Doctor on the Edge aired its fourth episode on June 9, 2026, and the medical K-drama continues to build tension on Pyeondong Island. The episode, titled โA Notorious Woman, a Pathetic Man,โ brings Do Ji-ui (Lee Jae-wook) and Yuk Ha-ri (Shin Ye-eun) closer together, only to pull them apart when hurtful gossip spreads through the small community. By the end of the hour, a young patient fights for her life on a rocking boat, and Ji-ui falls into the deep sea, leaving viewers stunned.
The show airs every Monday and Tuesday on ENA at 10 PM KST. Global audiences can also watch on KT Genie TV and Disney+ in selected regions including the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and India. Episode 4 recorded a nationwide rating of 5.2 percent, peaking at 6.3 percent per minute, making it the show’s best performance so far.
Ha-ri and Ji-ui Open Up About Personal Pain
Episode 4 opens with Ji-ui realizing that Ha-ri was looking out for him when she decided to go with Chiyeon to Madeokdo in the previous episode. Ha-ri then asks Ji-ui if he wants to join her next time. She even sends him a photo of himself sitting with fireflies in the background, showing a softer side to their relationship.
Their growing closeness faces an immediate test when Ji-ui gets called away for an urgent patient. That patient turns out to be Ha-ri’s grandmother, who collapsed and injured her head. Ha-ri later discovers the truth and talks with Ji-ui about her grandmother’s health. Ji-ui admits he already saw the anti-cancer drugs in Ha-ri’s bag when they first arrived on the island. He comforts her, telling her that her fear is not cowardly, and that everyone feels the same way.
The Doctor Hunter Rumors Spread Through the Island
The peace does not last long. Jucheon (Kim Yoon-woo) shows Ji-ui messages from a group chat calling a nurse a “notorious woman,” a “gold digger,” and a “doctor hunter.” Jucheon tells Ji-ui these messages are about Ha-ri. He claims she has gone after three doctors already, and now her hooks are in Chiyeon.
The gossip spreads because other islanders saw Ha-ri and Chiyeon together on an ATV and on a boat. People have started assuming a romance is happening between them. When Ji-ui goes to the village hall where Ha-ri and Chiyeon are giving medical training, he sees them laughing and looking comfortable with each other. He leaves without saying anything.
Chiyeon does nothing to stop the rumors. Later that night, Ha-ri asks Ji-ui out for a drink, but he turns her down. When she pushes for a reason, Ji-ui tells her about the group chat and the doctor hunter labels. The accusation clearly hurts Ha-ri.
She shuts down the gossip directly, telling Ji-ui: โDo not be afraid. I have no plan to bite.โ She says she has no intention of pursuing him, disappointed that he believed the rumors so easily.
Nurse Eom and Jucheon Share an Unexpected Night
While the main leads struggle with misunderstandings, a surprising romance develops between Nurse Eom Jeong-seon (Lee Soo-kyung) and Yong Jucheon (Kim Yoon-woo). The two characters have bickered constantly whenever they met. But episode 4 takes a sharp turn.
Nurse Eom receives a care package from her mother. It turns out to be her birthday, but she has not told anyone at the health center. Jucheon comes by to return a phone they accidentally swapped. He notices the spread of dishes and realizes she is celebrating her birthday alone.
He offers to be her friend and sits down to eat with her. Jucheon tells her he believes birthdays should be joyful, but he never got to enjoy them because he was picked on often. The next morning, the episode shows Jucheon waking up at Nurse Eom’s house. Mindful of the island’s gossip problem, she tells him to leave without being seen and says, “Let’s forget what happened yesterday.”
A Child Patient Creates a Deadly Emergency
The episode shifts into high gear when a young girl and her guardian come back to the health center. The girl, who earlier had sniffing and throat problems, now cannot breathe properly. With a storm warning and high tides suspending passenger ferries, the team arranges an emergency medical boat.
Choi Hyangmi (Lee Soo-kyung), the Director of Public Health Care Services, tells Ji-ui to come along. Ji-ui has a deep trauma related to the sea. Flashbacks reveal that he and Hwayeong once tried to save someone named Seonu on a boat, and the experience haunts him.
Ha-ri helps him face his fear. On the boat, the young girl’s condition worsens, and Ji-ui must intubate her. The director guides him through the process. Ha-ri offers her support as Ji-ui fights through his flashbacks. The intubation works, and the girl stabilizes.
But as Ji-ui goes to the edge of the boat to vomit from sea sickness, he falls overboard. The episode ends with everyone in panic, and viewers have no idea if he survives.
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Ratings Success and What Viewers Are Saying
Doctor on the Edge achieved its highest ratings yet with episode 4. The show remained No. 1 among all channels in its time slot for the second week in a row, according to Nielsen Korea based on paid households.
Fans on social media reacted strongly to the cliffhanger ending. Many expressed worry about Ji-ui’s fate after his sea accident. Others praised the development of Nurse Eom and Jucheon’s relationship, calling it an unexpected but welcome twist. The show is based on the KakaoPage webtoon “Johnber Doctor” and has 12 episodes planned, with the finale scheduled for July 7, 2026.
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