Soonpoong Clinic

Soonpoong Clinic is one of South Korea’s most iconic family sitcoms, blending humor, heart, and the chaos of everyday life. Set in a bustling OB-GYN clinic, the story follows Dr. Park Yeong Gyu (played by Park Young Gyu), the eccentric and often clueless head of the household, who tries to manage his medical practice while dealing with a house full of dramatic personalities. The drama unfolds around the quirky lives of his children: Oh Tae Ran (Lee Tae Ran), the level-headed eldest daughter; Oh So Yeon (Kim So Yeon), the stylish and spirited middle sister; and Oh Hye Gyo, played by the rising star Song Hye Kyo, a bright and witty young woman navigating love, career, and sibling rivalry. With each episode, the family faces new challenges—from patient mishaps to romantic entanglements—all delivered with heartwarming comedy. Supporting characters such as Lee Joo Hyun and Kim Sung Eun add layers of hilarious misunderstandings, awkward dating scenarios, and heartfelt family moments. With a cast of veteran comedians and talented young actors, Soonpoong Clinic delivers timeless slice-of-life storytelling that resonates with all generations. Airing for over 700 episodes, Soonpoong Clinic remains a cultural touchstone in the world of classic Korean sitcoms. It’s a must-watch for fans of multi-generational family comedies, hospital-based humor, and anyone curious to see early performances from Song Hye Kyo before she became a global K-drama icon.

Details

🙂 Native Title: 순풍산부인과
🌎 Also Known As: Soonpoong Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soonpoong Sanbuingwa, Soonpoong Women’s Clinic
🎭 Genres: Comedy, Family, Sitcom, Medical
🏷 Tags: Large Family, Everyday Life, Doctor Female Lead, Sibling Rivalry, Hospital Setting
✍ Screenwriters: Not officially listed
🎬 Directors: Not officially listed
🇰🇷 Country: South Korea
🎬 Episodes: 682
🗓️ Aired: March 2, 1998 – March 2, 2000
📅 Airing Days: Monday to Friday
📺 Original Network: SBS
⏰ Duration: 25 minutes per episode
🔞 Content Rating: G – All Ages

Best Scenes

Oh Hye Gyo’s first date gone wrong, where Song Hye Kyo delivers both comedy and charm, became an iconic early role.
The family dinner chaos scenes, often featuring generational clashes and hilarious misunderstandings.
Dr. Park Yeong Gyu’s patient mix-ups, combining slapstick humor with witty satire on hospital life.
Sibling fights between So Yeon, Tae Ran, and Hye Gyo, which perfectly blend realism with comedic timing.
Park Mi Dal’s precocious questions, which leave adults speechless, providing comic relief with depth.

Filming Locations

Most scenes were shot in a replica OB-GYN clinic set, built to resemble a real-life hospital interior.
Living room and family home interiors were consistently used, grounding the sitcom in domestic warmth.
Hospital reception and office areas served as backdrops for both medical mishaps and romantic subplots.
Some exterior shots were filmed in Seoul neighborhoods, capturing daily Korean life in the late ’90s.
Occasional school and park scenes were included to reflect family dynamics beyond the clinic.

Visual Design and Costumes

Doctors wore white coats and medical scrubs, contrasting with the colorful, casual outfits of family members.
Song Hye Kyo’s youthful wardrobe reflected late ’90s fashion—denim, layered knits, and pastel tones.
Minimalistic set design enhanced the focus on characters and dialogue rather than flashy visuals.
The sitcom used bright lighting and vibrant color palettes, emphasizing a cheerful and lively tone.
Costumes evolved with the characters, showing growth in career and confidence—especially the daughters.

Themes and Messages

Soonpoong Clinic emphasized the value of family unity despite differences, a core message throughout.
It explored intergenerational dynamics, showing the clash between tradition and modern thinking.
The series highlighted working women in medical professions, empowering female leads like Kim So Yeon and Lee Tae Ran.
Through humor, it tackled marriage, dating, and parenthood, resonating with Korean families of the era.
The show promoted love, empathy, and acceptance, often wrapped in lighthearted lessons.

Interesting Facts

The show aired over 680 episodes, making it one of Korea’s longest-running sitcoms.
It was a breakout role for Song Hye Kyo, who later became a Hallyu icon through Autumn in My Heart.
Many popular K-drama stars made cameo appearances, including Lee Jung Jin, Kim Rae Won, and Park Eun Bin.
The sitcom is often credited with reviving the family sitcom genre in Korea during the late 1990s.
Its characters and jokes became cultural references, still quoted and parodied in Korean media today.

Awards

🏆 Awards for Soonpoong Clinic (1998–2000)

🎖️ SBS Drama Awards

1998
- Excellence Award, Actor in a Sitcom: Park Yeong-gyu (Soonpoong Clinic)
- Best New Actress in a Sitcom: Song Hye-kyo (Soonpoong Clinic)
- Popularity Award, Actress: Kim So-yeon (Soonpoong Clinic, Winners, I Love You, I Love You)
1999
- Grand Prize (Daesang) in a Sitcom: Oh Ji-myeong (Soonpoong Clinic)
2000
- Grand Prize (Daesang) in a Sitcom: Park Yeong-gyu (Soonpoong Clinic)
- Popularity Award in a Sitcom: Pyo In-bong (Soonpoong Clinic)

🏅 Baeksang Arts Awards

2000
- Best Female Comedian: Park Mi-sun (Soonpoong Clinic)

Real-Life Loves on Set

There are no officially confirmed reports of a real-life romance that developed between the main cast members of the Korean sitcom Soonpoong Clinic (1998–2000). Despite the show’s incredible popularity and the close on-screen chemistry among characters—especially among the younger cast like Song Hye Kyo, Lee Tae Ran, Kim So Yeon, and Lee Joo Hyun—any romantic connections remained purely fictional and within the boundaries of the scripted storylines.

However, the long filming duration (over 680 episodes) and daily shooting schedule did lead to lasting friendships and professional respect among the cast. The natural rapport between the actors contributed to the show’s warm and authentic family feel, which sometimes sparked curiosity among fans and media about off-screen relationships.

In conclusion, while Soonpoong Clinic was rich in romantic and familial dynamics on screen, there is no verified evidence of any real-life romantic relationships emerging from the production. The affection viewers sensed came from great acting, not from off-camera romance.