Doctor X: Age of the White Mafia ratings drop ahead of finale

The 11th episode of the SBS medical noir 'Doctor X: Age of the White Mafia' recorded a 14.5% nationwide rating, a 3.2 percentage point decrease from the previous episode. Despite the decline, the drama has remained the top-rated program across all channels for six consecutive weeks.

The medical noir 'Doctor X: Age of the White Mafia' starring Kim Ji-won is facing a downward trend in viewership as it approaches its series finale. Despite shocking developments designed to heighten tension until the very end, ratings fell significantly compared to the previous episode, appearing unable to overcome the massive success of 'Agent Kim Reactivated,' which surpassed 20%. However, the drama maintained its position as the number one program in its time slot and has remained the top-rated program across all channels for six consecutive weeks.

In the 11th episode of the SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X: Age of the White Mafia' (directed by Lee Jeong-rim, written by Pyeon Seong-geun and others), the episode concluded with a scene where Kim Seung-hyo (Jeon Gook-hwan), who drove Gye Su-jeong (Kim Ji-won), Park Tae-gyeong (Kim Woo-seok), and Jo Won-jin (Lee Jin-hee) to agony, undergoes an awakening during surgery. The explosion of conflict among the characters surrounding the heart transplant of a heinous criminal has further amplified curiosity regarding the final episode.

The 11th episode recorded a nationwide rating of 14.5%, 13.9% in the Seoul metropolitan area, and a peak instantaneous rating of 16.1%. This represents a 3.2 percentage point drop from the 17.7% nationwide rating of the previous 10th episode. Although ratings fell sharply ahead of the finale, the drama held its position as number one in its time slot and as the top program across all channels for six consecutive weeks. The 2049 viewership also confirmed interest from younger audiences, recording an average of 4.9% and a peak of 5.5%, according to Nielsen Korea.

In the 11th episode, the ugly truth of Kim Seung-hyo, who had been packaged as a respected medical professional, was fully revealed. Contrary to his reputation as a humanitarian doctor who founded the medical relief organization 'White Wings,' he was a shameless individual who had committed sex crimes against defenseless children for decades. Even more shocking was the revelation that intern Park Tae-gyeong was also a former victim of Kim Seung-hyo. The drama maximized anger and tragedy as Park Tae-gyeong's pain of having to face Kim Seung-hyo in the medical field was exposed.

Gye Su-jeong, who performed Kim Seung-hyo's first heart transplant, collapsed under the guilt of having saved a criminal upon facing Park Tae-gyeong's wounds. Jang Hui-suk (Lee Jung-eun) took all responsibility upon herself and stayed by Gye Su-jeong's side to prevent her from breaking further. The reason why Jo Won-jin had hidden the fact that she is Kim Seung-hyo's daughter was also revealed. In the past, Jo Won-jin witnessed her friend, a victim of her father's sex crimes, committing suicide. After learning that even her mother condoned her father's evil deeds, she severed ties with her family.

The wounds left by Kim Seung-hyo's crimes revealed an even more cruel reality across the past and present. Jo Won-jin discovered an album containing photos of victims in Kim Seung-hyo's belongings and vented her indignation at his attitude, which still shows no remorse. Park Tae-gyeong pleaded with Gye Su-jeong, saying, "Can't you just fail this once? Just this once, can't you fail just one time?" The conflict between a medical professional's duty to save a criminal and the pain of the victims emerged as the core of the drama.

The truth behind the nightmare that had long tormented Gye Su-jeong was also revealed. Baraka, the boy she failed to save in the past, and his younger sibling Nima were also victims of Kim Seung-hyo. Baraka set fire to a building while attempting to blackmail Kim Seung-hyo to protect Nima, and Gye Su-jeong jumped into the flames to save Baraka but ultimately failed to save him. Kim Seung-hyo used Baraka as a shield to protect his own life and even committed the cruel act of stabbing Gye Su-jeong's ankle with scissors.

Having learned all these truths, Gye Su-jeong has long suffered from guilt between the fact that she saved Kim Seung-hyo and the memory of failing to save Baraka. The reason she wandered through conflict zones to push herself into extreme situations to punish herself was also revealed. Gye Su-jeong poured out her past wounds, screaming to Jang Hui-suk, "Aunt, we saved that person. We saved him and laughed." Jang Hui-suk handed her a letter and a doll from Nima, who is staying in a temporary foster home, saying, "Nima sent this to protect you." It was ultimately Jang Hui-suk's love and Nima's heart that held Gye Su-jeong so she could face life again.

Facing Kim Seung-hyo again, who is currently hospitalized at Guseodae Hospital, Gye Su-jeong decided to perform the heart transplant surgery herself. However, her choice carried a meaning different from simple life-saving. Gye Su-jeong showed a determined gaze, stating, "I am going to save that monster. He will wear that new heart, look toward children again, and his followers will cover for him. And one day, peacefully, he will go amidst respect and tears. That is too easy. That is too comfortable."

At the end of the episode, Kim Seung-hyo's heart transplant surgery began following Gye Su-jeong's declaration, "My last patient, my last surgery." Tension reached its peak as Park Tae-gyeong also joined the operating room. Following Gye Su-jeong's narration, "The children's nightmares, the screams, the pain, into your bed. I can no longer sleep peacefully. This is your hell," the broadcast concluded with a shocking scene where Kim Seung-hyo opens his eyes at the moment Jo Won-jin attempts to administer flumazenil, a drug that reverses the effects of sedatives, into the IV drip.

As it approaches its conclusion, 'Doctor X: Age of the White Mafia' continues its intense narrative by directly addressing the ethical dilemmas of doctors saving criminals, the pain of victims, and the dark side of medical power. However, with the 11th episode's ratings falling by 3.2 percentage points from the previous episode, the momentum for a ratings surge through to the end has been slowed. Despite the achievement of maintaining the top spot in its time slot, a gap remains from the overwhelming ratings storm shown by 'Agent Kim Reactivated,' drawing attention to what kind of conclusion and ratings the final episode will achieve.

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