'Resident Playbook,' set to air in April, faces backlash
Highly anticipated 'Hospital Playlist' spinoff delayed over year due to doctors' strike
"Resident Playbook" is finally set to air in April, following a yearlong delay credited to negative public sentiment stemming from a prolonged nationwide doctors' strike. But the series is facing criticism before its release, as many residents who resigned in protest of the government's decision to increase the quota for medical school admissions have yet to return to work.
"Resident Playbook," a highly anticipated spinoff of hit drama series "Hospital Playlist," stars Go Youn-jung and Shin Si-a as obstetrics and gynecology residents at Yulje Medical Center. It follows the rookie doctors as they navigate the hectic world of hospital life, encountering various patient cases while also pursuing personal and professional growth.
The series was initially scheduled for a March 2024 release following tvN's megahit "Queen of Tears."
However, the series launch was postponed amid hostile public sentiment toward doctors, as doctors and medical students went on strike over the government's plan to increase medical school admissions.
With a growing number of patients failing to receive treatment, public sentiment turned sharply against doctors who refused to return to hospitals. The series faced further delays as the doctors' strike prolonged.
The broadcaster announced that the series will premiere on April 12, but the strike continues to cast a shadow over the show's debut.
The show's creator has responding to criticism by emphasizing that the central focus of "Resident Playbook" is the characters' personal growth.
Shin Won-ho, the series producer, said in a press release that "Resident Playbook" is "a story about all beginnings in life, such as friends just starting their social lives and babies newly born into the world. Watching various characters experience awkwardness and grow ... will allow viewers to laugh, cry and share emotions together."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
9 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Korea embraces beauty of everyday with monthlong craft exhibitions
Craft exhibitions on hanji and hanbok await visitors this month South Korea is turning up the charm this month with a series of craft exhibitions that celebrate the artistry found in everyday objects. The Korea Craft and Design Foundation is presenting "Hanji Objects: Embracing Wisdom" at Hanji House in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, through June 22. The exhibition spotlights "hanji," traditional Korean paper made from mulberry bark, and its evolving role over the centuries. Once primarily used for writing and books, hanji has long been repurposed into durable, lightweight and humidity-resistant household items. Artifacts on loan from the Hanji Art and Culture Foundation in Wonju, Gangwon Province, and the Goesan Hanji Experience Museum in North Chungcheong Province, illustrate the craftsmanship and ancestral wisdom embedded in these handmade pieces. The exhibition is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and admission is free. From June 13 to 15, the KCDF will also host a three-day hanbok fair at AK& Sejong. The 2025 Hanbok Expo will feature eight hanbok brands — Guiroe, Ccomaque by Dolsilnai, Daraewon Hanbok, Sun Daum, Somock Hanbok, Somikyung, Ondata Parang, and Flora Dress and Hanbok — offering visitors a chance to try on traditional attire and explore the synergy between Hangeul and hanbok. Admission is 5,000 won, with more details available on KCDF's official website. Later that month, jeweler and maker Kim Yoo-jung will unveil her second solo exhibition in five years, "Refuse to Disappear," at Yeol Bukchonga in Jongno-gu, June 17-23. Her contemporary jewelry pieces reflect on the presence of everyday objects and challenge viewers to rethink consumption and value in a fast-paced society. In Gyeonggi Province, the Yangju City Council gallery is showcasing 'The Phrase: Perspectives on Space' through June 27, featuring artists Won Jo-hyun, Lee Se-rim, Lee Eun-kyoung and Chung Dong-gyun. The exhibition draws inspiration from musical phrasing — the shaping of a passage — using visual art to express how individual works can resonate both independently and as a cohesive whole within a shared space. Admission is free.
