The tvN drama Resident Playbook has been left adrift ever since the doctors strike in South Korea.
On December 3, tvN unveiled its lineup of dramas set to air in 2025, along with the announcement of a new Wednesday-Thursday drama slot.
The 2025 lineup includes: Ask the Stars starring Lee Min Ho, Gong Hyo Jin, and Oh Jung Se; Seocho-dong, starring Lee Jong Suk and Moon Ga Young; Typhoon Boss, starring Lee Jun Ho and Geum Sae Rok; and Unknown Seoul, starring Park Bo Young and Park Jin Young among many more.
Among these, the broadcast status of Resident Playbook, which had its airing postponed this year, remains undisclosed. Previously, teaser videos and posters for the K-drama were released in February, with plans for a “premiere in the first half of the year.” However, the drama’s broadcast has been indefinitely delayed due to the ongoing strike by resident doctors.
Resident Playbook is a spin-off of the hit drama Hospital Playlist, which aired its first season in 2020 and its second in 2021. With a solid cast that includes Alchemy of Souls Go Youn Jung, Shin Si Ah, Kang Yoo Seok, Han Ye Ji, and Jung Jun Won, the drama has been among the most anticipated ones to come. The story depicts the growth of resident doctors.
Due to the indefinite postponement, Resident Playbook has not been included in tvN’s 2025 lineup either. tvN remains tight-lipped, stating that the drama’s scheduling has yet to be finalized.
Given the current scenario, there are concerns that airing a drama centered on resident doctors during an ongoing resident strike could risk accusations of glorifying their portrayal or failing to resonate with viewers. tvN finds itself in a difficult position: it cannot delay the broadcast indefinitely, yet pushing ahead with the release could also backfire. The network’s predicament appears to be deepening as it navigates these challenges.
