On March 24, 2025, MTN unveiled that the highly anticipated drama series Resident Playbook will feature an exclusive original soundtrack composed by the fictional band Mido and Falasol. This band originates from the beloved series Hospital Playlist, consisting of popular actors Jo Jung-suk, Jeon Mi-do, Yoo Yeon-seok, Jung Kyung-ho, and Kim Dae-myung.
Mido and Falasol previously enjoyed impressive success with their hit OST track, Me to You, You to Me, dominating music charts on platforms such as Genie, Bugs, and Soribada, while securing the No. 7 spot on Melon. Other notable songs from the Hospital Playlist soundtrack include Jeon Mi-do’s I Knew I Love, Jo Jung Suk’s Aloha, Joy’s Introduce Me to a Good Person, and Kyuhyun’s Confession is Not Flashy.
The soundtrack for Resident Playbook boasts a rich and varied lineup of contributors, featuring numerous idols. The series is helmed by the esteemed creators Shin Won-ho and Lee Woo-jung, who are also recognized for their work on the popular Reply series and Prison Playbook.
Resident Playbook delves into the lives and bonds of young obstetrics and gynecology residents at the Jongno branch of the Yulje Medical Center. The series poignantly captures their experiences as they work within a department that is often overlooked, especially during a time of escalating concerns over South Korea’s declining birth rate.
Insights into Resident Playbook and Its Prolonged Launch
This upcoming series serves as a spin-off to the critically lauded Hospital Playlist, which was recognized as one of the 10 Best K-dramas to Binge Watch on Netflix by Elle. Film critic Yun Suk-jin commended the show for its authentic representation of the medical profession, and the South China Post hailed it as the top Korean drama series of 2020.
In 2023, director Shin Won-ho embarked on creating a new project that fans speculated to be a spin-off of Hospital Playlist. Initially, he reached out to various actors, conducting secret auditions that generated considerable anticipation.
By July 2023, actress Go Youn-jung was cast in the lead female role. Following her, Shin Si-ah secured the second lead, while Jung Joon-wo and Kang Yo-seok were added as male leads in September 2023.
However, in February 2024, the Korean medical community witnessed a mass resignation among doctors, residents, and interns, protesting the government’s initiative to increase medical school admissions by 2,000 annually. This policy aimed to raise annual quotas to 5,058, effective from 2025.
This situation presented a unique challenge for Resident Playbook, as its narrative depicting selfless medical professionals clashed with the recent public sentiments stemming from the protest. Viewers who experienced delays in medical care due to the strike might find it hard to relate positively to the show’s themes.
The strike also disrupted the production schedule for Resident Playbook. In light of the circumstances, tvN announced that the premiere date would be adjusted, leading to an official delay from March 2024 to later in the year. Initially scheduled for May 2024, after the conclusion of Queen of Tears, the series faced further postponements.
As of September 2024, the series was officially sidelined for the remainder of the year, pending further updates.
Resident Playbook is now slated to air on tvN starting April 12, 2025, with episodes set to be broadcast every Saturday and Sunday at 21:10 KST.