This review may contain spoilers
new comfort drama!!
i went into this just expecting a good laugh, and while my expectations were definitely met in that aspect - I haven't laughed this much in a while!!! - this drama managed to blend very well the drama and comedy genres. one second i was laughing my ass off, the next i was tearing up at the injustices the trauma team had to face.this show really highlights how our health system has its priorities all backwards, placing more importance in profits and reducing costs rather than actually saving people.
kdramas have this terrible habit of stretching its run time unnecessarily, and end up feeling draggy in some points, specially when you're binging a show. however, that's not the case with "The Trauma Code", the run time is actually pretty short compared to other kdramas. and also one of the very few cases where i genuinely wished the episodes were longer. it just went by soooo fast, i NEED more!!!!!!
the characters are very distinct and well-written, even though some - cough cough doctor hong cough that egotistic bastard - had me pulling my hair in utter frustration, it was still a delight to watch these talented actors' delivering such great performances. han yurim in particular had me STRESSED in the beginning and i believe that's why his character development was so satisfying, seeing him grow from someone who valued his reputation more than anything to someone who saved other's lifes by risking his own (even though his cowardice was still there lol) was fulfilling!! also his change of stance regarding dr. kanghyeok felt very natural, he didn't just instantely switch up when the doctor saved his daughter's life, there was a natural build up to it, which in my opinion made more sense given the type of person he was.
all three main leads did an excellent job!!! ju jihoon's performance was nothing short of amazing as always, he is seriously hilarious here!!! despite his very rough and nonchalant outside, i love how his character turned out to be caring (in his own way lol). it's heartwarming to see how much value he places in his patient's well-being.
nurse jangmi was such a breath of fresh air, her love and dedication for her job is so evident!! i absolutely loved her heart-to-heart convo with dr. jaewon in the rooftop.
lastly, as a very anxious med student, i relate a lot to jaewon's worries and insecurities and admire his persistence a lot!! choo youngwoo deserves all the praises for his portrayal of jaewon, he managed to bring to life a very cartoon-ish character, which a lot of times fall flat on TV.
my only complaint is that the netflix's subtitles are... questionable. as someone who isn't fluent in korean - although i'm kind of motivated to learn after this -, i felt like some of the dialogues' meaning got lost in translation, but that's nothing new coming from netflix lol.
this short series has a very special place in my heart, i'm sure i will be rewatching very soon!! they better give us a season 2 soon though!!!!
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A Medical Drama the Delivered
I went into this expecting it to just be another typical medical drama that focused more on drama than the care itself. I was waaay wrong.Baek Gang Hyeok isn't your typical doctor. He has a secret and a childhood trauma that has shaped him to be the genius trauma surgeon that he is today which is why the Minister of Health and Welfare chose him for the job.
Seeing how tragic the trauma units are in Korea's hospitals she brings in Baek Gang Hyeok to rectify the mess and get it back to where it needs to be. Hospitals have become greedy and filled with corruption instead of focusing on the main point...to save lives.
Watching Baek Gang Hyeok bulldoze through the lazy and corrupt staff at a university hospital to save lives is a rush. He's blunt and straight to the point and even rude but is filled with empathy and compassion for each and every person that is in his care.
This is exactly the kind of medical drama that I want to see. I want to feel the anxiety of possibly losing a patient when they are against all odds. I want to feel the joy when they succeed in saving a life. I want to feel that rush of racing to the scene of an accident. This drama gave me all the feels including some laughs and sadness and frustration.
Ju Ji Hoon (Baek Gang Hyeok), Choo Young Woo ("Anus" and "Number One"), along with Ha Young (Nurse Cheon Jang Mi) did and excellent job delivering what I wanted to see. I grew to love all three characters quickly and immensely enjoyed watching them interact. There was plenty of character growth that I admired and wanted to continue watching.
Honestly, 8 episodes wasn't enough for me. I wanted it to continue to at least 12 or even 16. It was just that good. There were no boring moments for me. I really hope there is a 2nd season.
