Binge-worthy: K-drama The Trauma Code is a bonkers but entertaining watch

The Trauma Code: Heroes On Call

Netflix
★★★☆☆

The South Korean medical comedy The Trauma Code: Heroes On Call is addictive froth, entertaining and watchable. Just don’t think too deeply about it.

The Netflix K-drama stars Ju Ji-hoon as Baek Kang-hyuk, an arrogant but genius trauma surgeon with a mysterious past. He is tasked to revitalise the quality of trauma care and emergency surgery in South Korea. 

Here are three reasons to tune in.

1. “Shiok” superhero lead

Adapted from a web novel and comic, or manhwa, of the same name, The Trauma Code retains the exaggeration and animation factor that is typical of South Korean manhwa. And that comes through most strongly in the bonkers main character of Kang-hyuk, who is as close to a superhero as one can get in a series purportedly without such fantastical elements.

He is almost supernaturally good at his day job of being a trauma surgeon, outshining even veterans of other specialities. But he is somehow also able to steadily pilot a helicopter through hazy skies or speed an ambulance through busy roads, and can also wield a machine gun in a shoot-out with terrorists.

But if one can set realism aside, it is quite exciting, or to use the colloquial term “shiok”, to watch Kang-hyuk save the day over and over again with his myriad skills. 

2. Fast-paced procedural

With only eight episodes, this is a show that moves along at a crisp pace. 

While there is a larger overarching plotline – about the hospital’s executive staff constantly trying to undermine the trauma department in a bid to cut costs – that slowly unveils Kang-hyuk’s backstory, much of the series is procedural-like, with a case-of-the-day format.

Perhaps to mimic the actual pace of an emergency room, the core trio of medical staff – also comprising Kang-hyuk’s protege Yang Jae-won (Choo Young-woo) and trauma department nurse Cheon Jang-mi (Ha Young) – are constantly thrown headlong into new cases. One severely injured patient is rushed into their care after another and, sometimes, multiple operations take place at once. 

The curveballs keep coming and there is always something to keep viewers clicking on the next episode. 

3. A central trio with chemistry

Romance is, refreshingly, not part of the dynamic at all. Instead, Kang-hyuk serves as the mentor of both Jae-won and Jang-mi. 

Choo plays hard-working disciple Jae-won, who is often shocked by his boss’ unorthodox methods, while Ha’s Jang-mi is the unfazed and sassy one who can stand up to Kang-hyuk and calm Jae-won down.

Ju’s wheelhouse has always been characters that tread the line between annoying and lovable, in K-dramas like Hyena (2020) and film series Along With The Gods (2017 to 2018). And Kang-hyuk is similarly hard to dislike, despite how arrogant and brash he is. 

But the breakout star is Choo. His character begins the series as an intelligent and talented but somewhat timid surgical fellow. Over the course of the eight-parter, audiences see him grow to become better at what he does and more sure of himself.

Choo plays this shift subtly – Jae-won does not magically gain Kang-hyuk’s confidence. He is still anxious as a surgeon new to taking charge in an operating theatre, but is able to stand his ground for what he believes to be right.