'Resident Playbook' surpasses 5 percent, but reality is different?

A scene from "Resident Playbook" / Courtesy of tvN

The tvN drama "Resident Playbook" has surpassed 5 percent viewership ratings, but many point out that reality is far different from what is depicted on screen. The series focuses on the life of first-year obstetrics and gynecology residents, but in real life, the field is facing a severe staffing shortage.

"Resident Playbook" centers around Oh I-young (played by Go Youn-jung), a first-year resident in obstetrics and gynecology. Other characters, such as Pyo Nam-kyung (Shin Si-ah), Eom Jae-il (Kang Yoo-seok), and Kim Sa-bi (Han Ye-ji), are also first-year residents in the same department. While the drama incorporates some elements of reality, it does not fully mirror the current conditions in the medical field.

Director Shin Won-ho acknowledged during a press conference that the number of obstetrics and gynecology residents depicted in the drama is unrealistically high. "We hear a lot of comments like, 'This part is not realistic,'" Shin said. "Our team creates fictional stories that seem plausible based on reality. Since drama is about creating fiction, it is difficult to reflect everything exactly as it is." He added, "We hoped to portray a reality where there are more residents in these less popular specialties. We want to depict what many people hope for, and we hope this leads to positive outcomes."

Scenes from "Resident Playbook" / Captured from tvN

Popular content can serve as a motivator. After the release of "Top Gun" starring Tom Cruise, applications to become U.S. Navy pilots reportedly increased fivefold. Similarly, the 2012 film "Architecture 101" was said to influence student preferences. Yonsei University saw its architecture department reach a 6.77-to-1 competition ratio for admissions in 2012, compared to 3-to-1 in 2013. Well-made content can stir fantasies and lead to shifts in preferences.

However, it is difficult to expect "Resident Playbook" to significantly boost doctors' preference for obstetrics and gynecology. Most doctors already have much more information about the field than what a medical drama can provide, unlike students inspired to pursue architecture after watching a movie. A doctor in their 20s told the Hankook Ilbo, "To increase doctors' preference for less popular specialties, it is necessary to raise medical fees, improve working conditions overall, and strengthen legal protections for these doctors. There are cases where doctors are sued simply for failing to save patients who were already beyond recovery. Although laws call for harsher penalties for assaults on medical professionals, in practice, punishments are often light."

Nevertheless, the drama holds significance. Cultural critic Kim Heon-sik told the Hankook Ilbo, "When a drama becomes popular and has a sense of reality and persuasiveness, it often draws public attention to the related field." Kim added, "If 'Resident Playbook' meets these conditions, it could raise awareness about the importance of obstetrics and gynecology." Even if the drama does not immediately boost preference for the specialty, it could spark public discussion about the growing aversion to these fields. With its viewership surpassing 5 percent, "Resident Playbook" is steadily building its social impact.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.