[TF Focus] Medical Dramas Cross Boundaries... 'Doctor X,' Between Exhilaration and Discomfort

Reflecting reality from the May 18th Democratization Movement to the resident doctors' strikeAirs every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 PM KSTActors Son Hyun-ju, Kim Ji-won, and Lee Jung-eun Kim WooSeok (from left) are collaborating on the SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X: The Era of the White Mafia,' which is garnering attention from domestic and international viewers. The photo shows them attending the production presentation of 'Doctor X: The Era of the White Mafia' held at the SBS building in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, on October 7th. /Reporter Song Ho-young[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Soo-bin] From the May 18th Democratization Movement to the resident doctors' strike. 'Doctor X' is expanding the boundaries of medical dramas by incorporating significant events in Korean society into its narrative. While viewer reactions are mixed, the questions the drama poses are clear: it has brought forth issues that our society must confront.The SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X: The Era of the White Mafia' (written by Pyeon Seong-geun, directed by Lee Jung-rim, hereinafter referred to as 'Doctor X'), which premiered on the 9th of last month, depicts the exploits of 'Doctor X' Gye Su-jeong (played by Kim Ji-won), who shatters immense injustice with her genius surgical skills, knowing neither failure nor compromise. The drama has a total of 12 episodes, with 8 episodes aired so far.The drama started with a viewership rating of 11.4% for its first episode (Nielsen Korea, nationwide household) and continued to rise. The 6th episode, aired on the 24th of last month, recorded a personal best viewership rating of 19.5%. It also ranked first for two consecutive weeks on Netflix's Global Top 10 TV Shows (Non-English) during its first and second weeks of release, attracting attention from domestic and international viewers.'Doctor X' is based on a popular Japanese drama of the same name. Gye Su-jeong, who despises authority, does not belong to any group, and wields only her medical license and outstanding surgical skills as weapons, is dispatched to Guseo University Hospital through a doctor referral agency. She focuses solely on saving patients, unswayed by the power dynamics within the hospital.The initial setup of the drama is not significantly different from the original. From her attitude of not easily bowing down even to the hospital director to her taking on surgeries that other doctors hesitate to perform to save patients, it inherits the core characteristics of the original. In particular, Gye Su-jeong's confidence, "I never fail," has become a key line that runs through the drama.However, controversies also arose simultaneously. From the early stages of broadcasting, there were disputes surrounding medical accuracy. Scenes depicting the process of sending a patient with a groin hernia for emergency surgery and the lack of appropriate anesthesia in a critical situation where the patient's blood pressure could not be measured were criticized for being detached from reality.'Doctor X' is receiving praise for expanding the scope of medical dramas by tackling the May 18th Democratization Movement and medical strikes as its subject matter. /Screenshot from broadcastIn particular, an individual identified as A, who introduced themselves as a current orthopedic surgeon, stated on social media that they had requested an investigation from the Korea Communications Standards Commission due to the drama's distortion of medical reality and portrayal of medical professionals. They emphasized, "The direction repeatedly depicts ward rounds as unnecessary chores, simplifies medical staff into incompetent villains, and even ignores the uncertainty of medical practice. As a professional, I cannot stand by and watch incorrect perceptions become entrenched."Amidst these criticisms regarding medical accuracy, 'Doctor X' found itself at the center of another controversy for its handling of historical events. This occurred in the 6th episode, aired on the 24th of last month, which highlighted the story of Oh Sang-beom (played by Ha Sung-kwang), who sustained a gunshot wound during the May 18th Democratization Movement.In the drama, Oh Sang-beom is a character who has suffered for a long time due to an incident he experienced in Gwangju 46 years ago. Initially, it appeared that a bullet remained in his head, but during surgery, a bone fragment, not a bullet, was discovered. It turned out to be a bone from his brother's body, who was shot while trying to protect the young Oh Sang-beom.Notably, Oh Sang-beom's repeated complaints of feeling "heavy" take on a new meaning later in the drama. This is when the sacrifice of the adults who risked their lives to save the young boy at the time is revealed. The drama focused on the story of one person who lived with the scars of the historical event and those who tried to protect him, rather than the historical event itself.However, reactions after the broadcast were mixed. While some praised the drama for incorporating the pain of the May 18th victims into a medical narrative, others criticized the sudden introduction of a subject matter distant from the flow of a medical drama, disrupting immersion. A petition demanding the drama's suspension even emerged.Amidst this, Lee Ok-gyu, the chief producer at production company Studio S, posted a photo of the 'Doctor X' poster on their social media with the caption "no fear," drawing attention. Given that this post came shortly after the episode dealing with the May 18th Democratization Movement, some interpreted it as a response to the controversy, though the specific intention remains unconfirmed.'Doctor X' meets viewers every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 PM KST. /Screenshot from broadcastSubsequently, 'Doctor X' presented a story reminiscent of the 2024 collective action by resident doctors concerning the increase in medical school admissions. It utilized the medical vacuum created by medical staff leaving the hospital one by one, centered around resident Ma Seong-gyu (played by Kwon Seung-woo), as the main conflict of the drama.However, the drama shifted its focus to the stories of those left behind at the hospital, not just the medical staff participating in the collective action. It depicted patients whose surgeries were indefinitely postponed, anxious guardians, and nurses who repeatedly apologized due to the lack of a clear solution. The struggles of medical staff striving to save patients with insufficient personnel were also portrayed.However, not all of these developments are convincing. 'Doctor X' is a drama that provides catharsis centered around Gye Su-jeong, who confronts existing conventions and authorities. To achieve this, it repeatedly highlights the unethical behavior of surrounding medical staff. While this is a setup to maximize Gye Su-jeong's impact, the excessive negative portrayal of other doctors leaves a sense of disappointment for oversimplifying the complex reality of the medical field.The scene where some characters emotionally criticize the striking doctors during the depiction of the resident doctors' collective action particularly reveals this limitation. Highlighting the reality of patients suffering from the medical vacuum is a separate issue from unilaterally criticizing the medical staff participating in the collective action.Nevertheless, 'Doctor X's' trajectory is worth noting. While maintaining the basic setting of the Japanese original, it actively reflects historical events and realities of the Korean medical community. By delving into the social issues underlying the patients' illnesses and treatment processes, it is expanding the domain of medical dramas.Of course, such attempts may not resonate with all viewers. While it may bring catharsis to some, it may cause discomfort to others. However, the mere existence of different reactions does not diminish the significance of the questions the drama poses. What matters is not just the fact that it deals with socially sensitive material, but how convincingly it resolves it. With only four episodes remaining, attention is focused on what balance 'Doctor X' will strike between its cathartic plot and realistic depiction.'Doctor X' airs every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 PM KST.subin7134@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Desk | ssent@tf.co.kr]