[OSEN=Kang Seo-jung] As Doctor X approaches the milestone of 20% viewership ratings, the hit series has found itself embroiled in a series of consecutive controversies.
According to the National Assembly Electronic Petition platform on the 25th, a petition titled ‘Petition for the Suspension of SBS Drama Doctor X’ filed the previous day successfully met the initial requirement of 100 supporters and is currently under review for public release.
The petitioner demanded a verification of the drama production process and an immediate halt to its broadcast, arguing that “the foregrounding of 5.18-related material, which is irrelevant to the main plot of the drama, caused a sense of alienation and aversion among many viewers.” The core argument is that introducing historical material unrelated to the central narrative has provoked backlash from the audience.
The controversy stems from the October 24th broadcast of Doctor X. In this episode, genius surgeon Gye Soo-jung (played by Kim Ji-won) stepped up to perform surgery on a patient named Oh Sang-beom, who had lived for 46 years since May 1980 with a bullet fragment lodged in his brain from a penetrating head wound.
As it was revealed that Oh Sang-beom was a victim of a gunshot wound during the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, the plot transcended the medical field to illuminate historical tragedy and personal scars. By depicting the circumstances of the shooting and the patient’s long-standing nightmares, the episode sought to portray both a doctor’s sense of duty and profound human empathy.
However, viewer reactions were sharply divided after the broadcast. Positive evaluations praised the episode for connecting a historical tragedy to an individual’s life and resolving it through a doctor’s dedication to saving a patient. Conversely, some critics argued that political interpretations were excessively injected into a medical drama. In particular, the appearance of a former president connected to the era has amplified debate over the message the production intends to convey.
The production team also showed a suggestive attitude immediately following the broadcast. Lee Ok-gyu, the Chief Producer (CP) at Studio S who produced Doctor X, posted the main poster along with the phrase “no fear” after the episode aired. Although the specific meaning was not explicitly stated, interpretations suggested it reflected the production team’s resolve not to be shaken by the controversies and external pressure that flared up right after the broadcast.
Previously, Doctor X also stirred controversy due to pushback from certain segments of the medical community. A netizen identified as an orthopedic surgeon, ‘A’, revealed via social media on the 15th that they had requested a formal broadcast review of the drama.
Netizen A took issue with the portrayal of medical staff in the production. They pointed out that “routines like ward rounds are depicted as unnecessary chores, medical staff are oversimplified into incompetent villains, and the uncertainties of medical practices are repeatedly ignored in the directing.” They criticized the depiction, stating, “While dramatic exaggeration is understandable, this level of portrayal is enough to instill false perceptions about medical reality.”
Along with this, A disclosed the submission history of a broadcast review application filed with the Korea Communications Standards Commission on the 13th, citing ‘distortion of medical reality and depiction of medical personnel’ as the reason. A emphasized, “While I think the likelihood of actual sanctions is low, I felt it was necessary to raise the issue. As an expert, I cannot simply stand by and watch false perceptions become solidified.”
Doctor X primarily follows genius surgeon Gye Soo-jung as she fights against internal corruption within a hospital. However, persistent criticisms regarding historical and technical accuracy—along with complaints that the medical profession is portrayed in an excessively negative light—have continuously plagued the series. With the addition of a formal broadcast review filing, the drama faces a major crisis.
