The SBS Friday-Saturday drama "Doctor X: Mafia in White" (hereafter "Doctor X: Mafia in White") is an exhilarating medical noir depicting the actions of Doctor X Gye Soo-jung (played by Kim Ji-won), known as the operating room's "Crazy Gye," who shatters massive absurdities with genius surgical skills that know neither failure nor compromise.
As of its recent sixth episode, "Doctor X: Mafia in White" achieved a peak viewership rating of 21.3% and a nationwide average of 19.5% (Nielsen Korea standard), ranking fifth among SBS's all-time highest-rated Friday-Saturday dramas. Its buzzworthiness indicators are equally overwhelming. According to K-content competitiveness analysis agency Good Data Corporation FUNdex, Kim Ji-won ranked No. 1 in the combined TV-OTT performer buzzworthiness category for three consecutive weeks. In addition, in the drama performer rankings surveyed by RACOI, the broadcasting content value information analysis system operated by the Korea Broadcast Advertising Corp. (KOBACO), Kim Ji-won claimed first place, while key cast members such as Lee Jung-eun (No. 6), Son Hyun-joo (No. 9), and Kim Woo-seok (No. 12) gathered in the upper ranks.
The domestic success is continuing strongly into the global market. According to an announcement by Netflix Tudum on October 28, "Doctor X: Mafia in White" ranked second overall in the weekly viewing chart for Netflix's Global Top 10 Non-English Shows, maintaining a position at the very top from its first week of release through its third week. In particular, even in a situation where competition among new releases intensified with the release of the global hit "Lupin: Part 4," "Doctor X: Mafia in White" proved its formidable drawing power by recording 36.7 million cumulative views.
Praise is also pouring in from international viewers and foreign media. Global communities are showing explosive reactions, commenting, "I have never felt this level of catharsis before," "One of the best Korean dramas to air this year," "Kim Ji-won's acting is phenomenal and irreplaceable," and "The distinct fast pace and suspense of Korean dramas are overwhelming." The refreshing, thrilling moves of "dark hero" Gye Soo-jung, who remains unshaken by power and vested interests while prioritizing patients' lives above all else, are striking a chord with domestic and international fans alike.
Sweeping both domestic and overseas metrics and leading a global syndrome, episode 7 of "Doctor X: Mafia in White" will air on Friday, October 30 at 9:50 PM.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)