Entertainment
Inspirational Quotes from Korean Drama “Doctor Slump”
In the realm of Korean dramas, there exists a gem that not only entertains but also serves as a beacon of inspiration for viewers around the globe. JTBC’s “Doctor Slump” stands out as a testament to resilience, friendship, and the pursuit of happiness against all odds. As the series unfolds the tale of two doctors navigating through personal and professional challenges, it also imparts valuable life lessons and motivational quotes that resonate deeply with audiences.
At the heart of “Doctor Slump” lies the story of Yeo Jung Woo, portrayed by the talented Park Hyung Sik, and Nam Ha Neul, brought to life by the versatile Park Shin Hye. Former rivals in high school, these two doctors find themselves confronting unexpected twists and turns in their once-promising medical careers. From Yeo Jung Woo’s journey as a skilled plastic surgeon to Nam Ha Neul’s relentless dedication as an anesthesiologist, the series delves into the complexities of their lives with authenticity and sincerity.
Central to the narrative are the moments of struggle and doubt that both characters experience, leading them into what can only be described as a “slump.” Yet, it is within these moments of vulnerability that the true essence of “Doctor Slump” shines through. Through setbacks and failures, the characters discover the resilience within themselves to rise above adversity and pursue their dreams with unwavering determination.
One of the most compelling aspects of “Doctor Slump” is its ability to intertwine poignant storytelling with memorable quotes that linger long after the screen fades to black. These inspirational nuggets not only encapsulate the themes of the series but also serve as guiding principles for viewers facing their own challenges in life.
Among the standout quotes from “Doctor Slump” is the following:
Contents
Episode 1
“Everything in the world was normal. But all it took for my everyday life to fall apart was three minutes.” – Nam Haneul
“The time it took for us to fall from our once stable positions as doctors was just three minutes. The incident that occurred that day was more than enough to ruin our lives.” – Nam Haneul
- “Only one sun can exist in this universe.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
- “And only one top student can exist in this school.” – Nam Haneul
- “Back then, I thought if I kept trying hard as I’d always done, life would continue to be just fine like it had been before.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
- “Back then, I thought all I had to do was look ahead and keep moving.” – Nam Haneul
- “However, things in life didn’t work out the way we wanted.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
- “If you keep living selfishly like this, you’ll be punished for it.” – Dae Yeong
- “Thanks to my comfortable and laidback life, I was able to live peacefully. At least until that incident occurred.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
“They once said in a movie that failure and defeat meant different things. Anyone can fail but defeat was an utter fiasco usually found in legends. I was defeated.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
“Despite working harder than anyone else for 17 hours a day, I was still treated like a sinner and an idiot.” – Nam Haneul
“I thought, ‘The path I’m on might not lead to an island of treasure’. But I kept going while full of doubt. Even if the treasure chest was empty. I wanted to keep going until I could open it myself.” – Nam Haneul
“Even if my life wasn’t that precious, I still didn’t think it was a worthless life. So why did I want to die?” – Nam Haneul
- “You’re just not aware that you’re exhausted. But we all get emotionally weary at times.” – Psychiatrist
- “You don’t have to take it so seriously. You pushed yourself too hard and couldn’t rest when you were tired. It’s an illness of the mind.” – Psychiatrist
“This girl I liked back then. The girl I hated back then.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
- “The boy I wanted to grab by the collar back then. I met him again during the lowest point in my life.” – Nam Haneul
- “Right when I was hanging off the edge at the world’s end.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
Episode 2
“Sometimes, you suddenly lose balance within your mind and you feel lethargic. You feel lonely and exhausted. And you feel depressed during this time of emotional fatigue.” – Nam Haneul
- “As if someone was trying to ruin your life on purpose, life doesn’t go your way in times like this. We call this a slump. And this period of time, no matter when, no matter who it is, and no matter the reason, it will always come.” – Nam Haneul
- “Sometimes, it’s at the lowest point in your life. Such as now.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
“She’s not my first love. She was my nemesis. And not just any nemesis. She’s my biggest nemesis.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
- “That incident provoked my dormant competitiveness.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
- “Everyone in this day and age is depressed.” – Hong Ran
- “Everyone is a bit unhappy in life. It’s not just me. So I should stay strong.” – Nam Haneul
- “The best thing you can do right now is rest. It’s not an option. It’s a must.” – Psychiatry
“I have depression. I pushed myself too hard and couldn’t rest when I was tired, so it became an illness of the mind.” – Nam Haneul
“I’m the type who saves their most favorite food and eats it last. And that’s what I did with my happiness as well.” – Nam Haneul
