Resident Playbook - One of Korea’s Most Popular K-Dramas in 2025
Resident Playbook – A Medical Drama That Goes Beyond Medicine
If you're looking for a K-drama that blends emotion, realism, and growth, Resident Playbook (언젠가는 슬기로울 전공의 생활) should be at the top of your watchlist.
A spin-off of the beloved Hospital Playlist, this 2025 medical series tells the story of first-year OBGYN residents at Yulje Medical Center.
It's more than a hospital drama — it's a journey of youth learning to grow through responsibility, mistakes, relationships, and life.
1. 🏥 Basic Info
| Title | Resident Playbook (언젠가는 슬기로울 전공의 생활) |
|---|---|
| Genre | Medical, Slice of Life, Drama |
| Episodes | 12 (Airing every Fri–Sat 9:10 PM KST) |
| Broadcast | tvN (Korea) / Netflix (Global) |
| Director | Won-ho Shin |
| Writer | Song-hee Kim (Created by Woo-jung Lee) |
| Setting | Yulje Medical Center – OB-GYN Dept. (Jongno) |
2. 📺 Where to Watch
- TV Broadcast (Korea): tvN – Fridays & Saturdays at 9:10 PM (KST)
- Streaming: Netflix (available globally)
🔗 Official Website: Yulje Hospital
율제병원
책임과 정성을 다하는 율제입니다.
www.yuljehospital.com
3. 👥 Main Characters
- Youn-jung Go as Yi-young Oh – A calm but strong-minded OBGYN resident, returning after a break
- Si-ah Shin as Nam-kyung Pyo – A warm, idealistic resident who believes in care and justice
- You-seok Kang as Jae-il Um – A former idol turned serious medical trainee
- Ye-ji Han as Sa-bi Kim – Straightforward and blunt, but with deep empathy
- Joon-won Jung as Do-won Goo – The senior resident who quietly guides the team like a real mentor
4. 📖 Episode Highlights (Ep. 1–8)
- Ep. 1 – A New Beginning: Nervous first day for all residents.
- Ep. 2 – The Weight of Life: First emergency surgery and its consequences.
- Ep. 3 – Night Shift: Sleepless chaos and overwhelming tasks.
- Ep. 4 – Crossing Lines: From misunderstanding to teamwork.
- Ep. 5 – Secrets: Personal histories and bonding begin.
- Ep. 6 – The Ones Who Don’t Cry: Yi-young's emotional breakdown after a stillbirth case.
- Ep. 7 – Breathe: Patient conflict and the limits of compassion.
- Ep. 8 – Emotional Prescription: A simple thank-you letter reignites purpose.
and more.
5. 💬 Viewer Reactions & Why You Should Watch
This isn’t just another medical K-drama.
It’s a realistic coming-of-age story about young doctors dealing with life, failure, teamwork, and hope.
Also, the teamwork between different medical departments, and the delicate romance between Yi-young and Do-won, adds emotional depth without being overly dramatic.
- “Way more grounded than Hospital Playlist — it feels real.”
- “Youn-jung Go’s acting is subtle but powerful. She IS her character.”
- “The romance is sweet, not forced. Their chemistry is natural.”
- “I cried, smiled, and reflected. A drama that heals and stings.”
If you're interested in Korea’s social issues like low birthrate and real hospital life, this series is an insightful and emotional watch.
6. 🩺 Link to Hospital Playlist
Resident Playbook is set in the same universe as Hospital Playlist. It’s located in Yulje Hospital’s Jongno branch, while the original took place in the Seoul main branch.
Expect occasional cameos, shared values, and the same heartfelt tone—but with younger, less experienced doctors.
If Hospital Playlist was about experienced doctors and friendship, then Resident Playbook is about young doctors finding their footing in a tough but rewarding profession.
7. 🌟 Youn-jung Go – Spotlight on a Rising Star
Youn-jung Go is one of the most exciting young actresses in Korea right now. In Resident Playbook, she plays Yi-young Oh, a resident with a quiet demeanor but intense emotional depth .
📝 Notable Works
| Sweet Home (2020) | Netflix | Yu-ri Park – A cold, mysterious survivalist | “Steady screen presence even in limited scenes” |
| Hunt (2022) | Cinema | Yoo-jung Jo – National Intelligence agent | “Balanced action and emotion in a male-centered plot” |
| Moving (2023) | Disney+ | Hee-soo Jang – A teen with regenerative powers | “Emotional core of the story; breakout role” |
| Resident Playbook (2025) | tvN / Netflix | Yi-young Oh - A returned OBGYN resident | “Powerful in silence. A character that lingers.” |
🧠 Acting Strengths
- Deep emotion with minimal dialogue
- Strong internal acting — her eyes tell the story
- Perfect balance of vulnerability and control
“Youn-jung Go doesn’t act. She becomes.”
Critics and viewers alike agree — she’s no longer a rising star. She’s arrived.
Sweet Home (Netflix) – Mysterious survivalist with quiet strength
Hunt (Film) – NIS agent who balances action and vulnerability
Moving (Disney+) – Regenerating superpowered teen; emotionally raw and powerful
Resident Playbook (tvN/Netflix) – Emotionally complex, realistic and grounding performance
Youn-jung Go is not just a rising star—she’s fast becoming one of the defining faces of modern K-drama.
