# Kim Ji-won's 'Doctor X' Opens to 11.4% and Climbs to 15.1%

- URL: https://hallyu-brief.vercel.app/en/news/kim-ji-won-doctor-x-ratings-surge-03f328
- Published: 2026-10-17T06:27:46.322Z
- Publisher: Hallyu Brief

> Kim Ji-won's SBS drama 'Doctor X: The Age of the White Mafia' premiered on October 9 with 11.4% in Nielsen Korea's nationwide ratings and climbed to 15.1% by its third episode.

## Key points

1. Episode 2 hit 14.9% and Episode 3 reached 15.1%, according to Nielsen Korea.
2. Kim Ji-won plays a genius surgeon who says she never fails.
3. The remake is based on Japan's TV Asahi series that ran from 2012 to 2021.

## What is 'Doctor X: The Age of the White Mafia' about?

SBS's Saturday-Sunday drama 'Doctor X: The Age of the White Mafia' premiered on October 9. Kim Ji-won plays Kye Su-jung, a genius surgeon who trusts only her own skill and says she will not do anything she cannot do without a medical license. According to industry reports, the drama drew 11.4% in its premiere, the highest first-episode rating for a miniseries this year, and rose to 14.9% and 15.1% in the next two episodes.

## Why is Kim Ji-won considered a box-office actress?

Industry observers describe Kim Ji-won as an actress who does not get typecast by genre. She moved from ads, including a drink commercial that earned her the nickname 'Oranc Girl', to supporting roles and then to leading parts. Her first lead in 'Ssam, My Way' rose from 5.4% to 13.8% by its finale, and 'Descendants of the Sun' peaked at 38.8%. Her first leading role after 'Queen of Tears' (2024) has been praised for her controlled, nuanced acting.

## What are critics saying about the remake?

The drama adapts a Japanese TV Asahi series that ran seven seasons from 2012 to 2021 and reinterprets it with Korean sentiment. Commentators say its focus on real concerns, such as medical strikes, has earned it empathy. Some viewers, however, criticized the way doctors are portrayed in a comedic, mocking manner.

## For international fans

If you enjoy medical dramas, this is a popular Korean remake of a long-running Japanese series. Kim Ji-won's previous hits include 'Queen of Tears' and 'Descendants of the Sun', which may help readers who know her from those titles place her new role.

## FAQ

### Is Doctor X a remake?

Yes. It is a Korean adaptation of the Japanese TV Asahi drama 'Doctor X: Surgeon Michiko Daimon', which aired from 2012 to 2021.

### Who plays the lead in Doctor X?

Kim Ji-won plays Kye Su-jung, a genius doctor who trusts only her own skill.

## Sources

- [Yonhap News](https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20261017018000005)

_Written and translated with AI from official announcements and Korean media reports. If something is wrong, please let us know._