Movies

How K-Drama Resident Playbook Reflects the Stark Reality of a Medical System in Crisis

BBG News

In 2023, when tvN approved the production of the medical drama titled “Resident Playbook,” it likely appeared to be an instant success. This Korean drama, now available on Netflix, is a spin-off from the highly successful series “Hospital Playlist.” It features rising talent Go Youn-jung (known for roles in “Alchemy of Souls” and “Sweet Home”) as the main character, and Kim Song-hee (who has worked as an assistant writer for the critically praised “Reply 1988” series) is in charge.

Subsequently, a significant medical predicament unfolded in South Korea, straining the agreement between healthcare professionals, the administration, and the populace. The air date of the upcoming drama, initially planned to premiere on Netflix in March 2024 after filming towards the end of 2023, was postponed due to the unsettled political atmosphere. It remained uncertain whether a show centered around resident doctors would resonate positively amidst a contentious political climate where trainee physicians were quitting collectively in response to the government’s proposed healthcare system reform proposals.

Exactly one year has passed, and at long last, the much-anticipated show titled “Resident Playbook” has made its grand entrance! You can now watch the first two episodes on Netflix, with fresh instalments dropping every Saturday and Sunday until May 18th. Here’s what you need to be aware of regarding this series, as it sheds light on the raw, unflinching truth of South Korea’s healthcare system.

What is Resident Playbook about?

The storyline for “Resident Playbook” is situated at the fictional Jongno Yulje Medical Center, a separate branch from the university hospital featured in “Hospital Playlist“. Unlike “Hospital Playlist“, which focuses on a group of veteran doctors who bonded (and formed a band) during medical school, “Resident Playbook” centers around a group of young Gen Z doctors embarking on their residencies in the underrepresented specialties of obstetrics and gynecology.

Oh I-yeong, a once wealthy young woman, finds herself deeply in debt amounting to about $35,000 due to her family’s bankruptcy. With no other options available, she decides to revisit the field of medicine, which she had previously struggled with. Her doctor boyfriend Ku Do-won (from “Little Forest”), who also works at Yulje, provides support and guidance for her return. Oh is joined by her former high school classmate Pyo Nam-gyeong (“The Witch Part 2″‘s Shin Shi-ah), music industry veteran turned doctor Um Jae-il (“When Life Gives You Tangerine”‘s Kang Yoo-seok), and the academically gifted but socially awkward Kim Sa-bi, played by Han Ye-ji in her acting debut.

How Resident Playbook portrays medical training

As a fervent admirer, I’d say that when South Korea isn’t grappling with crises, it boasts one of the finest healthcare systems globally. This is evident in the health of its population and the ease of access to quality care. The medical professionals here are held in high regard and fairly compensated. Interestingly, a 2023 survey among Korean office workers aged 19-59 revealed that over 60% hope their children consider medicine as a career choice. The primary motivation? The perceived “stability” of the profession.

In our story, the primary characters from the Resident Playbook are introduced as they embark on their medical residencies, focusing on obstetrics and gynecology, often abbreviated as OB-GYN. By this stage of their professional journey, these residents have navigated a highly competitive medical education pathway. They’ve successfully completed a six-year Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (BM, BS) program, spent a year rotating through various specialties during an internship, and passed rigorous exams to secure their residency positions.

In their fourth year of residency, doctors will sit for a specialist examination. If they pass, they’ll be recognized as experts in that particular medical field. Some physicians opt for further fellowship training to delve deeper into specialized areas or to pursue an academic career, similar to the main characters depicted in Hospital Playlist.

Why are South Korea’s resident doctors striking?

Because the population is aging quickly and there are fewer doctors relative to the number of people (approximately 2.6 doctors for every 1,000 people), the country anticipates a deficit of about 15,000 healthcare professionals by 2035. This shortage of doctors has already started affecting the availability of medical care in rural areas and crucial specialties like pediatrics, obstetrics, thoracic surgery, and emergency medicine.

