Is it possible that the next project of a rising star could shape the path of her career? What happens when a webtoon adaptation hits the world stage and is picked up by one of Korea’s rising young actresses? What role do agencies, stakeholders, and international media play in creating the hype before the drama is even filmed?
These are some of the questions that prove to be a turning point for actress Lee Soo-kyung, who has been in discussions to lead the next ENA drama, which has the working title Doctor John .
The rumors of her participation in the project circulated through Korean media, and her agency confirmed that she was “positively discussing” the role . International media sources picked up the news on Lee Soo-kyung’s interest, creating not only excitement about the project, but also the potential for the role to define her career.
Origin of the News: Lee Soo-kyung Doctor John Casting (OSEN)
The casting news for Doctor John floated to the surface on September 5, 2025, when the Korean outlet OSEN broke the news. Soon thereafter, Lee Soo-kyung’s agency Baro Entertainment issued an official statement, clarifying “We are currently positively reviewing it.”
If confirmed, Lee Soo-kyung takes the part of Uhm Jung-sun, who is a nurse born and raised on the imaginary island of Pyeondongdo, where Doctor John primarily takes place.
Drama Background
Doctor John is based on the well-known Kakao Page webtoon which began serialization in February 2022. The story revolves around Dr. Do Ji-i, a plastic surgeon who ultimately ends up an “irregular” public health doctor on Pyeondongdo, a remote island fairly regularly described as “hellhole” due to its difficult islanders and tough conditions.
This drama will be helmed by Lee Myung-woo of Punch, The Fiery Priest, and Boyhood acclaim. With the solidified reputation of engaging male high-energy storytelling, hopes are already quite high.
Doctor John is to be released in 2026 on ENA. It looks to be one of anticipated adaptations from comic-style storytelling this year.
International Coverage
Details on licensing for the casting buzz were also a little scant with so much media covering this company internationally, as coverage by Korean media was obviously global. I noticed that the casting news was appearing in Chosun’s English language edition almost immediately. This indicates a significant amount of global interest surrounding Lee Soo-kyung’s plans for the future. The foreign media source referred to the project as a potential breakout project for Lee Soo-kyung, and Lee is actually modern-day known because her role in the Netflix series Fooled by a Dog really propelled her early popularity.
Many international fans who saw Lee’s performance as Bu Hyun-sook – the daughter character in the Netflix series – are now politely sitting on their hands while waiting to see her transition into Uhm Jung-sun, the island nurse who has to work through the challenges of Pyeondongdo. The differences in the character show Lee’s acting range and have definitely left many overseas fans salivating as to what is forthcoming.
Industry / Professional Angle
Chosun Biz includes the onward look at ENA’s drama schedule for 2026 to give a sense of the industry context for the announcement. With many projects lined up, Doctor John is clearly going to be ENA’s potential flagship portfolio.
Further, media reports are speculating about actors Lee Jae-wook, Shin Ye-eun and Hong Min-ki for significant leading parts, providing another angle of curiosity for the casting.
Considering the popularity of the webtoon on Kakao Page and Lee Myung-woo’s track record for creating high quality, commercially viable dramas, expectations are high in the media business. If Lee Soo-kyung accepts the offer, this would not only great for her career trajectory, but the project would further enhance ENA’s competitiveness in 2026.
Lee Soo-kyung’s Career Path
In the last few years, Lee Soo-kyung has been developing a reputation as one of the industry’s most exciting young stars. Her breakout role as Bu Hyun-sook in Netflix’s Fooled by a Dog garnered accolades for the emotional range she displayed and the warmth she brought to the role, resonating deeply with audiences.
Prior to this, she gained notoriety from various family-oriented melodramas, where her subtle yet sincere acting brought both authenticity and relatability to emotional moments on-screen. At this stage, Lee Soo-kyung has a number of films and television series in production across both network and OTT channels, and her appearances allow her to take on any role with the same ability to balance commercial success with critics’ acclaim.
In a part such as Doctor John, she could be on the road to participating in more challenging and leading roles to define her journey ahead.
What This Means for Fans & Industry
For fans, the potential of Lee Soo-kyung joining Doctor John has potential as she would have dealings to fulfill. She’s very well regarded. Many were excited to see the possibility of a new transformation away from previous roles, and especially after the success of Fooled by a Dog it will be interesting to see what she brings to the nurse, Uhm Jung-sun. This role, as a nurse, is going to surely give her a different challenge and could show new sides of her acting.
From an industry angle, the buzz fits well within this context: webtoon adaptations have continued to reign on the K-drama stage, mostly to strong ratings and traffic. As ENA has planned quite an ambitious schedule for 2026 the last casting for Doctor John could help continue to build and maintain that momentum for the network.
While hope does abound, remember that nothing has been confirmed yet – only that her agency stated the offer is “positively under consideration.” We’ll be keeping our eyes glued waiting for any further buzz!
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Conclusion
The Doctor John casting buzz has come from many directions. OSEN put out the first article with the official announcement from Lee Soo-kyung’s management that the offer is still being considered. Chosun English ran an article highlighting the growing international interest and has framed Dr. John as a potential breakout role for a rising actress. Chosun Biz used the news to place the casting within a broader industry framework, linking it to ENA’s 2026 scheduling and renewed expectations for webtoon adaptations.
Although the final casting decision has yet to be made, excitement continues to build. For now, fans will have to wait for an official announcement but if Lee Soo-kyung accepts the role, Doctor John will be one of the defining dramas of 2026.
