Doctor X hits 20.8% peak viewership as Gye Su-jeong finds secret

The SBS drama 'Doctor X' reached a peak viewership of 20.8% during its fourth episode on the 17th, after Gye Su-jeong discovered the initials "D.N" on a patient's liver during an emergency surgery.

The SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X' rewrote its own record by reaching a peak viewership of 20.8% in its fourth episode. Broadcast on the 17th, the fourth episode recorded a nationwide viewership of 18.5% and a metropolitan viewership of 18.4%. The 2049 viewership averaged 5.9%, reaching a peak of 6.56%. SBS announced that the production ranked first in its time slot and among Saturday mini-series and weekly mini-series.

The episode centered on the escalating conflict between Gye Su-jeong, a surgeon at Guseo University Hospital, and the newly appointed professor Na Dae-il, after she discovered traces of his past surgeries. The episode concluded with Gye Su-jeong attempting to save a patient in the emergency room, where the initials "D.N" were discovered on the patient's liver.

Fourth episode hits 20.8% peak... nationwide, metropolitan, and 2049 ratings all hit series highs

According to SBS, the fourth episode of 'Doctor X' recorded 18.5% nationwide and 18.4% in the metropolitan area, with the instantaneous peak viewership climbing to 20.8%. The series surpassed the 20% mark only four episodes into its run, setting new personal bests for nationwide and metropolitan ratings. The original data reported that nationwide and 2049 viewership ratings have broken their own records every episode. The 2049 viewership was also the highest among all programs broadcast on Saturday.

The 2049 viewership was recorded at an average of 5.9% and a peak of 6.56%. SBS stated that the 6.56% peak ranked first among all programs broadcast on Saturday. The fourth episode's ratings ranked first not only in its time slot but also among Saturday mini-series and weekly mini-series. These figures represent new records following previous episodes, with nationwide, metropolitan, and 2049 viewership each hitting their highest levels for the fourth episode. The viewership figures are based on the fourth episode's broadcast.

Gye Su-jeong pushed to the ER, clashes with Na Dae-il over patient surgery

The fourth episode focused on the relationship between Na Dae-il, the newly appointed surgical professor at Guseo University Hospital, and Gye Su-jeong. Although Gye Su-jeong was pushed from the surgical department to the emergency room, she established herself as an essential figure in the ER by treating emergency patients quickly and accurately, even overturning judgments from those who expected surgeries to fail. Na Dae-il greeted Gye Su-jeong with a smile when she entered his operating room and attempted to get closer to her by learning through the intern Park Tae-gyeong that she enjoys snacks, though Gye Su-jeong remained guarded even regarding the treats.

The conflict intensified over the surgery for cholecystitis patient Kwon Chung-hyeon. Kwon stated he wanted to be operated on by Na Dae-il, who had saved his life during his military service. However, the earliest date Na Dae-il could perform the surgery was one week later. Gye Su-jeong believed the patient would not be able to hold out until then. While examining the abdominal CT, Gye Su-jeong discovered suspicious traces on the liver and insisted on an exploratory laparotomy. Na Dae-il maintained his stance on laparoscopic surgery, claiming the traces were merely simple adhesions from a past surgery.

After watching Gye Su-jeong's surgical video, Na Dae-il remarked, "He's either a god or a monster. They say he only looks forward, and I'm curious to know what is in front of him that makes him so." The two doctors clashed over the necessary surgical method and timing for the patient. The situation changed when Kwon Chung-hyeon suddenly collapsed three days before the scheduled surgery. While other doctors were deployed for the emergency surgery of a traffic accident patient, the attending physician Na Dae-il was not at the hospital, as he was attending a meal with the Magnolia Society. Gye Su-jeong performed the surgery on Kwon Chung-hyeon herself.

'D.N' found in the liver... Jang Hui-suk wary of Na Dae-il from the first meeting

During the surgery, Gye Su-jeong discovered the initials "D.N" on Kwon Chung-hyeon's liver. The pattern appeared to be a mark engraved on the site of a past surgery performed by Na Dae-il. Na Dae-il, who learned late that Gye Su-jeong had begun the surgery, returned to the hospital with a pale face, but the operation was already underway. Gye Su-jeong expressed shock and anger upon confirming the mark. The broadcast ended at this moment, leaving the relationship between Na Dae-il's past surgery and the initials unresolved.

Na Dae-il gained favor from those around him at Guseo University Hospital due to his gentle and kind impression. However, Jang Hui-suk was wary of him from their first meeting. Regarding the new surgical professor who caused Gye Su-jeong to be sent to the emergency room without surgeries, Jang Hui-suk said, "Where did you drag in a guy with such dirty hands?" Unlike the members of the labor agency who wondered if Gye Su-jeong and Na Dae-il might grow close, Jang Hui-suk insisted, "That guy's hands smell foul." The episode also featured Na Dae-il showing interest by closely watching Gye Su-jeong's surgical video.

The broadcast also depicted the connection between Na Dae-il's time as a military doctor and Kwon Chung-hyeon. According to reference articles, Kwon Chung-hyeon had suffered severe internal bleeding due to maltreatment at the time. Judging that delaying the transfer to a military hospital would be dangerous, Na Dae-il personally drove Kwon Chung-hyeon to a rural clinic. In a situation where help from other doctors was unavailable, Na Dae-il saved Kwon Chung-hyeon by performing the surgery alone. This is the background of why Kwon Chung-hyeon currently considers Na Dae-il the person who saved his life and wishes to entrust him with his surgery. It was not revealed in the fourth episode how the "D.N" discovered by Gye Su-jeong connects to the past surgery.

Past of Gye Su-jeong and Jang Hui-suk revealed... broadcasts Friday and Saturday at 9:50 PM

The intro of the fourth episode revealed parts of the past of Gye Su-jeong and Jang Hui-suk. During the time Gye Su-jeong was performing medical volunteer work in a conflict zone, a young boy lost his life. The episode showed Gye Su-jeong wailing in front of a building engulfed in flames while looking at the boy's body, with Jang Hui-suk and a young child watching the scene with sorrow. The broadcast implied that the two share a common past. Gye Su-jeong told Jang Hui-suk, who was attempting to order alcohol, "No. We can't live like that again." The specific details of what the two experienced in the past were not explained.

'Doctor X' is a medical drama depicting the story of freelance doctor Gye Su-jeong, who possesses genius surgical skills, as she enters Guseo University Hospital and confronts the authority and practices within the hospital. According to reference articles, the production team reconstructed the story and characters to suit the sensibilities of Korean viewers based on the original work since 2021. Kim Ji-won learned medical terminology and practiced suturing for her first challenge in the medical genre. Lee Jung-eun plays Jang Hui-suk, Kim Woo-seok plays the intern Park Tae-gyeong, and Son Hyun-joo plays the hospital director Bu Seung-gwon. The cast also includes Heo Jun-seok as the emergency medicine professor Kim Seong-jin.

Immediately after the broadcast, viewer reactions regarding the final scene of the fourth episode and Gye Su-jeong's past appeared on online communities and social media. Reported reactions included, "The impact of the ending is crazy. How can I wait a week?", "The tension today is maxed out. I lost track of time," "Gye Su-jeong is most interesting when she's working," and "The genre changes every time Jang Seung-jo's eyes turn." The SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X' broadcasts every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 PM. The identity of the "D.N" revealed in the fourth episode and the past of Gye Su-jeong and Jang Hui-suk remain stories to be continued in subsequent episodes.

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