Hospital Playlist

Presentation

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Analysis

Synopsis

Hospital Playlist tells the story of 5 medical college friends, who are now doctors. The drama illustrates their lives, their relationships and the hospital staff’s lives. 

My Opinion (No Spoilers)

​It is a must-see drama! When I discovered that the screenwriter of the very famous Reply series and its director were going to reunite for a new drama revolving around doctors’ lives, I couldn’t believe it! Everything is attractive, even when you haven’t even started to watch a single episode! The main cast is incredible! All of them are veteran actors, with a great career already behind them. And so is the crew! Therefore, I was already expecting a lot from this drama. Fortunately, it didn’t disappoint me one second throughout all episodes. 

The drama is like a series/TV show to me, and no matter how many episodes there are or how long they are, I would watch all of them anyway! There is a total of 12 episodes of roughly 1 hour 30 but they are all worth it and time will fly by, without you even realizing it! 

In my analysis below, I will give you some points to check out or to keep in the back of your mind, as the universe created is really complex but also quite immersive and will make you feel as part of the hospital staff! 

Analysis (Spoiler Alert)

This analysis is going to be a bit longer than the others, since there is quite a lot to review, talk about, explain and discuss!

Universe of the drama: As I mentioned it in my opinion, Hospital Playlist is the masterpiece of a notorious duo led by Director Shin Won Ho and Screenwriter Lee Woo Jung, who previously collaborated on the Reply series. Hence, the atmosphere and the ambiance of the drama will make you feel comfortable, whether you’re a Reply lover or not! We also owe to Director Shin Won Ho the drama Prison Playbook, that can be considered as part of the anthology he created, adding Hospital Playlist to the list. Therefore, there is absolutely no disappointment in terms of realization. Pictures, plans, and filming angles are well-adjusted, sometimes very bold but still convey the gravity or lightheartedness of the stories. 

Moreover, I am pretty sure that most Reply watchers will notice all of the references – sometimes subtly sometimes very obvious – made to the trilogy. That’s why, it is a must to talk about cameo appearances such as Go A Ra (who was the main lead in Reply 1994, but also Sung Dong Il present in all Reply series and embodying Jong Won’s older brother in Hospital Playlist). The couple played by Kim Sun Young and Choi Moo Sung brings back old memories too, as they previously starred in Reply 1988 and Prison Playbook. Jung Min Sung (as Lee Chan Hak) also appeared in Prison Playbook before. 

But not only the supporting characters but also the main ones have worked with the duo, like Yoo Yeon Suk in Reply 1994, as the famous baseball player Chil Bong and Jung Kyung Ho as a prison guard in Prison Playbook. 

The presence of already notorious faces from their past dramas and the cameo appearances is very heart-warming as a watcher and gives a sort of continuity and harmony between all dramas. Indeed, Reply series, Prison Playbook and now Hospital Playlist has a mission of translating real-life experiences and characters, with which one can easily identify. In my opinion, the screenwriter is very gifted, when it comes to transmitting a wild variety of emotions and stories, revealing the different faces human beings have. 

Among the entire cast, other excellent actors are to be recognized and applauded such as the extraordinary Kim Hae Sook, playing Jong Won’s mother, Shin Hyun Bin as Gyeo Ul, Kim Gap Soo as Ju Jong Su, Ye Ji Won as Jong Won’s sister, Yum Hye Ran, Moon Hee Kyung as Seok Hyung’s mother, and many others. The casting crew amazingly and wisely chose actors, mixing equitably notorious ones and rookies. This diversity in terms of actors is also one of the many strengths of the drama, since it gives chances to promising actors to prove themselves. Also, not highlighting the most recognizable actors by giving them simple supporting roles makes us really focus as viewer on the story rather than their fame. The heart of the drama being: putting the spotlight on the stories and not the actors. 

For the record, this is Jeon Mi Do’s second drama, as she was a musical actress before, but this didn’t prevent her from being cast and perfectly relate Song Hwa’s life. 

