SBS's medical drama Doctor X: The Age of the White Mafia, starring Kim Ji Won, has become the subject of controversy after a petition calling for the show's broadcast to be stopped was submitted to South Korea's National Assembly.
The petition appeared following the October 24 broadcast of episode 6, which included a storyline referencing the May 18 Democratic Uprising, a significant event in South Korea's modern history.
According to reports on October 25, a petition titled "Petition to Stop the Broadcast of SBS Drama Doctor X" was submitted through the National Assembly's electronic petition system.
The petition reportedly received the 100 initial supporters required for a review before public posting. However, this does not mean the National Assembly has approved the petition or ordered the drama to stop airing.
The petition was still undergoing a review to determine whether it could be made publicly available.
The petitioner argued that the drama introduced a politically sensitive historical subject that they believed was unrelated to its main storyline.
In the petition, the individual claimed, "Episode 6 of Doctor X included content related to May 18 that had nothing to do with the drama's story, making many viewers uncomfortable."
The petitioner also argued that differing political interpretations of the historical event made its inclusion in the drama inappropriate.
They called for a review of the production process, requested that the production team be questioned by the National Assembly, and urged broadcasting oversight authorities to examine the episode.
The controversy centers on a storyline involving Oh Sang Beom, played by Ha Sung Kwang.
In the episode, the character is portrayed as someone who has lived with physical and emotional trauma connected to the May 18 Democratic Uprising.
The drama also features a fictional former president whose appearance recalls the historical period.
The May 18 Democratic Uprising took place in Gwangju in 1980, when citizens protested against military rule and were met with a violent government crackdown.
The event is officially recognized as an important milestone in South Korea's struggle for democracy.
While the historical significance of the uprising is well established, the petition raises objections to how the event was incorporated into the fictional drama.
According to the report, reactions to the episode have been mixed.
Some viewers reportedly appreciated the show's attempt to address a painful chapter of Korean history, while others criticized what they considered an excessive political interpretation.
Amid the discussion, Studio S chief producer Lee Ok Gyu also attracted attention after posting a Doctor X poster on social media on October 24 with the caption "No fear."
The producer did not explain the meaning of the message, and there has been no confirmation that it was intended as a response to the petition.
Despite the controversy, Doctor X continued to record strong television ratings.
According to Nielsen Korea, episode 6 achieved 19.5% nationwide ratings, setting a new personal best for the series.
The result represented an increase from the previous episode's 17.5% nationwide rating.
However, the ratings achievement and the petition are separate developments, and the viewership figures do not establish how audiences feel about the disputed storyline.
As of October 25, the reported petition remained under review for public posting, and there was no confirmed decision to suspend or cancel Doctor X.
The controversy has brought new attention to the drama's portrayal of historical events, even as Kim Ji Won's series continues to attract a large television audience.
SBS's medical drama Doctor X: The Age of the White Mafia, starring Kim Ji Won, has become the subject of controversy after a petition calling for the show's broadcast to be stopped was submitted to South Korea's National Assembly.
The petition appeared following the October 24 broadcast of episode 6, which included a storyline referencing the May 18 Democratic Uprising, a significant event in South Korea's modern history.
According to reports on October 25, a petition titled "Petition to Stop the Broadcast of SBS Drama Doctor X" was submitted through the National Assembly's electronic petition system.
The petition reportedly received the 100 initial supporters required for a review before public posting. However, this does not mean the National Assembly has approved the petition or ordered the drama to stop airing.
The petition was still undergoing a review to determine whether it could be made publicly available.
The petitioner argued that the drama introduced a politically sensitive historical subject that they believed was unrelated to its main storyline.
In the petition, the individual claimed, "Episode 6 of Doctor X included content related to May 18 that had nothing to do with the drama's story, making many viewers uncomfortable."
The petitioner also argued that differing political interpretations of the historical event made its inclusion in the drama inappropriate.
They called for a review of the production process, requested that the production team be questioned by the National Assembly, and urged broadcasting oversight authorities to examine the episode.
The controversy centers on a storyline involving Oh Sang Beom, played by Ha Sung Kwang.
In the episode, the character is portrayed as someone who has lived with physical and emotional trauma connected to the May 18 Democratic Uprising.
The drama also features a fictional former president whose appearance recalls the historical period.
The May 18 Democratic Uprising took place in Gwangju in 1980, when citizens protested against military rule and were met with a violent government crackdown.
The event is officially recognized as an important milestone in South Korea's struggle for democracy.
While the historical significance of the uprising is well established, the petition raises objections to how the event was incorporated into the fictional drama.
According to the report, reactions to the episode have been mixed.
Some viewers reportedly appreciated the show's attempt to address a painful chapter of Korean history, while others criticized what they considered an excessive political interpretation.
Amid the discussion, Studio S chief producer Lee Ok Gyu also attracted attention after posting a Doctor X poster on social media on October 24 with the caption "No fear."
The producer did not explain the meaning of the message, and there has been no confirmation that it was intended as a response to the petition.
Despite the controversy, Doctor X continued to record strong television ratings.
According to Nielsen Korea, episode 6 achieved 19.5% nationwide ratings, setting a new personal best for the series.
The result represented an increase from the previous episode's 17.5% nationwide rating.
However, the ratings achievement and the petition are separate developments, and the viewership figures do not establish how audiences feel about the disputed storyline.
As of October 25, the reported petition remained under review for public posting, and there was no confirmed decision to suspend or cancel Doctor X.
The controversy has brought new attention to the drama's portrayal of historical events, even as Kim Ji Won's series continues to attract a large television audience.
