200M Views and #1 in Buzz Rankings: This K-Drama is Taking Over tvN and Netflix

tvN’s weekend drama 'Resident Playbook' is making waves across platforms — from TV to streaming giants like TVING and Netflix — proving its cross-platform appeal and strong fanbase.

Set in the bustling obstetrics and gynecology department of Yulje Medical Center, the drama follows first-year residents Oh Yi-young (Go Youn-jung), Pyo Nam-kyeong (Shin Si-a), Um Jae-il (Kang You-seok), and Kim Sa-bi (Han Ye-ji) as they navigate the emotional highs and lows of hospital life. Through workplace hurdles and late-night shifts, they discover camaraderie, friendship, and a shared resilience. Viewers have especially connected with Oh Yi-young’s heartwarming crush on senior resident Koo Do-won (Jung Joon-won), which adds a soft charm to the intense medical setting.

Solid Ratings & Chart Performance

According to Nielsen Korea, the show recorded a 5.8% household rating in the Seoul metropolitan area, peaking at 6.5%. Even more notably, it ranked #1 in its time slot among all channels (including terrestrial broadcasters) in the 2049 target demographic for both episodes 3 and 4 — a coveted metric in Korean broadcasting.

Buzz-wise, Resident Playbook is dominating. In Good Data Corporation’s FUNdex report for the 3rd week of April, the drama ranked #1 in combined TV-OTT content buzz. Go Youn-jung and Jung Joon-won placed first and second in the performer buzz rankings, with Shin Si-ah also breaking into the top tier.

Viral Reach & Global Streaming Success

The drama’s resonance goes far beyond Korea. Resident Playbook was featured in Gallup Korea’s list of most-loved programs in April, and videos related to the series across YouTube and social media have collectively amassed nearly 200 million views — a clear sign of immersive fan engagement.

The show is also crushing it on OTT platforms. As of April 23, it marked the highest live UV (unique viewers) among all tvN content on TVING. Internationally, it climbed 7 spots to land at #3 on Netflix’s Global Top 10 Non-English TV Shows, and even topped the charts in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

Fan Reactions & Visual Highlights

Even before its premiere, the drama sold out its ad slots — and since airing, it has shown consistent performance across broadcast, streaming, and viral metrics. The recently released “Rookie Lounge Poster,” which shows the residents taking a rare breather in a cluttered break room, has resonated with viewers for its realistic portrayal of exhausted young doctors trying to find moments of calm.

Fans are praising the cast with comments such as how Lee Bong-ryeon perfectly embodies Professor Seo, delivering her lines so naturally that it feels like she’s a real doctor; how Go Youn-jung drew viewers in with her visuals but impressed them even more with her acting; and how some were drawn to the show as fans of 'Hospital Playlist', finding the drama fun and engaging even if the doctors seem too good to be true.

'Resident Playbook' airs every Saturday and Sunday at 9:20 PM KST on tvN.

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