Cover Mentor and protégé stand side by side in ’The Devil Judge’. (Photo: tvN)
Mentor and protégé stand side by side in ’The Devil Judge’. (Photo: tvN)
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From Kang Yo-han and Kim Ga-on of ‘The Devil Judge’ to Baek Gwang-hyeok and Yang Jae-won of ‘Trauma Code: Heroes on Call’— these are K-drama’s most compelling mentorship stories
Some of the most compelling relationships in K-drama aren’t remotely romantic. Instead, they’re the bonds between a mentor and their protégé—alliances that can be as tense as they are transformative. Often employing a tough-love approach, K-drama mentors push their reluctant or unassuming protégés to the limit.
Whether it’s a charismatic, morally ambiguous judge who takes an idealistic young colleague under his wing in The Devil Judge or a brilliant trauma surgeon training a fellow—kicking and screaming—in Trauma Code: Heroes on Call, K-drama mentors challenge protégés to confront their flaws, rise to above the odds and discover what they’re truly capable of.
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‘The Devil Judge’
Mentor: Kang Yo-han
Protégé: Kim Ga-on
Kang Yo-han (Ji Sung), a charismatic and ruthless judge with questionable morals and motives, and Kim Ga-on (Jinyoung), a young and idealistic associate judge, may make the most unlikely allies, yet they come together in a tense mentorship built on manipulation, moral grey areas and begrudging respect in the The Devil Judge. Yo-han chips away at Ga-on’s black-and-white worldview, forcing him to question whether justice can ever be served within a corrupt system. Meanwhile, Ga-on finds himself dangerously drawn to his mentor’s results, if not his methods.
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‘Trauma Code: Heroes on Call’
Mentor: Baek Gang-hyeok
Protégé: Yang Jae-won
Baek Gang-hyeok (Ju Ji-hoon), a brilliant but short-tempered trauma surgeon hired to lead the trauma unit at Hankuk National University Hospital, wasted no time recruiting young colorectal surgery fellow Yang Jae-won (Choo Young-woo) to be part of his team. Jae-won may have been a reluctant protégé at first, thanks to Gang-hyeok’s reputation as a troublemaker and his unorthodox methods, but he eventually warms up to his boss, even if he cheekily nicknamed him “Anus” and “Slave Number One”.
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‘Start-Up’
Above The list isn’t complete without Han Ji-pyeong from ‘Start-Up’. (Photo: tvN)
The list isn’t complete without Han Ji-pyeong from ‘Start-Up’. (Photo: tvN)
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Mentor: Han Ji-pyeong
Protégé: Nam Do-san and Seo Dal-mi
You can’t talk about K-drama mentors without mentioning Han Ji-pyeong (Kim Seon-ho). The man even owns a shirt with the word “Mentor” on it. As an angel investor, he helps start-ups and serves as an adviser to budding entrepreneurs like Nam Do-san (Nam Joo-hyuk) and Seo Dal-mi (Bae Suzy). Aside from helping them professionally, he also coaches dorky Do-san on how to be more poised and grows protective of Dal-mi.
‘A Shop for Killers’
Mentor: Jinman
Protégé: Jian
Jian (Kim Hye-jun) may not have been aware of it, but her uncle, Jinman (Lee Dong-wook), had been preparing her to be self-sufficient ever since he took her in as a child after her parents were murdered. She undergoes weapons and combat training in her teens, but that’s to be expected when your uncle is secretly an ex-mercenary who is now the biggest underground arms dealer in the country. All the lessons come in handy when Jinman’s “customers” come knocking on their door—literally—and Jian is left to fend for herself.
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‘Tomorrow’
Mentor: Gu Ryeon
Protégé: Choi Jun-woong
Grim Reaper Gu Ryeon’s (Kim Hee-sun) department is in charge of preventing suicides, guiding those on the brink back toward life—but they’re criminally understaffed and severely undervalued within the bureaucratic afterlife. Enter Choi Jun-woong (Rowoon), a clumsy, soft-hearted soul who’s the last person hot-headed Ryeon would recruit into her team. But her tough-love guidance and his unwavering empathy end up striking the right balance the department needs to save lives.
‘Dr. Romantic’ Seasons 1–3
Above Kim Sa-bu has mentored a handful of doctors in three seasons of ‘Dr Romantic’. (Photo: SBS)
Kim Sa-bu has mentored a handful of doctors in three seasons of ‘Dr Romantic’. (Photo: SBS)
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Mentor: Dr Kim Sa-bu
Protégés: Kang Dong-joo, Yoon Seo-jung, Seo Woo-jin, Cha Eun-jae, Jang Dong-hwa and Lee Sun-woong
Kim Sa-bu (Han Suk-kyu) is a legendary, triple-board-certified surgeon who serves as a mentor to several young doctors—Kang Dong-joo (Yoo Yeon-seok), Yoon Seo-jung (Seo Hyun-jin), Seo Woo-jin (Ahn Hyo-seop), Cha Eun-jae (Lee Sung-kyung), Jang Dong-hwa (Lee Shin-young) and Lee Sun-woong (Lee Hong-nae). He may be brutally honest and use unorthodox methods, but his tough love is what pushes them to become the exceptional—and compassionate—doctors they were always meant to be.
From the morally complex mentorship in The Devil Judge to the gruelling trials of Trauma Code, K-dramas prove that the toughest teachers create the most unforgettable stories. And for viewers, these mentor-protégé bonds can be just as addictive as any love line.
Maggie Adan is a content writer, editor, and strategist with extensive experience across print, digital, and social media publishing. Formerly editor-in-chief at K-Zone Philippines, Summit Books and Content Lab, she has written lifestyle stories covering everything from entertainment and travel to beauty and wellness. A storyteller at heart with a keen editorial eye and a passion for narrative, she contributes to various publications and helps brands create and curate content for their social media platforms.
