Highlights
Starring the dapper Ju Ji-hoon in the lead role, Netflix’s first original medical K-drama ‘The Trauma Code: Heroes On Call’ released on the streaming platform on January 24. In an icing on the cake, all eight episodes of the series have been released already.
Medical K-dramas are an exciting option all the time. These series pay attention to a broad range of genres, such as psychiatry, historical, supernatural and genius surgeons. The makers also seamlessly add a small but impactful touch of romance.
Ju Ji-hoon and his incredible performances
Our protagonist Ju Ji-hoon recently appeared in ‘Light Shop’, streaming on Disney+Hotstar. The title refers to a store that sells bulbs and lamps. It has been represented as a bright spot in a dark alley that is only open at night. But it is not all there is to this mysterious shop.
In the last couple of months, Ji-hoon has already appeared in at least 2 K-dramas. Do you think a third consecutive leading role is nothing but asking too much? Nah! Ji-hoon and his charming aura are capable of handling the pressure.
Meet genius surgeon Baek Kang-hyuk in The Trauma Code
In January 2025, our dapper star is being hailed for his performance in ‘The Trauma Code: Heroes On Call’. In the beginning, Ji-hoon – playing the role of genius surgeon Baek Kang-hyuk – can be seen tearing across an open plain on his motorbike straight into a conflict zone.
You can find falling bombs and a lot of chaos in this segment. Dr Kang-hyuk, nonetheless, is adamant about saving lives – and he does that. Back in South Korea, people are facing a different kind of crisis.
In the capital Seoul, scores of patients are dying in ambulances as they are denied entry to packed emergency units, helplessly moving from one place to another. The situation is particularly challenging at Hankuk University Medical Centre.
Despite being described as one of the top medical facilities in the country, there is no dedicated trauma centre at the hospital. Responsibility for taking care of this department is rotated through the other departments at the hospital.
Things start to turn South as the only dedicated trauma specialist at the department collapses from burden. In order to make things better, Minister Kang Myung-hi (played by Kim Sun-young) recommends someone for the vacant post: Baek Kang-hyuk.
The Trauma Code isn’t a regular medical K-drama
The first person to meet Dr Baek Kang-hyuk is Yang Jae-won, a resident in the colorectal department currently on trauma rotation. Choo Young-woo has done a fabulous job at playing the character. He and Kang-hyuk are going to make a great team.
Kang-hyuk has a dashing figure and a soothing voice. He also doesn’t mind hopping into helicopters or jumping into conflict zones. He seems to be every girl’s ‘Dream Man’. But nurse Cheon Jang-mi (Ha Young) initially mistook him for a gangster. Oops!
Nonetheless, it should be emphasised here that our protagonist’s heroism as a genius and highly experienced surgeon doesn’t inspire people right in the beginning. Many senior doctors at the hospital are furious as he doesn’t attend his appointment ceremony.
But Kang-hyuk has a stable reason for it. He is operating on a patient at the time. He finally attends the ceremony and hour late and, rather than apologising for the delay, demands an apology from the audience for the mess he has inherited.
‘The Trauma Code: Heroes On Call’ addresses the hospital’s constant focus on increasing profit margins, exemplified by the actions of some senior doctors. But this tired corporate angle is not utilised much in the drama.
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