M*A*S*H (TV Series) The Korean Surgeon (1976) User Reviews

Dr Paik!

[meclarke-27491 · 9/10 · 1 June 2021]

Wish they had Soon-Tek Oh in a few more episodes, loved him as an actor growing up!

Foreign Exchange Students

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 17 March 2015]

When a bus comes in containing both North and South Korean troops, there is a North Korean doctor on board. He has studied in Chicago and is more interested in saving lives than worrying about the politics of war. B.J. and Hawkeye find a way to change his appearance and reintroduce him as a surgeon. But, of course, Frank and Margaret blow the whistle on him, and he is sent off to a POW camp. Meanwhile, Frank ends up with a couple North Korean scroungers. He nearly bores them to death and they leave him on the side of the road. These episodes where the enemy is welcomed are a bit hard to swallow. This is life and death stuff. Those guys, if caught, would be shot for treason. Sometimes the series got a bit sanitized.

Dr Cho is in the house

[safenoe · 8/10 · 25 August 2020]

Dr Cho is really a North Korean surgeon and manages to pass himself off as a South Korean one, thanks to Hawkeye and Co. Interestingly, there should have been an episode along the lines of "Who's the real Nurse Able?" as there were multiple ones through the series run.

Who approved that mustache?

[Bronco46 · 5/10 · 14 October 2010]

This episode has the distinction of having the worst fake mustache and beard since Groucho Marx's tape mustache in the 1930's. This episode was saved by great performances by Robert Ito and Soon-Tek Oh. Soon-Tek Oh plays a Chinese surgeon wounded and brought into the 4077th. On seeing how far ahead of them the American surgeons are: Soon-Tek Oh's character laments not being able to help out and learn. Of course Hawkeye wants to help make this come true since they can use the help. This is where the producers and presumably Alda find another way to make the US Army look like a bunch of moron's by getting a Chinese surgeon all the necessary gear, id's, and orders in one day; and by simply shaving off the awful mustache fool everyone at the 4077th. Soon-Tek Oh's character recognizes some North Korean's pretending to be South Korean's who were trying to get some medical supplies from Frank Burns. One of these Koreans was Robert Ito and who because Frank is so gullible was able to get the supplies and use Frank to get out of camp. Soon-Tek Oh's character does get caught eventually, and Frank is again spared. If it wasn't for the great performance of the co-stars this would have not been a very good offering. But thanks to Robert Ito and Soon-Tek Oh for making this one bearable. My guess is Alan Alda had a hand in the design of the Mustache Soon-Tek Oh was made to wear. He probably hoped it would distract us from Soon-Tek Oh's great characterization. Sorry Alan he still out did you.