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HELL YEAH
I am just getting into medical kdramas and I think this is a very strong start! First of all this kdramas action is crazy!! Never NEVER i was tired or bored of watching it. The action, the acting, the story!! EVERYTHING IS PERFECT! I loved how they explained every disease so we, watchers could understand what is going on. The plot is fantastic, the acting is amazing, the kdrama is a MASTERPIECE! you will love it no matter what, even if you don’t love medical series I still very much recommend you to watch it! Enjoy every second of this kdrama bcs it only has 8 episodes( 10/10 one of the best from 2025!Was this review helpful to you?
Looking at the winners of the Baeksang Arts Awards, what are some take aways?
One take-away for me after viewing the Baeksang is this. Comedy as an art form instead of an orphan child of Art is rarely recognized in the Film and Drama industry in general worldwide and in South Korea specifically. Therefore, Joo Ji-hoon winning the Best Actor category at the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards (2025) in an Action Comedy was a shock for me. Many Comedies before have failed to get the call, notably Song Joong-ki for Vincenzo in 2022. I think Comedy is a high art form, which is not achievable by many people. Dramatic actors and Comedy actors try to stay in their lane. It is not an easy feat for an actor to switch back and forth between drama and comedy or vice versa.I don’t know what was a bigger shock. That a great dramatic actor like Joo Ji-hoon could find his footing in the world of comedy or that the Baeksang Arts Awards recognized that the acting skill set level needed to pull it off was a great feat. Kudos to Joo Ji-hoon for crossing the boundaries of drama to comedy and being great at it. Who knew?
Joo Ji-hoon put out two stellar roll-all-over-the-floor Comedies this Baeksang Arts Award Year 2024-2025. They were ‘Love Your Enemy’ (2024) and ‘The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call’ (2025). In the same period, Joo Ji-hoon put out two great dramatic dramas, Blood Free (2024) and Light Shop (2024). This proved to me that Joo Ji-hoon’s crossover was not just a fluke. I did not pick Joo Ji-hoon to win in the Best Actor category with a Comedy Action Drama, because I did not think that it was possible for him to win. Comedy is always invited to the dance, but always asked to be a wall flowers. I am truly glad that someone in the High Tower is finally waking up. Congratulations to Joo Ji-hoon and may this not be a one-and-done for rewarding comedy at the Baeksang.
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Truly one of the best Kdramas I have ever watched
This Kdrama has been gathering a lot of attention on KSpaces, and yet, when i first started watching, I went in with very minimal expectations. I surely did not expect that, during the 48 hours it took me to binge watch it, Trauma code would take up all of my thoughts. Something that honestly should not come by surprise as I absolutely love the Found Family Trope, which isperfectly portrayed in here.
The casting is actually perfect. I loved the last episode so much. I loved Dr. Baek’s character, as it provided as much depth as arrogance. The way he was passionate about nothing but his patients in the beginning, but slowly and surely he was proven to care about others. The rest of the cast was so human that it was impossible to hate them. At some point, you become hooked too and feel part of the friend group. The drama keeps you on the verge of your seat and Mr. Baek getting the last laugh with everyone is soooo satisfying.
The main idea of the show is so great, that it makes me forgive the military propaganda on this
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A whirlwind; NOT the usual medical drama!
Feb 2025This is an exhilirating, very fast paced and often incredibly human, drama.
Aspects of the storyline reminded me of *Dr Romantic S3. However, as the Naver webtoon Trauma Code is based on, came out in 2019, maybe some of their* ideas actually came from that! (Not the other way around.)
It is very graphic, but for some reason wasn't stomach churning, at least not to me. Even though, through the character of surgeon Baek Gang-hyeok, there's a superhero feel to it all, there are also enough more realistic aspects to keep it from being totally ridiculous (seeing as that isn't the drama's genre).
Very real and shocking attitudes, towards costs and targets taking preference over human lives, are central to the entire drama. It seems dramas like this might be an indication of where many S.Koreans fear their hospital care is heading.