As for the other references to Reply, I will let you look for some in the drama! One, but I don’t know if it really is one, is in the last episode when Ik Jun wants to learn Spanish and, I don’t know why it made me think of the Spanish/Korean song Hyeri and her friends, sing in Reply 1988 (tell me if you also relate!) called Ice Cream Love from Im Byung Soo. The sounds of goat for example in Reply 1997 have also  been translated under a different form in Hospital Playlist, so check the drama out to discover how!

The humor of the drama is as equally good as it was in the Reply series (The Swoon has some epic scenes captured if you want to check them out), so you won’t be disappointed one bit! 

Last point to highlight is the chemistry, either in real life (for those who watch interviews on The Swoon on Youtube, you will find some with the cast of Hospital Playlist), or on screen between the five main characters. It is incredible and I wished I was also part of their gang at some point!

Music of the drama: There is one activity that always finds its time-slot in our favorite doctors’ busy schedules: the band. What I loved is that the songs they decide to work on, are always so accurate and in real correlation with the overall mood of the drama. Plus, there are a lot of 1980s and 1990s songs, which can only catapult me back to Reply 1997, 1994, 1988, where the musical culture plays a central part. 

Knowing that our characters have known each other for about 20 years and have been through life every step of the way, it is only normal that they sing nostalgic songs that have helped them grow up and closer during those 20 years. 

Interestingly, the band only gets back together at the very beginning of the drama, which made me believe that all characters were maybe falling apart (not being able to see each other enough and living their hectic days). Plus, there is also a social distance between Jong Won and the others, as he works at a different hospital. As he transfers, they reunite altogether like in the good old days and sing songs of their youth. 

As always with this screenwriter, time that passes by and memories is a central theme (like in Reply) and the lesson is quite alike. No matter the age, no matter the time period, no matter the obstacles, time goes on but strong relationships never come to an end. 

Music and songs in that drama enable characters to grow and evolve, emotionally, in their relationships and mentally. Time is ephemeral and we all keep growing up. Circumstances change in the drama but the friendship always stays the same. 

This drama is a beautiful ode to life, friendship and also, let’s not forget it, Korean culture! 

Apart from the songs practiced by the band, the drama’s OSTs are extraordinary with artists like Joy (Introduce Me A Good Person), Cho Jung Seok himself (Aloha), Jeon Mi Do herself (I Knew I Love), Wheein from MAMAMOO (With My Tears) to quote a few!

Finally, the English title has been well translated in my opinion and strengthens that reference to music and the band with the word “Playlist”. However, it is interesting to compare the titles. The original title means “Wise Doctor Life” putting the emphasis on life, life experiences and the stories. Whereas the English translation supports the musical aspect of the drama, which brightens the mood. 

Doctor as a full-time job: As it was the case for Prison Playbook, the idea of Hospital Playlist is to depict the “ordinary” life of doctors working in Yulje Hospital Center. Even though the plot seems quite simple as such, doctors’ lives in the drama (and in real-life let’s admit it) are far from being “ordinary”. 

The drama doesn’t discriminate against any profession: Neurosurgery (NS), Cardiac Surgery (CS), General Surgery (GS), Pediatric, OBGYN, nurses, organ transplant coordinators, residents, interns, fellows, directors, members of the board, foundation directors and even the chairman; absolutely no one is left aside. That’s why, many characters are introduced in the first episodes, which I agree, can be quite confusing, as we are trying to remember who they are, which of the five departments (one department for each main lead!) doctors work for, what their names are, their stories…

It can be confusing but the confusion quickly disappears, as all doctors have their importance. By the way, each and every one of them has a time in the drama, when we get a glimpse of their day-to-day life. They also have very distinct personalities. 

All of these elements gave me the impression to really be part of their staff, to be a newly-appointed doctor in their hospital and to get to know my colleagues. 

It could have been problematic and a real headache to deal with so many characters at the same time in 12 episodes only and to make each of them relevant, but there is no challenge for Lee Woo Jung!

