‘With the support of cameos from ‘Hospital Playlist,’ ‘Resident Playbook’ is once again targeting the hearts of viewers.
On the afternoon of the 15th, a director’s talk for tvN’s new Saturday-Sunday drama ‘Resident Playbook’ took place in Myeongdong, Jung-gu, Seoul. Premiering on the 12th, ‘Resident Playbook’ depicts the journey of obstetrics and gynecology residents at Yulje Hospital, who dream of becoming part of Hospital Playlist, as they grow through the admission denial period. This drama is a spin-off of the beloved ‘Hospital Playlist’ series.
Creator Shin Won-ho, who attended the event, noted about the premiere, “This is my first time participating in the production process of a drama not as a director. It was a new opportunity and challenge for me. I feel filled with the heart of a parent. If it were my drama, I would handle it as calmly as possible. But this time, since I feel like a parent, it was oddly touching after the first broadcast. In terms of results, it was also emotionally moving in numerical terms. I was very pleased,” he said with a smile.
Director Lee Min-soo, who is in charge of the production, stated, “When watching other dramas, I would enjoy the ratings for fun, but while doing this, I felt thankful for the 0.1% of viewers. The only ones making their long debut with me are Han Ye-ji and Shin Si-a. Senior Go Youn-jung, who debuted earlier, and Senior Kang Yu-seok congratulated me a lot. While there is naturally some disappointment, the sense of relief is great. I believe we did our best, and the rest is up to the viewers.”
‘Resident Playbook’ tells the story of social newcomers who are not yet professors who have completed their growth as adults. The residents in their first year, Oh Yi-young (Go Youn-jung), Pyo Nam-kyung (Shin Si-a), Eom Jae-il (Kang Yu-seok), and Kim Sa-bi (Han Ye-ji), depict the process of maturing into adults after a series of ups and downs.
Creator Shin Won-ho praised the casting, saying, “Go Youn-jung attracted the production team’s attention, so we met. Isn’t there a bias of thinking that an actor who looks like that would behave a certain way? I thought it was the first time I saw such a beautiful actress with such an easy-going attitude. She describes herself as having a boyish tone like a fifth grader. I believed that the character Oh Yi-young would be attractive once it was developed.”
He continued, “Without any dissent, I chose Go Youn-jung. Her strengths are tremendous. She has a lot of natural talent, not just in terms of appearance. The best part about her is her expressionless face. It’s a difficult thing for an actor to show no expression. There’s an amplitude in her emotions, and she is diligent and works hard. She has much potential, and I believe she will continue to grow,” he praised Go Youn-jung, raising fans' expectations.
Regarding Kang Yu-seok, who plays Eom Jae-il, he noted, “It feels like the first time I cast Ahn Jae-hong. He was so nervous and kept asking to audition. I felt a fondness like I did with Ahn Jae-hong. I felt that Kang Yu-seok was born with a likable quality. I believed he would do well and cast him, and he portrayed the character with not just a bouncy personality but also a sense of weight and balance, performing without being lighthearted.”
As for Jeong Jun-won, who hints at a love line with Go Youn-jung’s character, he stated, “I have been keeping an eye on him for years to cast him. I wanted to work with him, but we couldn’t due to several mismatches. This time, I hoped he would play Gu Do-won. I was looking for an adult character. However, Jeong Jun-won has a relaxed demeanor and a fun sense of mishap while still appearing mature,” he praised.
‘Resident Playbook’ was initially scheduled for release in the first half of last year, but was delayed by a year due to the realities of the situation. This was due to a collective strike of medical residents. Since the beginning of this situation in February last year, the prolonged medical gap has caused a lot of discomfort for the general public, carrying over into the new year. It’s natural for viewers to have resentment towards a medical drama featuring medical residents given this reality.
Director Lee Min-soo emphasized, “‘Resident Playbook’ is not so much a story about professions but about friendships developing among the characters as they get closer and the chemistry that grows between them. The warmth and joy that arise from this is the strength of our drama. There are 12 episodes, and that process is enjoyable. While ‘The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call’ and ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ have been very popular, I believe we can also become a heartwarming drama just as well.”
Creator Shin Won-ho added, “This child will soon flip over, take its first steps, and become talkative to the point of being noisy. The anticipation of waiting to see when my child will call ‘Mommy’ or ‘Daddy’ becomes a moving experience in the end. I plan not to prolong the wait too much. I will try to resolve the story early so that viewers can experience catharsis quickly. If they watch each episode weekly, I think they will quickly develop affection for the characters. Even though they are not my children, I believe viewers will feel a touching emotion.”
‘Resident Playbook’ has its strongest weapon in the form of the older characters from ‘Hospital Playlist.’ Already, in the first episode, Chu Min-ha (Ahn Eun-jin) made an appearance, creating buzz that surpasses the main story and capturing the attention of viewers. For fans awaiting ‘Hospital Playlist’ Season 3, the cameo appearances in ‘Resident Playbook’ are something to look forward to.
Creator Shin Won-ho stated, “There are also new songs debuting from Mido and Parasol, and a remake of ‘Amateur’ will also be released. There will be special appearances in almost every episode. Characters related to ‘Hospital Playlist’ will appear. All the 99s will appear, and main actors will also join as needed. In this week’s broadcast, Kim Jun-wan (Jung Kyung-ho) will appear. I hope viewers will watch our kids grow with a warm perspective,” asking for a loving gaze.
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