The drama "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call" is adapted from a web novel written by a doctor, while "Good Partner" was scripted by a lawyer. Courtesy of Netflix and SBS
By KTimes
Dramas based on the professional experiences of their writers are gaining popularity, offering audiences authenticity and detailed insights into specialized fields.
The medical drama "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call," which topped Netflix’s global non-English TV category as of Feb. 5, is adapted from a web novel by Lee Nak-jun, a former otolaryngologist.
Similarly, "Good Partner," SBS's biggest hit legal drama of last year, was written by Choi Yu-na, a divorce attorney, whose firsthand knowledge brought realism to the courtroom scenes.
This trend of using professional experiences as creative inspiration has accelerated in recent years, with several successful dramas following this formula.
The military drama "D.P." (Season 1 in 2021, Season 2 in 2023), which follows a Deserter Pursuit unit, is adapted from a webtoon by Kim Bo-tong, who served in the unit himself.
Additionally, the upcoming legal drama "Pro Bono" (working title), set to air on tvN this year, continues this trend. It marks the third screenplay by former judge Moon Yoo-seok, who previously wrote "Miss Hammurabi" (2018) and "The Devil Judge" (2021), both of which drew from his experiences in the legal field to offer a behind-the-scenes look at the justice system.
While dramas based on the professional experiences of writers often provide authenticity and detail, relying solely on the perspectives of specific professions can result in one-sided narratives.
Critics argue that medical dramas focusing on doctors and legal dramas highlighting lawyers, judges and prosecutors overlook the voices of patients and clients, limiting the storytelling potential.
Evolving drama formats and narratives
The success of these works reflects changes in drama production. Unlike earlier dramas where protagonists’ professions were not central to the plot, the rise of genre dramas has made specialized knowledge and insight essential.
Episodic storytelling, where each episode resolves a standalone case, allows writers with professional backgrounds to showcase various real-life scenarios. Their firsthand experience adds authentic details that boost viewer immersion while reducing criticism over inaccurate portrayals.
Drama critic Gong Hee-jung said, “Viewers are drawn to fresh topics and details they hadn’t seen before, prompting producers to seek scripts from writers with firsthand experience. This approach is beneficial for discovering new storylines and enhancing drama quality.”
Yoon Seok-jin, a professor of Korean language and literature at Chungnam National University, said, “More individuals are using their personal experiences to write, as a response to career writers falling into a rut and creating only conventional characters.”
“D.P.” is adapted from a webtoon by a writer who served in the military's Deserter Pursuit unit. Courtesy of Netflix
Dramas need perspectives beyond doctors and lawyers
However, focusing solely on the perspectives of specific professions presents limitations. Yoon said, “Writers must maintain a comprehensive and objective perspective when creating dramas. Professionals may risk portraying their careers in an overly favorable light, leading to one-sided narratives.”
For example, medical dramas often center on doctors, while legal dramas primarily highlight the viewpoints of lawyers, judges and prosecutors.
Kim Heon-sik, a visiting professor at Jungwon University’s College of Social and Cultural Studies, emphasized the need to include diverse viewpoints.
“Medical dramas should explore the perspectives of patients, while legal dramas should incorporate the voices of clients. Focusing solely on service providers limits the narrative potential of such scripts,” Kim said.
Kim also cautioned against viewers mistaking dramatized content for reality simply because the writer has professional experience.
“When viewers learned that ‘Good Partner’ was inspired by the writer’s real-life divorce cases, many assumed the drama depicted actual events. Writers drawing from personal experiences need to be especially mindful of factual accuracy and the perspectives they present,” he said.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.
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