Kim Ji-won stars in medical noir drama Doctor X starting tonight

The medical noir drama Doctor X: Era of the White Mafia premieres tonight at 9:50 PM on SBS, following genius surgeon Kye Su-jeong as she uses her surgical skills to challenge a corrupt cartel at Guseo University Hospital. Pre-release videos for the series have already garnered 11.05 million views on official SBS YouTube channels.

The new SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X: Era of the White Mafia' (hereafter 'Doctor X') is set to premiere tonight (9th) at 9:50 PM.

Produced by Studio S, Studio Dragon, and HighZium Studio, 'Doctor X' is a "refreshing" medical noir that follows the activities of Kye Su-jeong (Kim Ji-won), a "crazy strategist of the operating room" who uses her genius surgical skills to crush massive corruption without compromise or failure. The series features a heavy-hitting cast including Kim Ji-won (as Kye Su-jeong), Lee Jung-eun (as Jang Hui-suk), Son Hyun-joo (as Boo Seung-gwon), and Kim Woo-seok (as Park Tae-gyeong). Directed by Lee Jeong-rim, who has previously received recognition for 'VIP', 'Revenant', and 'As You Stood By', and written by rising star Pyeon Seong-geun, the drama has already garnered a combined 11.05 million views from its pre-release videos on official SBS YouTube channels as of October 8.

Kim Ji-won makes a dramatic transformation after two years, returning as Kye Su-jeong, a genius surgeon who takes over the world of the "white mafia" at Guseo University Hospital through overwhelming surgical skill alone. Refusing the irrational customs of the medical community, Kye Su-jeong challenges the corrupt cartel at Guseo University Hospital with the confidence of stating, "I do not fail." Her character is expected to showcase a unique "medical dark hero" persona, blending intense surgical charisma with unexpected clumsy charm outside the operating room and a deep backstory.

The series expands the "refreshing hero" lineage of SBS—which includes 'Chief Kim', 'Taxi Driver', 'The Fiery Priest', and 'The Judge from Hell'—into the medical noir genre. The drama promises a high-tension experience featuring intense surgical sequences and fierce power struggles against corrupt authorities. In particular, the core of the story will lie in Kye Su-jeong's conviction and divine skill as she saves patients' lives in defiance of corrupt doctors at Guseo University Hospital who prioritize maintaining their power over human life.

The meeting between hit-maker Kim Ji-won and the irreplaceable Lee Jung-eun is also a major point of interest. Although they are business partners, the two characters share a deep bond forged through shared wounds. The drama will depict a "womance" that transcends generations between the cold yet surprising Kye Su-jeong and the outwardly sly yet internally solid Jang Hui-suk. Director Lee Jeong-rim noted that the chemistry between the two actors contains a special level of trust and comfort that goes beyond mere acting.

The production promises a high-quality ensemble performance from a robust cast, including Kim Ji-won, Lee Jung-eun, Son Hyun-joo, and Kim Woo-seok, alongside Lee Jin-hee (as Jo Won-jin), Kim Yeong-min (as Do Yun-sik), Lee Seong-uk (as Bae Heung-gon), Kwon Seung-woo (as Ma Seong-gyu), Heo Jun-seok (as Kim Seong-jin), and Choi Deok-mun (as Yang Eung-gu). These characters, ranging from Guseo University Hospital medical staff to members of a doctor recruitment agency and the powerful figures surrounding the hospital, will create synergy through varying beliefs and desires. During a production press conference, Lee Jung-eun hinted, "Centered around Kye Su-jeong, there is various chemistry both inside and outside the operating room. As the drama progresses, you will come to love each character."

Meanwhile, the new SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X' was produced with support from the Broadcasting, Media and Communications Commission's Broadcasting and Communications Development Fund and will air its first episode tonight (9th) at 9:50 PM.

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