Kim Ji Won is returning to the small screen after a two-year break, and her new role comes with a surprising twist. The Queen of Tears star plays a genius surgeon in the upcoming SBS drama Doctor X, but new stills show her character has a completely different side outside the operating room. The actress is trading her sharp surgical persona for a relatable love of food, and the contrast is already creating buzz ahead of the show’s October 9 premiere.
What Doctor X Is About
Doctor X is a medical noir drama based on the hit Japanese series of the same name. The story follows Gye Soo Jung (played by Kim Ji Won), a genius surgeon known as the “crazy dog of the operating room.” She is obsessed with nothing but surgery and uses her unmatched skills to take on deep-rooted corruption at Guseo University Hospital.
Her character is described as a “dark hero” who proves what it means to be a true doctor through pure skill alone, operating in a system filled with absurdities and moral compromises. A teaser for the drama showed Gye Soo Jung reciting the Hippocratic Oath alone, raising curiosity about her hidden past and the true meaning behind the name “Doctor X.”
The Foodie Side of a Genius Surgeon
New stills released on October 1 show Kim Ji Won in a completely different light. In one image, Gye Soo Jung holds a banana-flavored milk drink in each hand and drinks from both at the same time. In another, she refuses to put down her chopsticks even as her cheeks puff out from stuffing her mouth with food.
The character rarely takes an interest in anything outside of surgery, but she simply cannot pass up food. This unexpected side shows a character in whom flawless surgical skills coexist with an eccentric appetite. Director Lee Jung Rim shared thoughts on Kim Ji Won’s performance.
“Actress Kim Ji Won naturally portrayed the quirky and human side of Soo Jung. Every time I saw her convincingly move between such vastly different sides within a single character, I found myself wondering, ‘How would this have been portrayed if it weren’t Kim Ji Won?’”
Kim Ji Won also spoke about what drew her to the role, saying the contrast between Gye Soo Jung’s outward appearance and the new layers that reveal themselves the closer you look is what makes the character so attractive.
Cast and Characters
The drama features an ensemble cast led by Kim Ji Won. Lee Jung Eun, known for her role in Parasite, plays Jang Hee Sook, the head of a medical staff agency who sends Gye Soo Jung to Guseo University Hospital. Jang Hee Sook is described as a clever schemer and money-grubbing snob who becomes an unlikely partner to Soo Jung, with their bond at times feeling almost like that of an aunt and niece.
Son Hyun Joo plays Boo Seung Kwon, the hospital director at Guseo University Hospital. Kim Woo Seok takes on the role of Park Tae Kyung, a “silver spoon” intern who becomes a reluctant mentee to Gye Soo Jung.
The supporting cast includes Lee Jin Hee, Kim Young Min, Lee Sung Wook, Kwon Seung Woo, Heo Jun Seok, Choi Deok Moon, Kim Jung Young, Kim Young Ah, and Choi Kwang Il.
A behind-the-scenes video showed the cast’s playful chemistry on set, with Kim Ji Won sharing a hug and playful dance with Lee Jung Eun between takes.
Release Date and Global Streaming Details
Doctor X will premiere on Friday, October 9, 2026, at 9:50 p.m. KST on SBS. The drama will air every Friday and Saturday in South Korea.
For global audiences, the series will be available on Netflix starting the same day as its Korean broadcast. New episodes will be released weekly on Fridays and Saturdays, with a simultaneous episodic drop on the streaming platform.
Fans in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and India can watch Doctor X on Netflix from October 9. The drama runs for 12 episodes in total.
A pre-released clip of Episode 1, shared on September 28, surpassed 2.73 million views in just three days, showing strong early interest from viewers.
Kim Ji Won’s Return After Two Years
Doctor X marks Kim Ji Won’s return to television after a two-year break since her role as Hong Hae In in Queen of Tears. The actress said she learned surgical techniques for the operating room scenes from a medical advisor and spent time becoming fully familiar with them.
She also shared why she chose this project as her comeback.
“I was drawn to the gap between Gye Soo Jung’s outward appearance and the new sides of her that you discover the more you look into her. I wanted to portray that appeal well.”
Lee Jung Eun praised her co-star in a separate interview, calling Kim Ji Won a “grounded and profound actor” and a wonderful colleague.
Also Read: Kim Ji Won Says No One Recognizes Her on the Subway
Stay tuned to VvipTimes for the latest updates on Doctor X and everything happening in the world of K-dramas.
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