- “I was the top student in Korea and graduated med school with honors. I was truly remarkable. So how in the world do I have depression?” – Nam Haneul
- “They said my mind has an illness. Like panfacial fractures, my mind has been shattered into pieces.” – Nam Haneul
“I want a healthy daughter instead of a successful one. No matter what you do, I love you and care about you so much.” – Kong Wolseon
“Seeing you cry is making me want to cry, too.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
- “Once I sober up the next day, I know I’ll regret hugging him.” – Nam Haneul
- “But the warmth she gave me that day was so comforting, it helped me forget all the pain in that moment.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
Episode 3
“We’re not friends. Just former classmates.” – Nam Haneul
“Let’s take a break while we’re at rock bottom.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
“When the life I had worked so hard for fell apart, I was expecting something grand to comfort me. However, ttebbokki, the arcade, his ridiculous words of comfort. These three things will bring me peace tonight.” – Nam Haneul
“Reality was different from the movies. We wanted to turn the tide of the trial with crucial evidence, but that was nothing but a pipe dream.” – Nam Haneul
“Having no sunrise reminds me of our lives.” – Nam Haneul
- “Let’s hang out sometimes. Let’s be friends, not just classmates.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
- “Let’s willingly befriend each other and become friends.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
“You’re smiling. You seem to be enduring it. But I know you’re actually struggling. But during these hard times, if you had someone who could comfort you, would it help you get a little better?” – Nam Haneul
- “The sun didn’t rise today. But it will tomorrow.” – Nam Haneul
- “Despite not knowing our futures, we still waited for the sun to rise.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
Episode 4
- “I don’t have any friends from my school days. But then, a friend from those days came into my life.” – Nam Haneul
- “I now have a friend to reminisce about the past with.” – Nam Haneul
“I believe beauty is a verb, not a noun. Because I could change beauty with my fingertips.” – Bin Dae Yeong
“This crushed can reminds me of my life.” – Nam Haneul
“Even if it wasn’t a life full of happiness, I just wanted a decent life.” – Nam Haneul
- “I think I’ve lived my life wrong.” – Nam Haneul
- “You didn’t live your life wrong. It’s not your fault.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
Episode 5
- “Why am I happy to have you by my side? When I see you, why do I feel relieved?” – Yeo Jeong Woo
- “Why do you come to mind first whenever I’m upset? Why do your words comfort me?” – Nam Haneul
“What do you want to do if you can go back to being a student?” – Nam Haneul
“Everyone’s always had high expectations for me since I was young. I always felt pressure to satisfy those expectations. And that pressure continued into my adulthood.” – Nam Haneul
“I think you’re too harsh on yourself. Don’t worry about what others think and take care of yourself first. You need to be okay today to help yourself make it through tomorrow.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
- “If I could go back in time, since I feel so bad for the younger you, I’d like to give you a hug.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
- “Men don’t invest their time and attention into someone they don’t like.” – Lee Hong Ran
- “The reason why I can’t be totally open right now is because I have no right to do so.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
“How could I possibly be of any comfort to anyone? Is it right for me to worry about someone else?” – Yeo Jeong Woo
“I felt his pain as if it was my own. And I felt his sadness come over both of us in that moment.” – Nam Haneul
“I have no right to be happy. But just a moment ago, I missed you.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
Episode 6
“On some days, all I wanted to do was just lie down like this. On other days, I was motivated to do something. And on some days I think, ‘From now on, let’s live for myself’. But on other days, everything just seems futile. Then, there were days when I wanted to work again. There were also days when I wanted to stay unemployed.” – Nam Haneul
“Depression forms a defense mechanism. To squeeze out serotonin and dopamine to make you happy, you feel a desire to overcome depression and to give up at the same time. So even if it feels like you’ll be in despair forever, within that despair, hope can sometimes arise.” – Nam Haneul
- “Are you saying being interested in me is like being infected?” – Yeo Jeong Woo
- “I’m not sure if I’m interested or infected. Anyway, it feels strange. It’s much stronger than just friendship. But it’s too early to say I have feelings for you.” – Nam Haneul
“To be honest, things are really tough. But I’m hanging in there thanks to you.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
“So just wait for me a little bit. Let’s see if this is just a strong friendship, an infection due to a weak immune system, or some other feeling. Whatever it may be, I want to be ready first.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
“You’re like a drug someone prescribed for me.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
Episode 7
“Life was like a kidney bean. There were some things that happen out of my control.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
“Unlike happiness, which felt vague at times, misfortune always made it’s presence known. I hit rock bottom in the blink of an eye. And failure always went hand in hand with loneliness.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
