A special new teaser for the upcoming SBS drama Doctor X: Age of the White Mafia debuted at the 2025 SBS Drama Awards on December 31. The teaser introduces Kim Ji Won in a complete transformation as Gye Soo Jung, a brilliant surgeon who takes on a corrupt hospital system. This marks Kim Ji Won’s first major role since her global hit, Queen of Tears. The drama is scheduled to premiere on SBS TV in October 2026, airing every Friday and Saturday.
The Story of a Lone Wolf Surgeon
Doctor X: Age of the White Mafia is a Korean adaptation of the popular Japanese series Doctor-X: Surgeon Michiko Daimon. The story is a medical noir, a genre that mixes medical drama with dark, thriller elements. It follows Gye Soo Jung, a top-tier surgeon who works for a physician staffing agency. She is sent to Guseo University Hospital, an institution described as being full of corruption.
The central conflict involves the “white mafia”โa term symbolizing the corrupt powers that control the medical world through money and influence. Gye Soo Jung is a character who believes in proving a doctor’s worth through pure surgical skill alone, setting her on a direct collision course with this corrupt system. As described in the teaser’s narration by co-star Lee Jung Eun, it is “the story of a lone wolf” who appears in “an era of white mafia, where even life-saving medical care is ruled by money and power”.
Kim Ji Won’s Dramatic Transformation as Gye Soo Jung
The new teaser focuses entirely on Kim Ji Won’s entrance as the lead character. She makes a powerful first impression, deliberately rejecting the standard symbol of medical authority.
She makes her entrance in a jet-black leather coat and upends the rigid hierarchy of the university hospital with a single line: โI object.โ
This visual choice immediately sets her character apart from the traditional hospital environment. Fans on social media have noted her distinct style, including wearing loafers instead of heels, which creates a different aura from her previous iconic role as Hong Hae In in Queen of Tears. The teaser also shows her commanding presence in the operating room, hinting at her skills and earning her the nickname โmad dog of the operating room.โ
The Powerhouse Cast and Creative Team
The drama brings together a respected cast and crew. The director is Lee Jung Rim, known for dramas like VIP and the recent supernatural hit Revenant. The writer is Pyeon Seong Geun.
The main cast features several acclaimed actors alongside Kim Ji Won:
- Lee Jung Eun plays Jang Hee Suk, the leader of the doctor staffing agency that employs Gye Soo Jung. She is described as money-obsessed and clever.
- Son Hyun Joo takes the role of Boo Seung Gwon, the director of Guseo University Hospital’s branch who is trying to rebuild the failing institution.
- Kim Woo Seok portrays Park Tae Kyung, a privileged intern from an elite background whose path crosses with Gye Soo Jung’s at the hospital.
Filming for the series officially began on December 4, 2025.
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A Highly Anticipated Release for 2026
Following the teaser release, excitement is building for this new medical drama. The combination of a dark, socially critical story, a top star like Kim Ji Won in a never-before-seen role, and a strong supporting cast has generated significant online discussion.
The premiere is set for October 2026 on SBS. The drama will occupy the network’s prime Friday-Saturday time slot. This scheduling typically indicates a major, high-budget production for the broadcaster.
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