Poong the Joseon Psychiatrist (조선 정신과 의사 유세풍) is a Korean historical and medical drama that revolves around a genius physician who gets involved in a palace conspiracy. Now exiled, he finds himself in a village where he meets people who help him get over his trauma and motivate him to move forward. The Korean drama is directed by Park Won-gook and stars Kim Min-jae, Kim Hyang-gi, Kim Sang-kyung, alongside other cast members.
The 12 episodes show premiered on August 1, 2022, and releases new episodes every Monday and Tuesday at 7 PM KST. Poong The Joseon Psychiatrist episode 7 and 8 have a run time of 69 minutes and 68 minutes respectively.
The IMDb synopsis reads:
YOO SE-POONG IS A PHYSICIAN FOR THE ROYAL FAMILY. HE BECOMES INVOLVED IN A CONSPIRACY OF THE ROYAL FAMILY. THIS LEADS TO HIS OUSTER FROM THE ROYAL PALACE AND HE BEGINS TO WORK IN THE STRANGE, BUT, BEAUTIFUL, GYESU VILLAGE. THERE, YOO SE-POONG MEETS SEO EUN-WOO AND GYE JI-HAN. YOO SE-POONG DEVELOPS INTO A DOCTOR WHO TREATS PATIENTS’ PHYSICAL AILMENTS AND ALSO THEIR MENTAL PAINS
-Poong The Joseon Psychiatrist Episodes 7 and 8 Review contains spoilers-
Se-poong questions Ji-han after Shin-woo leaves. The latter reveals that he knew Se-poong’s father and that they studied under the same master. Ji-han then tells him to stop asking any questions about his father or Hanyang or else he would have to leave his clinic.
The next day, Ji-han is tricked into meeting commander Im who shows him a promissory note left by Ip Bun’s mother to pay him back the money she had borrowed from him. He tells Ji-han to give him the clinic in return for this debt which only leaves Ji-han furious.
He then threatens to reveal Ip Bun’s birth to her if he doesn’t pay back the money which leaves Ji-han tensed. Elsewhere, Eun-woo and Se-poong are cleaning the medicinal ingredients when they hear a commotion and see a woman jumping into the water. Eun-woo recognises her and rushes to help out.
It is known that the woman had been arrested for arson after having set fire to someone’s house. However, she has also been showing very peculiar behaviour by jumping into the water whenever she can. Eun-woo is worried and tries to talk to her but fails every time.
Elsewhere, Ji-han is trying to cut down the expenditure of the clinic by trying to reduce food costs. But this only makes others furious as they are unable to do anything.
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While Se-poong continues to treat the woman, he concludes that the burning sensation in her chest is due to trauma which must be related to the death of her daughter. After being pointed out by Ji-han, he has Ip Bun dress up as her dead daughter so that she is able to find closure.
Now while this did help her a little, it was not over as she continued to feel the burn. She then lets out her frustration about being treated badly by her husband as she is not of noble birth like him.
She recalls the reason for her daughter’s demise which had to do with her husband’s negligence. She also remembers the teachings of a noble woman that she has been given by her in-laws which have turned her into a feeble woman.
To help her through this, So-poong comes up with the idea of changing her views of a noble woman through Eun-woo. He has Eun-woo behave like a woman who is not of nobility to show the woman that those from nobility are no different. Having witnessed a noblewoman behaving in such a carefree way does help her and she is able to come out stronger.
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The next day, she makes her way to the house of her husband’s mistress, that she had apparently burnt, along with the group from the clinic. Finding her husband there, she reveals the culprit behind the arson incident being none other than the mistress. It is also revealed that the mistress lied about being of nobility and is arrested then and there.
The woman also gives up on her husband and leaves with more confidence after hurling a stream of profanities at him. She then thanks the people at Gyesoo clinic and leaves.
Later that evening, commander Im is back and Ji-han tries to shoo him away with some money. However, he continues to threaten him by calling out to Ip Bun who is right there. However, the two are left shocked when Ip Bun reveals the “deeply hidden secrets” of her birth.
