'Queen of Tears' two years later... Kim Ji-won sharpens her blade in 'Doctor X'

*This content was translated by AI.

Actress Kim Ji-won revealed the reason she chose her next project, 'Doctor X: The Era of the White Mafia,' after a two-year hiatus.

SBS's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X: The Era of the White Mafia' (script by Pyeon Seong-geun / directed by Lee Jeong-rim, hereinafter 'Doctor X') is a satisfying medical noir that follows the exploits of Doctor X, Kye Soo-jung (played by Kim Ji-won), known as the 'mad surgeon in the operating room' who shatters massive injustices with her genius surgical skills, never accepting failure or compromise.

As the first medical genre entry in SBS's 'Satisfying Universe,' which has built an unrivaled box office legacy through titles such as 'Department Head Kim,' ' Taxi,' 'Priest,' and 'Judge from Hell,' it is generating high expectations. Director Lee Jeong-rim, who helmed dramas including 'VIP,' 'The Atrocity of Evil,' and 'You Killed Me,' has joined forces with screenwriter Pyeon Seong-geun, who has drawn industry attention. A powerhouse cast including Kim Ji-won, Lee Jung-eun (as Jang Hee-sook), Son Hyun-joo (as Bu Seung-kwon), and Kim Woo-seok (as Park Tae-kyung) has joined the project, drawing intense interest.

Among them, Kim Ji-won, returning to 'Doctor X' after two years, is attracting attention by previewing the most striking transformation in her filmography.

Regarding her choice of 'Doctor X' as her comeback drama following 2024's 'Queen of Tears,' Kim Ji-won stated, "The gap between Kye Soo-jung's outward appearance and the new facets discovered upon closer inspection was appealing. I wanted to express that appeal well."

She further added, "Kye Soo-jung is a character who has exiled herself into darkness, devoting herself solely to 'surgical art' (a term referring to a physician's hand skills or technique). While the title of 'genius surgeon' may seem fitting in others' eyes, from my perspective, having glimpsed the path Kye Soo-jung has walked, I see her not as a 'genius,' but rather as someone who has done her absolute best with an earnest heart."

Meanwhile, Kim Ji-won drew attention by pointing out that the difference between Kye Soo-jung and protagonists in existing medical dramas lies in 'the way they convey a sense of mission.' She explained, "If justice and a sense of mission are common traits among protagonists in medical dramas, Kye Soo-jung expresses them differently. Because she concentrates most of her abilities on surgical art, she is somewhat clumsy in emotional areas such as social skills and flexibility." She continued, "When I saw Kye Soo-jung, who lacks social skills despite having perfect surgical technique, I sometimes found myself laughing. I tried to express this contrast well," revealing the key point of the character.

As Kim Ji-won took on the role of a 'dark hero genius doctor' obsessed only with surgery, she put in extraordinary effort to perfect the surgical scenes. She said, "I learned the surgical techniques required for the operating room scenes from consulting physicians and spent enough time becoming familiar with them. Kye Soo-jung's genius is connected not only to the surgical scenes but also to the drama's narrative, so I tried to bring that energy into my performance as well."

'Doctor X' has already generated buzz for its solid direction and cast alongside Kim Ji-won. Regarding this, Kim Ji-won drew interest by mentioning director Lee Jeong-rim's unexpected charm after working together for the first time. Kim Ji-won said, "I watched the director's previous works so enjoyably that I was curious. Since she has directed many charismatic works, I thought her direction would be direct and unreserved, but in reality, she had a delicate style of creating scenes on set with actors rather than having predetermined answers." She added, "I also brought various analyses to match that tone, and the process of building the character within the director's direction remains memorable," expressing her unique trust.

Alongside this, Kim Ji-won showed abundant affection for Lee Jung-eun, who plays 'Jang Hee-sook,' hinting at a warm romance chemistry. Kim Ji-won said, "For Kye Soo-jung, Jang Hee-sook is someone like a fence—sometimes a superior, sometimes an aunt, and sometimes a friend—and the senior actress was that kind of person to me as well. It was a set where I learned a lot about both the responsibility and joy of being an actor." She further teased, "There is one incredible action scene for Jang Hee-sook, so you can look forward to it."

Kim Ji-won also expressed gratitude to her co-stars, including Son Hyun-joo, Kim Woo-seok, Lee Jin-hee, Kim Young-min, Lee Sung-wook, Heo Jun-seok, Kim Young-a, and Kwon Seung-woo. She said, "Thanks to them, the character of Kye Soo-jung and the work 'Doctor X' felt more three-dimensional and diverse. Personally, I was able to learn and feel a great deal, making it a precious set," showcasing the tight teamwork unique to 'Doctor X.'

Finally, Kim Ji-won thanked viewers who are already showing intense interest, stating, "The premise of a doctor dispatched from a medical staffing agency itself seems like a fresh viewing point. As you follow the stories Kye Soo-jung creates at Guseo University Hospital after being dispatched from the agency, you will encounter various narratives including each character's choices, regrets, desires, and pain."

'Doctor X' will premiere on October 9 at 9:50 p.m.

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*This content was translated by AI.