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13 clusters · 48 sources · 57 days · First seen · Last updated

Viewership success and medical and political controversies

Overview

The South Korean medical noir drama ‘Doctor X: Age of the White Mafia’, starring Kim Ji-won, has achieved record-breaking viewership following its October 9, 2026, premiere. An adaptation of the Japanese franchise ‘Doctor-X: Surgeon Michiko Daimon’, the series incorporates ‘Korean essence’ to suit local viewers. According to Nielsen Korea, the fourth episode reached a national average rating of 18.5%, with peaks hitting 20.8%. The sixth episode saw further growth, reaching a national average of 19.5% and a peak rating of 21.3%. Recent episodes have gained significant attention for exploring sensitive historical and ethical themes. The sixth episode focused on a patient suffering from trauma related to the Gwangju Democratization Movement, featuring a high-risk surgery to remove bullet fragments. This depiction has sparked intense political debate, as the episode included a fictional former president whose character evokes former President Chun Doo-hwan. A petition filed on the National Assembly’s electronic petition system has called for the suspension of the broadcast and a formal investigation into the production process. The petitioner argued that the inclusion of the 5·18 movement was unnecessary for a medical drama and appeared to be an attempt to impose a specific political viewpoint, noting that the original Japanese source material does not contain such elements. This petition has surpassed the 100-person threshold required for official review. In addition to political tension, the production faces legal scrutiny regarding filming props. A civil complaint was filed via the e-People portal alleging a violation of the Road Act after a fictional ‘National 5·18 Cemetery Stop’ sign was used in a scene. The Buk-gu District Office in Gwangju noted that no application for road occupation was filed for the prop, which was placed approximately 350 meters from the actual bus stop. Public reaction remains divided.

Entities

SBS · Kim Ji-won · Netflix · Kim Ji Won · Doctor X

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Timeline

  1. [CULTURE] 3 sources
    SBS drama ‘Doctor X’ faces legal complaint over filming props

    The SBS drama ‘Doctor X’ faces a legal complaint over a temporary bus stop prop used in a scene depicting the 5·18 Gwangju Uprising, amid ongoing controversy regarding its political themes.

  2. [CULTURE] 15 sources
    South Korean drama ‘Doctor X’ faces petition to halt broadcast

    The SBS drama ‘Doctor X: Mafia in White’ faces a National Assembly petition to halt broadcasting after depicting the 1980 Gwangju Democratization Movement, sparking intense political debate.

  3. [CULTURE] 7 sources
    Doctor X: Mafia In White episode 5 explores medical corruption

    Episode 5 of Doctor X: Mafia In White highlights the ideological clash between Gye Su-jeong and Director Bu regarding medical corruption and hospital hierarchy.

  4. [CULTURE] 8 sources
    Doctor X: Age of the White Mafia hits record ratings

    The SBS drama ‘Doctor X: Age of the White Mafia’, starring Kim Ji-won, has hit record viewership ratings and topped Netflix's non-English charts despite facing criticism over medical inaccuracies.

  5. [CULTURE] 10 sources
    Doctor X: Mafia in White achieves rising viewership amid medical accuracy debates

    The K-drama ‘Doctor X: Mafia in White’ is seeing rising viewership, reaching 18.5% ratings, though it faces criticism from viewers regarding the accuracy of its medical procedures.

  6. [CULTURE] 11 sources
    Doctor X: Mafia in White achieves high ratings amid medical accuracy debate

    Kim Ji-won’s new medical drama ‘Doctor X: Mafia in White’ has achieved high viewership ratings and a top spot on Netflix, despite facing criticism over its medical accuracy.

  7. [CULTURE] 17 sources
    Doctor X: Mafia In White achieves record viewership for Kim Ji Won

    Kim Ji Won's new medical noir drama ‘Doctor X: Mafia In White’ has become a major hit, recording the highest miniseries premiere ratings of 2026 in South Korea with viewership climbing to 17.4% by episode two.

  8. [CULTURE] 5 sources
    Kim Ji-won to star in Korean adaptation of ‘Doctor X’

    Kim Ji-won stars in the upcoming South Korean medical noir ‘Doctor X: Mafia in White’, an adaptation of the Japanese series, premiering October 9 on SBS and Netflix.

  9. [CULTURE] 2 sources
    Kim Ji Won to star in medical noir drama ‘Doctor X’

    Actress Kim Ji Won stars in the upcoming SBS medical noir drama ‘Doctor X’, portraying a genius surgeon fighting hospital corruption. She will also appear on ‘Yoo Quiz on the Block’ to promote the series.

  10. [CULTURE] 2 sources
    Kim Ji-won to star in new Netflix medical drama Doctor X

    Kim Ji-won stars in the new Netflix medical noir K-drama ‘Doctor X: A Máfia do Jaleco Branco,’ premiering October 9, centered on a surgeon fighting hospital corruption.

  11. [CULTURE] 5 sources
    Kim Ji Won to star in medical noir drama Doctor X

    Kim Ji Won stars in the upcoming SBS medical noir drama ‘Doctor X: Age of the White Mafia,’ premiering October 9, portraying a genius surgeon fighting hospital corruption.

  12. [CULTURE] 3 sources
    Kim Ji Won stars in new SBS drama teaser for Doctor X

    SBS released the first teaser for the drama ‘Doctor X’, featuring Kim Ji Won as a genius, cold-natured surgeon named Gye Soo Jung.

  13. [CULTURE] 3 sources
    Kim Ji-won medical drama 'Doctor X' set for October premiere

    The South Korean remake of the Japanese medical drama 'Doctor X', starring Kim Ji-won, is scheduled to premiere on SBS on October 9, 2026.

Sources

afamily.vn · alias.estadao.com.br · biz.heraldcorp.com · celebrity.okezone.com · cinemacafe.net · dmtalkies.com · dramabeans.com · ekr.chosunonline.com · elfolivre.com.br · english.hani.co.kr · epochtimes.com · gestion.pe · h21.hani.co.kr · india.com · isplus.com · jawapos.com · jnilbo.com · jurnalul.ro · k-gen.fr · kbizoom.com · kenh14.vn · koreaherald.com · koreastardaily.com · kyeonggi.com · leisurebyte.com · lifestyle.sindonews.com · m.sportalkorea.com · me.mashable.com · medcom.id · musik.kapanlagi.com · otakukart.com · programme-tv.net · rbbtoday.com · recreio.com.br · rri.co.id · seoul.co.kr · showbiz.liputan6.com · singtaousa.com · soompi.com · sportschosun.com · star.ettoday.net · technosports.co.in · tenasia.hankyung.com · thanhnien.vn · time.news · unniepop.cl · vtv.vn · world-today-news.com

This summary has been updated 26 times: see revision history