The cast for Netflix medical blockbuster "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call" pose during a press conference at Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas in southern Seoul, Tuesday. From left are actors Ju Ji-hoon, Ha Young and Choo Young-woo. Yonhap

Ju Ji-hoon returns with Netflix medical blockbuster "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call" targeting drama fans over the Lunar New Year.

For this year's first Netflix Korean original drama, the 42-year-old actor portrays Baek Kang-hyuk, a "surgeon with the hands of God," who returns to Korea after years of experience in war zones. He joins a university hospital known for its struggling trauma team. Teaming up with fellow surgeon Yang Jae-won (Choo Young-woo), senior nurse Cheon Jang-mi (Ha Young) and others, Baek navigates high-pressure situations to save people's lives.

The lead actor said he focused on bridging the gap between the serious subject matter and the cartoonish characters.

"While the plot itself is like a superhero story, I think there were certain expectations from the original fans. What might have worked in the comic could be perceived differently when adapted into a live-action format with acting, music and direction. We put a lot of thought into how to balance dramatic tension, our own dilemmas and the kind of satisfaction the audience expects," he said during a press conference at a hotel in Seoul, Tuesday.

The series is based on the web novel "Trauma Center: Golden Hour" by Hansanleega, a practicing physician, which was serialized into a Naver Webtoon in 2019.

When asked how the series differs from other medical dramas, director Lee Do-yun, who embarked on his first series following his 2014 debut film "Confession," said it is a kind of "heroic saga."

"While we're using the term medical drama, in a way, our series is not a typical medical drama. It's about Dr. Baek and the people around him doing what they should do — saving lives — in situations where they can't due to various injustices. Our series borrows heavily from the superhero genre. We've used a format that allows us to incorporate various genres like action and thriller, which I believe sets our series apart," he explained.

Choo plays colorectal surgeon Yang Jae-won who becomes Baek's first disciple. Drawn to Baek's medical prowess, Yang becomes his dedicated follower and grows as he works to save patients. Actor Ha Young portrays skilled senior nurse Cheon Jang-mi, who has been dedicated to the challenging trauma team for five years.

Regarding scenes requiring medical expertise, such as surgeries, the director said he thought the original author, being a medical professional, would be very helpful, but the author only encouraged him to express his creativity.

"We consulted with specialists from the severe trauma surgery department at Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital and other doctors. Although the overall tone of the work is comedic and action-packed, we aimed for realism within the operating room," he said.

"There are some questionable parts, like drilling through someone's head in a helicopter, but the consulting doctors told us that anything can happen in real-life emergencies. We wanted to convincingly show that Baek Kang-hyuk would do anything to save a life."

The series has been filmed across diverse locations, promising adrenaline-fueled entertainment with visually stunning scenes, including a bridge scene, a large-scale fire scene and a scene filmed in Morocco.

"We used equipment I had never seen before and mobilized a massive crew. I'm truly proud of what we accomplished, considering all the hard work that went into those scenes," the director said.

The eight-part drama will premiere on Netflix on Jan. 24.