Golden Time () is a 2012 South Korean television series starring Lee Sun-kyun, Hwang Jung-eum, Lee Sung-min and Song Seon-mi. It aired on MBC from July 9 to September 25, 2012 on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55 for 23 episodes.
In emergency medicine, "golden time" or "golden hour" refers to the crucial time period right after a patient suffers a traumatic injury, during which timely medical treatment could determine life or death.
Plot After spending two years teaching in the country, Lee Min-woo (Lee Sun-kyun) returns to a city hospital to complete his residency and face his own uncertainties about being a doctor. Free-spirited and goofy, he is jaded about his job and just wants it easy. He is then jolted out of apathy when a traumatic incident forces him to rethink why he wanted to be a doctor in the first place. First-year resident Kang Jae-in (Hwang Jung-eum) comes from a rich family that owns hospitals, but she just simply wants to be a doctor who can support herself and help others. Both Min-woo and Jae-in work in ER under the guidance of Choi In-hyuk (Lee Sung-min), a famously astute workaholic surgeon who puts his patients before himself.
Cast
Main characters Lee Sun-kyun as Lee Min-woo Hwang Jung-eum as Kang Jae-in Lee Sung-min as Choi In-hyuk Song Seon-mi as veteran nurse Shin Eun-ah
Supporting characters
Jae-in's family Jang Yong as Kang Dae-je, Jae-in's grandfather Sunwoo Yong-nyeo as Park Geum-nyeo, Jae-in's grandmother Song Yoo-ha as Bang Seon-woo Kim Jong-rae as Dae-je's younger brother
Department of Emergency Medicine Jung Kyu-soo as Na Byung-gook Kim Ki-bang as Kim Do-hyeong
Department of Orthopedics Lee Ki-young as Hwang Se-han Jo Sang-ki as Park Seong-jin Heo Tae-hee as Go Jae-won Ji Il-joo as Yoo Kang-jin
Department of Neurosurgery Kim Hyung-il as Kim Ho-young Shin Dong-mi as Jo Dong-mi
Department of General Surgery Um Hyo-sup as Kim Min-joon Hong Ji-min as Song Kyeong-hwa
Department of Anesthesiology Jung Seok-yong as Ji Han-goo
Department of Plastic Surgery Chun Jae-ho as Park Geun-soo
Department of Trauma Surgery Kim Sa-kwon as Jang Hyuk-chan
Extended cast Kim Mi-kyung as Min-woo's mother Park Young-ji as Oh Gwang-cheol, hospital director Park Jeong-min as Jang Young-woo Ban Hye-ra as Kang Soo-kyung Ga Deuk-hee as Seo Hyo-eun Na Seung-ho as Kang Dae-je's secretary Seo Ji-yeon as nurse Gong Soo-hyuk as association member Choi Jae-sub as Park Won-gook Hong Hyun-taek as Lee Se-min Lee Dong-gyu as Shin Eun-ah's fiancé Im Ji-young as woman in childbed Yoon Min-soo as mass production member Song Young-kyu as Lee Won-pyo Jung Ae-yeon as Bang Hee-sun Lee Seok-gu as Choi Jun-bae
Background The series was praised for its verisimilitude and social commentary on the country's lack of trauma centers. The character of trauma specialist Choi In-hyuk was based on real-life doctor Lee Guk-jong, who became famous in 2011 when he saved the life of Captain Seok Hae-kyun after Seok received multiple gunshot wounds during a rescue mission from Somali pirates.
Ratings With a rise of 5.1 percent in the third week of July 2012, Golden Time landed its first win on the Monday and Tuesday primetime ratings chart after drawing in 12.6 percent of the total viewers, according to data compiled by the TNmS (Total National Multimedia Statistics). The series, which had been struggling at the bottom for its first two weeks with single-digit ratings, made this leap as the former chart-topper The Chaser and runner-up Big wrapped up their runs. With average ratings of 13.3-15.5 percent, it thereafter topped its timeslot for ten consecutive weeks, despite the rival channels' London Olympics 2012 coverage and the premieres of Faith and Haeundae Lovers.
Originally slated at 20 episodes, it was given a 3-episode extension, and discussions are underway for a possible second season.
Soundtrack This was director Kwon Seok-jang's third collaboration with music director Moon Sung-nam, after Pasta (2010) and My Princess (2011). The soundtrack features songs by indie musicians 10cm, Verbal Jint and Every Single Day. It was released by WinOne Entertainment and LOEN Entertainment.
모래시계 (Hourglass) - Every Single Day 어느날 (One Day) - 10cm 두 뺨에 닿기전에 (Before It Touches Both of My Cheeks) - Byul 오아시스 (Oasis) - Pia & Zico (of Block B) 약한사람 (Weak Person) - Verbal Jint feat. Heo In-chang 해주고 싶은 말 (Words I Want to Tell You) - Melody Day feat. MC Jinri & Zeenan I Miss You - Yoon Gun 너를 되뇌다 (Piano ver.) - Son Seung-yeon feat. Romantisco 그댄 아나요 (Do You Know?) - Scenery with Riding Bicycle feat. Lee Ji-min and Kim Yoo-jin (of W.H.O) Father - Every Single Day 사랑아 가지마 (Love, Don't Go) - Islander I'm in Love With U - Yisun Deep in My Heart - In a Band Cold - Every Single Day 너를 되뇌다 - Son Seung-yeon feat. Romantisco 어느날 (One Day) (Unplugged ver.) - 10cm 오아시스 (Oasis) (Acoustic ver.) - Pia & Zico (of Block B)
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Recipient Result 2012 Excellence Award, Actor Lee Sung-min Excellence Award, Actress Song Seon-mi Acting Award, ActorEquivalent to Best Supporting Actor. Lee Sung-min Best Actor Lee Sung-min Drama of the Year Golden Time Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Lee Sun-kyun Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Lee Sung-min Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Hwang Jung-eum PD Award Lee Sung-min Best Couple Award Lee Sun-kyun and Hwang Jung-eum Lee Sun-kyun and Lee Sung-min 2013 Best Actor (TV) Lee Sung-min Best Director (TV) Kwon Seok-jang, Lee Yoon-jung Best Screenplay (TV) Choi Hee-ra
International broadcast It aired in Vietnam on SCTV phim tổng hợp, beginning October 7, 2013.
References
External links Golden Time official MBC website Golden Time at MBC Global Media