Kim Ji-won attempts unprecedented surgery to save pediatric cancer patient

In the ninth episode of SBS drama 'Doctor X: Era of the White Mafia' aired on Friday the 6th, Gye Su-jeong attempted an unprecedented abdominal multi-organ ex vivo tumor resection to save 8-year-old Lee Hyun-ah. Despite opposition from Boo Seung-gwon, the procedure gained support from Do Yun-sik and Jang Hee-sook as the patient's condition deteriorated.

The SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X: Era of the White Mafia' (produced by Studio S, Studio Dragon, and HighZium Studio) delivered a gripping emotional experience as Kim Ji-won's character showed intense determination to perform an unrealistic surgery to save an 8-year-old pediatric cancer patient, with medical staff joining the effort.

In the 9th episode aired on Friday the 6th, Gye Su-jeong (Kim Ji-won) is depicted attempting an unprecedented, surreal surgery to save 8-year-old pediatric cancer patient Lee Hyun-ah (Lee Chae-yu). Amidst universal opposition, Gye Su-jeong prepared for the surgery alone, but the situation shifted when Do Yun-sik (Kim Yeong-min) made a decisive choice to assist her, and Jang Hee-sook (Lee Jung-eun) joined the operating room to signal the start of a collaborative surgery.

During the episode, Boo Seung-gwon (Son Hyun-joo) expressed doubt to Jang Hee-sook, asking, "Is Gye Su-jeong Doctor X?" Jang Hee-sook responded that if a Doctor X is a doctor who prioritizes the life and well-being of the patient and does their best in their assigned surgery, then Gye Su-jeong is indeed Doctor X. Jang Hee-sook further pressured Boo Seung-gwon, who was questioning Gye Su-jeong's struggle to save the patient, by pointing out that he suffers from glaucoma. However, Boo Seung-gwon did not back down, stating that a Doctor X is a doctor who challenges dangerous surgeries where methods are not yet established, and an arrogant "hand of God" who weighs life against skill. In that sense, Boo Seung-gwon asserted that Gye Su-jeong is indeed Doctor X, heightening the tension.

Meanwhile, Gye Su-jeong, who had previously accepted Boo Seung-gwon's proposal to expand her contract terms if she successfully completed Yoo Ga-eul's (Ki So-yu) surgery within six hours, proved her skill once again by completing a "solo surgery" perfectly in just 5 hours and 20 minutes. Immediately after the surgery, Gye Su-jeong began contemplating how to save the 8-year-old Lee Hyun-ah. The situation was desperate, as the rare tumor had infiltrated major blood vessels and multiple organs, leading doctors at Guseodae Hospital and members of the service agency to shake their heads, claiming there was no way to operate.

Refusing to give up, Gye Su-jeong conceived the only possible surgical method to save Lee Hyun-ah: "abdominal multi-organ ex vivo tumor resection and autotransplantation." This highly difficult procedure involves removing all six organs infiltrated by the tumor outside the body, removing the tumors from each, and then transplanting them back into the body. However, this is a surgery that can never be completed alone. Even with Gye Su-jeong's god-like skills and overwhelming surgical speed, the time the child can endure is limited, meaning multiple surgeons must participate simultaneously to reduce the time.

Gye Su-jeong attempted to persuade the medical staff at a surgical conference, but they expressed difficulty, claiming the surgery was impossible, and Boo Seung-gwon strongly opposed it, citing the uncertain success rate of such a high-risk procedure. Ultimately, Gye Su-jeong bowed 90 degrees to everyone and earnestly pleaded, "I beg of you." However, no medical staff stepped forward to join the surgery. Boo Seung-gwon rejected her request, stating that the surgery could not be permitted until the IRB (Institutional Review Board) approval process for the new surgical method was completed.

With everyone turning their backs, Gye Su-jeong decided once again to attempt a "solo surgery." Jo Won-jin (Lee Jin-hee) stepped forward to help Gye Su-jeong, saying, "You never fail. I never give up." While Gye Su-jeong struggled with the difficulty of reducing time alone despite repeated surgical simulations, the patient Lee Hyun-ah visited her to say thank you, saying calmly, "I might not wake up." This moved the characters deeply. Gye Su-jeong met the child's eyes and promised, "That won't happen, Hyun-ah. Because I never, ever fail." Gye Su-jeong's subsequent repetition of "I never fail" as if talking to herself left a deep impression, revealing her firm will to protect the young life.

The 9th episode of 'Doctor X' recorded a peak viewership rating of 16.6% and 15.3% in the Seoul metropolitan area, ranking first in its time slot and marking its fifth consecutive week as the number one program among all channels and programs (according to Nielsen Korea). The 2049 viewership rating also reached a peak of 5.86% with an average of 5.3%, once again proving it to be an unrivaled hit.

Jang Hee-sook tried to dissuade Gye Su-jeong, even mentioning dismissal. However, as Lee Hyun-ah's condition deteriorated rapidly, Gye Su-jeong decided to push forward with the surgery after submitting her resignation to the agency. With the help of Jo Won-jin and Park Tae-gyeong (played by Kim Woo-seok), Gye Su-jeong began the surgery. The tension reached its peak as Gye Su-jeong undertook the dangerous challenge of a surgery that everyone else had given up on.

At the same time, a meeting was being held in the hospital conference hall, where a vote was underway to decide whether the residents would submit their resignations. Do Yun-sik, who attended the meeting, was restless with worry over Lee Hyun-ah's surgery, and eventually stormed out of the conference hall to join the operating room. Do Yun-sik's decision and change, as he stepped up to save the patient by risking his position and career, delivered a deep resonance to viewers.

At the end of the broadcast, the operating room faced a major crisis. The patient's blood pressure dropped sharply, placing them in a precarious situation where brain damage was feared. At that moment, when additional personnel were desperately needed, the operating room door opened and Jang Hee-sook entered, dressed in surgical scrubs. When Jang Hee-sook joined the surgery without hesitation, saying, “I am surgeon Jang Hee-sook,” Gye Su-jeong introduced her with eyes full of respect, saying, “She is my mentor,” which surprised everyone. As it was revealed that Jang Hee-sook, who was thought to be a doctor agency director only interested in money, was actually Gye Su-jeong's mentor and a surgeon, the ending featured the determined gazes of Gye Su-jeong and Jang Hee-sook meeting as doctor against doctor in the operating room. Curiosity has peaked regarding whether they can successfully complete this unprecedented major surgery and protect the young life, in episode 10 which airs today (the 7th).

Immediately after the broadcast, hot reactions continued on various online communities and SNS, such as: “How can a drama be this cool? Gye Su-jeong, who never gives up until the end, is so moving,” “As someone who likes hero stories, the development of Doctor X is so fun,” “I cried because I could fully feel our Teacher Gye's desperate heart for the patient,” “There was a reason why actress Lee Jung-eun plays the role of Jang Hee-sook. My dopamine levels are at their peak right now,” “Why does Doctor X make people laugh and cry like this?”, “I rewatched the scene where Professor Do gets up and goes to the operating room several times. It's touching,” and “Jang Hee-sook's appearance at the ending was truly crazy. It's the best ending I've seen so far, I screamed.”

The SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X: Era of the White Mafia' is a refreshing medical noir depicting the activities of 'the crazy Gye of the operating room,' Doctor X 'Gye Su-jeong,' who breaks down massive corruption with genius surgical skills that know neither failure nor compromise. Episode 10 will be broadcast tonight (the 7th) at 9:50 PM.

SBS 'Doctor X: Era of the White Mafia'

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