The "Resident Playbook" has finally come to the world.

On the 10th, a production presentation of tvN's "Resident Playbook" took place at the Ramada Seoul Sindorim located in Guro-gu, Seoul. The event was attended by Go Youn-jung, Shin Si A, Kang Yoo-seok, Han Ye-ji, Jung Jun-won, creator Shin Won-ho, and director Lee Min-soo.

The new tvN Saturday-Sunday drama "Resident Playbook" (creator Shin Won-ho, Lee Woo-jung/director Lee Min-soo/script Kim Song-hee/planned by CJ ENM Studios/produced by Egg is Coming) is a spin-off drama of "Hospital Playlist" that portrays the growth process of residents who dream of a "Seulgi" medical life during their initiation period.

On that day, creator Shin Won-ho said, "It's my first time standing in such a place under a name other than as a director. I understood my role as the final responsible person or a father, and I watched this process. I would appreciate it if you could take care of our work and our children."

He explained, "This is a format of work that we are actually trying for the first time. There have been many people who wanted an expansion of the worldview we've had. A writer who worked with us became a main writer, and since we were preparing medical content together, they wanted to talk about the stories of first-year obstetricians. So, we thought it would be nice to incorporate it into our worldview and pursued the spin-off. If the previous work featured more competent doctors, now it will feature first-year residents who are gradually becoming competent. So it can be seen as a youthful growth medical drama. There is also a bandage, symbolizing the struggles and learning of a first-year student, present in the title."

He continued, "I felt the same way when I started as a PD. I didn't have a sense of responsibility or a calling. These friends feel the same way. Today, you'll see them struggling to solve missions and patients, just waiting for a vacation. You'll see the gradual growth, and it will come to you as a touching moment." He noted, "Recently, I've felt that there isn't much of a growth narrative in both reality and content. With the intense competition and struggles to make a living, people seem to desire dramatic success narratives rather than patiently waiting for gradual growth. In a way, it might turn out to be a touching narrative of youth that hasn't been seen in a long time. You will see that they will eventually become "Seulgi." Of course, it might not be dramatic or particularly impressive, but there's a story to be told that even if they say they want to quit or dislike it, they will eventually come to like it. It feels like a slow gradual immersion."

However, due to the medical strike issue, it required a lot of time before the release. Shin Won-ho honestly expressed his feelings about this. He stated, "If the current environment had been different, I wouldn't be here now. The friends who directed and prepared might have beautifully promoted it on their own. Since I'm in a protective role, I keep having to show my face." He recalled his anxiousness, saying, "To be honest, during the writing and filming, this situation occurred midway through the filming. I don't know when it will be over, and I still don't. Our concern has always been one thing. We wanted our beautiful stories of young people to be enjoyed as they are by the viewers, without being read through another logic that might skew them."

He added, "So we've been discussing and postponing the scheduling a little from what was originally planned last year." He continued, "I don't know. As I always say, our role is to create and deliver. The interpretation of our work, whether it is critiqued or appreciated, is up to the viewers. I have no choice but to wait for the decision. If I were the director, I would speak in a more decisive tone, but as the father, I sincerely hope for your support and viewership." He expressed gratitude for the team, stating, "They all worked so hard—the director, writers, and actors. They're all just starting out, and they made it so fun and beautiful. But if that is overshadowed by other reasons and it isn't watched much, it would be heartbreaking. I will not do the same things when it comes to my turn. I hope you can support and love this drama."

He shared his thoughts on reflecting reality. Although the narrative centers on doctors, there has been some criticism regarding it being a 'fantasy genre.' Shin Won-ho mentioned, "This is a question we get often. People ask if our image of conveying reality fits well with the actual reality. However, our team specializes in creating stories that have a semblance of plausibility in reality. We fill in the details with realism, but it's challenging to reflect everything. After all, creating fictional narratives is what drama is about. The writers engaged in extensive research, and some expressed the hope that there would be more residents as supported in the previous series, particularly concerning surgery, where there aren't enough applicants. In that sense, it could be considered a fantasy of sorts. We are a team that paints what's desired by many. If what we want is well-expressed and leads to a good outcome, I think it doesn't matter what it’s labeled as. It seems that what we desired has been incorporated into this work."

"Resident Playbook" is set in a broader worldview than the main headquarters of Yulje Hospital seen in the "Hospital Playlist" series, as it moves to Jongno Yulje Hospital. In particular, amid various aspects, it addresses the stories of not only doctors and nurses in the obstetrics department but also new mothers, patients, and guardians, forming a wide-ranging commonality.

Director Lee Min-soo, who took the reins, commented regarding the directing focus, "Since it is a spin-off, I thought we should bring elements from the existing series while also showing new aspects. Although it is Yulje Hospital, we aimed to add variation with stories from its adjacent branch. Plus, while the doctors are indeed doctors, I wanted to feature first-year residents instead of well-accomplished professors, retaining the existing atmosphere but bringing in a different kind of fun." He shared the reason for choosing obstetrics, stating, "Before starting in obstetrics, I was unaware that it splits into obstetrics and gynecology. On one side, new lives are born, while on the other side, one has to let go of someone due to illness, making it an intricate space. Additionally, the narratives of new social entrants and growth fit well together, leading to diverse and interesting episodes."

