Netflix Hit The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call Creator Reveals Earnings, Sparks Outrage

Netflix’s latest Korean original The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call has taken the streaming world by storm, setting multiple records. However, the drama’s original creator, writer Lee Nak-joon, recently revealed that despite the show’s massive success, he earned only 40 million KRW (~$30,000 USD) from the adaptation.

In a recent interview on the YouTube channel Writer Friends, Lee expressed both pride and disappointment. While he called it an “honor” to see his work turned into a Netflix drama, he disclosed that his earnings were limited to an upfront contract fee and a small running royalty from Netflix. He further clarified that rumors of him making a fortune—enough to buy a building—were far from the truth.

Lee stated that his original contract fee was around 50 million KRW (~$37,500 USD). However, after deductions by Studio N and his publisher, he received roughly half of that amount.

As for royalties, he explained that the industry standard is 5% of the production budget, but Netflix only allocated 1% of the profit for him. Given an estimated production cost of 200 billion KRW (~$15 million USD), Netflix would set aside 10 billion KRW (~$750,000 USD) as revenue, with Lee receiving just 10 million KRW (~$7,500 USD) in total.

In stark contrast to Lee’s earnings, the lead actors of The Trauma Code reportedly made several hundred million KRW per episode. Some A-list stars in Korea are known to receive up to 800 million KRW (~$600,000 USD) per episode, making it evident that creators are often the lowest-paid contributors to these productions.

This revenue gap stems largely from Netflix’s strict IP policies. The platform fully acquires intellectual property rights when funding productions, meaning that creators and production companies receive no additional earnings regardless of a show’s success. This model, while reducing financial risk for creators, has drawn criticism for undervaluing original writers.

A similar case occurred with Squid Game, where its creator Hwang Dong-hyuk received no significant profit-sharing despite the series becoming Netflix’s most-watched show ever and generating billions in revenue for the platform.

"I Was Left Out of the Creative Process"

Beyond financial concerns, Lee also spoke about feeling excluded from the production. He revealed that he only received the first three episodes’ scripts—in rough draft form—and had no involvement in the final scriptwriting process. He was also not consulted on creative decisions, as Netflix typically limits original authors’ involvement to streamline production.

Even his visit to the filming set, he noted, was not an official invitation by Netflix, but rather a courtesy from Studio N.

About The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call

The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call follows Baek Kang-hyuk (Ju Ji-hoon), a genius trauma surgeon who returns from war zones to head the Korean University Hospital’s underfunded trauma center. Despite overwhelming odds, Baek and his team fight to save lives in an intense, fast-paced medical setting.

The series features an all-star cast, including: Ju Ji-hoon as Baek Kang-hyuk, a brilliant yet rebellious trauma surgeon, Choo Young-woo as Yang Jae-won, Baek’s first apprentice, Ha Young as nurse Cheon Jang-mi, and finally, Yoon Kyung-ho as Han Yu-rim, another key trauma team member.

With a 30 billion KRW (~$22 million USD) budget spread over 10 episodes, the drama boasts high production values, including detailed hospital sets, CGI-enhanced medical scenes, and high-intensity action sequences.

Record-Breaking Global Success

Since its debut, The Trauma Code has shattered multiple records:

#1 on Netflix Korea’s Top 10 for 22 consecutive days

Ranked #1 in 19 countries, including Chile, Mexico, and Thailand

Entered Netflix’s Global Top 10 (Non-English TV) at #2 within its first week

Surpassed 22 million views in 3 weeks, making it Netflix Korea’s 7th most-watched original

In the U.S., the drama reached #9—a rare achievement for a non-English medical drama.

The Bigger Picture: Is Netflix Undermining Korean IP Value?

The controversy over Lee Nak-joon’s earnings has reignited discussions about Netflix’s impact on the Korean entertainment industry.

While the platform provides creators with global exposure and financial security, it also centralizes profits within Netflix, preventing creators from benefiting from their own success. This "Netflix Monopoly" is leading to growing concerns that Korean intellectual property (IP) is being undervalued, despite its proven international appeal.

Lee ended his interview on a somber note, stating: "If there’s a 40-million-KRW building out there, let me know. Because I certainly didn’t buy one."

As Netflix continues to dominate Korean drama production, many are now questioning whether writers and creators deserve a fairer share of the industry’s booming profits.