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Ji-han is then able to kick him out with more confidence while the father-daughter shares a moment. Elsewhere, Shin-woo notices the acupuncture needle box that Eun-woo has and finds out that the needle in his possession is similar to the needles in this box. He then finds out that Se-poong was the one to whom it originally belonged.
The next day, a plague-like situation has occurred among the villagers as blisters appear on several people. The clinic is crowded and there is a messy situation. If this is not enough then commander Im gets a whiff of it and buys all the necessary ingredients from the pharmacies.
Upon hearing about this, Ji-han goes to commander Im and tries to buy the medicines at market price, but the latter has already increased the price of the herbs. Distressed, Ji-han goes back to the clinic but looking at the shortage of medicine for the patients he plans to steal the herbs from commander Im.
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The Gyesoo clinic group succeeds in stealing the herbs and is able to administer the treatment for the patients. However, while Se-poong thinks that the treatment is working, Ji-han notices a problem.
He then advises Shin-woo to move the patients to the mountain huts and termed this situation as a plague. This shocks Se-poong who wants to find out what Ji-han is trying to hide. Upon following him, Se-poong is shocked to see him trying to dig out the patient who died.
While he confronts Ji-han and is frustrated by his behaviour, Ji-han is shocked to discover that the plague is due to people being poisoned by the herb called Dansacho. Remembering the past events of his master being killed due to this very herb, Ji-han is perplexed.
The next day, Se-poong tells everyone that he will be going to the mountain huts to treat the patients. Shin-woo warns him that once he goes there then he can only leave when he is dead.
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Later, Se-poong tells Eun-woo to investigate the root of the problem and she leaves for Sarit village. There she tastes some of the honey that they grow while taking back the herbs that she found which is none other than Dansacho. The honey grown there has traces of this herb due to the pollen.
And like this, Eun-woo too becomes infected. Back in the mountain hut, another death causes the others to get scared causing mayhem when Ji-han comes to the rescue and calms things down.
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Poong the Joseon Psychiatrist Episode 8 Ending
Ji-han then tells Se-poong that the cure for the disease is another herb called Samaecho which is not grown in the soil of Joseon. Se-poong picks up the name of the herb and is reminded of the book Haedongboncho where it is mentioned along with Dansacho.
He then tells Ji-han that the herb does exist and there was a map that was found in the book which contains the location of the same. He then sets out on a journey to find the herb and after trials and tribulations, he finally finds it.
On the other hand, Shin-woo wants to burn the mountain huts but stops when he sees an infected Eun-woo. He then gets furious to know that Se-poong has left the area and goes to chase him. However, when he catches Se-poong who is on his return, he faints after revealing his intentions of killing him.
Se-poong returns to the mountain huts with the herbs but when Ji-han tells him that they will have to test the amount used on a person, Se-poong swallows some of Dansacho and becomes a test subject.
The disease is soon cured and everyone including Eun-woo and Shin-woo is saved. Later, Se-poong asks Shin-woo to send a report stating that this was just a disease and not a plague. Later, he asks Shin-woo why he wanted to kill him.
However, he soon reaches the conclusion that it is the Second State Councilor who wanted to have him dead.
Poong the Joseon Psychiatrist Episode 7 and 8 Review
Another week and another case that has been taken from the investigators by the people at Gyesoo clinic who are also our protagonists. While I get it that the show has to focus on Se-poong and Eun-woo, I’m getting the feeling that it is making a mess right now.
Maybe it was an effort of showing how Se-poong is not just a talented physician but also a psychiatrist on the way, having him interfere with matters that need to be handled by investigators is not so easily acceptable. I don’t know if anyone else feels the same way, but there are a lot of people who need psychiatric help and are not convicts.
However, I have to also agree that episode 8 gave me better vibes as this was an investigation that needed a physician who notices things, like Eun-woo. I liked this episode better, however, I am surprised that the genius physician could not remember the blisters that ruined his life.
I mean, I would expect Se-poong to recognise the blisters that were similar to that of the King just like Ji-han did. But if it is because of the urgency of the moment then I hope he has realised this by the next episode.
Altogether, these episodes were not bad and were enjoyable.
What did you think about the show? Let us know in the comments below!
Watch Poong the Joseon Psychiatrist on Viki.
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