After many years of intense education and practice, doctors often prefer job opportunities that offer security, good pay, and better work environments. Doctors who specialize in critical medical care frequently encounter situations requiring life-saving interventions, which can lead to higher chances of legal disputes in countries with unusually high numbers of criminal charges for medical mishaps. Compensation and work conditions are typically less favorable in these essential areas, particularly when contrasted with higher-paying, lower-risk specialties like dermatology.

In February 2024, President Yoon announced a policy to tackle the shortage of doctors by expanding the number of medical school places by approximately 65%. This increase would take effect from 2025, growing the annual intake from 3,000 to around 5,058 students. Consequently, over 10,000 trainee doctors across the country submitted their resignations, and more than 5,000 medical students requested time off. This mass departure of healthcare professionals disrupted access to medical care, causing the government to explore potential legal measures. The Korean Medical Association (KMA), which represents about two-thirds of South Korea’s doctors, supported this collective action by warning of an “indefinite strike” if the government attempted retaliation against the resident physicians and interns.

As a follower in the medical field, I find myself in agreement with many doctors and medical students who voice concerns about the government’s proposed plan. They argue that this plan fails to tackle the root systemic issues in healthcare accessibility and quality, and instead, we fear that the surge of medical students could compromise the quality of our education and training.

The discord between the government and the medical community indicates a growing mistrust between these entities. This rift is exacerbated by President Yoon’s impeachment and the subsequent unforeseen political transition, adding complexity to an already challenging situation.

How Resident Playbook reflects an ongoing medical crisis

The “Resident Playbook” was created and produced prior to the ongoing medical emergency in South Korea. However, the narrative reflects the underlying systematic issues that have resulted in the deadlock between the medical sector and the government.

In the first episode, we find out that Oh I-yeong is starting her medical residency for a second time. Her reasons for leaving medicine in the past remain unknown, but it seems she was able to secure a position at Jongno Yulje Medical Center, perhaps because fewer people choose to specialize in OB-GYN.

In the second installment of the series, all four principal characters contemplate leaving their residency programs quite early, as they find themselves overwhelmed and drained by the demanding work environment portrayed in the show. The depiction of long, stressful shifts mirrors the actual work conditions faced by real-life residents.

Although Korean law limits workers’ weekly hours to 52, medical interns and residents are permitted to work up to 88 hours a week, with shifts as long as 36 hours. In practice, some trainee doctors even exceed 100 working hours per week. These trainee physicians make up 30% to 45% of the physician workforce in major teaching hospitals. They contribute to a system that heavily depends on the low-cost labor of residents and interns, compensating for the lower reimbursement rates established by the government’s National Health Insurance System, which operates as a single payer.

In the TV show Resident Playbook, characters feel secure when they get their first paycheck, but trainee doctors earn between $2,250 and $2,900 a month, which can actually drop below minimum wage if you consider the long hours worked. This situation significantly influences interns and residents’ resistance to Yoon’s healthcare reform plan, as they believe it’s crucial to tackle issues related to trainee doctors’ working conditions and low reimbursement rates set by the government before expanding medical school quotas.

Resident Playbook’s global ratings

Despite the current medical emergency, the release of “Resident Playbook” hasn’t discouraged viewers, as evidenced by its strong television ratings on tvN. The first episode garnered a 3.68% rating, as reported by Nielsen Korean, making it the highest-rated show in its time slot. Although the premiere rating for “Resident Playbook” is lower than that of “Hospital Playlist” (6.3%) from 2020, it surpasses the 1.7% premiere rating achieved by “The Potato Lab”, which previously occupied the same time slot.

Worldwide, “Resident Playbook” has achieved popularity on Netflix, ranking among the Global Top Ten shows as we speak. Remarkably, it climbed into the Top Ten in South Korea just two days after its premiere.

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2025-04-17 01:06

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