Has Dr. Cha Been Renewed for Season 2? Here is What We Know!

Has Dr. Cha Been Renewed for Season 2? Dr. Cha is the latest K-drama to become a fan favorite. The show is halfway through its maiden season and is already commanding TV ratings in the double digits. Dr. Cha offers a fine balance between drama and comedy through its cast of meaningful characters and their everyday problems.  Season 1 of Dr. Cha is commissioned for 16 episodes, with the finale set to air on June 4th. Cha Jeong-suk’s arc has won plaudits from the viewers. She is uniquely placed because of her past professional service as a doctor and her present-day role as a housewife. 

The marital dynamics between her and her husband, Seo In-ho, clear the slate to overwhelmingly get the viewer to side with Cha. Her journey of struggles remembering the time she spent in the hospital gives emotional fuselage to Dr. Cha. As the show nears its end, we bring you the latest on the renewal/cancellation status of Dr. Cha’s season 2. 

What has happened thus far in Dr. Cha Season 1?

Dr. Cha Jeong-suk is forced into taking a sabbatical from her promising medical career. Her marriage to In-ho, who is the Chief Surgeon at the University Hospital, is heading toward failure. Her family is now her priority, as making a comeback to her career after almost 20 years seems vain. All of this is preceded by a life-changing incident that thrusts her back into the profession. But she has to start all over again as a first-year resident at the same hospital as In-ho. 

Her serious illness is also an obstacle to Jeong-suk becoming the prodigal professional she was once touted to be. A liver transplant changes how Cha looks at the world, opening her eyes to the reality of her dire situation. She also crosses paths with Doctor Roy, who becomes an exciting love interest. The series, until now, focuses on Cha getting back into work and taking charge of her life. She dismisses everything that makes her unhappy, including her petulant adulterous husband In-ho and the stereotyping Cha faces as a woman. 

Has Dr. Cha been renewed for Season 2?

At the time of writing this article, Dr. Cha has neither been renewed nor been canceled by JTBC yet. Season 1 of Dr. Cha has aired ten episodes out of the total 16 commissioned. Unsurprisingly, Dr. Cha has ruled the Nielsen Ratings from day one in South Korea, having multiplied its audiences by almost four times since episode 1. The K-drama has gained wild popularity among fans, who are enjoying seeing a no-nonsense doctor take charge of her life and fulfill her dreams.

However, K-dramas have their own bitter-sweet story when it comes to renewals. Almost seven out of every ten K-dramas are not renewed for more than a single season, despite having high ratings and approval rankings from viewers. Such is the fickle nature of the industry that creative personnel often move on to work on other projects instead of driving forward with the same story for several seasons.

Although Americans and Netflix, in general, would find that hard to believe, this is the norm that is to be kept in mind when discussing the renewal status for K-dramas. We believe Dr. Cha will not be renewed for a second season, even though there might be potential to carry forward the story. This is in keeping line with the industry standard practice that is followed indiscriminately for all K-dramas. We will be on the lookout for an official confirmation of Dr. Cha’s Season 2 status, but until then, one can only hope to enjoy the heartfelt Season 1.

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