Trauma care medics’ reality more dramatic than Netflix ‘The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call’

Netflix’s first Korean medical series, “The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call,” has gained global acclaim for its fast-paced and realistic depiction of medics working tirelessly to save lives.

Based on a web novel by a practicing doctor, its gripping narrative has sparked curiosity about the demanding lives of trauma care specialists who make life-or-death decisions in mere seconds.

The series also sheds light on the realities of South Korea’s medical system, as it was released during the conflict between the government and the medical community. The 2024 government plan to expand domestic medical school admissions has grown into an ongoing dispute across medical sectors, contributing to doctor shortages in emergency rooms.

The drama, set in a fictional trauma center sustained by the health minister’s unwavering commitment despite hospitals’ reluctance over profitability concerns, exposes the fragile reality of how vital medical services have been neglected and undermined.

Amid the popularity of the drama series, Korea University Guro Hospital announced its plans to cease operations at the end of February due to a budget deficit. Guro Hospital has been the only institution in the country that trains trauma specialists since its 2014 designation as a training hospital for trauma center medics.

As of 2024, The Korean Society of Traumatology boasted membership of 1,193 medical professionals across 17 trauma centers nationwide.

Over the past 11 years, with the Health Ministry’s aim to establish trauma-focused training hospitals in resource-rich areas to bolster expertise, Guro Hospital has trained over 20 trauma specialists to become first responders for critically injured patients.

The center was set to close after the central government announced it could no longer provide its annual funding of 900 million won ($617,000).

The situation took a turn on Feb. 6 when, after watching “The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call,” Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon announced a pledge of 500 million won from the city’s disaster fund to keep the center operational for the time being.

“In the drama, the severe trauma center that saves lives is always labeled as the 'top target for closure' due to being the ‘least profitable.’ … Sadly, this scene reflects the harsh reality of our health care system,” the mayor wrote on his social media.

Such a situation highlights a growing concern over the shortage of trauma specialists and trauma centers' heavy dependence on state support and public awareness for survival.

“Trauma care isn’t profitable from the hospital’s point of view, so it relies heavily on government support. It is disheartening that an institution critical to saving lives was close to shutting down over a budget shortfall,” said an official from the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital who declined to be named.

A major plot point in “The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call” centers on the hospital’s struggle to secure funding for an emergency helicopter and the crucial role of timing and rapid transport in trauma care.

In reality, South Korea has only eight emergency medical helicopters — far fewer than those in neighboring countries. According to local reports, Japan operates 23 medical helicopters across 19 local governments. Meanwhile, several regions in South Korea, including Busan, South Gyeongsang Province and North Chungcheong Province have none.

Acquiring more doctor helicopters has been a tall order for the government and regional hospitals.

Last year, the government opened applications from hospitals nationwide to receive 800 million won toward subsidizing the rental and operation fees for a medical helicopter. No regional government applied, some citing a shortage of emergency medical personnel and hospitals willing to participate. The cost of purchasing a medical helicopter is reportedly estimated at 5 billion to 10 billion won.

Operating a single medical helicopter costs about 4 billion won annually, of which the national government funds 70 percent and the local government the remaining 30 percent. Operations also require a dedicated team of at least 10 medical professionals on standby, including seven doctors at the trauma center.

The Health Ministry said it would begin receiving applications this year, once again, and provide better financial assistance for emergency medical workers on helicopters.

The National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee is also reviewing a budget proposal to provide standby allowances for personnel on medical helicopters.

The initial 27.16 billion won budget for next year’s emergency medical transport system was increased to 29.82 billion won, with 1.683 billion won allocated for standby pay.

Currently, personnel only receive compensation if dispatched — 200,000 won per mission for doctors and 100,000 won for nurses and paramedics. If approved, this would be the first government-backed standby support, raising per-mission pay to 600,000 won for doctors and 250,000 won for nurses and paramedics.

However, excluding factors related to medical staff shortages, the number of doctor helicopter transports has been on the rise, increasing from 1,078 cases in 2021 to 1,547 cases in 2023.

“The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call” also depicts doctors’ dilemma: should one decide to pursue a career to live a profitable life or to fulfill a sense of duty?

In the series, Dr. Baek Gang-hyuk (Ju Ji-hoon), a legend in the trauma center and Dr. Han You-lim (Yoon Kyung-ho), a colorectal surgeon with top-notch academic background, quarrel over persuading trainee doctor Yang Jae-won (Choo Young-woo) to join their departments.

Dr. Baek, though highly skilled, has faced discrimination as a graduate of a lesser-known university. He endures the demanding nature of trauma care which requires 24/7 availability at the cost of his work-life balance. He is the doctor who asks Jae-won what he can do as a doctor for struggling patients and instills a sense of duty as a medical professional.

On the other side, colorectal surgeon Dr. Han promises Jae-won stability and a clear career path within the hospital hierarchy.

Ultimately, Jae-won chooses Baek, but not without consequences. The drama repeatedly asks the same question: When choosing the harder path, what keeps you from giving up?

Practicing doctors confirmed that colorectal surgeons are among the best-paid specialists in the South Korean medical field.

“If you overcome the stereotype that dealing with colorectal surgery is dirty, the surgery is low-risk performance compared to surgeries related to other organs, and also, since the surgery is performed in the outer part of a human body, it is also relatively easy to perform,” said a doctor of 10 years who studied the surgery department in the medical school.

“The colorectal department is the second most popular money-making department other than the plastic surgery department.”

Several scenes in the drama also depict real-life concerns about intrusive reporting from journalists, with a swarm of journalists shown waiting in front of the emergency room front door.

From obstructing ambulances to bombarding Dr. Baek with questions, these portrayals reflect ethical dilemmas in media coverage, particularly during tragedies.

Dr. Baek’s public outburst during a live broadcast, telling reporters to “shut up,” turns him into a meme and a national hero; his image oscillates between a savior and a scapegoat. Throughout the drama, reporters cannot stop writing about him.

These scenes are reminiscent of the media’s excessive reporting that Korean audiences are familiar with. From the Sewol ferry disaster in 2014 to the Itaewon tragedy in 2022, the media circuses surrounding disasters often center on first responders and the bereaved families, pushing their trauma into the spotlight. Most recently, following the crash of a Jeju Air plane in Muan, South Jeolla Province in December 2024, reporters engaged in excessive competition at accident sites for coverage without the consent of bereaved families.