Actor Ju Ji-hoon plays a gifted surgeon fighting to revive a failing trauma team in Netflix's "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call." Ju poses during a press conference at Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas, Jan. 21. Yonhap

Actor Ju Ji-hoon values open communication on set, believing that honest, rank-free discussions enhance the quality of every project he takes on. Frank but never rude, he thrives in an environment where ideas flow freely.

Ju recently sat down for an interview about Netflix's "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call," where he stars as Baek Kang-hyuk, a genius battlefield surgeon who takes charge of a failing trauma team to bring it back to life. The action-packed series is as much about fighting injustice as it is about saving lives.

"I never saw this as just a medical drama. It's about injustice — something that exists in every profession, whether it's doctors, firefighters or police officers. We see these issues on the news all the time, and in this drama, our team gets to do something about them. That's what makes it satisfying," Ju said.

Baek Kang-hyuk is far from an ordinary doctor. He doesn't just perform life-saving surgeries — he rides motorcycles, pilots helicopters and even drifts ambulances.

"It's a fantasy-driven action drama. There's a scene where I jump while carrying someone who's 186 centimeters tall. That's obviously unrealistic," he said with a laugh. "But I hope viewers don't get caught up in whether it makes sense. I want them to be fully immersed, feeling the rush of the story, the music and the performances."

A photo shared by Ju Ji-hoon on his social media on Jan. 31 / Captured from his social media

On comparisons to real-life trauma surgeon

Some viewers have drawn comparisons between Ju's character and renowned trauma surgeon Lee Cook-jong, but Ju insists that his role is purely fictional. Lee is known for his lifesaving work in emergency medicine and for treating high-profile patients, including North Korean defectors.

"This isn't a documentary, so I didn't base the character on him. A doctor can't actually rappel down a building while carrying a patient, right?" he said.

However, he did take inspiration from Dr. Lee's dedication. "I watched a documentary about him, and it really showed me what true sacrifice looks like. I wanted to bring that spirit into my character — to make Baek Kang-hyuk feel like someone who genuinely puts his life on the line for his patients."

Having played a doctor in "Medical Top Team" (2013), Ju found the surgical scenes familiar. "Since my character is a genius, I didn't feel the need to observe real surgeries or do additional research. If anything, I thought that might actually hold me back," he said.

"The technical jargon is brutal. In real life, doctors can mumble and still be understood, but in a drama, I had to pronounce every word perfectly. That was tough."

The intensity of the series also required careful balance. "The trauma center is always in crisis mode, but we still had to make sure the story had a proper rhythm. That was really challenging. From preproduction, we had trauma center chiefs and nurses advising us every step of the way."

Ju Ji-hoon, left, poses with co-stars Chu Young-woo and Kim Eui-sung in front of a medical helicopter on the set of "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call." Captured from his social media

No-nonsense approach

On set, Ju is known for his direct, no-nonsense approach. While some might find it intense, he believes it's the most effective way to work.

"Being honest and being rude are two different things. I am not rude," he said with a grin. "I think we've become too used to speaking in circles. I try my best to be considerate, but when it comes to work, I prefer to get straight to the point. Why waste an hour discussing something that could be solved in five minutes?"

He also believes that hierarchy has no place in creative discussions. "In production meetings, even the youngest staff members should feel free to speak up. If everyone just nods along to the director, then what's the point of having a meeting?"

His longtime collaborator, director Lee Do-yoon, once joked that Ju shares certain traits with his character Baek Kang-hyuk: "He's tall, handsome and annoying."

Ju laughed at the remark. "We're close, so I know he meant that as a joke. But if I'm being honest, Baek Kang-hyuk and I do have one thing in common — we're both straightforward. I just hope audiences end up rooting for him, annoying or not."

"The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call" ranked No. 3 globally and No. 1 in 14 countries. According to an OTT ranking site, the series placed third in Netflix's global TV show Top 10 on Jan. 31 with 531 points.

Actor Ju Ji-hoon / Courtesy of Netflix

A career built on transformation

Ju first became a household name with "Princess Hours" and later proved his versatility with intense roles in films like "Dark Figure of Crime." Today, fans eagerly ask him about "Kingdom 3," which he sees as a positive sign.

"I love it when people ask, 'When is 'Kingdom 3' coming?' It means they want to see more. That's better than someone just saying, 'I want to see Lee Chang again.'" Lee Chang is the crown prince in "Kingdom," played by Ju.

Reflecting on his career, Ju is grateful that he's been able to take on a wide range of roles.

"After 'Princess Hours,' I got a lot of offers to play similar roles in youth dramas. But as an actor, when you see a great performance, you naturally want to try something different," he said.

Choo Young-woo, who starred alongside Ju in "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call," has expressed admiration for him, naming him as his role model.

Ju responded, "That's an honor. I appreciate their kind words. When you work hard, hearing 'Hyung, well done' really lifts your spirits. It's reassuring." Hyung means "older brother" in Korean, and is used by younger males.

With "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call" now streaming, Ju is already looking ahead to his next challenge, promising audiences more bold and exciting performances to come.

Actor Ju Ji-hoon as trauma surgeon Baek Kang-hyuk in "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call" / Courtesy of Netflix

Based on an article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, this story has been translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.