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Jung Jun Won sits for an interview for Resident Playbook.
Hospital Playlist spin-off Resident Playbook is a drama about OB-GYN residents working at Yulje Hospital as they walk the path to becoming wise doctors.
In the K-drama, Jung Jun Won played the role of Koo Do Won, a fourth-year OB-GYN resident, a supportive and dependable senior who looks after the first-year residents.
What was it like watching Resident Playbook from a viewer's perspective?
It felt refreshing, especially since I had forgotten some of the details from filming and was also seeing parts I wasn't involved in all together. There were some aspects I personally felt could have been better, but overall, it had that same youthful and fresh vibe as past projects. Although the broadcast delay due to the Doctors' Strike was disappointing, I'm truly grateful that the show was finally released and received so much attention from viewers.
How did you come to join this project? And how was the teamwork with your fellow cast members?
After auditioning for Season 1 of Hospital Playlist, director Shin Won Ho requested a meeting. I ended up joining the project after going through several rounds of auditions. I think the director saw an overlap between who I am naturally and the character, and was expecting me to portray a dependable senior figure. Thanks to the director actively arranging opportunities for us to get together, I was able to bond with the other actors quickly.
Some viewers have said that the character Koo Do Won comes across as somewhat idealized. What is your own view of him?
I can't say for certain since I haven't experienced it firsthand, but I do think he's probably a rare case in real life. Even as I was acting, Koo Do Won felt like a special character — someone who is warm and caring, yet can also be strict when necessary. There were moments when I thought, "Would I really be able to go that far if it were me?" But as someone who can only act a character once I have some understanding of him, I focused on trying to understand his actions and emotions. Also, the way the first-year residents and the professors viewed him had a big influence on shaping Koo Do Won.
How was the chemistry with the cameo actors?
Just being with them in the same space felt reassuring. Especially acting alongside Jung Kyung Ho sunbae, it felt as if I was meeting Professor Kim Jun Wan from the TV in real life. It was really meaningful.
Many people say your acting feels natural, like [how someone would behave in] real life. What do you consider most important when you act?
Rather than putting excessive effort into every scene, I try to bring sincerity even in actions that may seem meaningless. I think it’s more important to approach acting with an honest heart than to focus on technical aspects. Maybe that's why people describe me as an actor like a 'blank canvas.'
If discussions for Season 2 were to happen, would you be willing to join? What does Resident Playbook mean to you personally?
Of course, I want to join. Resident Playbook gave me the feeling of starting anew as an actor. It's such a precious and meaningful project that even good compliments wouldn't feel excessive. I'm just very grateful for it.
Compared to the past, is there anything you've become wise about through this project? What are your goals as an actor going forward?
Right after graduating from university, I was full of baseless confidence. Looking back now, it was a time when I was both excited and anxious. Of course, it's the same now, too, to some extent, but I do feel that I've grown a bit more as an actor through everything I've experienced.
I want to keep participating in a wide range of projects and continue growing steadily. My goal is to become an actor who is genuinely needed in the stories — someone who feels warm and friendly, and who can offer comfort and empathy to viewers.
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