tvN’s ‘Resident Playbook’ Showcases Breakthrough Emergency Surgery Led by Rookie Doctors

In episode 7 of tvN’s weekend drama ‘Resident Playbook’, broadcast on June 3, viewers witnessed a major turning point for young residents Oh Yi-young (played by Go Yoon-jung) and Goo Do-won (played by Jung Joon-won). With no supervising faculty available, the duo, along with residents from other departments, conducted their first independent surgery — a life-threatening emergency delivery which stirred heartfelt emotion among the characters and viewers alike.

The episode achieved impressive ratings, marking 6% average viewership in the Seoul metropolitan area (peaking at 6.7%) and 5.3% nationwide, claiming the number one spot across all cable and streaming platforms according to Nielsen Korea. Among the key 20–49 demographic, it also ranked first, outperforming even broadcast channels.

Drama tension escalated when an emergency patient — a foreign woman unable to communicate in Korean or English — was rushed into obstetrics. As hospital departments typically struggle over shared space and resources, surgery rooms are rarely freed easily. But this time, anesthesiology’s Ham Dong-ho (Lee Min-soo), emergency medicine’s Park Joon-seok (Seo Yi-seo), and pediatrics’ Park Moo-kang (Yoo Hyun-jong) united to support Oh Yi-young in this critical moment.

Despite the high stakes and their own anxieties, Oh Yi-young and Goo Do-won remained composed and successfully delivered the baby. When the newborn initially showed no signs of life, Park Moo-kang fervently revived the infant, eventually triggering the baby’s powerful first cry — a relieving and emotional moment that resonated throughout the operating room.

Following the surgery, the residents shared a heartfelt embrace, symbolizing their growth and the strong bonds forged through crisis. Ham Dong-ho continued to display a gentle side, offering Oh Yi-young a calming tonic and sheltering her from sudden rain with an umbrella. His gesture, followed by the unexpected question, “Would you like to have a meal together?” hinted at developing romantic undertones.

Goo Do-won observed the interaction silently, creating subtle tension and anticipation over a possible love triangle with Oh Yi-young at the center.

Elsewhere, Cynthia’s character Pyo Nam-kyung worked under faculty orders to recruit intern Tak Ki-on (Cha Kang-yoon) into obstetrics — a position known for minimal interest in recent years. Although Tak Ki-on seemed disinterested and even confused senior names, the episode left viewers questioning whether Nam-kyung’s persistence could eventually sway him.

The emotionally charged episode left fans eagerly waiting for more, with episode 8 scheduled to air on June 4 at 9:20 PM KST.