Hospital Playlist: A Satisfying Conclusion?

Hospital Playlist is a South Korean television series that follows the lives of five doctors in their forties who work at the Yulje Medical Centre and first became friends during medical school. The series concluded with its second season, which aired between June 17 and September 16, 2021. The finale of Hospital Playlist 2 ended on a positive note, with all the characters receiving their happy ending. However, some viewers felt that some loose ends were tied up a little too neatly, leaving them with lingering questions.

Happy endings for main characters

Hospital Playlist is a South Korean television series written by Lee Woo-jung and directed by Shin Won-ho. The series follows the lives of five doctors in their forties, Lee Ik-jun (Jo Jung-suk), Ahn Jeong-won (Yoo Yeon-seok), Kim Jun-wan (Jung Kyung-ho), Yang Seok-hyeong (Kim Dae-myung) and Chae Song-hwa (Jeon Mi-do), who work at the Yulje Medical Centre. The five doctors first became friends during medical school.

The series ends on a positive note, with happy endings for all the main characters. By the end of the series, all five leads are happily coupled up. Lee Ik-jun and Chae Song-hwa, who have been friends since medical school, finally end up together. Chae Song-hwa confesses her love for Lee Ik-jun in the penultimate episode of Season 2, and the finale features several sweet moments between the couple, including a camping trip.

Ahn Jeong-won and Jang Gyeo-ul also end up together. Although Ahn Jeong-won is unable to propose to Jang Gyeo-ul in Season 2, the couple informs their friends that they are headed to the US to pursue higher studies.

Yang Seok-hyung and Chu Min-ha also end up together. In the finale, the couple share their first kiss under the starry sky.

Kim Jun-wan and Ik-Sun reconcile in the final episode, with Ik-Sun running out of her military base to meet Jun-wan, who is waiting for her.

In addition to the happy endings for the main couples, there are also positive outcomes for some of the patients and minor characters. For example, Do Jae-hak, who lost money through a scam in Season 1, gets his money back in Season 2. And Hwang Du-na, a student who had to undergo extensive physical therapy after a motorcycle accident, is finally discharged from the hospital.

Happy endings for patients

The South Korean television series Hospital Playlist has been described as having a "happy and comforting conclusion". The series follows the lives of five doctors in their forties working at the Yulje Medical Centre. The second season of the series ended on a bittersweet note, with the lead characters going through ups and downs before getting happy resolutions. The finale featured memorable moments for the characters, including confessions of love and kissing under the stars.

The series has been praised for its gentle storytelling and charming characters, and its ability to deliver its consistent format with care. The latter half of season two showcased the strength in consistency, with each episode including a quick montage of the five leads doing their jobs, a patient in critical condition, band practice, and a relatively happy ending for all involved. Dramatic tragedies for the main cast are generally avoided, and the season resolves any remaining questions for the characters. This includes patients, such as Hwang Du-na, a student who had to undergo extensive physical therapy after a motorcycle accident and was finally discharged from the hospital.

In the real world, happy endings for patients are not always guaranteed. However, there are some heartwarming success stories. For example, in New York, some patients with mental illness have found a happy ending thanks to the efforts of Marjorie Vezer, the executive director of the South Shore Association for Independent Living. Vezer's nonprofit agency has helped around 30,000 New Yorkers with mental illness, many with schizophrenia, to live independently in quality, state-financed housing. This has saved taxpayers money, as it costs the state far less than keeping patients in a state hospital.

Happy endings for minor characters

The South Korean television series Hospital Playlist follows the lives of five doctors in their forties working at the Yulje Medical Centre. The show stars Jo Jung-suk, Yoo Yeon-seok, Jung Kyung-ho, Kim Dae-myung, and Jeon Mi-do as the five leads. While the show revolves around these five characters, there is a wide range of charming characters ranging from love interests to their families.

Do Jae-hak (Jung Moon-sung)

Do Jae-hak, who lost money through a scam in the first season, finds the scammer and gets his money back in the second season.

Hwang Du-na (Park Se-jin)

Hwang Du-na, a student who had to undergo extensive physical therapy after a motorcycle accident, is finally discharged from the hospital.

