Kim Ji-won portrays a determined doctor in SBS drama Doctor X

In the sixth episode of SBS drama Doctor X, broadcast on the 24th, Kim Ji-won's character Gye Soo-jung takes on a high-difficulty surgery that other medical staff avoid. The episode achieved a peak instantaneous national viewership rating of 21.3%.

In the SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Doctor X', actress Kim Ji-won portrays Gye Soo-jung, a character who confronts Na Dae-il and undertakes high-difficulty surgeries that others avoid. In the fifth episode broadcast on the 23rd, she was depicted confronting Na Dae-il without showing outward emotion after learning about his past actions of carving initials into a patient's body. This was followed by the sixth episode broadcast on the 24th, where she proceeded with a surgery involving complex interests. Across these two episodes, Kim Ji-won expressed both Gye Soo-jung's cold responses and her convictions as a doctor. This report is a compilation of distributed press releases and broadcast content.

Drawing a line against Na Dae-il approaching the patient

When Na Dae-il approached the patient, Gye Soo-jung blocked him, saying, "Stay away. This is my patient." According to press releases, after learning the truth, Gye Soo-jung maintained a calm demeanor without showing her feelings before responding firmly to Na Dae-il as he approached the patient. During the surgery scene where Na Dae-il's past actions were revealed, rather than expressing great anger, Gye Soo-jung drew a line between the patient and Na Dae-il with brief words. Jang Seung-jo plays Na Dae-il, and Oh Jung-taek plays Kwon Chung-hyun. The process of Gye Soo-jung confirming Na Dae-il's actions and the two confronting each other was a major scene in episode 5. Reports noted that Kim Ji-won expressed Gye Soo-jung's anger with a calm attitude, showing an unwavering expression and voice even at the moment Na Dae-il approached the patient. The press release also explained that instead of overexpressing emotion, Kim Ji-won filled the character's emotional line with heavy breathing and eyes filled with determination. Gye Soo-jung's response to Na Dae-il led to a tense confrontation between the two surrounding the patient.

Confrontation continues before the operating table and CCTV

Subsequently, Na Dae-il went under the knife, and Gye Soo-jung performed the surgery on him. This continued the dynamic where Gye Soo-jung had previously blocked Na Dae-il from approaching the patient, and now Na Dae-il was receiving surgery from Gye Soo-jung. The broadcast included a scene where Gye Soo-jung gives a meaningful smile toward the operating room CCTV. Press releases described this as a scene intended to put psychological pressure on Na Dae-il. Reports also introduced the situation of Gye Soo-jung smiling at the CCTV and Na Dae-il being on the operating table.

Na Dae-il reacted with anger and lunged at Gye Soo-jung, resulting in a physical struggle between the two. Gye Soo-jung did not back down and stood her ground. The press release described Kim Ji-won as revealing a "dark heroine" side in this scene. Reports stated that Na Dae-il's rough emotional expression and Gye Soo-jung's restrained response coincided. Kim Ji-won showed acting that regulated the intensity of emotion, from the moment she learned of Na Dae-il's actions to restraining him in front of the patient and the confrontation in the operating room. The conflict between the two continued through the patient's surgery process and the face-to-face scene inside the operating room.

In episode 6, she takes on a surgery avoided by others

In the sixth episode broadcast on the 24th, Gye Soo-jung stated she would take on a high-difficulty surgery that medical staff avoid due to complex interests. Press releases stated that Gye Soo-jung showed her convictions as a doctor by taking on the surgery without hesitation. Reports also introduced the scene where Gye Soo-jung steps forward for a surgery that other medical staff are reluctant to perform. Following Gye Soo-jung's confrontation with Na Dae-il in episode 5, episode 6 depicted her choice as a doctor treating patients. The surgery involved various interests, but Gye Soo-jung did not back down and stepped forward to take it on.

The press release stated that Kim Ji-won expressed Gye Soo-jung's emotions with delicate acting that swallowed anger and heavy breathing. Reports mentioned that Kim Ji-won finely adjusted the intensity of emotion, from the scene where she maintained composure after confirming Na Dae-il's actions to the scene where she engaged in a physical struggle with him. Gye Soo-jung did not express large emotions when confronting Na Dae-il, and showed her convictions as a doctor when taking on the high-difficulty surgery. The character's confrontation and the choice of surgery were depicted across the two episodes. The press release evaluated Kim Ji-won's acting as densely filling Gye Soo-jung's emotional lines.

Chemistry with Jang Hee-sook and broadcast performance

Lee Jung-eun plays Jang Hee-sook, who stays by Gye Soo-jung's side. Press releases stated that the chemistry between Jang Hee-sook, who stays by Gye Soo-jung's side during moments of crisis, added to the drama. Reports introduced that different expressions and emotions of Gye Soo-jung are revealed in scenes where the two are together, compared to when she confronts Na Dae-il. Gye Soo-jung continued the character relationships not only in the confrontation with Na Dae-il but also in scenes with Jang Hee-sook. The press release stated that the chemistry between the two increased expectations for future developments.

According to a media report, episode 6 recorded a national viewership rating of 19.5% and a metropolitan area rating of 19.2%, with the peak instantaneous rating rising to 21.3%. The report stated that episode 6 ranked first in its time slot among Friday-Saturday mini-series and all weekly mini-series.

'Doctor X' is broadcast every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 PM on SBS. The press release also provided the future broadcast schedule for the drama starring Kim Ji-won accordingly.

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