Ambulances arrive at the emergency room blaring sirens, paramedics rush in carrying bloodied patients, and medical staff scramble to respond to urgent cries in the emergency room. Hospital emergency rooms are an intense place where life and death hang in the balance. Netflix’s latest hit series, “The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call,” released on Jan. 24, unfolds in this high-stakes setting. The series became the most-watched non-English TV show on Netflix on Feb. 5, while “Squid Game: Season 2” dropped to fifth in the same category.
Medical dramas have long captured audiences, but balancing realism with compelling storytelling is no easy feat. Hansanleega, the pen name of the writer behind the original web novel the series is based on, brought firsthand experience as both a doctor and a writer to convey the realities of South Korea’s medical system. In an email interview with The Chosun Daily, Hansanleega, whose real name is Lee Nak-joon (40), shared his experiences as a doctor and his perspective on Korea’s healthcare system.
“I chose to set the story in a severe trauma center because the environment is extreme,” Lee explained. “I thought it would feel more convincing if the characters working there were so-called ‘munchkins’ (characters with extraordinary abilities).”
The drama follows Baek Kang-hyuk, a seasoned surgeon with experience in conflict zones recruited to revive a struggling trauma team at a university hospital. While his near-superhuman ability to save lives adds dramatic flair, the show also reflects the real-life limitations medical professionals have to deal with on a daily basis. “If you have knowledge of medical information, you can depict it realistically,” Lee said, emphasizing that his medical experience is deeply embedded in the work.
The Trauma Code sheds light on the harsh realities faced by medical staff. It portrays an overburdened and underfunded trauma team fighting to keep patients alive while exposing the systemic challenges where saving more lives results in greater financial strain. In reality, the number of trauma specialists abandoning the field has reached an all-time high in Korea.
“Korea is among the world’s best in treating cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and cerebrovascular conditions, but trauma care, obstetrics, gynecology, and pediatrics are severely underfunded,” Lee said. ”The United States recognized the need for trauma surgeons as early as the 1950s and has been developing the field ever since, whereas Korea has only a decade-long history in this area. I hope we can catch up quickly.”
Lee appreciates that the web novel’s adaptation into a webtoon and TV show has been a success. “The story feels more alive,” he said. “The directing and acting have come together so well that it has transcended the original novel.” He was particularly impressed by how the drama incorporated new scenes beyond the web novel’s narrative. “I was amazed at how they reinterpreted parts of the story that I wasn’t able to fully explore in the original,” he said, giving credit to the cast and production team.
As for the show’s global popularity, Lee said, “I’m not fluent in English, so I don’t follow overseas responses often, but I’ve heard it’s described as a ‘remarkably fresh style of medical drama.’ I’m grateful for that.” Viewers attribute the drama’s success overseas—where medical dramas are already widely popular—to its unique focus on the realities of the emergency medical system rather than power struggles within hospitals or personal success stories.
Balancing two careers as a doctor and a writer, Lee confessed that making time for writing was a significant challenge. “I went to work early, ate quickly, and wrote in whatever spare time I had,” he said. “Even though I always lacked time, I wanted to provide a fresh perspective by shedding light on the realities of the healthcare system.” His goal was not merely to inform but to craft a story that readers could naturally relate to and empathize with.
Since November last year, he has been expanding his story through “The Trauma Code: Surgeon Baek Kang-hyuk,” a prequel to the original work. If the web novel performs well, he hopes to expand the storyline to include Baek’s past experience working with a private military company in a conflict zone in Africa, treating wounded mercenaries.
Looking ahead, Lee is interested in writing forensic thrillers and exploring digital healthcare in his future works. “I believe digital healthcare could play a key role in addressing structural problems in the medical system,” he said. “Technology can be a game-changer in making healthcare more accessible.”
