Was I or was I not right to describe Dr. Ye as INFLEXIBLE?  😉

Back in Episode 3 (before Episode 6 aired), I called both him and Minho out for being jerks. I said their difference was MinHo was a jerk only to BoYoung, while he was a jerk to his colleagues.

Now, some fangirls are defending Dr. Ye’s behavior. One of them even gushed that he is the warmest and kindest character in the show, and that he always tries to do the “right thing even when he doesn’t know the people he’s defending.” 😀

It’s time then to take a good hard look at Dr. Ye and get over their crush stat. He isn’t what they think he is.

For instance, is he really kind?

I say not.

BoYoung is the one who’s kind. He only noticed, recognized and praised her kindness but he himself hasn’t shown much kindness in the show.

Let’s not confuse his ethical behavior with kindness. Sure, he provides care for his patients with utmost professionalism and efficiency. That’s how he began a recognized doctor in his field. He certainly sets high principles for himself – and others – and he abides by them and berates others who don’t.  As evidenced by his appearance in court for the aggrieved patient, he won’t compromise his integrity.

But these qualities don’t constitute kindness. Kindness is rooted in compassion and empathy. It means understanding the other person’s behavior and empathizing with his situation EVEN when you disagree with his life choices. It’s acting compassionately without expecting recognition or payback.

I declare that Dr. Ye is the LEAST compassionate and empathetic of the bunch. He’s the exact opposite of Defcon, who’s the epitome of kindness in the show. It’s too bad that the myopic vision of fangirls hinders them from swooning over Defcon.

One perfect example of kindness is the attention Defcon bestowed upon the senile grandfather in Episode 4. I discussed this earlier, but I’ll repeat myself.

He understood that the old man didn’t really mean to hit with the cane nor impose on him by asking by a piggyback ride. But Defcon empathized with the old man’s loneliness and craving for his dead family members. And even when he could have had time to spend resting after a day’s work, he fixed the old man’s living quarters to make him comfortable.

THAT’S KINDNESS. It goes beyond doing what is “right,” “ethical” and “principled.”

Defcon consistently shows this kindness. One patient praised him for always working with a smile. The dad of JooYoungJooYoung had a blast with him because he indulged the dad with his whims. The senior technician had come looking for him for his assistance because he was the only one in the lab who didn’t mind explaining things for him.

Defcon’s character has genuine concern for the well-being of others. He’s kind.

In contrast, let’s look at Dr. Ye.

He’s rude. Okaaay, so he doesn’t like intrusive questioning. But there are polite ways to counter colleagues’ interests and fan-girling without being intentionally hurtful. His answers were meant to smack them down.

Kind? Heck no.

His reply: May I give you advice. Please brush your teeth if you have time to mind my business. You have a hot pepper flake in your teeth. I don’t think it’s right to face patients like that.

A diplomatic response would have been: Money isn’t everything and I look forward to sharing my expertise with the hospital and working with colleagues like you. Thank you for bringing me these materials. This is very thoughtful of you.

Kind? On what planet? This was a turn-off just like MinHo’s response. 

Dr. Kim: Do you have a girlfriend? I don’t have a boyfriend.
Dr. Ye: I can see why.
Dr. Kim: Pardon?
Dr. Ye: May I give you an advice. Please don’t ask me personal questions from now on. We’re here to work, not to make conversation.

He could have said with a deadpan face: I’m already living with a very demanding girlfriend. My mother.

Same when the Dr. Yang who asked him for a favor. He didn’t have to be crass and snub the man. 

He could have excused himself by saying that the slot was already reserved for someone in line but that he would find another time for Dr. Yang’s friend.

See that? It doesn’t take much to be kind to his colleagues even though he disagrees with their proposals.

His colleagues were absolutely correct to feel offended by Dr. Ye’s response. Not only was he inflexible but he projected arrogance and disdain. He was saying, “I’m-better-than-you” and “I’m-holier-than-you” and “I’m-incorruptible.”

But didn’t he save Dr. Yang’s job?

Yes and no. He DID save Dr Yang his job, but it wasn’t out of kindness, compassion nor empathy. He didn’t even know Dr. Yang very well at that time so how could he have shown concern for him? His concern was general, not specific.

However, he inadvertently saved Dr. Yang’s job because of his sense of RIGHTEOUSNESS. It offended his sense of righteousness that he had to “jump” the line and cut ahead of Dr. Yang.

It was similar to how he was offended that Dr. Yang’s friend was trying to book an appointment with him because of “connections” and not waiting for his turn.

On both occasions, his rules were broken: Wait in line; follow the system; don’t use connections.

That is HOW Dr. Ye operates.

He believes in following a strict order, literally and metaphorically. He isn’t kind as much as he’s self-righteous. He believes that people should behave in upright and moral ways. He admires people who behave virtuously but he’s INTOLERANT of people who don’t.

That’s why he likes BoYoung and behaves differently with her than with others. He distances himself from these people whom he looks down on, like the other three staff members, but he seeks closeness from BoYoung who he admires.

But the problem here is that, given his rigid and inflexible worldview, he forgets that life is about connections. He derides these connections that the Director and Dr. Yang foist on him as unscrupulous. But it’s human nature to create and rely on a network of family, friends, and peers to get on with life.

Some of the connections are humiliating  (like Dr. Kim asking money from Dr. Ye for BoYoung).

Some of them are annoying (like BoYoung’s being a “snail bride” to Minho).

Some are misunderstood (like JooYoung and his dad).

Some are fawning (like when they were gushing over MinHo’s rich family. Unlike Dr. Ye, he took the embarrassing attention in stride).

Some of them are burdensome (like the adopted brother of BoYoung).

Some are even unwanted (like MinHo being ignored by his parents once again, or Dr Ye with his colleagues).

But these connections are all there to help when life gets tough. That’s why the title of this Episode 6 is Family.  It’s a reminder that our connections, our EMOTIONAL connections, be they painful, happy or loving connections, make us a family.

Family
by Choi Bum Young

If you can’t say you’re hurt when you feel hurt,
You’re not family.
If you can’t say you’re happy when you’re happy,
You’re not family.
A sweet and soft ice cream cone
Isn’t enough to become a family
Pain, happiness, and love must be shared.
And you must endure all hardships in prayer
Until you can feel it together.
That’s how we become a family.
You must be able to express your sadness
And be able to cry together to be a family.
You must be able to express your happiness
and be able to be happy for one another to be a family.

You must feel like you’re under the same blanket
no matter where you are to be a family.

As of Episode 6, Dr. Ye hasn’t made any significant connections with anyone in the lab or the hospital. His lack of kindness is his stumbling block. But fear not, Ye Liners! There are plenty more episodes left for him to change into a better person with BoYoung at his side.