim Chang-ik, began composing music d ...

as Woo Yong-gil *

Byun Hee-bong Byun Hee-bong (born Byun In-chul; June 8, 1942) is a South Korean actor. Career Byun In-chul was born in Jangseong County, South Jeolla Province, and attended Salesian High School in Gwangju. He took up law at Chosun University before droppin ...

as Oh Kyung-hwan *Im Sung-eun as Min Soo-jung *Jung Han-yong as Min Choong-shik *

Ki Tae-young Ki Tae-young (born Kim Yong-woo on December 9, 1978) is a South Korean actor. Ki made his acting debut in 1997, and went on to play leading roles in the television dramas ''Creating Destiny ''Creating Destiny'' (; lit: ''Creating Relations'') ...

as Yeom Dong-il *Lee Seung-min as Ha Eun-hye *Lee Hee-do as Yoo Pil-sang *

Han Sang-jin Han Sang-jin (born January 17, 1978) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for starring in television dramas such as ''Behind the White Tower'' (2007), '' Yi San'' (2007), '' My Too Perfect Sons'' (2009), ''Marry Me, Please'' (2010), and ' ...

as Park Geon-ha *Kim Yong-min as Ham Min-seung *Park Kwang-jung as Park Chang-shik *Jung Young-ook as Joon-hyuk's mother *

Jang So-yeon Jang So-yeon (Korean:장소연; born Seo Eun-jung on 28 January 1980) is a South Korean actress. She is alumni of Sookmyung Women's University, Department of English and Chinese. She made her acting debut in 2001, since then, she has appeared i ...

as Yoo Mi-ra *Lee Moo-saeng as Kwon Hyung-jin *Nam Yoon-jung as Kim Young-ah *

Yang Hee-kyung Yang Hee-kyung (born December 3, 1954) is a South Korean actress An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such ...

as Hong Sung-hee *

Son Byong-ho Son Byong-ho (born August 25, 1962) is a South Korean actor. Son is known for his role in action films, notably, ''R-Point'' (2004), '' Running Wild'' (2006), ''The Good, the Bad, the Weird'' (2008) and ''Insu, The Queen Mother ''Insu, the Qu ...

as Kim Hoon *

Park Hyuk-kwon Park Hyuk-kwon (born July 11, 1971) is a South Korean actor. Park began his acting career in 1993 as a member of the theater troupe Sanulrim. He later became a well-regarded supporting actor in films such as '' Chaw'' (2009) and ''Secret Reunion ...

as Hong Sang-il *Kim Do-yeon as Lee Young-soon *

Jang Hyun-sung Jang Hyun-sung (born July 17, 1970) is a South Korean actor. He started his acting career as a member of the ''Hakjeon'' Theatre Company, before transitioning to film and television. Jang is best known for starring in director Song Il-gon's art ...

as Jo Myung-joon *Park Young-ji as Oh Nam-ki *Jung Kyung-ho as Kwon Soon-ki *Kim Jung-hak as Lee Jae-myung *Lee Ji-eun as Lee Jin-joo *Shin Kwi-shik as Won Yong-min *Choi Beom-ho as Kwon Soon-il

Awards and nominations

References

External links

*
''Behind the White Tower''
at MBC Global Media * {{Works by Kim Jong-hak Production Korean-language television shows 2007 South Korean television series debuts 2007 South Korean television series endings MBC TV television dramas South Korean medical television series Television shows based on Japanese novels Television series by Kim Jong-hak Production