K-drama “Doctor Cha” Episode 14 Recap & Review & Analysis

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Doctor Cha (Korean: 닥터 차정숙) is an ongoing South Korean television series starring Uhm Jung-hwa in the title role, along with Kim Byung-chul, Myung Se-bin, and Min Woo-hyuk. It premiered on JTBC on April 15, 2023, and airs every Saturday and Sunday at 22:30 (KST).It is also available for streaming on TVING and Netflix in selected regions. The series is a commercial hit and became one of the highest-rated series in Korean cable television history.

Doctor Cha Episode 14 Recap

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🧡In episode 13 of Doctor Cha, Deok-Rye was shocked to learn about Seo In-Ho’s affair. Choi Seung-Hi witnessed the chaotic scene and made things even more awkward for Seo In-Ho because she was his first love and also Deok-Rye’s doctor. Seo In-Ho begged Choi Seung-Hi to avoid going to the same restaurant as him or else he would be embarrassed. Deok-Rye scolded both Seo In-Ho and Cha Jeong-Suk for keeping their problems bottled up inside, causing her to not want to stay at the hospital anymore.

🧡Cha Jeong-Suk tried a different approach in finding out her mother’s illness but it didn’t go smoothly. She wanted to discuss her mother’s condition with Choi Seung-Hi but accidentally discovered that she was researching Deok-Rye’s illness instead. Although there were no issues found during neurological examinations, they couldn’t find the root cause of her illness.

🧡Cha Jeong-Suk cried and begged Deok-Rye to stay at the hospital for treatment despite having to face Choi Seung-Hi. I-Rang apologized for Eun-Seo getting injured and asked Choi Seung-Hi if she could break up with Seo In-hoo since she feared losing her father too. To pay the price, I-rang decided not to attend art school along with Eun-Seon while asking Choi Sung-hi if she could cure her grandmother.

🧡After receiving biopsy results, Cho Sung-hi confirmed Deok-rye’s diagnosis which surprised Cha Jeong-suk who felt grateful towards Cho Sung-hi for curing her mother’s disease while still unable forgive what happened between them.

🧡Cho Sung-hi mentioned that I-rang had come looking for advice on attending art school again so Cha Jeong-suk gave divorce papers over immediately after hearing this news from Cho Sung-hi. Seo In-Ho chose to sue Cha Jeong-Suk instead of agreeing to the divorce, causing her more pain. Later that night, Seo In-Ho complained to Choi Seung-Hi about his situation and even kneeled down in hopes of being forgiven by Cha Jeong-suk but was met with disappointment.

🧡Cha Jeong-Suk wondered if Choi Seung-Hi and Seo In-Ho would really be happy together. Because if she were Choi Seung-Hi, she would quickly realize that the joy of getting what she wanted would soon fade away.

🧡Roy Kim finally found information about his biological family from the police station and asked Cha Jeong-Suk to accompany him to visit them. Roy Kim heard that he had siblings, but he didn’t understand why only he was given up for adoption. Cha Jeong-Suk explained that in the past, families chose to give up their youngest child for a better life and education opportunities, but it wasn’t much help for Roy Kim since he lost his parents too.

🧡Before Deok-Rye was discharged from the hospital, she gave a letter to Choi Seung-Hi expressing her sympathy towards her situation due to this illness which made her appreciate even small things in life more than ever before. As a woman and mother herself, Deok-Rye advised Choi Seung-Hi not to give up on being a good person and mother.

🧡Cha Jeong-Suk accompanied Roy Kim to meet his biological family who seemed nervous just like him. From his father’s words, they learned that it was fortunate they sent Roy Kim away so as not to fall into poverty; also because their mother had already passed away.

🧡 However, they agreed to meet with Roy Kim now because their father is suffering from acute leukemia and needs someone who can donate bone marrow – but why did they choose only him instead of other siblings? Cha Jeong-Suk could see how disappointed Roy Kim felt but didn’t dare ask too many questions; instead decided running back with him could help clear his mind.

🧡However, the next day Cha Jeong-Suk realized something was wrong with her body when coughing out blood.

Doctor Cha Episode 14 Review and Analysis

In “Doctor Cha” Deok-Rye is also a woman who endures a lot in her marriage. When she found out about Seo In-Ho and Choi Seung-Hi’s affair, she silently protested by leaving the hospital and not letting Cha Jeong-Suk face Choi Seung-Hi.

