She was not just a pretty-faced actress. Now, her acting skills have grown to the point of overshadowing her beauty. This is the story of Go Youn-jung, who is leading the popularity of "Resident Playbook."
Go Youn-jung, who debuted in 2019 with the tvN drama "Psychometric: A Woman," has since appeared in dramas such as "Health Teacher Ahn Eun-young," "Sweet Home," "Law School," "Alchemy of Souls," "Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow," "Moving," "Sweet Home 2," "Lee Jae, I'll Die Soon," and the movie "Hunt," and is currently meeting viewers through "Resident Playbook" (hereinafter referred to as "Resident Playbook").
"Resident Playbook" is a spinoff drama that portrays the process of residents dreaming of a "wise doctor" lifestyle growing after an initial period of denial. Originally scheduled to broadcast last year, "Resident Playbook" suffered a direct hit due to the resident strike and has been scheduled following "The Potato Lab." It has been meeting viewers since the 12th.
At the center of the worries surrounding it is Go Youn-jung. Go Youn-jung is meeting viewers as Oh Yi-young, a first-year resident in the Obstetrics and Gynecology department at Jongno Yulje Hospital. Oh Yi-young is characterized by her stiff expression all year round and lackluster reactions. Due to her straightforward personality, she carries numerous rumors within the hospital, but shows a serious side in front of patients and fulfills her role.
The character Oh Yi-young, played by Go Youn-jung, exhibits three-dimensional charm as the episodes progress, with the unfolding of the character's narrative and romance line. Go Youn-jung, actively working at the center of the drama, captures viewers' attention both for her outstanding beauty and her exceptional acting skills.
Notably, her improved acting stands out compared to previous works. In the "Alchemy of Souls" series, she showcased a strong and mysterious charm while digesting martial arts action and fantasy elements, and in the "Moving" series, she portrayed the ordinary high school student Jang Hee-soo, who conceals her supernatural abilities, demonstrating a youthful and assertive charm. Compared to earlier works, she displayed natural acting by embodying a more realistic character.
Back in "Resident Playbook," Go Youn-jung finely expresses the emotional changes of the realistic character Oh Yi-young, gaining the empathy of viewers. While struggling with debt, she sincerely cares for her patients and persuasively depicts the process of building relationships with her colleagues. Particularly, she deeply expresses emotions within the character, like her longing for her mother and the subtle emotional changes with Gu Do-won (Jung Jun-won), receiving praise for her growth and maturity in acting compared to previous roles.
By immersively portraying the inner emotions of the character, Go Youn-jung proves her stable acting skills while also showcasing profound emotional expression and delicate character interpretation, marking a further step in her growth as an actress.
Viewer reactions are also impressive. "Resident Playbook" viewers responded by saying, "She is not just a pretty actress but an actress who also acts well," "Go Youn-jung has matured in her acting," and "I can't imagine Oh Yi-young as anyone other than Go Youn-jung." With the support of the enthusiastic audience response, Go Youn-jung ranked first overall in the popularity ranking for TV-OTT performers in the third week of April (April 14–April 21, 2025), as released by the K-content competitiveness analysis firm Good Data Corporation's FUNdex on the 22nd. "Resident Playbook" ranked first in TV-OTT drama popularity.
Amid Go Youn-jung's active performance, "Resident Playbook" is also sailing smoothly. Although it was expected to take a hit due to the resident strike, "Resident Playbook" recorded a viewer rating of 3.7% for its first broadcast, followed by 4.0% (2nd episode), 4.5% (3rd episode), and 5.1% (4th episode), continuing on an upward trend.
High ratings, popularity, as well as growth and acclaim—all are within the grasp of Go Youn-jung's success. The tvN Saturday-Sunday drama "Resident Playbook" keeps viewers entertained, with its engaging mix of Go Youn-jung's beauty and acting skills, airing at 9:20 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday.
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