Korea Herald
a day ago
- Korea Herald
Seoul's chronic shortage of venues has concert organizers looking elsewhere
Goyang, Incheon promote their major venues amid shortage in Seoul A shortage of major concert venues has been a long-running issue in South Korea, particularly given the remarkable growth of K-pop and the subsequent increase in demand. This year has been a particularly difficult one for concert organizers, as performance venues have become even harder to secure. Jamsil Olympic Stadium, which can hold between 60,000 and 100,000 people, is currently under renovation and will not be available until 2026. The other often used venue, Seoul World Cup Stadium in Sangam-dong, which can hold up to 66,000 people, is a sports stadium, with challenging acoustics, at best. Adding to the difficulties are the complaints from sports fans and athletes that the massive crowds at concerts damage the field. On Saturday, the Korea Entertainment Producers' Association (KEPA) issued a statement calling for the issue to be properly addressed, even suggesting that the National Assembly site could be a suitable location for a dedicated concert area should the National Assembly be relocated to Sejong City, as has been suggested by President Lee Jae-myung during his election campaign. 'Building a concert venue requires a massive budget, which makes it financially burdensome. On top of that, it's difficult to secure suitable land within the limited space in Seoul, and the lack of administrative support has repeatedly led to the cancellation of large-scale venue projects,' Kim Myung-soo, head of KEPA, told The Korea Herald on Wednesday. He added, 'Due to the shortage of concert venues in Seoul, event organizers are increasingly turning their attention to venues in the greater metropolitan area.' "Booking a concert venue is always a fierce competition. There are far too few venues dedicated solely to festivals or concerts," an official from a concert organizing company also said. Goyang City committed to large-scale concerts Goyang City, home to one of South Korea's largest concert venues, Goyang Sports Complex, has made it clear since last year that it is committed to attracting large-scale performances at the municipal level. Concert venues fall under different categories: arenas, which accommodate around 8,000 to 20,000 seats; domes, which hold between 20,000 and 30,000 seats; and stadiums, which can host concerts for more than 30,000 people. With a capacity of approximately 50,000, Goyang Sports Complex falls into the stadium category. Goyang Sports Complex offers excellent accessibility for both domestic and international audiences, with its proximity to Incheon International Airport, Seoul Metro Line 3, and the GTX-A line. Additionally, since it is not a home stadium to a sports team, securing concert dates in advance is relatively easy. In September 2024, Goyang City signed a business agreement with Live Nation Korea, a concert promoter. Under the agreement, Live Nation Korea has undertaken large-scale facility improvements, including the installation of noise reduction equipment and enhancements to audience safety pathways. "Through the agreement, we are sharing Live Nation Korea's expertise in concert planning, as well as sound and stage production technologies, with Goyang City," explained an official from Live Nation Korea to The Korea Herald. On Feb. 26, Goyang City held a briefing session on administrative support measures for attracting large-scale performances, reinforcing its ambition to establish itself as a major concert city. Goyang Urban Corporation has been conducting extensive facility inspections at Goyang Sports Complex and other small concert venues in preparation for major global events scheduled this year. Following G-Dragon's world tour in March and Coldplay's Seoul concert in April, world class acts like J-Hope, Blackpink and Oasis will adorn the venue this year. The city expects approximately 740,000 attendees to visit Goyang Sports Complex in 2025. Inspire Arena, dedicated concert venue With a seating capacity of 15,000, Inspire Arena, located in Inspire Entertainment Resort in Yeongjong Island, Incheon, is South Korea's first multi-purpose indoor concert venue. Designed and built exclusively for performances, it has received praise for its superior sound quality and immersive concert experience. Since hosting its first show in December 2023, Inspire Arena has held various events, including award ceremonies and concerts by both domestic and international artists. It is the first venue in Korea to feature a ceiling rigging structure capable of supporting up to 100 tons, allowing for spectacular stage productions. Additionally, it is equipped with advanced sound-absorbing facilities and a top-tier audio system. Music fans have also praised the venue for its high-quality acoustics. 'I've been to many concerts at different venues, but Day6's concert at Inspire Arena last September was truly outstanding. For a band performance, sound quality was crucial, and I loved how clear both the drum and guitar sounds were,' said Lee Hye-won, a K-pop fan in her 30s. Another strength of Inspire Arena is that it has a large outdoor venue outside — Discovery Park. It is an attractive feature for music festival organizers, as festivals typically run longer hours and have larger crowds than regular concerts, making it advantageous to have both outdoor and indoor stages. Weverse Con, a joint festival organized by Hybe, was held at Inspire Entertainment Resort for two years in a row, taking advantage of the indoor and outdoor venues. On Feb. 18, Jang Hyun-ki, the general manager of the venue, announced that in 2024, the venue hosted a total of 69 events, attracting 519,000 attendees. 'This year, we are aiming for 60 billion won in revenue and 700,000 visitors. By the third year, once fully stabilized, we expect to attract 800,000 visitors annually,' he explained. He also emphasized efforts to develop in-house productions, saying, 'We aim to go beyond being just a concert venue and focus on creating original content as well.' Striving to overcome shortcomings Goyang Sports Complex faces challenges due to its open-roof structure, making it difficult to host events in winter and during the monsoon season. Meanwhile, Inspire Arena is not easy to reach as it is located on Yeongjongdo, Incheon. Goyang City is open to expanding or renovating Goyang Sports Complex to address its shortcomings. 'Discussions are underway on measures such as installing protective mats to preserve the sports lawn and adding a roof to enable performances even in inclement weather,' a Goyang City official told The Korea Herald. Inspire Arena is also working to resolve its biggest drawback — accessibility. While its proximity to Incheon International Airport makes it convenient for overseas visitors, domestic concertgoers have frequently raised concerns about the long travel time to the island. The venue estimates that it takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours to reach from central Seoul. Their goal is to reduce this to under 1 hour and 30 minutes. Artists performing at Inspire Arena have also attempted to alleviate the problem by offering shuttle bus services bundled with concert tickets. Infinite, for example, held its 15th-anniversary encore concert, "Limited Edition," on April 12-13. To improve accessibility, the organizers partnered with the Kakao T application to sell round-trip shuttle bus packages connecting the venue with major subway stations in Seoul, as well as major cities such as Daejeon, Daegu, Jeonju, Gwangju and Busan.