This was to take care of her daughter’s feelings, as Cha Jeong-Suk had previously expressed that she couldn’t tolerate a bad husband. Deok-Rye didn’t want Cha Jeong-Suk to continue swallowing her bitterness, which is why she scolded her earlier for doing so.

The scene where Cha Jeong-Suk cries to her mother is very delicate, with Cha Jeong-Suk accusing her mother like a child but also showing fear of losing her. Despite their marital problems, the writer shows us that Deok-Rye will always care about whether or not her daughter is doing well and will always embrace and comfort her when needed.

I also admire Choi Seung-Hi’s attitude towards Deok-Rye in these two episodes of “”Doctor Cha“” She has become more mature and I’m glad that she didn’t act impulsively or seek revenge. As one of Choi Seung-Hi’s patients, Deok-Rye became the key point for correcting mistakes because it was an opportunity for herself to let go of Seo In-Ho.

This echoes Eun-Seo telling Choi Seung-Hi “Let’s go back to America and start over” because Eun-Seo had already let go while it was actually Choi Seung-Hi who couldn’t accept what happened between them.

To be honest, if Choi Seung-Hi can cure Deok-Rye, I think she will feel like she has won at least once in this battle. In her heart, she may feel that winning against Cha Jeong-Suk is enough for her.

The writer ultimately lets us understand through the character of Choi Seung-Hi that we should not only “hate” things and shouldn’t just focus on how unfortunate our lives are. I think this is why Deok-Rye tells Cha Jeong-Suk “Don’t see your life as so unfortunate because life cannot always go smoothly. At least you still have I-Rang and Jung-Min. Even after going around in circles, you came back to being a doctor. If I were to pass away anytime soon, I would have no regrets because I’ve seen enough beauty in the world.”

This part with Deok-Rye feels like a hint towards the ending of the drama since humans tend to hold onto what they lose tightly – just like how Choi Seung-Hi couldn’t let go of Seo In-Ho who was taken from her and therefore hated Cha Jeong-Suk’s family; while Cha Jeong-Suk also resented Choi Seung-Hi for taking away Seo In-Ho.

However, there are many reasons why Choi Seung-Hi undergoes such a transformation in this episode – aside from Eun-Seo persuading her mother to return to America together and start anew without feeling guilty about letting go of Seo In-ho; it’s also because Choi Seung-hi sees something she’s about to lose in I-rang.

Seeing I-rang reminds Choi-Seung Hi of Eun-seo too – if it were Eun-seo instead of Irang then it would definitely be the same situation~ The writer’s intention is for us all to forget about the good things we already possess.

Just like how Choi Seung-Hi actually has her beloved daughter Eun-Seo, and Cha Jeong-Suk also has two precious children – this is already a very beautiful thing in the world and doesn’t need to be forced any further. Cha Jeong-Suk and Choi Seung-Hi don’t need to hold onto anything regarding Seo In-ho anymore.

Therefore, Choi Seung-Hi’s transformation in this episode isn’t sudden but rather an awakening and letting go. Fighting for what we’ve lost while ignoring the good things we have will only make those good things disappear too. This is why Choi Seung-Hi says “We’ve caused our children too much harm.” Also standing from a woman’s perspective, seeing I-Rang sacrifice herself makes Choi Seung-Hi feel heartbroken as well.

Similarly, Cha Jeong-Suk also feels sorry for Eun-Seo having to endure such pain. When she heard Cha Jeong-Suk say “Your daughters are suffering now, the children are going through agony because of adult relationships,” I think Cha Jeong-Suk is also sympathizing with Eun-Seo as a mother who doesn’t want her to lose her dreams.

The writer really used a strong force in depicting Choi Seung-Hi’s state of mind at the end. I think Choi Seung-Hi won beautifully and gracefully in this episode. She may not win over Seo In-Ho (and probably doesn’t even want to compete for him anymore), but neither does Cha Jeong-Suk want him. Both Choi Seung-Hi and Cha Jeong-Suk have won their own beautiful lives.

Deok-Rye is like a key that corrects all mistakes; she is the most mature elder in “”Doctor Cha“” Compared to Kwak Ae-Sim giving Seo In-Ho an incorrect sense of right and wrong, Deok-Rye advises “Doctor Cha” and Choi Seung-Hi from a woman’s perspective.