Resident Playbook (Korean: ์ธ์ ๊ฐ๋ ์ฌ๊ธฐ๋ก์ธ ์ ๊ณต์์ํ) is a 2025 South Korean medical drama and spin-off of the acclaimed Hospital Playlist series.
Created by Shin Won-ho and Lee Woo-jung, the show brings back the heartfelt tone of the original while introducing a new group of young doctors navigating their personal and professional lives in a high-pressure environment.
Starring Go Youn-jung, Shin Si-ah, Han Ye-ji, Kang You-seok, and Jung Joon-won, the series follows a group of obstetrics and gynecology residents at Yulje Medical Center’s Jongno branch. Set against the backdrop of South Koreaโs declining birth rate, the story focuses on the young doctors’ resilience, friendships, emotional struggles, and commitment to women’s health.
The series premieres on tvN on April 12, 2025, airing every Saturday and Sunday at 21:10 KST, and will stream on Netflix in select regions.
Resident Playbook Age Rating
Resident Playbook is rated TV-MA for mature content including medical trauma, occasional strong language, and emotional intensity. While not excessively graphic, it presents realistic portrayals of medical procedures and emotionally charged moments that may not be appropriate for younger viewers.
Violence & Medical Intensity
The show includes realistic portrayals of surgeries, childbirth complications, emergency situations, and scenes involving patient trauma. While not gory, the medical realism and emotional stakes in life-or-death moments may be distressing for sensitive viewers.
Language
There may be occasional strong language, including Korean slang and expressions that are mildly coarse in tone, although excessive profanity is unlikely.
Sexual Content
As the show focuses on OB-GYN doctors, there may be clinical references to reproductive health, pregnancy, and childbirth. Expect frank discussions and visual depictions of medical procedures related to womenโs health, though no explicit sexual content is anticipated.
Mature Themes
Themes include death, infertility, professional burnout, and moral dilemmas in medicine. Emotional scenes involving patients, doctors, and family members are expected to carry emotional weight and complexity. These moments may be intense for younger audiences.
Is Resident Playbook Suitable for Teens?
Ages 10โ12: Not recommended. The mature medical content, emotionally intense themes, and realistic depiction of hospital life make this show too complex and heavy for younger viewers.
Ages 13โ17: Suitable for older teens (15+). Teen viewers with an interest in medical dramas or character-driven stories may find the show engaging. However, the emotional maturity required to process the showโs themes means itโs better suited for mature teens. Parental guidance is advised for viewers under 16.
While Resident Playbook doesnโt rely on sensational content, its realistic and emotional approach to storytelling makes it more appropriate for a thoughtful older teen or adult audience.
What Parents Can Do
Watch Together: Viewing with teens can offer opportunities to discuss health, ethics, and empathy.
Talk About Themes: The showโs handling of birth, loss, and teamwork can open meaningful family conversations.
Provide Context: For teens unfamiliar with medical terminology or emotional nuance, helping explain certain scenes can be beneficial.
Official Trailer
FAQs
Q: What is the age rating for Resident Playbook?
A: The series is rated TV-MA for mature themes, medical intensity, and emotional content.
Q: Does Resident Playbook contain graphic medical scenes?
A: It includes realistic but not overly graphic depictions of surgery, childbirth, and emergency procedures.
Q: Is there sexual content in the series?
A: No explicit sexual content, but there are clinical discussions and scenes related to reproductive health.
Q: Can teens watch this show?
A: Itโs suitable for mature teens aged 15+, especially those interested in medicine or character-driven drama.
Q: Where can I watch Resident Playbook?
A: It premieres on tvN on April 12, 2025, and will stream on Netflix in selected regions.