‘Doctor X’ Unscathed by the 18th Controversy… Tops October Preferred Programs, Ranks 5th in SBS Friday-Saturday Drama History

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The drama ‘Doctor X: The Age of the White Mafia,’ starring actress Kim Ji-won, has secured a spot at number five on the list of all-time highest-rated SBS Friday-Saturday dramas after just six episodes.

SBS’s Friday-Saturday drama ‘Doctor X: The Age of the White Mafia’ (produced by Studio S, Studio Dragon, and Haejiyeum Studio; hereinafter referred to as ‘Doctor X’) is a drama depicting the activities of Gye Su-jung (played by Kim Ji-won), who shatters massive injustices with her genius surgical skills that know no failure or compromise.

‘Doctor X’ has continued its unprecedented upward trend each week, completely dominating the living room viewing experience. According to Nielsen Korea, Episode 6, which aired on the 24th, set a new record for the show’s highest viewership with a peak rating of 21.3%, a nationwide rating of 19.5%, and a Seoul metropolitan area rating of 19.2%. This marks not only the number one spot in its time slot but also an unrivaled first place among Saturday mini-series and weekly mini-series overall.

Most notably, it has drawn attention for reaching the fifth-highest viewership in SBS Friday-Saturday drama history after just six episodes. Based on nationwide ratings, it ranks fifth following ‘The Penthouse 2’ (29.2%), ‘Mr. Kim’ (23.1%), ‘Fiery Priest’ (22.0%), and ‘Taxi Driver 2’ (21.0%).

The explosive enthusiasm for the live broadcast carried over seamlessly to reruns. The rerun of ‘Doctor X’ aired on the 24th recorded a nationwide viewership rating of 6.8% and a Seoul metropolitan area rating of 6.6%. This performance corresponds to the third-highest viewership among all terrestrial TV programs on that Saturday, surpassing the live broadcast ratings of many recently aired mini-series, which sparked surprise and underscored the intense interest in ‘Doctor X’ (based on Nielsen Korea data).

It is also noteworthy that the show is sweeping both viewer preference and buzz. In a survey titled “Favorite Broadcast Video Programs for October 2026” released by Korea Gallup on the 27th, ‘Doctor X’ took first place overall with an overwhelming preference rate of 9.8%. Since January 2013, when Korea Gallup began conducting monthly surveys, a total of seven SBS dramas have reached number one. ‘Doctor X’ recorded the third-highest preference level, following ‘Mr. Kim’ and ‘My Love from the Star.’ Additionally, in a survey titled “Most Anticipated OTT and TV Works This Week” released by research and data consulting firm PMI on the 26th, the show maintained its number one position for two consecutive weeks with a high support rate of 27.3%, showcasing its stature as the top buzzed-about work of the second half of 2026 across both TV and OTT platforms.

At the heart of this ‘Doctor X’ hit phenomenon lies the unique character appeal and satisfying narrative of Gye Su-jung, who prioritizes patients’ lives above all else and stands against injustice. Gye Su-jung’s unwavering conviction to do what is right for her patients, even in the face of unreasonable power and conventions, adds the refreshing thrill of the “soda” genre to the tension unique to medical noir, offering viewers a differentiated form of entertainment. This is further enhanced by the vivid performances of trusted actors including Kim Ji-won, Lee Jung-eun, Son Hyun-joo, Kim Woo-seok, Lee Jin-hee, Kim Young-min, Lee Seong-uk, Kwon Seung-woo, and Heo Jun-seok, which heighten the immersion in the drama.

However, controversy continues despite the hit status. Episode 6 of ‘Doctor X,’ aired on the 24th, featured the story of Oh Sang-beom (played by Ha Sung-gwang), a patient who suffered a head gunshot wound from military forces during the the 18th Democratic Uprising and has endured aftereffects for over 40 years. In the drama, genius surgeon Gye Su-jung (played by Kim Ji-won) took charge of Oh Sang-beom’s surgery, and a fictional former president named Ji Doo-seok appeared near the end of the broadcast. After the airing, some viewers pointed out that the drama addressed the the 18th Democratic Uprising and demanded a halt to its broadcast, filing a petition with the National Assembly.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original