Actor Han Jung-soo has publicly pushed back against a petition asking South Korea’s National Assembly to stop the broadcast of SBS drama Doctor X: Mafia in White. The petition was filed after the show’s October 24, 2026 episode included a storyline connected to the May 18, 1980 Gwangju Democratization Movement. Han’s response was short, blunt, and clearly frustrated.
What Han Jung-soo Said About the Petition
On October 26, 2026, Han posted a image linked to Doctor X on his personal social media account. His message did not hide his feelings.
“Suspend the broadcast? Are you crazy? Why are you making such a fuss again?”
He followed that with a direct show of support for the drama.
“I don’t usually watch dramas much, but I’ve been really enjoying Doctor X lately. Thank you.”
The post quickly spread across Korean entertainment outlets, including OSEN, Edaily, Sportal Korea, and TenAsia. Han is known for past roles in series such as The Slave Hunters and Prosecutor Princess. He is not a member of the Doctor X cast. His reaction came as a viewer and as a fellow actor speaking publicly about a show he says he enjoys.
This is not the first time Han has commented on a historical controversy tied to a film or drama. On October 1, 2026, during the historical distortion debate around the movie Assassins, he wrote, “Let’s just view the movie as a movie. It’s not a documentary, is it? Why is there so much fuss?” He had also said in September 2026 that he would cut back on political remarks and focus on acting. That promise lasted less than a month.
Why Some Viewers Want Doctor X Off Air
The petition was submitted to the National Assembly’s public petition system on October 24, 2026. It is titled “Petition to Suspend the Broadcast of the SBS Drama Doctor X.” The petition passed the 100-signature threshold needed to be considered for public review. To move forward to a parliamentary committee review, it would need 50,000 signatures within 30 days of being published.
The petitioner argued that episode 6 included May 18 content that had little connection to the main medical plot. The petition also claimed that the original Japanese drama focused on the lead surgeon’s personal skill, and that the Korean adaptation added the Gwangju storyline to push a political message. The petitioner asked for a review of the production process and for the National Assembly to call the production team as witnesses.
Doctor X is a Korean adaptation of the Japanese medical drama franchise Doctor-X: Surgeon Michiko Daimon. The Korean version stars Kim Ji-won as Gye Soo-jung, a gifted but unconventional surgeon who fights corruption inside a powerful hospital. Lee Jung-eun, Son Hyun-joo, and Kim Woo-seok also star.
The May 18 Episode at the Center of the Debate
Episode 6, which aired on October 24, 2026, told the story of Oh Sang-beom, played by Ha Sung-kwang. Oh was shot in the head during the May 18, 1980 military crackdown in Gwangju. A bullet stayed lodged in his brain for 46 years, causing severe headaches, hallucinations, and long-term pain. He also carried guilt over the death of his brother.
The episode showed surgeon Gye Soo-jung taking on his risky operation. Flashback scenes showed tear gas in Gwangju streets, civilians hit by bullets, and a character boarding Bus No. 518 toward the May 18 National Cemetery. A fictional former president named Ji Du-seok, who reminded viewers of former president Chun Doo-hwan, appeared in the same hospital.
Viewer reaction split sharply. Some praised the show for showing the long-term pain of May 18 victims. Others said a medical drama should not step into a politically sensitive historical event. The petition grew out of that second group.
Ratings Keep Rising Despite the Backlash
The controversy has not hurt viewership. Episode 6 recorded a nationwide household rating of 19.5%, according to Nielsen Korea. That was a new series high. The peak minute rating reached 21.3%. The drama’s first two episodes opened with 11.4% and 14.9%, the highest miniseries premiere ratings in Korea for 2026.
Lee Ok-gyu, the chief producer at Studio S, posted the drama’s poster on social media on October 24 with the words “no fear.” He did not explain the post. Some read it as a response to the criticism. The production team has not issued a longer statement about the petition.
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Where Doctor X Airs and Who Is in the Cast
Doctor X: Mafia in White airs on SBS in South Korea every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 p.m. KST. The series has 12 episodes. It is also streaming on Netflix in many regions, though availability can differ by country. Viewers in some markets may need to check their local Netflix catalog or use TVING in Korea.
The main cast includes Kim Ji-won as Gye Soo-jung, Lee Jung-eun as Jang Hee-sook, Son Hyun-joo as the hospital director, and Kim Woo-seok as Park Tae-kyung. The drama is directed by Lee Jung-rim and written by Byun Sung-geun.
For more K-drama news and honest reactions from the industry, keep reading VvipTimes.
Sources: Naver
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