SBS’s medical noir drama Doctor X continues to strengthen its position on Korean television, achieving its highest-ever Friday viewership ratings with its latest episode.
Starring Kim Ji Won as a brilliant surgeon who challenges corruption within the medical establishment, the series recorded an impressive nationwide rating of 17.5 percent on October 23, 2026.
The milestone marks another achievement for the drama, which has steadily attracted viewers with its tense medical cases, powerful performances and conflicts within the hospital.
According to Nielsen Korea, the fifth episode of Doctor X reached an average nationwide rating of 17.5 percent, making it the most-watched programme of the entire week.
The result is particularly significant because the drama has generally recorded stronger ratings on Saturdays than on Fridays.
Its latest performance demonstrates that interest in the series remains high as the storyline progresses and its central conflicts become increasingly intense.
‘Doctor X’ Continues Its Impressive Ratings Climb
Since its premiere, Doctor X has established itself as one of the most closely watched Korean dramas of the season.
The series combines medical storytelling with elements of noir, following a gifted surgeon who confronts corruption, institutional power struggles and ethical dilemmas within the healthcare system.
Kim Ji Won stars as Gye Soo Jung, a highly skilled surgeon whose abilities set her apart from her colleagues.
Rather than allowing established hierarchies to dictate her decisions, she relies on her medical expertise and personal convictions to challenge wrongdoing.
Her character’s uncompromising approach has become a defining feature of the drama.
The series is based on a popular Japanese drama of the same name and presents a hospital environment in which professional ambition and institutional interests frequently clash with the responsibility to protect patients.
This combination of high-pressure surgical situations and broader conflicts gives the story a distinctive tone.
The fifth episode, broadcast on October 23, achieved a nationwide average rating of 17.5 percent, setting a new Friday record for the series.
The figure represents continued growth for a drama that had already demonstrated strong momentum in its opening weeks.
Earlier in October, Doctor X recorded a 15.1 percent nationwide rating for its third episode on October 16, making it the most-watched programme of that Friday.
Its latest result builds on that success, showing that the series has continued to draw substantial audiences.
The growing viewership also reflects the interest generated by the drama’s central character and the challenges she faces as she navigates a medical establishment marked by competing interests and questionable practices.
Kim Ji Won’s Medical Noir Becomes the Week’s Top-Rated Show
Beyond achieving its highest Friday rating, Doctor X secured another notable distinction by becoming the most-watched programme of the entire week.
Its 17.5 percent nationwide rating placed it ahead of other programmes broadcast during the same period, according to Nielsen Korea.
The drama’s success has been driven by its combination of suspense, hospital politics and character-focused storytelling.
Gye Soo Jung is portrayed as a surgeon who prioritises skill and professional integrity, even when her decisions put her at odds with influential figures.
The series also explores the consequences of corruption within medical institutions, presenting conflicts that extend beyond the operating room.
These storylines allow the drama to examine questions of responsibility, accountability and the meaning of being a doctor.
Kim Ji Won’s performance remains central to the series, with her portrayal of a confident and exceptionally capable surgeon anchoring its more intense moments.
The supporting cast contributes to the complicated hospital environment, where personal motives and professional obligations often collide.
With its latest ratings achievement, Doctor X has reinforced its position as a major television success in South Korea.
The drama’s upward trajectory has also increased anticipation for its next episode, as viewers wait to see how Gye Soo Jung will respond to the challenges ahead.
Congratulations to the cast and crew of Doctor X on reaching this new milestone.
As the story continues, the series will look to maintain its strong viewership while developing the conflicts that have made it one of the week’s most-watched programmes.
