(SBS, KBS)

The male lead character Yoo Shi-jin in the KBS drama “Descendants of the Sun,” originally had a different career planned out for him, according to local reports.

The drama series is based on a piece of writing called “Medecins Sans Frontieres,” an award-winning story written by novelist Kim Won-seok. The title derives from the NGO Doctors Withough Borders (MSF), which carries out medical activities in places of need.

(SBS "Obstetrics and Gynecology Doctors")

The original story by Kim features Yoo as a character with firm humanitarian beliefs working for MSF.

However, in 2014, Kim and his coworker asked the famous television writer Kim Eun-sook, to help adapt the story into a drama.

Kim, an author famous for her love stories, suggested that more romance should be put into the writing. The two agreed, and in the process turned the story into a drama series, Yoo Shi-jin became a character working for the special forces of the Korean Army.

(KBS "Descendants of the Sun")

The drama has become a huge hit, with its popularity rising in both Korea and other nations. The shift in career may have been one of the reasons, but the collaboration between the two writers must have contributed to the record-breaking viewer ratings of 31.6 percent.

“Descendants of the Sun” airs every Wednesday and Thursday at 10 p.m. on KBS2 and the Chinese online streaming service iQiYi.

By Kim Ji-young (christinekim@heraldcorp.com)