'Queen of Tears' Star Kim Ji-won Fights Hospital Cartel in SBS 'Doctor X'

Actress Kim Ji-won is returning to television after two years, taking on her first role as a doctor in the new SBS drama "Doctor X: Mafia in White." The medical noir premieres Oct. 9 at 9:50 p.m. KST.

The series follows Gye Soo-jung, a surgeon known as Doctor X, whose remarkable skill in the operating room sets her against the corruption inside Guseo University Hospital. It is the latest in a line of hard-hitting SBS genre dramas that includes "Agent Kim Reactivated" (Kim Bujang), "Taxi Driver," "The Fiery Priest" and "The Judge from Hell." It is the network's first medical drama attempt in this vein.

For Kim Ji-won, the project marks her first drama since "Queen of Tears," where she played the wealthy heiress Hong Hae-in. Her earlier credits include Yoon Myung-joo in "Descendants of the Sun," Choi Ae-ra in "Fight for My Way" (Ssam, Maiwei) and Yeom Mi-jeong in "My Liberation Notes" (Naui Haebangilji).

In "Doctor X: Mafia in White," Gye Soo-jung is a gifted surgeon who refuses to bend to the "White Mafia" cartel running her hospital. She solves problems on her own terms and refuses to play by the internal power games around her. She tells people with complete confidence, "I do not fail." But there is a story behind that line, too.

The role is Kim Ji-won's first serious portrayal of a doctor. She said she worked closely with a medical consultant to prepare for the surgery scenes. "I learned the techniques needed for the operating room scenes from the consulting doctor and took the time to get truly comfortable with them," she said.

Actress Lee Jung-eun, who plays Jang Hee-sook opposite Kim Ji-won, spoke warmly about her co-star. "Every time I locked eyes with Kim Ji-won on set, the emotions filled in naturally," she said. "I thought to myself, this really is an actress with deep craft."

"Doctor X: Mafia in White" premieres Oct. 9 at 9:50 p.m. KST on SBS.