Created by Shin Won-ho and Lee Woo-jung, RESIDENT PLAYBOOK is a Korean medical drama that takes viewers inside the intense and emotional world of first-year medical residents. The show follows a fresh group of doctors as they begin their training in the obstetrics and gynecology department at Jongno Yulje Medical Center — a place filled with pressure, long hours, and emotional highs and lows. At the heart of the series is Oh Yi-young, played by Go Youn-jung, who starts her journey as a doctor with reluctance but slowly finds her place in the demanding hospital system.
Although the show may feel incredibly real, RESIDENT PLAYBOOK is not based on any specific true story. The story, its characters, and everything that happens to them are all works of fiction. However, the creators took deep inspiration from actual issues in South Korea’s healthcare industry.It shows a lot of what young doctors really go through, from the stress of working long shifts to the emotional weight of taking care of patients, especially in the OB-GYN field.
Writer Kim Song-hee crafted the script with care to show the ups and downs of medical residency. Instead of focusing on already skilled professionals, this drama highlights growth and learning. According to co-creator Won-ho, while his earlier work featured experienced doctors, this story centers around residents who are just starting out — a refreshing take that shows how doctors become who they are.
The decision to set the drama in the obstetrics and gynecology department was not random. South Korea is currently facing a crisis with declining birth rates, which has put a lot of pressure on the OB-GYN sector. Director Lee Min-soo pointed out the emotional complexity of this setting: it’s a department where life begins, but it’s also where difficult losses happen.Because of this duality, the residents’ stories are more interesting and easy to relate to.
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IS YULJE MEDICAL CENTER REAL?
Another big question from fans is whether Jongno Yulje Medical Center actually exists. The answer is no — it’s a fictional hospital. But the world it portrays feels incredibly real. The original Hospital Playlist series introduced the Yulje universe, and now RESIDENT PLAYBOOK expands it by focusing on a new group of doctors in a different branch. The production uses real hospitals for filming to make the scenes look authentic, though the name “Yulje” itself is made up.
In fact, the Gangseo branch was filmed at Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital in the original show. The exact location of the Jongno branch hasn’t been announced yet, but it’s likely that a similar method was used: real-life hospital settings were mixed with custom-built sets to make a space that feels both grounded and open to different stories.
With a made-up hospital, the writers can explore tough topics and deep character growth without the limits that might come with using a real one. It also helps connect all the shows set in the Yulje universe—making it feel like a real place that fans can go back to in different seasons and spin-offs.
A drama called RESIDENT PLAYBOOK may be made up but it deals with real problems that young doctors have. It shows how hard the job can be on an emotional and professional level. The show is more than just fun to watch— it gives us a deep look at the sacrifices and strength that make up the medical world through its powerful stories and real characters.
Keep checking tvacute.com for more RESIDENT PLAYBOOK news, insider information, and episode summaries.
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