The upward momentum of the booming SBS Friday-Saturday drama ‘Doctor X: The Age of White Mafia’ has hit a roadblock.
According to Nielsen Korea, a ratings research company, on the 1st, episode 8 of ‘Doctor X’ broadcast on the 31st of last month recorded a nationwide household rating of 15.6%. This is a 0.9% drop from the 16.5% rating of the previous episode, episode 7.
‘Doctor X’ had maintained a steep upward curve since its first broadcast on the 9th of last month. Starting at 11.4%, it quickly captured viewers’ attention by recording 14.9% for episode 2, 15.1% for episode 3, and 18.5% for episode 4. Although it dipped slightly to 17.5% in episode 5, it soared to 19.5% in episode 6, bringing a 20% viewership rating within arm’s reach.
Not only the ratings, but the buzz was also hot. In the 2nd week of October TV-OTT buzz rankings announced by Good Data Corporation’s FUNdex on October 12, ‘Doctor X’ topped the list in its very first week, proving its strong presence.
Global reactions were also unusual. As the work was introduced to overseas viewers through Netflix, it ranked 1st in the Korean TOP10 TV show category and even reached 4th in the global TOP10 TV show category. It entered the TOP10 in 67 countries worldwide and ranked 1st in 8 countries including South Korea, receiving explosive attention both domestically and internationally.
However, the smooth sailing atmosphere changed as it collided with various controversies that arose from the early episodes of the broadcast. In particular, unlike the usual trend of Friday-Saturday dramas where Saturday broadcast ratings are higher than Friday’s, this time the Saturday broadcast ratings turned out lower than the previous day.
First, a backlash arose from some members of the medical community taking issue with the drama’s portrayal of medical staff. Netizen A, who revealed themselves to be an orthopedic surgeon, publicly disclosed on social media last month that they had requested a broadcast review for ‘Doctor X’.
Netizen A raised issues with the way medical staff and the medical field were handled in the drama. They pointed out, “The direction repeatedly portrays rounds as unnecessary miscellaneous chores, simplifies medical staff into incompetent villains, and even turns a blind eye to the uncertainties of medical practices.” They further criticized, “I understand dramatic exaggeration, but this level can instill false perceptions about medical reality.”>
The episode themed around the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement also became the center of controversy. In the broadcast on the 24th of last month, genius surgeon Gye Su-jeong (played by Kim Ji-won) stepped up to take charge of the surgery for patient Oh Sang-beom, who had lived for 46 years since May 1980 with a bullet fragment lodged in his brain from a penetrating head injury.
As it was later revealed that Oh Sang-beom was a victim of a gunshot wound during the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, the work extended beyond the medical field to deal with historical tragedy and the suffering endured by an individual. Although it highlighted the doctor’s sense of duty and human compassion by shedding light on the circumstances of the shooting and the victim’s scars that remained like a nightmare for decades, viewer reactions after the broadcast were mixed.
Eventually, a petition titled ‘Petition regarding the suspension of the SBS Doctor X drama’ was posted on the National Assembly Electronic Petition bulletin board. The petition has already met the requirement of 100 supporters.
Based on rapid viewership rating surges and domestic and international buzz, Doctor X drama controversy has quickly emerged as an early box office hit. Although it drew intense interest to the point where lead actress Kim Ji-won is being mentioned as a year-end acting award candidate, it leaves a sense of regret as its ratings turn downward amid consecutive controversies.
