"First Time Feeling This Level of Catharsis"... Kim Ji-won of 'Doctor X' Captivates Global Audiences

Actor Kim Ji-won's starring vehicle "Doctor X: Mafia in White" is writing an overwhelming box office syndrome, captivating not only the domestic small screen but the entire world.

The SBS Friday-Saturday drama "Doctor X: Mafia in White" (hereafter "Doctor X") is a refreshing medical noir depicting the exploits of Doctor X Gye Su-jeong (played by Kim Ji-won), a "mad dog in the operating room" who shatters massive absurdity with genius surgical skills that know neither failure nor compromise.

"Doctor X" recorded a peak viewership rating of 21.3% and a nationwide rating of 19.5% (based on Nielsen Korea) as of Episode 6, ranking fifth among all-time SBS Friday-Saturday dramas. Its buzzworthiness indicators are also overwhelming. According to FUNdex, a K-content competitiveness analysis agency by Good Data Corporation, Kim Ji-won claimed the No. 1 spot in the TV-OTT integrated cast buzzworthiness category for three consecutive weeks. Furthermore, in the drama cast rankings surveyed by RACOI, a broadcast content value information analysis system operated by the Korea Broadcast Advertising Corporation, Kim Ji-won took first place, while major cast members such as Lee Jung-eun (6th), Son Hyun-joo (9th), and Kim Woo-seok (12th) heavily clustered in the upper ranks.

The domestic box office fever is spreading fiercely into the global market. According to Netflix's Tudum announcement on the 28th, "Doctor X" ranked second overall in Netflix's weekly viewership rankings for the "Global Top 10 Non-English Show" category, maintaining a top-tier position from its first week of release up to its third week. In particular, even amidst intensifying competition for new releases following the simultaneous launch of the global hit "Lupin Part 4," "Doctor X" proved its formidable box office power by recording a cumulative 36.7 million view hours.

Rave reviews from overseas viewers and foreign media are also pouring in. Global communities have sent explosive reactions, stating, "This is the first time I've felt this level of catharsis," "One of the best Korean dramas aired this year," "Kim Ji-won's acting is phenomenal and irreplaceable," and "The fast-paced momentum and tension unique to Korean dramas are overwhelming." The exhilarating, refreshing strides of "dark hero" Gye Su-jeong—who is unswayed by power or interests and places patient lives above all else—are striking a chord with domestic and international fans alike.

Sweeping both domestic and international metrics and leading a global syndrome, "Doctor X" will air its 7th episode this coming Friday, the 30th, at 9:50 p.m.

Kang Sun-ae

(Photo: SBS Entertainment News, Kang Sun-ae)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.