SBS drama Doctor X reaches top 5 all-time ratings in six episodes
The SBS medical noir drama 'Doctor X' has reached the top 5 in the history of SBS Friday-Saturday dramas after only six episodes, with peak viewership hitting 21.3%. The series, starring Kim Ji-won as the genius surgeon Gye Su-jeong, is also leading popularity rankings for both broadcast and OTT platforms.
The SBS Friday-Saturday drama Doctor X has climbed to fifth place among all all-time SBS Friday-Saturday dramas after its sixth episode recorded a peak nationwide viewership of 19.5%. The medical noir series, starring Kim Ji-won, also secured first place in a Gallup Korea survey regarding favorite broadcast video programs for October 2026.
The SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X' has climbed to 5th place among all SBS Friday-Saturday dramas in just six episodes. The series is maintaining an unstoppable momentum, breaking its own viewership records every week while seeing high engagement in reruns and topicality indices.
Produced by Studio S, Studio Dragon, and HighZium Studio, 'Doctor X' is a medical noir that depicts the activities of Gye Su-jeong (Kim Ji-won), a "mad genius of the operating room" who uses her genius surgical skills to crush massive corruption without compromise or failure.
The drama continues to dominate the home screen with a consistent upward trend. The most recent 6th episode recorded a peak viewership of 21.3%, with 19.5% nationwide and 19.2% in the Seoul metropolitan area, once again setting a new personal best. This performance secured 1st place in its time slot and stood as the top-rated mini-series among all weekly mini-series, proving its status as an unrivaled leader.
Notably, reaching 5th place in the all-time SBS Friday-Saturday drama ratings in only six episodes is a significant achievement. In terms of nationwide viewership, it follows 'The Penthouse 2' (29.2%), 'Agent Kim Reactivated' (23.1%), 'The Fiery Priest' (22.0%), and 'Taxi Driver 2' (21.0%). Entering the top 5 so quickly among such major hits demonstrates the series' powerful growth and presence as a ratings powerhouse.
The intense interest in the original broadcast has also carried over to reruns. A rerun aired on the 24th recorded 6.8% nationwide and 6.6% in the Seoul metropolitan area. According to Nielsen Korea, this ranking was equivalent to the 3rd highest-rated terrestrial program on that Saturday, a figure that surpasses the original broadcast ratings of many recently aired mini-series, reflecting the deep interest in 'Doctor X'.
The series is also sweeping viewer preference and topicality rankings. In a survey released by Gallup Korea on the 27th regarding the "Favorite Broadcast Video Programs for October 2026," 'Doctor X' took 1st place with an overwhelming preference of 9.8%. In Gallup Korea surveys conducted monthly since January 2013, 'Doctor X' is the third SBS drama to reach 1st place, following 'Agent Kim Reactivated' and 'My Love from the Star'. Furthermore, in a survey released on the 26th by the research and data consulting firm PMI regarding the "Most Anticipated OTT and TV Hits This Week," the drama maintained 1st place for two consecutive weeks with a 27.3% support rate, showcasing its class as the top hit of the second half of 2026 across both TV and OTT platforms.
At the center of this craze is the unique character of Gye Su-jeong (Kim Ji-won), who prioritizes patients' lives above all else and fights against corruption through a refreshing narrative. Her refusal to bend her convictions for the sake of patients, even in the face of irrational power and practices, provides a unique sense of pleasure by combining the tension of medical noir with the satisfaction of a "cider" (refreshing) genre. The immersion is further enhanced by the vivid performances of a reliable cast including Kim Ji-won, Lee Jung-eun, Son Hyun-joo, Kim Woo-seok, Lee Jin-hee, Kim Yeong-min, Lee Seong-uk, Kwon Seung-woo, and Heo Jun-seok.
Praise is pouring in from various online communities and social media, with comments such as, "Has 'Doctor X' already passed the halfway point? Don't joke, bring us 120 more episodes," "I love Gye Su-jeong played by Kim Ji-won. Her voice acting is amazing," "The cast is perfect whether lead or supporting, the immersion is crazy," "Gye Su-jeong's team getting revenge on Na Dae-il is so refreshing and thrilling! It's a total cider bomb," and "A masterpiece where the music, directing, and acting all fit perfectly."
The 7th episode of the SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X' will air on Friday the 30th at 9:50 PM.
Photo: SBS 'Doctor X'
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Covers K-pop for SPECIALTIMES GLOBAL, and also writes Culture and K-Variety stories.
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