Yang Seok-hyung (Kim Dae-myung) and Chu Min-ha (Ahn Eun-jin)

Yang Seok-hyung and Chu Min-ha's relationship had a happy ending. In the first season, Min-ha confessed her feelings for Seok-hyung, while he hinted at his feelings for her in the second season. In the finale, the couple shared their first kiss under the starry sky, leaving fans screaming.

Ahn Jeong-won (Yoo Yeon-seok) and Jang Gyeo-ul (Shin Hyun-been)

Ahn Jeong-won and Jang Gyeo-ul's relationship had a happy ending as well. In the finale, Jang Gyeo-ul informed Ahn Jeong-won that her mother, who had faced abuse in the past, wanted to meet him. The couple also planned to go to the US to pursue higher studies, with Jeong-won studying small bowel transplantation surgery.

Lee Ik-jun (Jo Jung-suk) and Chae Song-hwa (Jeon Mi-do)

Lee Ik-jun and Chae Song-hwa's relationship had a happy conclusion. After Lee confessed his love in the first season, Chae Song-hwa reciprocated his feelings in the penultimate episode of the second season. The finale featured sweet moments between the couple, including camping together.

No extravagant confessions or proposals

Hospital Playlist is a South Korean television series written by Lee Woo-jung and directed by Shin Won-ho. The series follows the lives of five doctors in their forties who work at the Yulje Medical Centre and first became friends during medical school. The second season of the show ended on a bittersweet note, with fans witnessing the lead characters go through ups and downs before getting happy resolutions.

The series finale wraps up each character's story very well. Despite some funny moments, the episode also includes some tension as the surgeons are faced with difficult surgeries, some with good outcomes and some not. The ending of Hospital Playlist 2 provides a satisfying conclusion, resolving loose threads from the first half of season two and even season one. For example, Do Jae-hak, who lost money through a scam in the first season, finds the scammer and gets his money back. The same happy ending extends to patients. For instance, Hwang Du-na, a student who had to undergo extensive physical therapy after a motorcycle accident, is finally discharged from the hospital.

In typical Hospital Playlist style, there are no extravagant confessions or proposals. The drama does not waste time showcasing each step of the couples getting together either; their respective romances are just one aspect of their busy lives. By the end of the series, however, not one of the five leads is single. Everyone is happily coupled up, with finding love ticked off the checklist as we bid adieu to the five friends.

The latter half of season two shows the strength in consistency. A typical episode included a quick montage of the five leads doing their jobs, a troublesome patient or one in critical condition, band practice, and a relatively happy ending for all those involved. For example, dramatic tragedies for the main cast are generally avoided.

Bittersweet moments

The finale of Hospital Playlist 2 was a mix of happy and bittersweet moments. The show's large cast of characters all received their happy endings, but there were also some emotional goodbyes as the series came to an end.

One bittersweet moment was when the group of five friends realised their final band practice was coming to an end. The show's five leads—Lee Ik-jun (Jo Jung-suk), Ahn Jeong-won (Yoo Yeon-seok), Kim Jun-wan (Jung Kyung-ho), Yang Seok-hyung (Kim Dae-myung), and Chae Song-hwa (Jeon Mi-do)—were all doctors who first became friends during medical school. Their band practices were a consistent element in the show, and their final one was an emotional moment for viewers.

Another bittersweet moment was when it was revealed that one of the five leads, Ahn Jeong-won, and his girlfriend, Jang Gyeo-ul, would be moving to the US together. While it was a happy moment for the couple, it was bittersweet for the group of friends as they would have to say goodbye. This was especially poignant as Ahn Jeong-won was the son of the founder of the hospital where the five doctors worked.

The finale also included some challenging and emotional storylines involving patients. One patient, Choi Eun-Dam, was a seven-year-old child diagnosed with Marfan syndrome who required surgery. Another patient, Seung Chae, had bowel issues and her mother asked Ahn Jeong-won to perform a challenging and risky surgery on her. These storylines highlighted the difficult decisions and emotions that doctors and patients face, adding a layer of bittersweetness to the finale.

While the finale wrapped up the stories of the characters well, some viewers felt that some loose ends were tied up a little too neatly. However, overall, the ending was satisfying and provided closure for viewers who had grown attached to the cast of characters.

Frequently asked questions