[Edaily Reporter YUN GI BACK ] SBS’s Friday-Saturday drama “Doctor X: The Age of the White Mafia” demonstrated its box-office appeal ahead of its finale, recording viewership ratings in the 14% range with a shocking plot twist. As Kim Ji-won performed surgery on Jeon Guk-hwan—the man who had caused her pain in the past—the scene where the patient opened his eyes during the procedure heightened anticipation for the final episode.

According to Nielsen Korea on the 14th, the 11th episode of “Doctor X,” which aired the previous day, recorded a nationwide viewership rating of 14.5%, 13.9% in the Seoul metropolitan area, and a peak of 16.1%. It not only ranked first in its time slot but also topped the ratings among all programs across all channels for six consecutive weeks. The 2049 demographic average was 4.9%, with a peak of 5.5%.
In that episode, the shocking past of Kim Seung-hyo (played by Jeon Guk-hwan), who was known as a respected doctor, was revealed. Although he appeared to be doing good deeds by running a medical relief organization, he had actually been committing sexual crimes against young children for decades. Intern Park Tae-kyung (played by Kim Woo-seok) was also one of his victims, and Jo Won-jin (played by Lee Jin-hee) carried the pain of having lost a friend due to the crimes committed by her father, Kim Seung-hyo.
The true nature of the nightmares that had been tormenting Gye Su-jeong (played by Kim Ji-won) was also revealed. Baraka (played by Jeon Ji-on) and his younger sister Nima (played by Jeon Aisha), who had died in a conflict zone in the past, were victims of Kim Seung-hyo. Gye Su-jeong had tried to save Baraka from a fire but failed, and Kim Seung-hyo used the boy as a human shield to save his own life. Afterward, Gye Su-jeong was plagued by intense guilt, recalling that she had even performed a heart transplant on Kim Seung-hyo.
Upon seeing Kim Seung-hyo, who is currently hospitalized, again, Gye Su-jeong decided to perform the surgery after much deliberation. Although Park Tae-kyung, a victim of Kim Seung-hyo’s actions, desperately pleaded for the surgery not to proceed, Gye Su-jeong put him back on the operating table.
A suspenseful twist unfolded at the end of the episode. As Gye Su-jeong declared, “My last patient, my last surgery,” the heart transplant began, and Park Tae-kyung was wheeled into the operating room. Just as Jo Won-jin was about to administer flumazenil—a drug that reverses the effects of sedatives—Kim Seung-hyo opened his eyes, bringing the episode to a close. Viewers are now eagerly awaiting to see what conclusion Gye Su-jeong will choose.
The final episode of “Doctor X” will air on the 14th at 9:50 p.m.