Actor Lee Jung-eun is set to redefine her career with another unforgettable performance in SBS's upcoming Friday-Saturday drama, "Doctor X: Age of the White Mafia."
Premiering on Friday, October 9, SBS's "Doctor X: Age of the White Mafia" is a gripping, cathartic medical noir. It follows Kye Soo-jung (played by Kim Ji-won), a genius surgeon who knows neither failure nor compromise, as she shatters massive institutional corruption with her extraordinary surgical skills.
Lee Jung-eun takes on the role of Jang Hee-sook, the head of a doctor placement agency who cares only about money. On the surface, she seems like a fussy, talkative snob, but beneath the facade lies a shrewd schemer who manipulates the business world with brazen social savvy.
Sharing why she chose to join the project, Lee Jung-eun revealed, "Beyond the thrilling genre elements of a medical drama, I was deeply moved by how the drama explores the collision between human desire and the value of life through the presence of 'Doctor X.'"
She continued, "While the characters I have mainly portrayed represented the warmth of everyday neighbors, Jang Hee-sook is someone who demonstrates the cold logic of capital in the most realistic way on the front lines. While doctors dedicate themselves to the noble calling of saving lives, Jang Hee-sook views the very 'people' handling those lives purely as business commodities. Although she may appear ruthless, she is also an incredibly realistic person, so I am very curious to see how viewers will perceive her."
Addressing the acting nuances she focused on to portray Jang Hee-sook's calculated maneuvering and ambition hidden behind a nonchalant exterior, Lee Jung-eun explained, "Whenever she does business, I tried to give her presence a certain gravitas. I wanted to depict someone who wears an easygoing smile on the outside, but is constantly running calculations behind closed doors," raising anticipation for her transformed acting style.
She was particularly enthusiastic about her unique on-screen chemistry and "womance" with Kim Ji-won. Lee Jung-eun praised her co-star, saying, "Kim Ji-won is a wonderful colleague with grounded, profound energy. Jang Hee-sook and Kye Soo-jung are bound by a cold contractual relationship, yet beneath it lies a nuanced mix of empathy and connection. Every time I made eye contact and acted alongside Ji-won on set, I felt those emotional layers fill in naturally. In particular, whenever Kye Soo-jung maintained her core composure and delivered a chillingly deep level of immersion amid emotional whirlpools, I was in awe, thinking, 'She truly is an actor of incredible caliber.' She is an actor who reveals greater depth the more you get to know her, and if given the chance, I definitely want to work with her again in another project."
Lee Jung-eun also highlighted the strong teamwork among the ensemble cast, including Son Hyun-joo and Kim Woo-seok. "Senior actor Son Hyun-joo provided a steady, solid anchor while leading the set with consideration and respect so that junior actors could perform to their hearts' content," she said with deep admiration. She also conveyed the passionate atmosphere on set, adding, "The younger actors, including Kim Woo-seok, infused the set with fresh energy and tireless passion. I fondly remember gathering in the corners of the set with the cast to run lines and constantly discuss the essence of each scene. I am confident that our intense energy has translated fully into the final work."
Concluding with key viewing points, Lee Jung-eun shared, "Within the framework of the medical genre, 'Doctor X' ultimately poses the profound question: 'What choices do humans make in life?' If viewers follow the dilemmas faced by the genius doctor Kye Soo-jung, the battle of wits among those orchestrating the board behind the scenes, and the psychological evolution of characters caught inside a massive power structure, they will experience deep immersion. The cast and crew put their whole hearts into crafting this project over a long period, so please show it plenty of interest and love."
The new SBS Friday-Saturday drama "Doctor X" will premiere on Friday, October 9 at 9:50 PM.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)
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