[TF Focus] As expected of Kim Ji-won... Proving her worth once again with 'Doctor X'

Starring as surgeon Gye Soo-jungDominating ratings and buzz from the first weekActress Kim Ji-won is proving her worth with the SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X: Age of the White Mafia.' The photo shows her attending the production presentation of 'Doctor X: Age of the White Mafia' held at the SBS building in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, on the 7th. /Reporter Song Ho-young[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Soo-bin] "I don't fail." This one line from Gye Soo-jung, the genius surgeon Kim Ji-won plays in 'Doctor X,' has proven to be true in reality. 'Doctor X' kicked off its success by capturing both ratings and buzz from its very first week of broadcast. At the center of it all is Kim Ji-won's performance, which seamlessly shifts between cool charisma and human charm. She is once again proving her true value, having set a new benchmark for iconic characters with every project.Kim Ji-won is meeting viewers through the SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X: Age of the White Mafia' (written by Pyeon Seong-geun, directed by Lee Jeong-rim, hereinafter referred to as 'Doctor X'), which premiered on the 9th. In the drama, Kim Ji-won plays Gye Soo-jung, a surgeon dispatched from a doctor staffing agency, showcasing her exceptional presence.The series is a "cider" medical noir depicting the exploits of 'Doctor X' Gye Soo-jung (played by Kim Ji-won), who shatters immense injustice with her genius surgical skills, knowing no failure or compromise. It is based on the Japanese drama 'Doctor X' series. It is a 12-episode series, with two episodes currently aired.According to Netflix's official chart tracking site, Tudum, the series recorded 4.6 million viewing hours (viewing hours divided by runtime) within three days of its release on the 14th, ranking first in Netflix's non-English TV shows. It also proved its popularity by entering the top 10 in a total of 36 countries, including Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, and Indonesia.The ratings are also soaring. It debuted with 11.4% (Nielsen Korea, nationwide household based on) from the first episode, the highest premiere rating for a mini-series broadcast in 2026. It then rose to 14.9% in the second episode, a 3.5%P increase, signaling a successful run.The buzz is also intense. According to the Findex, a buzz analysis agency operated by Good Data Corporation, the series ranked first in the TV/OTT buzz rankings for the second week of October, released on the 12th, proving its hot topic status from its first week of broadcast.Kim Ji-won is passionately portraying the role of genius surgeon Gye Soo-jung in 'Doctor X.' /SBSAt the heart of this success is undoubtedly Kim Ji-won. Gye Soo-jung, played by Kim Ji-won, is a surgeon dispatched from a doctor staffing agency to fill the surgical vacancy at Gu Seo University Hospital. She is a character obsessed solely with surgery, and within the corrupt Gu Seo University Hospital, she uses her overwhelming skills to cut out the corrupt medical establishment and shake up the power structure within the hospital.Gye Soo-jung is quite different from the doctors commonly seen in existing medical dramas. She does not engage in personal conversations to build camaraderie with colleagues and strictly adheres to leaving work at 6 PM sharp and taking her lunch break. She firmly refuses tasks unrelated to surgery, such as ghostwriting papers. She has no interest in hospital power or hierarchy.Gye Soo-jung's skills shone from the first episode. She instantly diagnosed a patient's hernia and provided appropriate treatment, and showed extraordinary insight by detecting early signs in the hospital director. After the hospital director collapsed, she instantly took control of the operating room and successfully led a difficult surgery. It was a moment where she proved her words, "I don't fail," with her skills.In this process, Kim Ji-won's acting lends strong credibility to the character of Gye Soo-jung. Most impressive are her unwavering expression and her calm yet chilling voice. Gye Soo-jung does not raise her voice or express her emotions intensely to show off her skills. Instead, she points out the opponent's weaknesses with an indifferent expression and overwhelms them by delivering long lines without hesitation.Her sharp remarks towards doctors blinded by power and money are particularly exhilarating. Gye Soo-jung's cynical attitude towards doctors who bow to professors but assert authority in front of patients contains an unshakeable conviction. Kim Ji-won further clarifies Gye Soo-jung's personality through her restrained acting.However, Gye Soo-jung is not just a cold and blunt character. Gye Soo-jung, who usually maintains a poker face, becomes intensely focused on eating when presented with delicious food. Her enjoyment of cake or her happiness over a banana milk starkly contrasts with her cool demeanor in the operating room. Especially when her eyes sparkle when facing a difficult surgery, her passion for surgery can be glimpsed.'Doctor X,' starring Kim Ji-won, airs every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 PM. /SBSKim Ji-won naturally navigates these contrasting charms without exaggeration. In the operating room, she displays sharp eyes that seem to tolerate no mistakes, while in her daily life, she subtly differentiates herself, completing Gye Soo-jung as a more three-dimensional character. She has added human charm to the potentially unrealistic character of a genius surgeon.Her chemistry with the surrounding characters is also noteworthy. Although Gye Soo-jung is accustomed to acting alone and keeps her distance from others, people naturally gather around her. Her other charms are revealed in her relationship with intern doctor Park Tae-kyung (Kim WooSeok). Gye Soo-jung, who rarely listens to others, creates a unique chemistry with Park Tae-kyung through food.Above all, Gye Soo-jung, as portrayed by Kim Ji-won, is not merely a genius doctor who excels at surgery. While confronting the injustices of the medical world where status and profit are prioritized over patients' lives, she does not try to be a hero herself. Although she appears to be a doctor who moves for money on the surface, beneath that lies a genuine concern for each patient and a firm conviction as a doctor. These aspects are revealed throughout the series, making viewers root for Gye Soo-jung's journey.SBS already has a representative medical drama, 'Dr. Romantic.' Kim Sabu (played by Han Suk-kyu), who left a deep impression on viewers with his sincerity towards patients and overwhelming skills, has been a beloved doctor character for a long time. Gye Soo-jung differs from Kim Sabu in her approach and personality. However, her confrontation with medical injustices based on her outstanding skills and her adherence to her own principles are reminiscent of Kim Sabu.Therefore, Gye Soo-jung's exploits, as portrayed by Kim Ji-won, are even more anticipated. Kim Ji-won is imbuing the potentially unrealistic character of a genius surgeon with her own unique color. There is great interest in Kim Ji-won's performance at the center of whether 'Doctor X,' which has just begun, can create another representative medical drama character following Kim Sabu.Gye Soo-jung's line, "I don't fail," may also be fitting for Kim Ji-won, who embarks on new challenges with each project.'Doctor X' airs every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 PM.subin7134@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]