Netflix’s latest release The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call is as raw, bloody and brutal as an action medical series can get on the small screen. The story revolves around protagonist Baek Kang-hyuk — a genius, war-seasoned surgeon — as he faces near-death experiences while fighting corruption and challenging the flaws within the medical system. Curious to know how director Lee Do-yoon ties up this entertaining K-drama? Here we bring you all the details of The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call, from the plot to the ending explained.
Deemed by Netflix as its first original medical K-drama, the show is based on the web novel Trauma Center: Golden Hour by Hansanleega. Additionally, The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call is penned by Choi Tae-kang and stars popular South Korean actors Ju Ji-hoon and Choo Young-woo in leading roles.
Ju Ji-hoon, who was last seen playing a doctor in the 2013 Korean drama Medical Top Team, calls The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call “the most exhausting project of his 20-year career”.
Talking about the action scenes in the show, Ju said in an interview with allkpop, “Even with the same type of action, I made sure to approach every scene with a new perspective”.
The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call ending explained: The cast and the characters they play
- Ju Ji-hoon as Baek Gang-hyeok
- Choo Young-woo as Yang Jae-won
- Ha Young as Cheon Jang-mi
- Kim Eui-sung as Choi Jo-eun
- Kim Sun-young as Kang Myung-hui
- Kim Won-hae as Hong Jae-hoon
Spoilers ahead!
The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call ending explained: Is Kang-hyuk able to save the patient in South Sudan?
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Throughout the first seven episodes of this Netflix original, viewers see genius surgeon Baek Kang-hyuk, popularly known as “the hand of God”, being appointed as the new head of the Trauma team at Hankuk National University Hospital in Seoul, South Korea. Initially, when the other specialists of the hospital refuse to trust Kang-hyuk, the Minister of Health and Welfare Kang Myung-hui, who is behind Kang-hyuk’s appointment at Hankuk, assures them that he is “the best of the best”.
Soon, with the exceptional surgical skills he honed during his time in conflict zones worldwide (he served in Syria for eight years), Kang-hyuk earns Hankuk’s respect and leads his team towards becoming the best Trauma unit in South Korea.
In the penultimate seventh episode, Korea’s Hanbit military unit, which is deployed in South Sudan, gets involved in a fight with one of the region’s local militias. In the process, Captain Lee Hyeon-jong is critically shot. With eleven doctors kidnapped by the militia, Hyeon-jong is left untreated in South Sudan. Upon discovering the news, the Minister of Health and Welfare orders Kang-hyuk to immediately leave for Sudan. However, when he reaches Sudan along with his team, Kang-hyuk is stopped from transferring the injured captain to their local hospital for surgery.
In the last episode, Kang-hyuk takes the risk of driving through gunshots to reach the Sudan hospital. However, they are stopped at the main gate. Things take a positive turn when the commander of the militia recognises Kang-hyuk as Malak (he served worldwide under the nickname Malak) and orders the rebels to let him enter the hospital and do as he pleases.
After a crucial surgery, Kang-hyuk and his Trauma team finally save Captain Lee Hyeon-jong and return to Seoul.
Does Kang-hyuk survive the fire?
After the Trauma team arrives in Seoul at night surrounded by reporters, Kang-hyuk learns that there has been a fire and Dr. Han has gone to assist patients on-site. Kang-hyuk rushes to the fire’s location and helps Dr. Han by operating on the injured victims. Soon, a firefighter tells Kang-hyuk that there is a room filled with oxygen tanks and they must immediately evacuate to avoid serious injuries. While everyone rushes out, Kang-hyuk sees a patient stuck there. As he goes to rescue him, an explosion occurs and he’s severely injured.
Barely conscious, Kang-hyuk describes his injuries to team member Jae-won. Following this, the latter moves Kang-hyuk into surgery and eventually saves him.
When Kang-hyuk regains consciousness, he praises Jae-won and calls him by his real name for the first time (for context, Kang-hyuk initially told Jae-won that he will address him with his name the day he earns it).
Is Kang-hyuk able to secure helicopters for the Trauma Center at Hankuk?
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Yes, he is. Throughout the Netflix K-drama, viewers learn that Hankuk Hospital’s prime goal is to cut costs and maximize profits. However, Kang-hyuk realises that this directly impacts the trauma team in terms of aid and resources. Though the team manages to save a large number of lives, despite the limited resources, due to Kang-hyuk’s skills and experience, he keeps pestering the Minister of Health and Welfare as well as the Director of Hankuk to supply the Trauma team with its own set of helicopters.
Highlighting the show’s theme of underfunded hospitals, Kang-hyuk reminds the viewers as well as Hankuk’s Directors Choi Jo-eun and Hong Jae-hoon about the importance of using funds for helicopters in trauma centers, which in turn can ensure emergency care for severely injured patients.
Later, Kang-hyuk visits Jo-eun at his home and reveals that he became a doctor because, in the past, Jo-eun had inspired him to be one by operating on his critically ill father, who was turned down by almost every hospital in Seoul. The personal revelation moves Jo-eun and he finally approves using helicopters for the Trauma unit at Hankuk.
At the end of the K-drama, Hankuk recruits more doctors for its Trauma unit. Meanwhile, Kang-hyuk attends an event to inaugurate the Hankuk Trauma unit’s first helicopter. But before the event can conclude, Kang-hyuk receives a call about a rescue unit soldier needing emergency care. Without thinking twice, Kang-hyuk leaves the event with Jae-won and rushes to the location on Hankuk’s newly inaugurated helicopter, while other members of the Trauma unit prepare the OR for the patient.
Watch all episodes of The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call on Netflix
(Hero image credit: Netflix; Featured image credit: Netflix K-Content/@netflixkcontent via X)
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Written by
Sushmita Mahanta
Digital Writer (Growth) - Entertainment
Sushmita is a writer with a passion for crafting engaging and informative stories. An avid fan of K-pop and K-dramas, Sushmita mostly writes about Korean culture and entertainment. When not writing, you can find Sushmita dancing, reading, collecting books, learning about fashion, art, motion pictures, and appreciating BTS.
