Romance in Crisis at Yulje Hospital: Resident Playbook Nears Finale

As tvN’s beloved weekend drama ‘Resident Playbook’ (‘언젠가는 슬기로울 전공의 생활’) heads into its grand finale, tensions rise as the secret romance between Oh Yi-young (Go Yoon-jung) and Koo Do-won (Jung Joon-won) approaches a tipping point. In the most recent episode aired on the 17th, their covert relationship becomes the hospital’s hottest topic after multiple colleagues begin connecting the dots.

The episode grabbed top ratings across all channels, recording a 7.6% average viewership and peaking at 8.6% in Seoul. It also ranked first in the 20–49 age demographic, tvN’s core target, with a peak of 4.5%, establishing its dominance across its time slot.

Oh Yi-young and Koo Do-won are caught in a whirlwind of workplace suspicion after they are seen dining together following a tense encounter with Do Jae-hak (Jung Moon-sung), a fellow at Yulje Hospital. When an emergency patient suddenly appears, the couple springs into action, unknowingly getting filmed. The footage quickly circulates through online communities, fueling gossip.

Adding fuel to the fire, Eom Jae-il (Kang Yoo-seok) witnesses an intimate moment in the hospital and makes veiled comments hinting at his awareness. Meanwhile, Kim Sa-bi (Han Ye-ji) discovers their shared address while gathering information for a wedding gift delivery. The puzzle pieces start fitting together as Pyo Nam-kyung (Cynthia) notices Koo Do-won addressing Oh Yi-young’s sister Oh Joo-young (Jung Woon-sun) as “sister-in-law.”

The trio realizes Oh Yi-young and Koo Do-won are not just coworkers but are connected through family ties and living together while dating. Unaware of the reveal, Oh Yi-young walks confidently into the resident lounge, only to be met with intense stares that shake her cool demeanor. Viewers are left wondering if the couple can weather the intensifying scrutiny.

Simultaneously, a subplot reveals why Yi-young left her previous local hospital. She stood up to a predatory dermatologist who harassed a nurse, costing her the job but earning lifelong gratitude.

This week’s episode also marked a critical milestone in Oh Yi-young’s professional journey. With guidance from her senior Koo Do-won and OB-GYN professor Seo Jung-min (Lee Bong-ryun), Yi-young completes her first surgical procedure, post-delivery, under the watchful eye of patient and professor Keum Sae-byeok (Park Ye-young), symbolizing her growth as both a doctor and a character.

Fans should stay tuned as ‘Resident Playbook’ promises an emotionally charged finale, airing tonight at 9:20 PM KST.