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'Life' takes viewers behind-the-scenes of hospital

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The poster of the drama series
The poster of the drama series "Life." / Courtesy of JTBC

By Kang Aa-young

Medical dramas and films have contributed to make hospitals a familiar subject to the public,giving a glimpse into the life of medical professionals. However, JTBC's new medical drama "Life" takes a step further, taking viewers directly to the ugly truth behind slick appearances.

The drama's first episode, aired Monday, showed what happens behind-the-scenes in a hospital by exposing how the institution is dominated by the capitalistic logic of profit making and people struggling for power.

A scene from the drama 'Life' / Courtesy of JTBC
A scene from the drama 'Life' / Courtesy of JTBC

"Time of death is 11:47 p.m. The director is dead."

It begins with the mysterious death of Sangkook Universtiy Hospital director Lee Bo-hoon (played by Chun Ho-jin), which causes a chaos at the hospital and to its staffers. The director fell from the vice director's house and dies in an ambulance on the way to his own hospital.

Emergency center doctor Ye Jin-woo (Lee Dong-wook) agonizes over whether to declare Lee's death a suicide or homicide on the death certificate. Ye had an argument with Lee over an embezzlement case earlier that day and becomes suspicious of Lee's death even after police conclude the case as sudden death after a myocardial infarction.

A scene from the drama 'Life' / Courtesy of JTBC
A scene from the drama 'Life' / Courtesy of JTBC

The hospital falls into more confusion as the vice director announces the move of three departments, including the emergency center, to a regional center.

Amid this fuss, the hospital's charismatic new CEO Koo Seung-hyo (Cho Seung-woo) arrives and pours oil on the fire of the conflict between the doctors and the management board.

The first episode recorded 4.3 percent in viewer ratings, according to Nielsen Korea, breaking the record for the highest viewership as the first segment of a JTBC drama.

From left, actors Lee Kyu-hyung, Lee Dong-wook, Won Jin-ah, director Hong Jong-chan, and actress Moon So-ri, Cho Seung-woo and Yoo Je-myung of the new medical drama
From left, actors Lee Kyu-hyung, Lee Dong-wook, Won Jin-ah, director Hong Jong-chan, and actress Moon So-ri, Cho Seung-woo and Yoo Je-myung of the new medical drama "Life" pose for a photo during a press conference at the Imperial Palace Hotel in southern Seoul, Monday. / Courtesy of JTBC

"Life" is penned by scriptwriter Lee Soo-yeon, who wrote the hit tvN mystery-thriller "Stranger." Actor Cho collaborated with Lee in "Stranger," which was praised for a gripping plot and fast pace, once again in this medical drama.

"I felt burdened by working once more with writer Lee. Her work gives me a headache to interpret and act on. I was anxious, asking myself whether I could make it or not," Cho said in a press conference at the Imperial Palace Hotel in southern Seoul, Monday. "I think I made the right choice in the end."

Cho, who plays the new hospital CEO sent from the conglomerate that recently took over the money-losing hospital, described his character as "extremely disgusting."

"He came to the hospital to make up for the losses and is weak to the strong and strong to the weak. However, he learns something from the hospital and changes throughout the drama," Cho said.

Lee Dong-wook's character puts the value of human life above everything else and clashes with Koo's money-centered management style.

"Jin-woo is a doctor who strives to save people's lives. However, after going through a series of events at the hospital, he changes mind about standing against Koo," actor Lee said.

Producer Hong Jong-chan said the two characters Koo and Ye will act like an antigen-antibody, strengthen the hospital's immunity.

"Koo has a baby-like innocence behind his hard-headed image, while Ye seems to be sharpening a sword deep inside him that might be crueler than Koo. Their conflict will result in something meaningful," Hong explained.

The 16 episode-series is broadcast every Monday and Tuesday.




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