Second Half Programming Also Canceled
May Have to Pay Penalty to Netflix
As the medical vacuum triggered by the collective resignation of residents prolonged and public backlash against medical staff grew, CJ ENM's tvN medical drama 'Eonjengan-eun Seulgiro-ul Jeonggong-ui Saenghwal' decided to forgo airing this year. It was deemed too difficult to air this year.
Originally, 'Eonjengan-eun Seulgiro-ul Jeonggong-ui Saenghwal' was scheduled to air in May as a follow-up to tvN's 'Nunmul-ui Yeowang,' but it was postponed to the second half of the year due to the residents' strike. However, contrary to expectations that the strike would be resolved soon, the prolonged strike increased public resentment, leading to its complete removal from this year's airing list. Since it was also planned to be released on Netflix, continued delays could potentially result in penalty fees payable to Netflix.
This drama is a spin-off of tvN's 'Seulgiro-un Uisasaenghwal,' which aired in 2020 (Season 1) and 2021 (Season 2). It depicts the hospital life and friendships of professors and residents at a general hospital who care for patients despite difficult circumstances. Given the potential for glorifying doctors, public sentiment is an important factor.
Patients and guardians are waiting for their turn to be seen at a large hospital in Seoul where medical school professors nationwide have decided to stop working. Photo by Huh Younghan younghan@
Recently, as residents left medical sites in protest against the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's medical school expansion, waiting times at university hospitals increased, and so-called 'emergency room cycling deaths' occurred. Amid this, a blacklist maliciously revealing the real names of doctors working in emergency rooms surfaced, sparking public outrage. On a site presumed to be an archive created by doctors, the names of some staff working in emergency rooms at various hospitals were posted under the title 'Emergency Room Collaboration.' The list included real names of doctors with messages such as, 'Thank you, Dr. 000. Thank you for deciding to stop the illegal strike and stay by the patients’ side.'
In response, prosecutors requested a pre-arrest warrant for Doctor A, who compiled and disclosed the list of returning residents. Doctor A was booked on charges including violation of the Personal Information Protection Act, and after legal review, the police also applied charges under the Stalking Punishment Act. Prosecutors stated, "We will strictly respond to crimes that collectively ridicule and disparage medical staff who continue to work for the life and health of the public in cyberspace." The warrant hearing for Doctor A will be held on the 20th at the Seoul Central District Court.
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