Director Lee Min-soo also touched upon the impact of the medical strike. He stated, "Around the later part of filming, I heard about the news from the medical field, but surprisingly, it seems that the atmosphere during filming wasn't affected at all. The actors and I had fun filming the already prepared scripts and became so close that it felt regrettable to be finishing them. There seemed to have been no slowdown of the atmosphere due to any other social issues."

"Resident Playbook" tells the story of young social entrants rather than professors who are already established adults having completed one phase of growth. The narrative follows the journey of first-year residents at Jongno Yulje Hospital's obstetrics department—Oh Yi-young (played by Go Youn-jung), Pyo Nam-kyung (played by Shin Si A), Eom Jae-il (played by Kang Yoo-seok), and Kim Sa-bi (played by Han Ye-ji)—as they mature into adults after facing various challenges.

Go Youn-jung commented on her character, saying, "Oh Yi-young appears cold and detached on the outside, but once she starts to invest her heart in love or work, she brings out an enthusiastic side with a twist. She has a dual image of looking tough but being soft inside. Also, her growth speed is quick." She shared behind-the-scenes casting details, stating, "I found out about the casting through a phone call from the agency, and as a fan who enjoyed both the 'Hospital Playlist' and 'Reply' series, I felt ecstatic and amazed that I could participate in such a grand worldview."

When asked about her feelings upon finally revealing the work after the medical issues, Go Youn-jung expressed, "I'm so excited. During the filming of 'Resident Playbook,' my next project was also finalized, and I spent time filming diligently until a month ago. I used to see the other actors every two to three months, and seeing them now feels both pleasant and refreshing." She added, "I believe all the actors here shared the same feelings. There was a strong desire to perform well and a concern to not let anyone down. I think that thanks to a good story, good lines, and wonderful direction from the staff, the result turned out better than I could have ever hoped. Everyone here is a bit younger than me, and while there are senior colleagues, they all felt more like friends and mentors, supporting each other during filming."

Shin Si A described her character, Pyo Nam-kyung, saying, "She is someone who enjoys looking good and aspired to realize her dreams but is still learning about the world. On the surface, she appears aloof and sharp, but once you get to know her, she has clumsy moments and is quite emotional." She continued, "When I met the director, I learned about the casting opportunities, and after a break following 'Witch 2', it felt like a dream to be a part of such a precious project, especially to work with a director I love again."

Kang Yoo-seok plays the role of the idol-turned-resident, Eom Jae-il. He explained, "This is a character you've probably never seen before. He is someone who, after being an idol, is now clarifying his path to becoming a doctor while being energetic and passionate. However, due to this excessive enthusiasm, he often asks a lot of questions and seeks help, which can sometimes exhaust those around him."

Reflecting on behind-the-scenes casting, he recalled, "I might be like everyone else, but I was so happy that I genuinely yelled in excitement. After coming out of the audition, I casually screamed a bit outside, but in my heart, I was internally bursting with joy. I even remember roaring with excitement once I got home." He further shared, "I grew up watching the 'Reply' and 'Hospital Playlist' series, often wishing to participate in such works. When I finally heard about being confirmed after the audition, it was a deeply emotional and joyful moment for me."

Particularly, when asked about the chemistry of the "Resident Playbook" team, he responded, "Although we never officially agreed on it, I hope you will refer to us as the 'Ungaes.' We were born screaming in the obstetrics department." He added, "There was no need for a forced chemistry. We all coincidentally fit these characters, and since we are first-year residents, it was necessary to keep some distance. As we gradually became closer, it felt natural and seamlessly integrated into the drama. So while watching, you'll be wondering, 'When did those characters become so close?"

Han Ye-ji recalled, "Having grown up watching the director's works, Shin Won-ho was already a celebrity to me. I didn't think passing the audition was the issue but considered it an incredible achievement of my life to get the chance to audition. Others around me celebrated just as much as I did." She pointed out, "We have the fun of creating and resolving problems together. As the youngest member, I genuinely feel like friends, colleagues, and family, which will shine through in our chemistry."

Jung Jun-won, playing the role of 'Gu Do-won,' described his character, saying, "Do-won is the only fourth-year resident in the obstetrics department. Having accumulated considerable experience, he is always ready to jump in whenever something happens." He added, "Honestly, I've forgotten some of the content. So I think I can observe it more objectively from a viewer's perspective."

Ultimately, Shin Won-ho remarked, "Initially, I thought it would be a younger version of 'Hospital Playlist.' However, after watching the edited version, I realized it's entirely a different work. It's a fresh youthful story that hasn't been seen in a long time. It's more engaging than any work I've seen before, so I hope you won’t miss it and give it much love."

The stories of social newcomers writing their own growth narratives in the new space of Jongno Yulje Hospital will be showcased in the new tvN Saturday-Sunday drama "Resident Playbook," which premieres on the 12th (Saturday) at 9:10 p.m.

[Photo] OSEN DB

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