Korea Herald
27-05-2025
- Korea Herald
'Duck Dynasty' patriarch and conservative cultural icon Phil Robertson dies
WEST MONROE, Louisiana (AP) — Phil Robertson, who turned his small duck calling interest in the sportsman's paradise of northern Louisiana into a big business and conservative cultural phenomenon, died Sunday, according to his family. He was 79. Robertson's family announced in December on their "Unashamed With the Robertson Family" podcast that the patriarch of the clan had Alzheimer's disease. The statement on social media from Robertson's daughter-in-law didn't mention how he died. "Thank you for the love and prayers of so many whose lives have been impacted by his life saved by grace, his bold faith, and by his desire to tell everyone who would listen the Good News of Jesus. We are grateful for his life on earth and will continue the legacy of love for God and love for others until we see him again," Korie Robertson wrote. Phil Robertson skyrocketed to fame in the early 2010s when the A&E network created a reality show, presented like a sitcom. It followed the adventures of Robertson, his three sons — including Willie, who runs the family's Duck Commander company, their wives and a host of other relatives and friends. Phil Robertson and his boys were immediately recognizable by their long beards and their conservative, Christian and family-oriented beliefs. That got Robertson into trouble, too. He told a magazine reporter in 2013 that gay people are sinners and African Americans were happy under Jim Crow laws. A&E suspended him from "Duck Dynasty" but reversed course in a few weeks after a backlash that included Sarah Palin. At the time, Robertson's family called his comments coarse, but said his beliefs were grounded in the Bible and he "is a Godly man." They also said that "as a family, we cannot imagine the show going forward without our patriarch at the helm." Robertson was born in north Louisiana and spent his life in the woods and lakes that make up the region called Sportsman's Paradise. Robertson played football at Louisiana Tech and taught school. He also loved to hunt and created a duck call in the early 1970s that he said replicated the exact sound of a duck. The calls were the centerpiece of the Duck Commander business Robertson would grow into a multimillion-dollar enterprise before A&E came calling. The family just didn't sell outdoor and hunting gear, but a lifestyle. "The Robertsons face everything from beavers to business deals in their own special way — with a twist of downhome practicality and a sharp sense of humor," A&E wrote in its promotion for "Duck Dynasty." Appreciations for Robertson appeared on social media shortly after this death was announced, largely from conservative politicians. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas wrote on X, "The great #PhilRobertson passed today. He loved Jesus & he was utterly fearless. One of my fondest memories was duck hunting with Phil — he was the best shot I ever met. And, in 2016, he recorded this amazing commercial for me. Rest in peace, my friend." "Saddened to hear of the passing of Phil Robertson — a man of deep faith, bold conviction, and unwavering love for his family," wrote Ben Carson, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary, also on X. "I'll never forget the time I spent with Phil and his wonderful family at their homestead in West Monroe, LA. We rode through the swamp stopping at his favorite duck blinds before being welcomed by Miss Kay with a warm, home-cooked meal, surrounded by their extended family and close friends." A&E shared their own tribute to the "Duck Dynasty" X account, writing: "We are saddened to hear of the passing of Phil Robertson, a hunting industry pioneer and the patriarch of the beloved Robertson family. Our thoughts are with them during this difficult time. We extend our deepest condolences and respect their privacy as they grieve."
