'Resident Playbook' finally to air as doctors' strike subsides

Creator says up to viewers to decide how they perceive drama series

From left: "Resident Playbook" actors Go Youn-jung, Kang You-seok, Shin Si-ah and Han Ye-ji pose for a photo at a press conference in Sindorim-dong, Seoul, Thursday. (Newsis)

"Resident Playbook," the much-delayed and hotly debated medical drama series, is finally airing this week.

The tvN series delves into the lives of rookie doctors working as obstetrics and gynecology residents at Yulje Medical Center. A spinoff of hit series "Hospital Playlist," “Resident Playbook” sees the return of producer Shin Won-ho, the creator of the beloved human drama.

Originally slated to premiere in May 2024 as a follow-up to tvN’s ratings megahit “Queen of Tears,” the series was shelved for nearly a year despite having wrapped filming.

The delay came amid nationwide protests and strikes by doctors and medical students opposing government plans to increase the medical school admissions quota. With some resident doctors yet to return to work and the tensions still unresolved, the drama now faces a complicated launch as it finally premieres this week on cable network tvN.

At a press conference on Thursday in Sindorim-dong, Seoul, producer Shin addressed the controversy surrounding the series and the timing of its release.

“The script had already been submitted, filming was underway and then this situation erupted midway through production, with no way of knowing when it would end,” Shin said. “We had just one concern. The beautiful story that we, these young creators, had carefully prepared needed to be seen purely as an enjoyable piece of content.”

“But we were worried that it might be misinterpreted or viewed through a different, skewed lens due to the circumstances. That’s why we kept discussing the scheduling with tvN and gradually postponed the broadcast,” he continued.

“We believe that our responsibility is to create and present the story. Consuming it is entirely up to the viewers. Whether people watch it as it is, criticize it, or examine it from different angles — all those perspectives belong to the audience, and all we can do now is wait for their judgment.”

"Resident Playbook," starring Go Youn-jung (tvN)

According to Shin, the tone and the scope of the series differs greatly from "Hospital Playlist."

“'Hospital Playlist' was a story about experienced medical school professors becoming even wiser, while 'Resident Playbook' is about rookies who aren’t wise yet, gradually growing and becoming more skilled.”

On the series’ visual identity, Shin pointed yo a symbolic design element in the show’s poster.

“In 'Hospital Playlist,' there was a hospital symbol in the upper right corner. This time, it’s a crooked bandage mark — something that can’t quite stand upright. It symbolizes mistakes, falling down, getting hurt.”

Reflecting on his own early career, Shin added, “I think I was the same way when I first started out as a producer. Nobody starts off with a strong sense of calling or responsibility. As a first-year, you’re just scrambling to get through your tasks, take care of patients and hoping you can clock out early. That kind of raw, unpolished reality is reflected in the show. You’ll see them gradually grow, and I believe that will be touching.”