Presentation
Korean Title: 영혼수선공
Aired in: 2020 (16 episodes)
Channel: KBS2
Grade: 8.5/10
Actors: Shin Ha Kyun and Jung So Min
For more…
Jung So Min:
– Playful Kiss
– Because this is my First Life
– My Father is Strange
– The Smile has left your Eyes
Shin Ha Kyun:
– Beyond Evil
– Less than Evil
– All about my Romance
– Pied Piper
Dramas about mental health issues:
– Clean with Passion for Now
– The Light in your Eyes
– It’s Okay, that’s Love
– Good Doctor
Analysis
Synopsis
Han Woo Joo is a musical actress and has been diagnosed with borderline disorder. One day, she meets a psychiatrist, Lee Shi Joon, whose first patient had the same disorder and committed suicide in front of him. Since then, he has PTSD. Together, they try to heal.
My Opinion (No Spoilers)
First, I would like to emphasize the fact that this is probably one of the few dramas that tackle a large scope of mental disorders (there was It’s Okay, that’s Love before). Just for that, I give credit to the drama. It was interesting to see how psychiatrists treat patients, how you can heal someone and the evolution of the characters.
Even though some moments in the drama bored me a bit, if you are interesting in the broad topic of psychiatry, you should definitely watch it!
Analysis (Spoiler Alert)
Characters: Han Woo Joo (Jung So Min) is a musical actress diagnosed with borderline disorder (I don’t know if it is the exact term, sorry in advance!). This disorder has put her numerous times into difficult situations, since she doesn’t seem to be able to control her outbursts. Moreover, she has abandon issues. Indeed, she was put in her orphanage, when she was around 6 and her adoptive mother abandoned her at 12 years old. Because of that, Woo Joo is constantly afraid people around her might disappear, which makes it even worse when she has her uncontrollable fits of rage.
When I first discovered Woo Joo, I really thought she had a hell of a long way to go! She had a lot of unresolved issues(maybe too many) and couldn’t cope with them. Of course, being the main character, the most interesting part of the drama, was to see her evolution and emotional development. Thanks to her therapy, she learned how to first control herself, appease her anger and how to let go of some things. The healing process was long and full of bumps but I found it really heart-warming to see how much effort she put into the process.
Moreover, she was able to fight her borderline personality because she treated her past wounds, especially regarding her biological mother, which accelerated her healing process.
However, she might not have made it on her own, had she not be supported by her doctor and boyfriend Lee Shi Joon (Shin Ha Kyun). Shi Joon is a very bright and patient psychiatrist. He believes in a treatment that relies on therapy and getting to the root of the problem instead of covering the symptoms with pills. He is really devoted to his patients, sometimes even reckless, but never gives up on them. The fact that he has had a borderline patient before made him quite reluctant to take Woo Joo’s case, but he accepted in the end.
The interesting lesson here is that together they manage to overcome their issues; it is always easier to heal with someone else than alone. Having people to support you, believe in you and encourage you, kind of empowers you. An excellent way to convince patients’ surroundings that healing requires support and love.
Also, the romance between Woo Joo and Shi Joon was also really sweet and I really realized that they were the perfect match: Shi Joon’s patient and understanding personality compensating with Woo Joo’s impulsive and sudden behavior.
The most interesting was their journey and I really think they grew up together and learned from each other.
Regarding other characters, I would say 3 supporting leads really amazed me. Woo Joo’s best and only friend Kong Ji Sun (Joo Min Kyung) was such a devoted person. I really think that without her, Woo Joo would’ve crumbled a long time ago. She is patient, accepts her outbursts and is always supportive. She never lets her down, which I have found admirable considering sometimes how violent Woo Joo can be.
In Dong Hyuk (Tae In Ho) was also for me the embodiment of the perfect psychiatrist. His methods are more traditional than Shi Joon’s but he is as devoted as him. He is also such a professional, sometimes very discreet in his studies, but I believe he works twice as hard to get some recognition. What I loved about him is that he could’ve easily turned into an evil character, having an inferiority complex and wanting to take the upper hand; but he never turned that way. He is a respectful doctor, a good friend, a patient lover and doesn’t want to crush others to get what he wants. The perfect guy!
Finally, Park Dae Ha (Jung Hae Kyun) was in my eyes the best mentor ever. He is really the greatest manager, mentor and friend, one can actually ask for, in my opinion. Indeed, he protects his juniors Dong Hyuk and Shi Joon with all his might and wants their best personally and professionally. He always seems to be cleaning people’s mess all the time and to be running everywhere because of that. In the end, he was a very positive and bright character.
I would say that I really liked how the intrigue focused essentially on patients and mental disorders instead of power struggle in the hospital. Even though, it was slightly present, it didn’t steal the spotlight away from the main topic.
What are the themes questioned?
A whole lot of different mental disorders: A very positive aspect of Soul Mechanic is that there is a great number of mental disorders illustrated. Naturally, not all of them could fit in 32 episodes, but many important ones were tackled such as PTSD, schizophrenia, suicide and depression, voyeurism…. All patients had their particular story and it was really moving to see what had happened to them, that changed them.
My two favorite stories were that of the firefighter and that of the nurses, who committed suicide. I really thought that these were actually disorders that could happen to anyone, were we confronted with their circumstances. Many of these disorders also lifted some taboos (the South Korean society not being necessarily fully aware of these) and enable viewers to really have some insights on the topic. Maybe this will lead to more tolerance from non-patients or at least more awareness. I think it is also a good drama that questions your own behavior. Indeed, in the case of the nurses for example, the disorder comes mainly from the external environment, those of the system and the colleagues.
A good way to also put yourself in question!
The medical system: Soul Mechanic gives an excellent insight on the medical system too; shedding light on the different processes used as therapy, the different therapies that exist; reflecting the importance to seriously take mental disorders into consideration, when it comes to diseases. Indeed, it might not be necessarily visible, but patients with mental disorders are also patients and should be considered as so by the system and be treated in consequence (instead of being left aside).
The story was constructed on the lives of 3 main psychiatrists, each of them with their own patients and also their own problems. I loved seeing how these 3 friends supported each other and gave some advice to the other, instead of being involved in sort some of competition.
The journey matters more than the destination: I think the most relevant message conveyed by the drama is that you can’t be cured from mental disorders. You can only heal (meaning it will never entirely go away) and the process can sometimes be long and fastidious. However, this healing process relies on self-acceptance (first accepting you have a problem) and letting go. Woo Joo is the perfect example because we can witness her development and how she embraces her old self in the end as sign of self-acceptance. Another character is quite significant: Cha Dong Il (Kim Dong Young) who went from thinking he is a police officer to becoming a real one.
P.S.: Do you have any other good dramas about mental disorders?
Once Upon a Drama 