Medical Drama 'Doctor X' Surpasses 20 Percent Ratings with High-Stakes Surgery

The SBS Friday-Saturday drama "Doctor X: Age of the White Mafia" reached a major milestone during its tenth episode, surpassing the 20 percent mark in viewership ratings. According to Nielsen Korea, the broadcast recorded a peak rating of 20.2 percent, maintaining its position as the number one program across all channels in its time slot for five consecutive weeks.

The pivotal episode centered on a high-stakes pediatric surgery for an eight-year-old cancer patient named Lee Hyun-ah, portrayed by Lee Chae-yu. Lead character Gye Su-jeong, played by Kim Ji-won, undertook a grueling procedure requiring six organs to be removed from the body, cleared of tumors, and successfully re-implanted.

Facing a severe shortage of medical staff during the procedure, Gye received unexpected assistance when doctors Bu Seung-kwon, played by Son Hyun-joo, and Bae Heung-gon, played by Lee Sung-wook, abandoned a residents' vote to join the operating room. Bu explained his motivation by stating, "If we are true surgeons, where should we be? This is my choice."

Despite pressure from the hospital's Mokryeonhoe faction led by Goo Bon-pyung, played by Choi Kwang-il, to halt the operation, emergency medicine professor Kim Sung-jin, played by Hur Joon-seok, also joined the team. A total of eight physicians ultimately collaborated to complete the complex autotransplantation and save the young patient's life.

Following the operation, Gye showed personal growth by attending a celebratory dinner with her colleagues rather than isolating herself. However, the Mokryeonhoe faction quickly retaliated against the medical staff, attempting to impose disciplinary actions and terminate Gye's contract over procedural concerns.

The disciplinary measures were temporarily halted after the patient's mother, played by Moon Ye-won, threatened legal action against the hospital and foundation in coordination with Jang Hee-sook, played by Lee Jung-eun.

The episode concluded with a dramatic twist involving a new character named Kim Seung-hyo, played by Jeon Guk-hwan, who arrived at Guseodae Hospital for a heart transplant. Kim, the founder of the medical volunteer group "White Wings," requested Gye as his surgeon and Cho Won-jin, played by Lee Jin-hee, as his guardian.

In the final moments, intern Park Tae-kyung, played by Kim Woo-seok, attempted to suffocate the sleeping Kim with a pillow while Cho watched without intervening. Gye intervened just as Kim opened his eyes and greeted her by saying, "It has been a long time, Doctor X," leaving viewers with mounting questions about the characters' shared history with only two episodes remaining.