Doctor-Turned-Writer Reveals How Much He Earned From His Mega-Hit Netflix K-Drama

When The Trauma Code: Heroes On Call premiered on Netflix in January 2025, it received an overwhelming amount of attention. Understandably, the mega-hit K-Drama swept the “4th Blue Dragon Series Awards,” with both male leads taking home the “Best New Actor” and “Best Actor” awards and the show itself snatching the “Best Drama” award, too.

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So what led to its massive success?

Underneath the blood, sweat, and tears poured in from the hardworking cast and production team, The Trauma Code: Heroes On Call also had a solid original web novel serving as its foundation. And it’s the web novelist’s background as a licensed ENT doctor that truly made the whole show all the more convincing.

Web novelist Lee Nak Joon, who also goes by the pen name of Hansanleega, is the original author of The Trauma Code: Heroes On Call. But before that, he had been an otolaryngologist for years. He graduated from Inha University College of Medicine, completed his internship at the same university hospital, and later trained in surgery at Samsung Medical Center before finishing his residency in otolaryngology. He then served as an Air Force military doctor.

In the latest episode of Where Is My Home, though, Lee Nak Joon revealed that he is now a full-time writer with all of his income coming from his creative work.

I’m now a full-time writer—100% of my work is writing. It’s been over five years since I last practiced medicine.

— Lee Nak Joon

Understanding this as his writer income being substantial, Where Is My Home show hosts asked if he made more as a doctor or as a writer. Lee Nak Joon got candid in responding, “Even before ‘The Trauma Code,’ my web novel earnings weren’t bad.” And, in a series of unforeseen events (like the pandemic), he ended up becoming a full-time writer instead of a full-time doctor.

As a doctor, I only worked as a resident, a military physician, and a salaried doctor. Even before ‘The Trauma Code: Heroes On Call,’ my web novel earnings weren’t bad. They were about three to four times what I made as a doctor.

But when ‘The Trauma Code’ became successful and was adapted into a webtoon, I went to  see the hospital director where I was working. I told him I had something to say, but before I even explained, he asked, ‘Why do you want to leave? Should I raise your salary?’ I told him my novel was doing well and I wanted to focus on writing for a few months. That was in 2020. I had originally planned to open my own clinic a few months later, but when COVID-19 hit, I postponed it—and ended up living as a full-time writer instead.

— Lee Nak Joon

He then hinted at a possible second season of The Trauma Code, which we could all 100% use.

Kim Sook: I really enjoyed watching it. Isn’t there going to be a Season 2?

Lee Nak Joon: I actually cannot comment on that.

Joo Woo Jae: Wait, doesn’t the fact that you can’t say anything basically mean there will be one?

Lee Nak Joon: I just… can’t say anything…

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