Kim Ji-won’s SBS medical drama “Doctor X: Era of the White Mafia” has crossed the 15% ratings mark just three episodes into its run, Nielsen Korea reported on October 17.
Episode 3, which aired October 16, recorded 15.1% nationwide — up 0.2 percentage points from the previous episode and the drama’s highest rating to date. The series premiered October 9 at 11.4%, then jumped to 14.9% with episode 2, making Friday’s broadcast its third straight climb.
The drama follows Gye Su-jeong (Kim Ji-won), a genius surgeon who takes on entrenched corruption in the medical world. It is Kim Ji-won’s first television drama in two years, and its fast-paced storytelling and the lead’s commanding performance have powered the early surge, according to the report.
The runaway ratings come alongside criticism over the show’s medical accuracy and its portrayal of medical staff. A viewer claiming to be an orthopedic surgeon said they had filed a formal broadcast complaint; SBS responded that it has “no separate position” on the matter.
With Jang Seung-jo joining from episode 3 as Na Dae-il, a newly appointed surgery professor set up as Gye Su-jeong’s rival, the drama heads into episode 4 tonight with both momentum and scrutiny still climbing.
