"Kim Ji-won's surgery skills, even real doctors at the scene applauded"... 'Doctor X' director reveals behind-the-scenes story

*This content was translated by AI.

Lee Jeong-rim, director of 'Doctor X: The Era of White Mafia', unveiled behind-the-scenes stories about the work ahead of its premiere.

SBS's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X: The Era of 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, Kim Soo-jung (played by Kim Ji-won), a genius surgeon who knows no failure or compromise and shatters massive injustices with her unparalleled surgical skills. Known as the "crazy surgeon in the operating room," it is expected to be the first medical genre entry in SBS's 'SBS Satisfying Universe', which has built an unrivaled box office legacy through works such as 'Department Manager Kim', 'Taxi Driver', 'Priest', and 'Judge from Hell'.

Adding to this, director Lee Jeong-rim, known for dramas such as 'VIP', 'The Atrocity of Evil', and 'You Killed Me', is at the helm, with a powerhouse cast including Kim Ji-won (as Kim Soo-jung), Lee Jung-eun (as Jang Hee-sook), Son Hyun-joo (as Bu Seung-gwon), and Kim Woo-seok (as Park Tae-kyung) joining forces, drawing intense interest.

Director Lee Jeong-rim stated on the 23rd regarding 'Doctor X': "It was a work that required deep contemplation from preparation to filming, and could only be completed with the help of many people. I hope the stories within and outside the hospital, created intensely by everyone together, are well conveyed to viewers."

According to the production team, 'Doctor X' promises tension distinct from existing medical dramas by going beyond a simple medical genre. It depicts fierce power struggles and secret maneuvering surrounding Guseo University Hospital, where corruption is rampant, and the choices of characters striving to protect patients' lives in their own ways amidst these conflicts.

The director remarked, "A hospital is naturally a space for saving lives, but it is also a place where each person's beliefs clash intensely. I wanted to show even this hidden side." He added, "While preserving the urgency of events and surgeries as much as possible, we aimed to fully follow the choices and emotions left behind at the end. The biggest challenge was balancing neither the genre's pace nor the characters' emotions too heavily toward one side."

As a medical drama, he also shared his directorial conviction regarding the high-stakes surgery scenes. "In surgery scenes, revealing character personalities is just as important as implementing accurate medical details," the director emphasized. "We aimed to capture both Kim Soo-jung's confident demeanor as she takes command of the operating room and her humanistic attitude of treating life equally, shown through small actions like placing a hand on a patient's chest after surgery."

He spared no praise for Kim Ji-won, who is set to make the most dramatic transformation in her filmography as 'Medical Dark Hero' Kim Soo-jung. The director expressed deep trust, stating, "Kim Ji-won deeply contemplated and filled in even the parts I couldn't explain fully, allowing us to believe in the character of Soo-jung until the very end."

He also mentioned Kim Ji-won's intense efforts hidden behind the highly polished surgery scenes. "Before filming, she learned surgical techniques from doctors, not only memorizing complex surgical procedures perfectly but also becoming as skilled as real doctors in suturing and tying knots. Even the doctors who came to consult on-site applauded her performance," he shared as a behind-the-scenes anecdote, heightening expectations. He continued, "She convincingly navigated the vast gap between Kim Soo-jung's overwhelming presence in the operating room and her quirky, human side outside of it. Every time I saw that, I thought, 'How would this have been expressed if it weren't for Kim Ji-won?' As filming progressed, it became increasingly difficult to imagine Kim Soo-jung without Kim Ji-won," he praised highly.

He also revealed his respect and affection for Lee Jung-eun, who plays the 'clever schemer' Jang Hee-sook. The director said, "Hee-sook is a character who must show multiple faces simultaneously—intelligent and playful yet warm and humorous—and the first person who came to mind was Lee Jung-eun." He added, "Just as Hee-sook stands by Soo-jung like a sturdy tree, in reality, Lee Jung-eun constantly offered great ideas to Kim Ji-won, as well as staff and colleagues, keeping things centered." He further noted, "The chemistry created when the two actresses are together naturally contains a special trust and comfort that goes beyond acting," sparking curiosity about the distinctive 'woman romance chemistry' Kim Ji-won and Lee Jung-eun will showcase.

Beyond Kim Ji-won and Lee Jung-eun, 'Doctor X' has gathered high expectations with a large cast of actors possessing solid acting skills, including Son Hyun-joo, Kim Woo-seok, Lee Jin-hee (as Jo Won-jin), Kim Young-min (as Do Yoon-sik), Lee Sung-wook (as Bae Heung-gon), Kwon Seung-woo (as Ma Seong-gyu), Heo Jun-seok (as Kim Sung-jin), Choi Deok-mun (as Yang Eung-gu), Kim Jung-young (as Yu Mi-kyung), Kim Young-a (as Lee Sun-ae), Choi Kwang-il (as Gu Bon-pyeong), and Jeong Seok-yong (as Kim Chang-soo).

The director stated, "When Senior Actor Son Hyun-joo received the 'cut' signal, he completely became Bu Seung-gwon, showing tremendous charisma that changed the atmosphere with just his eyes. It was fun to watch the scenes where Kim Soo-jung and Bu Seung-gwon stood in tense opposition through the monitor." He further revealed, "Park Tae-kyung, played by actor Kim Woo-seok, is a sun-like presence guarding Soo-jung's side, but he shows a completely different face as the story progresses. Viewers will be surprised by the range of his transformation and his charm of reversal."

Regarding Lee Jin-hee, who plays Anesthesiology Professor Jo Won-jin in the drama, he said, "She completed the character with both cool charisma and meticulousness hidden behind an elegant smile, making her solid and charming." The director also pointed out the three surgeons played by Kim Young-min, Lee Sung-wook, and Kwon Seung-woo as a hidden viewing point of the drama. "The three fit together well, and their different playful styles and ad-libs burst forth on set, never stopping laughter. They will create a pleasant rhythm within 'Doctor X'," he introduced, promising even more diverse entertainment.

Finally, when asked about the core viewing points of the work, Director Lee Jeong-rim answered, "The confidence and infinite trust given by Doctor Kim Soo-jung, who never fails, is the first viewing point." He continued, "However, even such a Kim Soo-jung finds herself constantly in moments of crisis and choice, and the tension arising from that process will also be a great source of fun. I hope viewers will also watch as the seemingly perfect doctor Kim Soo-jung collides with people, builds relationships, and gradually changes and grows."

The first episode of 'Doctor X' will air on October 9 at 9:50 PM.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.