Hospital Playlist immersed me in the world of medicine and the difficult and straining life of doctors. I cried and suffered with them as their patients died, gasped when surgeries became difficult, trembled in fear in a life-or-death situation and screamed of joy and happiness when patients were given a second change. It was a roller coaster of emotions that almost made me have a heart attack, but let’s not lie, life of a surgeon is very close to that scenario. The realism in this drama is poignant and moving. 

Diversity is key in this drama either in terms of doctors, stories or emotions you will have to go through. But hey, this great variety of feelings isn’t it part of real life? Don’t we all go through all of them at some point in our life? Well, Hospital Playlist will confront you with these emotions and also show you one of the many ways you can deal with and accept them; the same way doctors do. Be brave, be determined, be resilient and, as all doctors say in the drama “Do your best”!

Main characters:

Lee Ik Jun (Cho Jung Seok) is a very bright and funny character. He has a son named Woo Ju and has the custody (funny that the name of his son means Universe, as he is literally the center of Lee Ik Jun’s life). He belongs to the GS department and is very social and friendly. So much, that he almost knows everyone in the hospital. He is a loyal friend and very helpful when it comes to relationships (a good confident), especially in Gyeo-Ul and Jong Won’s case (but no spoiler!). He also has a crush on someone he is very close to (you’ll see by the end of the drama)!

Ahn Jeong Won (Yoo Yeon Seok) is a wealthy pediatrician, who joins the hospital at the beginning of the drama. He is caringand loves children (that’s why he is a pediatrician!) but also generous and tries everything in his power to help patients in need (financially for example). He was raised in a catholic family (Kim Hae Sook playing his mom) and has 2 older brothers and 2 older sisters, who became priests and nuns. He has always been attracted by this career path and is therefore thinking about quitting being a doctor. That is his dilemma during most of the drama (until the very end!). He is very nice, but this doesn’t mean he easily binds with women (even though many would want to be his girlfriend). 

Kim Jun Hwan (Jung Kyung Ho) is a cardiac surgeon, who seems to be very cold and arrogant at first glance. However, we discover an entirely different personality, as we see him evolve with his friends and on his cases. In reality, he is very cute (especially when dating!), very tender and funny in his own particular way. He is a sort of womanizer, but encounters (or re-encounters) his dream girl and will fight all the way in to cherish their relationship. 

Yang Seok Hyung (Kim Dae Myung) is a very, discreet and atypical OBGYN. He comes from a wealthy background but his family has been shaken up by the affair his dad had with a younger woman. The news impacted his mother who ended up at the hospital. Since then, he became a real mama’s boy. He is divorced and doesn’t want to be in a relationship ever again. At first, I thought a looked a bit dumb, but in fact he is so caring (especially towards his pregnant patients and his staff) and I assimilated him to a big teddy bear (rough on the outside but so tender on the inside). Actually, he also made me think about the main character in Prison Playbook in terms of personality.

Chae Song Hwa (Jeon Mi Do) is literally Wonder Woman in the Neurosurgery department. She works all the time, she is an excellent professor, friend, doctor, she goes camping on the weekends, she writes papers and probably never sleeps. She is like the perfect doctor and never stops. These are qualities that are appreciated about her and it makes it difficult to find her weak spot. 

What you will definitely love: the compatibility between all 5 friends, when they are worlds apart sometimes!

Links between characters:

Before saying anything, the big thumbs up in terms of relationships is that absolutely no one is pushy or trying to force the other one in a relationship. They are respectful of the other’s feelings and confess gently, without demanding anything in return! That was amazing, proving to other dramas that relationships can happen without having indecently pushy characters!

Jeong Won/Gyeo Ul: Literally my favourite couple/couple-to-be. Gyeo Ul is a resident in General Surgery and fell head over heels for Jeong Won, who doesn’t seem to reciprocate her feelings. You will fight with her throughout the drama (and with Ik Jun too) to make things happen with Jeong Won. Gyeo Ul is very silent and can appear rough, but she learns fast and adapts quickly, capacities that Jeong Won quickly picks up. She can look insensible and doesn’t show her emotions much, but she is in reality the cutest and never pushy toward Jeong Won. What you will discover is that Jeong Won and Gyeo Ul are made for each other, as they are quite identical. 

