3 Deep Traumas That Shape Seo Se Hyeon’s Character in Hunter with a Scalpel

The Korean drama Hunter with a Scalpel introduces audiences to a complex, emotionally scarred, and brilliant forensic doctor named Seo Se Hyeon (played by Park Ju Hyun). Behind her intelligence and calm demeanor lies a deeply traumatic past that influences her every decision and emotional reaction throughout the series.

In this article, we explore the three major traumas Seo Se Hyeon experienced that shaped her character—and the psychological depth of this dark thriller K-drama.

1. Forced to Be Her Serial Killer Father's Assistant as a Child

One of Seo Se Hyeon’s earliest and most devastating traumas was being forced to assist her father, Yoon Jo Kyun, a notorious serial killer. As a child, she was dragged into his violent world and made to:

Clean up after murders,
Destroy evidence,
And suppress her conscience to protect his secrets.

This terrifying upbringing left her with severe psychological scars. Seo Se Hyeon grew up carrying guilt and fear—haunted by the role she unwillingly played in her father’s crimes. It forms the core of her inner conflict and continues to shadow her career in forensic medicine.

2. The Fear of Becoming a Psychopath Like Her Father

Seo Se Hyeon’s second trauma is the paralyzing fear that she may have inherited her father’s psychopathy. Though she now works on the side of justice, her exposure to brutal crimes, her composure in the face of blood, and her deep fascination with death often lead her to question herself:

Is she really different from her father?
Could she be suppressing a darkness within?

This self-doubt intensifies when she begins handling murder cases that resemble her father’s signature methods. Every autopsy and every crime scene becomes a mirror reflecting her past, making her question her morality and mental state.

3. Guilt and Rage After Failing to Kill Her Father

The third and perhaps most emotionally devastating trauma Seo Se Hyeon suffers is her guilt over failing to kill her father. In a desperate bid to end his killing spree, she once attempted to murder him—but he survived.

He later returned under a new identity and resumed his crimes. This failure left Seo Se Hyeon with:

A deep sense of responsibility for the lives lost,
Intense guilt over not stopping him sooner,
And unresolved rage that fuels her mission.

Her desire for justice becomes deeply personal, as she feels she must correct her past mistake and stop the monster she helped protect for years.

Trauma as Both a Weapon and a Wound

Seo Se Hyeon is not just a victim of her past—she’s a survivor fighting for redemption. The three major traumas she endured—being her father's accomplice, fearing her own dark side, and failing to stop him—define her struggle throughout Hunter with a Scalpel.

This drama doesn't just present a gripping crime thriller. It delves into the psychological wounds of its characters, exploring how trauma can both break and motivate someone to fight back.