SBS medical noir Doctor X enters top five all-time ratings list

The SBS Friday-Saturday drama Doctor X reached a peak nationwide viewership of 19.5% in its sixth episode, becoming the fifth highest-rated drama in the network's history for that time slot. The series, which follows Kye Su-jeong, also secured first place in a Gallup Korea survey for favorite broadcast video programs for October 2026.

The SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X' has entered the top five of all-time Friday-Saturday dramas in SBS history after only six episodes. The series continues to break its own records every week, with its most recent sixth episode reaching a peak viewership of 21.3%, 19.5% nationwide, and 19.2% in the Seoul metropolitan area.

Produced by Studio S, Studio Dragon, and HighZium Studio, 'Doctor X' is a medical noir that follows the activities of Kye Su-jeong (Kim Ji-won), a "mad genius of the operating room" who uses her brilliant surgical skills to crush massive corruption without compromise or failure.

The series has proven itself as an unrivaled powerhouse, ranking first in its time slot and standing as the top-rated mini-series among both Saturday mini-series and weekly mini-series. In terms of all-time SBS Friday-Saturday drama ratings, 'Doctor X' follows 'The Penthouse 2' (29.2%), 'Agent Kim Reactivated' (23.1%), 'The Fiery Priest' (22.0%), and 'Taxi Driver 2' (21.0%).

The intense interest in the program has extended 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 performance ranked third among all terrestrial programming on that Saturday, surpassing the original broadcast ratings of many recently aired mini-series.

The drama is also dominating popularity and buzz metrics. In a survey released by Gallup Korea on the 27th regarding the "Favorite Broadcast Video Programs for October 2026," 'Doctor X' took first place with an overwhelming 9.8% preference. It is the third SBS drama to top this monthly Gallup Korea survey since January 2013, following 'Agent Kim Reactivated' and 'My Love from the Star.' Additionally, in a survey released on the 26th by the research and data consulting firm PMI, 'Doctor X' maintained its position as the most anticipated TV and OTT program for two consecutive weeks with a 27.3% support rate.

The success of 'Doctor X' is attributed to the unique character of Kye Su-jeong (Kim Ji-won), who prioritizes patients' lives above all else while fighting against injustice, and the refreshing narrative. The tension of the medical noir genre is heightened by Kye Su-jeong's unwavering convictions against irrational power and practices. The immersion is further bolstered by the 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.

Online communities and social media have been filled with praise, with comments such as, "Has 'Doctor X' already passed the halfway point? Please bring 120 more episodes," "I love Kye Su-jeong as played by Kim Ji-won. Her voice acting is amazing," "The cast is perfect, whether lead or supporting, making it so immersive," "Kye Su-jeong's team getting revenge on Na Dae-il is so refreshing and thrilling! It's a total 'cider' explosion," and "A masterpiece where the music, directing, and acting all come together perfectly."

The seventh episode of the SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X' will air on Friday the 30th at 9:50 PM.

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