Kim Ji-won to attempt radical organ removal surgery in 'Doctor X'

In the upcoming ninth episode of 'Doctor X: Age of the White Mafia', Gye Su-jeong proposes an unprecedented procedure to remove six organs to treat an 8-year-old pediatric cancer patient. This radical plan at Guseo University Hospital faces strong opposition from Hospital Director Bu Seung-gwon, following two consecutive declines in viewership ratings.

Kim Ji-won is set to challenge the boundaries of medical common sense with a radical new surgical approach. In an unprecedented plan to save an 8-year-old pediatric cancer patient, Gye Su-jeong proposes removing six organs from the body to remove a tumor before re-implanting them, a move that is expected to turn the entire hospital upside down. The tension in the drama is expected to reach its peak as Gye Su-jeong's recklessly strong will to save the patient clashes directly with the principles of Hospital Director Bu Seung-gwon (Son Hyun-joo).

Ahead of its 9th episode, the SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X: Age of the White Mafia' (hereafter 'Doctor X') released a scene where Gye Su-jeong (played by Kim Ji-won) proposes a new surgical method to the medical staff of Guseo University Hospital. In the still images, Gye Su-jeong directs an unwavering gaze toward the doctors gathered in the conference room. Although she is about to present a plan that no one would easily agree to, her expression shows no sign of hesitation.

The patient Gye Su-jeong faces is Lee Hyeon-a (played by Lee Chae-yu), an 8-year-old pediatric cancer patient. Faced with a desperate situation where it is difficult to find a surgical method to save the child using existing medical methods, Gye Su-jeong presents a solution that transcends imagination: removing all six organs from the body, removing the tumor, and then re-implanting them. It is essentially a declaration that she will undertake a surgery that challenges human limits to save the patient's life.

The problem is that this surgery is an unknown territory even for Gye Su-jeong herself. Even for her, who has dominated the operating room with surreal surgical skills and overwhelming speed until now, success cannot be guaranteed this time. Faced with a challenge that cannot be solved by existing experience and proficiency alone, Gye Su-jeong once again puts her limits to the test. While it is a bold choice worthy of her nickname, "the crazy girl of the operating room," the risks she must bear in the event of failure are equally immense.

The person most strongly opposing this plan is Hospital Director Bu Seung-gwon (played by Son Hyun-joo). Bu Seung-gwon opposes Gye Su-jeong's declaration to perform the surgery, questioning the procedural legitimacy and the unverified risks of the operation. He maintains the position that to protect the hospital and the patient, medical judgment must be preceded by institutional procedures and safety reviews.

The clash between the two extends beyond a simple difference of opinion into a confrontation of values regarding the responsibility of a doctor saving lives. For Gye Su-jeong, the most important thing is the possibility of saving the patient in front of her. Conversely, Bu Seung-gwon emphasizes the risks of medical actions that cannot be managed by good intentions alone and the resulting responsibilities. As the argument that risks must be taken to save a patient clashes with the principle that controlling risks is also a duty of the medical staff, internal conflict within the hospital is expected to deepen.

An even more notable aspect is the fact that this surgery cannot be completed by the strength of Gye Su-jeong alone. Although Gye Su-jeong has always overwhelmed those around her with independent judgment and overwhelming skill, this time the surgery itself is impossible without the cooperation of multiple medical staff members. A dramatic shift is expected as a character who always broke through every situation with her own ability finds herself in a situation where she desperately needs the help of others.

A previously released trailer included a scene where Gye Su-jeong bows deeply toward the doctors of Guseo University Hospital, saying, "I beg of you." The fact that she, who was usually more confident and unrestrained than anyone else, bowed her head to her colleagues first suggests how desperate this surgical situation is. Gye Su-jeong's appearance, prioritizing the life of a young patient over pride or dogmatism and seeking the cooperation of the medical staff, reveals a different side of her character than previously shown.

This episode is expected to serve as a turning point that tests not only Gye Su-jeong's genius surgical abilities but also the extent to which those abilities can be applied. Key points of interest include what results the protagonist's choice to challenge medical impossibility will actually produce, and how the confrontation with Bu Seung-gwon will develop. In particular, a different kind of tension is formed from previous surgical scenes, as Gye Su-jeong, who has broken through all obstacles with unrivaled skill, finds herself in a situation where she must hold hands with her colleagues for the first time.

The viewership trends of the drama are also of interest. 'Doctor X' recorded 16.5% for episode 7, which aired on October 30, and 15.6% for episode 8 on October 31. After achieving a self-highest viewership rating of 19.5% in episode 6, the upward trend has slowed, with two consecutive declines. As it is the first time since the first broadcast that the viewership has dropped for two consecutive episodes, attention is focused on whether this week's broadcast can change the atmosphere.

Episodes 9 and 10, entering their fifth week of broadcast, put the large-scale surgery and the conflict between characters, which heighten the tension of the drama, at the forefront. Expectations are mounting to see whether the unconventional setting of an unprecedented extra-corporeal surgery will re-engage viewers' interest and lead to a rebound in viewership, and what choices and results Gye Su-jeong will show in the face of a challenge that is close to impossible.

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