Lee Ik Sun/Jun Hwan: This relationship starts after a few episodes and is the secret of the drama. Ik Sun (Kwak Sun Young) is Ik Jun’s little sister; she is thus younger than Jun Hwan. She is in the military, strong-willed and decisive. To me, they kind of have reversed personalities: Jun Hwan looks cold on the outside but he’s a little adolescent, when dating; whereas Ik Sun is a very girly cute woman but is stong-headed and knows what she wants and what she doesn’t. 

PS: the scenes of Jun Hwan almost getting busted by Ik Jun are incredibly funny!

Chu Min Ah/Seok Hyung: This duo is not really a relationship but rather the pre-relationship phase. Chu Min Ah (Ahn Eun Jin) is an energetic OBGYN resident (cc her make-up!), who works a lot and is attracted to her boss. She sees through him and is constantly moved by the way he acts for his patients. I personally root for them a lot and appreciated observing their underlying attentions for each other. 

Song Hwa/Chi Hong: Chi Hong (Kim Jun Han) is an ex-military who became a doctor afterwards. He is a sincere, calm and stoic character, pursuing the heart of Song Hwa. He never does too much and is full of little attentions. I really loved that character; he went through a lot in his life but gives it all to get what he wants (in a respectful and decent way of course!). 

Jun Hwan/Do Jae Hak: Hilarious duo! The cold doctor and his very hard-working, clumsy and naïve resident (Jung Moon Sung) connected more than I thought they would and ended up becoming really close. The dynamic of their duo is based on the fact that they are almost the same age but are in a doctor/resident relationship. The kindness of Jae Hak is moving and I believe that it is that generous and open side of him that won Jun Hwan over. 

Rosa/Jung Su: Out of all the generations present in this drama, the oldest duo embodied by veteran actors Kim Hae Sook and Kim Gap Soo is a pleasure to observe. After 50 years of friendship, both are still very close and support each other through the tumultuous events of life. They represent to me our 5 doctors in another 20 years! This duo allows also the action to center on other important life themes such as death and growing old, losing touch with your kids as they start their own life and worrying about what’s next. Jo Young Hye (Moon Hee Kyung), Seok Hyung’s mother is to be added to the duo, as she is also bringing with her character important themes tackled by the drama such as affairs, divorce, children having to take care of their parents. 

Of course there are a lot of other dynamics and relationships between characters: all the residents together trying to get tips to win over their bosses; the twins; Woo Joo and Ik Jun; Chi Hong and Ik Sun; the residents in love with each other; the directors of the hospital; the main nurse and her daughter; Ik Jun and his ex Go A Ra; Jeong Won and Sung Dong Il; Min Ah and Gyeo Ul….

Themes tackled: There are many of them, but they all revolve in general around familial bonds, under all of their possible forms (baby/parents; mother/daughter; father/son…). Religion, child abuse, divorce, affairs, child custody, hospital management, doctor’s corruption, being sick (naturally!), miscarriages/infertility, organ donations/transplant… are some of the main grave themes evoked in Hospital Playlist but others, more light-hearted, are also present like college, Christmas, blind tastes, hobbies…

Metaphors: I won’t reveal the back stories but I will give you hints regarding my 3 favorite metaphors: Song Hwa’s shoes closely related to Song Hwa’s first patient’s identity and winter and Gyeo Ul (in the last episode!). 

The ending: When I ended the drama I couldn’t believe that this was it. A lot of information were missing. That was until I discovered that Hospital Playlist was renewed for a second season that would hit the screens in 2021. Hence, the feeling of it not being finished!

Here are some of the main points to elaborate in the next season:

• Min Ah and Seok Hyung’s relationship
• Jeong Won and Gyeo Ul’s relationship (knowing that they finally end up together at the end! Thanks God I had never been so stressed out in my entire life!)
• Ik Jun and Song Hwa’s relationship
• Song Hwa in Sokcho and her possible return
• Ik Sun and Jun Hwan’s relationship: will she wear the ring? 

P.S.: Have you noticed that Kim Hae Sook always wears a ring on her left index?