We also get some of Gang-hyeok's colourful history, which could actually fill another drama in itself!!! A prequel, perhaps? 😉
There are many fresh aspects to this story, which I'd not seen in any of the medical K-dramas that I've watched before. I'd actually love to read the webtoon, if there's a translated version out there.
Many great supporting characters, and I particularly enjoyed Kim Won-hae's acting; as well as Kim Sun-young, who portrayed the Minister of Health and Welfare, just right!
As long as you don't expect everyday realism, and just let yourself get immersed in the tornado of a character that is fabulously interpreted by Ju Ji-hoon, then he's sure to sweep you into his world, just like he does all the suffering characters around him!
Laughs, the odd tear, and some anger inducing moments.
Apparently, the series was written with 3 seasons in mind and, as it seems to be doing well, I've read S2 is expected in 2026 ~ here's hoping! It will be criminal if we don't get it.
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Amazing just amazing
This show was so great from start to finish. It was fast-paced, and there were no dead moments. The actors drew you in and made you want to root for them. The twist in the storylines was just awesome, and I found that time flew by while watching these. There are definitely some crazy surgeries happening, but what do you expect from a medical drama? I also loved the running theme of the show, and it felt like more than just a drama. Who do you care for more money or lives? Also, the year this drama took place threw me, I was like, what type of phone is that? Lol. I loved the ending, and I want more seasons, please!Was this review helpful to you?
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One of the Best Medical Dramas Ever
This series was so entertaining from start to finish. The acting, writing & directing is absolutely flawless. This show brings back memories of a popular U.S. Show called "ER". In fact, I found that Young Woo's character of Jae Won (Number 1) definitely mirrors the character of Dr John Carter from that show's early years in many ways. Young Woo not only gives a great dramatic performance, but he blends physical "slapstick" comedy brilliantly at the perfect scenes. You wouldn't expect too much comedy in a dramatic medical drama, but it's apparent throughout.The entire cast is just fantastic working as a team, with Ji Hoon masterfully in charge. Nurse Jang Mi (Gangster) and Dr Han are equally strong characters as well. They all fit together like a perfect puzzle.
I'm not sure when season 2 will be happening, but I look forward to it. I'm sure it will be great.
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100% Drama for Starting 2025!!!
At first I just trying to watch it since JuJi played the role, never read the manhwa before so I’m totally blind with the stories. But after trying to watch it from ep.1, I already hooked by the stories and acting from all the casts!!! Really didn’t disappoint me!! Love it so much!!! It’s so hard for me to hooked with the stories from the very first minutes of episode 1! Usually I can still bear to watch it till ep.2 (just like Lovely Runner and Brewing Love) but this series!!! I can’t stop watching it! Especially they’re dropping the episodes till 8!!!So you guys have to watch this drama!!! The only minus from this drama is CGI in some scenes you can tell the CGI so noticeable, but thank God that the actors played so well so it’s forgiven.
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Wanting to see more
Although the medical drama theme initially raised some resistance in watching it because I feared it would be repetitive, when I started watching it I found the story, the subject covered, very interesting and current for our realities. The episodes were "devoured" in an instant and it was hoped that the series would continue very soon.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
This is THE medical K-Drama we needed
An absolute gem of a drama. I can’t emphasise enough how good the whole show is. Not a single boring scene that would make you want to hit the forward button.I loved how they wrapped everything up towards the end, tying all the backstories together and bringing the drama full circle. The moment Dr. Baek finally acknowledged Dr. Yang brought tears to my eyes!
I’ve watched my fair share of medical K-dramas, but this one just topped the list. We’ve had plenty of medical dramas packed with romance, but for once it was nice to see the doctors in action, saving lives, making tough calls, and showing us the raw side of the profession.
The acting was absolutely splendid across the entire cast. Every character felt alive, every scene carried weight. Honestly, I could go on and on about why you have to watch this drama… but I’ll just stop here and say: trust me, it’s worth it.
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