- “Will I ever be okay again? Will I ever get to enjoy a normal evening again?” – Yeo Jeong Woo
- “Inside, what his secrets left behind was pain.” – Nam Haneul
“Those who could’ve called didn’t for my sake. And those who didn’t have to call did call me.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
“Everyone has their own misfortunes, so I told myself to be grateful for what I had. And I was proud of myself for having endured it pretty well. But looking back, I didn’t endure it because I was strong. It was because I had never hit rock bottom before.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
- “To me, you’re like my anxiety medication. My life is so bitter and salty. But you’re so sweet. If felt like I was eating candy in a salt pond.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
- “My life was bitter, but the moments we shared were so sweet. It was like eating bracken and chocolate together.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
“Is he confessing his love or just teasing me?” – Nam Haneul
“You are the kidney bean that I planted. Because I can’t wait to watch you sprout.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
“You see, I was so desperate for someone who’d believe in me. I just wanted one person like that in my life. Then, you appeared.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
Episode 8
“Her grades kept soaring as high as the sky. And my grades stayed at sea level.” – Bada
“The only thing that made her swoon was the arrival of new textbooks. The only time her heart raced was when she ran out of breath dashing up the stairs. But that very person started to resemble me.” – Bada
“You’re always suppressing your feelings, understanding, and yielding to others. Maybe that’s why you became so weary.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
- “At the end of a perfect day, unbearable misfortune was waiting for me.” – Nam Haneul
- “Ever since then, whenever I’d feel happy, I’d suddenly feel anxiety within my heart.” – Nam Haneul
“Live an honest life, will you?” – Nam Haneul
“I don’t know if I’m resting or falling apart.” – Nam Haneul
“Can’t you just struggle by my side? Whatever that pain is, let’s go through it together.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
- “Why do you have to suffer because of me? That’s the worst.” – Nam Haneul
- “We don’t need to date, and you don’t need to like me. So just take this.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
Episode 9
“I told myself to never trust anyone again. But then, I met you.” – Nam Haneul
“You kept me on my feet when my life was on the verge of collapsing. And I completely fell for you. That’s when I’d suddenly become anxious. I was afraid that you’d hurt me, too.” – Nam Haneul
- “If I’m this unstable, could we ever be happy?” – Nam Haneul
- “I hope you can put it all behind you and find peace.” – Kong Wolseon
“Don’t be too happy. But don’t be too sad, either.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
“Can I wait for you? Can I wait until you feel better?” – Yeo Jeong Woo
Episode 10
- “My life is like soju. It’s so bitter.” – Nam Haneul
- “My life is like spicy chicken feet. It makes me tear up.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
“No matter how hard things got, I was prepared to endure it and love you. But you let go of my hand.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
- “To me right now, you’re just being selfish.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
- “At times, receiving quiet and subtle comfort can be more helpful.” – Nam Haneul
- “Whether you’re a doctor or not, you’ll always be incredible.” – Nam Haneul
“If I need a reason to overcome this trauma, there’s no better reason than you.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
Episode 11
“Since I’m in love, even little things in life shine as bright as stars.” – Nam Haneul
“Back then, I had no idea. I didn’t know dating could be this hard. I feel hurt, sorry, and grateful on a whole different level. All the most trivial things feel so tremendous.” – Nam Haneul
“Everyone has something they can never attain no matter how much they try.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
“Self-esteem is like a tower of pebbles you stack everyday. It crumbles the moment you have doubts and think, ‘Whats the point?’ Have confidence, believe in yourself, and continue to stack those pebbles up. Then, before you know it, you’ll have a house or a sturdy castle.” – Psychiatrist
“We wanted to believe that only good things awaited us. Even if it wasn’t astonishing, we hoped to have a decent life. We desperately prayed for this small wish.” – Nam Haneul
“I hope we weren’t wrong about things looking up.” – Nam Haneul
Episode 12
“Your gaze is full of love, but your words are so cold. It makes me swoon even when you’re scolding me.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
“Looking back, I think I really missed having this kind of ordinary life. In the past, family, love, or people around me weren’t all that important to me. But when I was struggling, I was comforted by the most ordinary of things.” – Nam Haneul
“Living an ordinary life is the hardest and most amazing thing to do.” – Hong Ran
“Once the closest friend, he became a stranger in an instant.” – Nam Haneul
“Taking a stroll at night while drinking some warm tea without a care in the world. Was wishing for such a day asking for too much?” – Nam Haneul
Episode 13
“Seeing you makes me realize that I need to work on myself.” – Min Kyung Min
