Kim Ji-won's Doctor X eyes record as final episodes approach

With only two episodes remaining, the SBS drama Doctor X aims to surpass the 23.1% viewership rating set by So Ji-sub's Agent Kim Reactivated. Despite reaching a self-highest rating of 19.5%, the medical noir has seen recent ratings decline following controversy regarding its use of the May 18 Democratization Movement.

The box office momentum of Kim Ji-won has reached its final hurdle. As the SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X: Age of the White Mafia' (hereafter 'Doctor X') approaches its conclusion with only two episodes left, attention is focused on whether it can surpass the stronghold of 'Agent Kim Reactivated' starring So Ji-sub, which recorded the highest viewership ratings for an SBS drama this year. With 'Doctor X' demonstrating a powerful presence by reaching a self-highest viewership rating of 19.5%, viewers are watching to see if it can write a new hit record in this final showdown.

Having premiered on October 9, 'Doctor X' will conclude its run with episodes 11 and 12, scheduled to air on the 13th and 14th. The work is a medical noir depicting the process of Gye Su-jeong (played by Kim Ji-won), a surgeon with genius surgical skills, as she fights against the corruption and power structures rooted in the medical community. It distinguishes itself by moving beyond the conventions of existing medical dramas to directly target the power and irrational systems within medical settings.

In the drama, Gye Su-jeong is a genius surgeon who knows neither failure nor compromise, a character who refuses to bend her principles despite pressure from massive organizations and power. Kim Ji-won has served as the central axis of the work, embodying Gye Su-jeong's character—possessing cold judgment and unhesitating action—with her signature charisma. The intense narrative of a character fighting injustice, combined with Kim Ji-won's presence, succeeded in capturing viewer interest from the beginning.

The viewership report card was also extraordinary from the start. After recording a national viewership rating of 11.4% in its first broadcast, 'Doctor X' rapidly expanded its audience, rising to 14.9% by the second episode. It continued to climb to 18.5% in episode 4 and soared to a national viewership rating of 19.5% in episode 6. In just six episodes, it proved its strong hit potential by ranking 5th among all SBS Friday-Saturday dramas ever.

However, the initial upward trend did not continue until the end. Following the 6th episode, which dealt with the May 18 Democratization Movement, a controversy arose regarding the use of a historical tragedy as dramatic material, and public opinion surrounding the work heated up as a national petition demanding the suspension of the broadcast appeared. Amidst the aftermath of the controversy, viewership ratings retreated from the initial explosive momentum, falling to 16.5% for episode 7, 15.6% for episode 8, and 15.3% for episode 9.

Nevertheless, expectations for the final report card of 'Doctor X' remain valid. In particular, the comparison with 'Agent Kim Reactivated', which recorded the highest viewership among SBS dramas this year, has emerged as an interesting point of interest. Starring So Ji-sub, 'Agent Kim Reactivated' surpassed a 20% rating within four episodes and recorded a national viewership rating of 23.1% in episode 8, setting the highest record for an SBS drama in 2026. It solidified its status as a hit by concluding its final episode with a high rating of 23.0%.

The numbers 'Doctor X' must overcome are clear. The key is whether Kim Ji-won's work, which recorded a self-highest rating of 19.5%, can not only break the 20% barrier but also chase the 23.1% left by So Ji-sub's 'Agent Kim Reactivated'. While the gap is not small based on current records, the possibility that the final two episodes ahead of the conclusion could serve as a decisive turning point for a viewership surge cannot be ruled out.

This work is also deeply meaningful for Kim Ji-won. Beyond showing new possibilities as an actress through an intense character and a genre transformation, if she can also drive up the viewership ratings, it could serve as an opportunity to rewrite her own hit records. Attention is focused on what kind of conclusion and report card 'Doctor X', which saw both controversy and acclaim, will present at the final moment.

Will Kim Ji-won's 'Doctor X' overcome the 20% wall and aim for the 23.1% set by So Ji-sub's 'Agent Kim Reactivated'? With only two broadcasts remaining, the final showdown that could shake up the hit landscape of SBS dramas this year has begun.

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