Jang Seung-jo apologizes to viewers after playing villainous doctor in SBS drama

Actor Jang Seung-jo issued an apology on social media following the 17th airing of 'Doctor X', where his character Na Dae-il shocked viewers by carving initials into patients' livers. The episode featuring the surgical professor's revelation recorded a nationwide viewership rating of 18.5%.

Actor Jang Seung-jo has issued an unexpected apology to viewers. Following his shocking portrayal in the SBS drama 'Doctor X' as a doctor who carved his own initials into a patient's liver, Jang extended the impact of his intense villainous role with a short message saying, "Again... I am sorry." While he is an actor in reality, he captured attention by transforming into a character that is nearly impossible to forgive within the drama.

On the 18th, Jang posted to his social media, writing, "Again... I am sorry. And thank you for watching. Please look forward to episode 5. I love you." He also shared behind-the-scenes photos from the filming set. In the photos, he is seen sitting at a restaurant table, wearing a neat outfit consisting of a black turtleneck, a gray jacket, and glasses, staring blankly downward. His calm appearance stood in stark contrast to the chilling actions shown in the drama.

The background for Jang's apology lies in the shocking developments of episode 4 of 'Doctor X', which aired on the 17th. He appeared in a special guest role as Na Dae-il, a new professor of surgery. While Na Dae-il appeared to be a kind and skilled doctor on the surface, it was revealed that he had carved his unique initials into the livers of patients he had operated on in the past, delivering a profound shock to viewers. The twist was particularly chilling as it showed a doctor, who should protect the life and dignity of patients, treating the human body as an object to leave his own mark.

In particular, Na Dae-il's misdeeds go beyond the level of a merely ill-tempered doctor. A patient's body is not the property of a doctor, nor is surgery a stage to flaunt the honor of medical staff. In a medical setting that demands absolute trust from patients, such actions demonstrate how bizarre the results can become when a doctor's authority loses its ethics and responsibility. Despite his brief special appearance, Jang Seung-jo left a strong impression by heightening the tension of the drama.

Jang Seung-jo's transformation into a villain is even more noteworthy because he has recently played characters that blur the lines between good and evil in consecutive works. Following the SBS drama 'My Royal Nemesis', he vividly portrayed a chilling face of evil in the Netflix original series 'As You Stood By'. He is being evaluated as expanding the breadth of his villainous acting by creating discomfort and tension in different ways with each work.

As Jang Seung-jo's special appearance drew attention, episode 4 of 'Doctor X' recorded a nationwide viewership rating of 18.5% and 18.4% in the Seoul metropolitan area. Viewer interest has increased as shocking incidents and confrontations between characters continue. The short apology message left by Jang also reignited the lingering impact surrounding the villainous actions of his character.

'Doctor X' is a medical noir drama about Gye Su-jeong (Kim Ji-won), a surgeon with genius surgical skills, who fights against the corrupt power cartel within a hospital. Amidst a story that uncovers the hidden sides of medical staff who use outstanding skill and authority, the appearance of Na Dae-il more clearly revealed the issues of power and ethics lurking within the hospital space. Viewers are focused on what developments will follow in episode 5, which Jang has teased.

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