In The opening episode of Shock Code: Heroes on callNetflix Korea's first original medical drama, features a doctor riding a motorcycle through an active war zone. He weaves through bombed-out buildings and cars, finally arriving at a hospital where patients urgently need medicine—but not before throwing off his bike when a bomb explodes nearby.
These scenes set the tone for the 8-episode series, which the stream released on fall on January 24. Korean drama, based on the popular Hansanleega and Hongbichira WebToon Trauma Center: Golden Hourfollows Dr. Baek Kang-hyuk (Jo Ji-hoon), a war veteran determined to establish a trauma center at Hankuk University Hospital in Seoul. Using skills learned in war zones, he faces the challenge of training a medical team to save lives under extreme and dangerous conditions.
In the run-up to Dr. Pike's employment, people were dying in ambulances on their way to hospitals due to delays and the inefficiency of rescue teams in providing rapid care. Hankuk University Hospital, one of the best facilities in the country, lacks a dedicated trauma center to handle such cases, forcing various hospital departments to alternate in managing trauma cases.
The arrival of Dr. Pike marks the beginning of a new order. With the support of the country's Minister of Health and Welfare, Kang Myung-ho (Kim Sun-young), he must navigate the hospital's ongoing efforts to cut costs and increase profits, which directly impacts the trauma team. Despite limited resources, the team strives to save lives.
Save lives or increase profits
Shock Code: Heroes on call Make a powerful statement about how, sometimes, financial concerns can compromise the ability to treat patients successfully. As Dr. Pike saves more lives and strengthens the trauma center, costs rise. For the hospital officials, Director Choi Joo-eun (Kim Eui-sung) and Director Hong Jae-hoon (Kim Won-hye), every life saved is a expense, which prompts measures to reduce the trauma center's budget. By the way, this isn't the only show currently airing in underfunded hospitals, like Max's house and NBC sitcom Saint Denis Medical Share similar topics, as 2022 did This is going to hurt.
To take just one example of how this plays out in the series: In Episode 6, a man suffers a severe head injury after falling while hiking in the Bukhansan Mountains, but doctors are unable to reach him by helicopter. Dr. Yang Jae-won (Cho Young-woo), who works with Dr. Baek, explains that he called the National Rescue Unit immediately after receiving the emergency call, only to learn that Jung-Heon, the helicopter pilot, has been reassigned to a management position. The new head of the National Rescue Unit tells Dr. Baek that the helicopter cannot be used at will because it is state property, which requires official forms and approval from above.
This life-threatening bureaucracy—which is revealed to also be due to interference by the hospital director—cares for the injured man. Dr. Baek, Dr. Jae-won, and Nurse Yang-mi (Ha Young) travel to the accident site in a regular hospital ambulance. On the way back to the medical facility, Dr. Baek performs emergency procedures on the man's head inside the moving ambulance. Later, Dr. Baek informs the patient's mother that her son is in a vegetative state. Encouraged by Director Hong, the mother demands a detailed investigation into the events leading up to her son's condition, pretending that Dr. Baek's procedure is responsible.
At a press conference at the hospital, Director Hong introduces the young man's mother and announces that Dr. Baek is under investigation for misconduct. However, Dr. Baek, Dr. Jae-won, and Nurse Jang-mi arrive to prove that his actions did not constitute misconduct; Instead, they were the result of late helicopter assistance. “How long will the money continue to justify unnecessary patient deaths?” he asks.
What happens to Dr. Baek Kang Hyuk?
In Episode 7, after returning from a medical mission in South Sudan where he saved a soldier's life, Dr. Baek learns that Dr. Han (Yoon Jeong Ho) went to the site of a fire to help the victims. Dr. Han is a colorectal surgeon who initially hates Dr. Baek and wants him to leave the hospital, along with Director Choi and Director Hong. However, after Baek saves Dr. Han's daughter, the surgeon becomes more vocal towards Baek.
They gather at the scene and take care of patients for triage, eventually discovering that one floor of the building is being used to fill oxygen tanks. The firefighter warns them to stay away to avoid injuries, but when Dr. Pike sees that the patient is still on the ground and tries to help, an explosion occurs, leaving him seriously injured.
A foreign object causes internal burns, and Dr. Jae-won is assigned to perform surgery on Dr. Baek. He faces a dilemma: whether to perform a CT scan to determine the depth of the object or proceed directly with surgery. He opts for surgery, despite anesthesiologist Park Jeong-won's (Jeong Jae Kwang) reservations, and the procedure goes ahead.
When Dr. Baek wakes up, he questions Dr. Jae-won's decision to skip the CT scan. The younger doctor explains that he evaluated the patient's condition and believed that surgery was the best option. Dr. Pike pays tribute to him and, for the first time, addresses him by his real name instead of a nickname. Since they first met, Dr. Baek had limited himself to calling Jae-Won only by the aliases he created, saying that he would only use Jae-Won's real name when he proved himself useful and capable of doing his job.
Dr. Baek Kang Hyuk's past
Dr. Baek's past is explored and questioned by other doctors at Hankuk University Hospital starting in Episode 4. Some doctors hate Dr. Baek because he constantly defies the hospital's rules, prioritizing patients over lengthy procedures.
He once worked for a private military company called Black Wings, which conducts rescue operations in active war zones. He used this connection to save the life of the soldier in South Sudan, driving to the company's facility and identifying himself as Malak, the code name he used for his identification during the time he worked for Black Wings. However, as the patient's condition worsened, he entered the building without permission.
The company leader eventually recognized Dr. Pike and granted him passage, ordering his men to stop firing at the car. After the team rescues the soldier, Dr. Baek asks for a ride to South Korea. The commander agreed, acknowledging that many soldiers owed their lives to Dr. Pike.
Later, in South Korea, after recovering from surgery, Dr. Paik visits Choi's house, as Choi has been absent from the hospital. He accuses Choi Baek of getting into the hospital through nepotism and questions why he chose Hankuk University Hospital. Dr. Baek reveals that he decided to become a doctor after his father died. His father was turned away by several hospitals before arriving in Hancock, where Choi did everything possible to save him, despite his critical condition. Inspired by Choi, Baek becomes a doctor to save lives. This revelation stuns Choi, who finally agrees to use helicopters for the trauma center.
how the Shock Code: Heroes on call end?
Ultimately, Dr. Pike's efforts to secure more resources for the trauma center are paying off. During an event with reporters, Director Choi, Dr. Han welcome Minister Kang Myung-hui. Meanwhile, Dr. Baek and Dr. Jae-won attend a conference to recruit more doctors for the trauma center, where they meet Dong-joo, the South Sudanese soldier who helped save his captain. Dong-Ju asks how he can contribute as a doctor, and Dr. Baek replies that he will save lives.
After the conference, Dr. Baek and Dr. Jae-won head to an event showcasing the hospital helicopter. Just as the event begins, they receive a call about a patient needing emergency care. Dr. Baek and Dr. Jae-won enter the helicopter, while nurse Yang-mi and anesthesiologist Park Jeong-won prepare medical equipment for the patient. The final scene highlights the importance of helicopters in trauma centers and their role in ensuring effective emergency care for critically ill patients.
A helicopter alone is not enough to change the system, of course. The final moments underscore a deeper message: The real key to effective trauma care is not just about having helicopters or advanced equipment, but about ensuring hospitals and medical teams are adequately funded and equipped to save lives under difficult circumstances. The helicopter, while necessary, serves as a symbol of the resources that Dr. Pike and his team fought so hard to secure. The exhibition leaves us with the reminder that without proper investment in healthcare infrastructure, even the most skilled medical teams can be hampered in their efforts to save lives.