“Looking back, we were always together during the hard times. We ran together. We were in pain together. Even when we needed comfort, we were together. It felt like the words you wrote in the past were trying to comfort me in the present as well.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
“I don’t know exactly what it means to love someone. But nevertheless I knew for certain that this was love.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
“I had never known what love really was. But I thought it could be something similar to praying. I always pray that you’ll be happy and successful.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
“Just like how the rain would eventually stop, we wanted to stop thinking that this sadness would last forever.” – Nam Haneul
- “Don’t waste your time resenting me.” – Min Kyung Min
- “I refused to forgive him for the sake of my own pain.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
Episode 14
“Our what-if questions continued to torment us.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
- “How much time needs to pass for things to feel okay like that?” – Yeo Jeong Woo
- “I guess I’m not strong enough. It’s still really tough for me.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
“Someone once said you forgive someone not for their sake but for yours.” – Ms. Kong
“Hating someone is so exhausting. It’s painful, miserable, and upsetting. Feeling that way towards someone is hurting you too much. But it would be too cruel to tell you to forgive him. After everything you’ve been through? So for now, let’s wait.” – Ms. Kong
“Pain is the worst feeling a human could experience.” – Nam Haneul
“The fireworks disappeared quickly. But the display continued to live in my memory. The lights soared, shined, and dispersed. And we realized everything was bound to disappear and the only things that last are the memories.” – Nam Haneul
“We could let go of things we wanted to forget and hold on to memories we wanted to keep. Just like the fireworks.” – Nam Haneul
“You’re the only one I make time for on the weekends. You’re the only one I’m curious and worried about.” – Dr. Bin
“A lot of people want to do good things in life. But it’s not easy to actually carry it out.” – Nam Haneul
Episode 15
“I wanted to get her a ring. I’ve always wanted to. That was the moment I realized I wanted to be with her for a long time.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
“You see, I think dating is like bring drunk. Everything’s great when you’re chugging it down. That tipsy feeling is nice. You laugh at the smallest things. It feels like you’re walking on clouds. But if you get swept up in that feeling and keep drinking, you’ll only end up a mess.” – Hong Ran
“You said you saw me in pain more while we’d been together. But I was happy many more times. You taught me how to reduce the pain. I learned how to forget my sadness.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
“When I saw you cry for my pain, it made me believe in the power of warmth.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
“Looking back, the moment when we fell down was the turning point in our lives. The moment when we believed our lives were over was a new beginning.” – Yeo Jeong Woo / Nam Haneul
- “Isn’t dating so fascinating? Sometimes, you act childish. Sometimes, the smallest of things affect you.” – Dr. Bin
- “Whenever I was struggling or in pain, you embraced me like this bandage.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
“Be my family. Be my lover, friend, and my wife, too. I want you to be all of them.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
Episode 16
“Being in love was like waiting for plum wine to ferment. They’re both wonderful things.” – Nam Haneul
- “Everyone was living their lives and I was slowly walking down my path as well.” – Nam Haneul
- “I wonder what kind of scene awaits me around this corner. Am I truly okay now? These were the questions I’d ask myself.” – Nam Haneul
“Some things can only be done right now. I don’t think it’s right for me to take that chance away from you.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
“Life is a long journey. Even if I fail to reach a goal at a specific time or place, it doesn’t make my life worthless. It could happen tomorrow, or it could be in the next place I visit. Good fortune exists and it’s waiting for me. That’s what I believe now.” – Nam Haneul
- “What does better mean? Does that mean they’ll become happy?” – Nam Haneul
- “No. They’ll accept their misfortunes. ‘I can become miserable again, but that’s okay’, ‘Should misfortunes come, I have the strength to endure them’. That’s what they believe.” – Psychiatrist
“To me, you’ll always be the rainbow over the glistening ocean. So you can shine in your own way.” – Ms. Kong
“Even though each day may be filled with hardships, but I believe I can overcome anything in life.” – Nam Haneul
“When we first experienced despair, everything was out of control. We thought our lives were over. We thought we wouldn’t be able to get out of our slumps for a long time. However, our slumps weren’t as deep as we had originally thought.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
- “We endured pain together, overcame our fears, and finally recovered.” – Nam Haneul
- “We learned to be in pain for a moment and to cherish memories for awhile. In the end, we were able to escape our slumps.” – Yeo Jeong Woo
“I could be happy today and suddenly sad tomorrow. But it’s okay. If there’s sadness, there will always be happiness as well. We have the strength now to endure sadness and misfortunes. And that’s enough.” – Nam Haneul / Yeo Jeong Woo
