Kim Ji Won's 'Doctor X' moves overseas viewers to tears and sparks interest in Gwangju history

SBS drama Doctor X: The Age of the White Mafia, starring Kim Ji Won, has drawn emotional reactions from international viewers after its sixth episode explored the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement.

While the episode sparked controversy in South Korea, some overseas viewers said the story moved them to tears and even encouraged them to learn more about Korean history.

The October 24 broadcast introduced a medical case connected to the events of May 1980 in Gwangju, when citizens protested against military rule. The episode included scenes depicting the historical period and references to the May 18 National Cemetery.

Following the broadcast, viewers on Reddit's r/KDRAMA community and X shared their emotional reactions to the episode.

One Reddit user praised the storytelling, writing, "Episode 6 took this drama from something fairly entertaining to something excellent."

Another viewer commented, "I cried from the beginning of episode 6. The child actor was amazing."

Others were equally moved by the performances and emotional scenes.

"I'm crying so much right now. The story, the song, and the direction of the final scene gave me goosebumps. This is one of the best dramas of the year," another viewer shared.

Beyond the emotional reactions, the episode also encouraged some international viewers to explore a part of South Korean history they had not previously known about.

One Reddit user wrote, "I looked up and read about the Gwangju Democratization Movement to better understand this episode."

Discussions followed as viewers asked questions about the historical background of the May 18 movement and shared explanations about what happened in Gwangju.

The Gwangju Democratization Movement took place in May 1980, when citizens protested against South Korea's military government. The uprising was violently suppressed, and the event later became an important symbol of the country's struggle for democracy.

Despite the positive international response, the episode faced criticism from some viewers in South Korea.

A petition requesting that Doctor X stop airing was submitted through the National Assembly's public petition website and reportedly surpassed the initial requirement of 100 supporters.

The petitioner said they were not denying the May 18 movement but questioned why a politically debated historical subject had been introduced into the medical drama.

The controversy also reached international media. The South China Morning Post reported on the petition and noted that the Gwangju storyline was not part of the original Japanese work, making it a creative addition by the Korean production team.

Some overseas viewers defended the decision to include the historical subject, while others felt the drama should focus more on its medical stories.

Meanwhile, Indian media outlet India.com gave the sixth episode four out of five stars, praising Kim Ji Won's performance and the emotional depth of the storyline.

The different reactions have brought further attention to how Doctor X presents a major event in Korean history to an international audience.

Alongside the discussion, Doctor X has maintained strong viewing numbers.

According to Netflix, the drama recorded 5.8 million views during the October 19–25 tracking period, ranking No. 2 on the platform's global Top 10 list for non-English shows after spending two consecutive weeks at No. 1.

In South Korea, episode 6 also reached a new personal best nationwide rating of 19.5%, according to Nielsen Korea.

However, beyond its ratings success, the latest episode has attracted attention for another reason: introducing international viewers to the history of Gwangju.

For some overseas viewers, Doctor X became more than a medical drama, encouraging them to learn about a historical event that continues to hold deep meaning in South Korea.

SBS drama Doctor X: The Age of the White Mafia, starring Kim Ji Won, has drawn emotional reactions from international viewers after its sixth episode explored the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement.

While the episode sparked controversy in South Korea, some overseas viewers said the story moved them to tears and even encouraged them to learn more about Korean history.

The October 24 broadcast introduced a medical case connected to the events of May 1980 in Gwangju, when citizens protested against military rule. The episode included scenes depicting the historical period and references to the May 18 National Cemetery.

Following the broadcast, viewers on Reddit's r/KDRAMA community and X shared their emotional reactions to the episode.

One Reddit user praised the storytelling, writing, "Episode 6 took this drama from something fairly entertaining to something excellent."

Another viewer commented, "I cried from the beginning of episode 6. The child actor was amazing."

Others were equally moved by the performances and emotional scenes.

"I'm crying so much right now. The story, the song, and the direction of the final scene gave me goosebumps. This is one of the best dramas of the year," another viewer shared.

Beyond the emotional reactions, the episode also encouraged some international viewers to explore a part of South Korean history they had not previously known about.

One Reddit user wrote, "I looked up and read about the Gwangju Democratization Movement to better understand this episode."

Discussions followed as viewers asked questions about the historical background of the May 18 movement and shared explanations about what happened in Gwangju.

The Gwangju Democratization Movement took place in May 1980, when citizens protested against South Korea's military government. The uprising was violently suppressed, and the event later became an important symbol of the country's struggle for democracy.

Despite the positive international response, the episode faced criticism from some viewers in South Korea.

A petition requesting that Doctor X stop airing was submitted through the National Assembly's public petition website and reportedly surpassed the initial requirement of 100 supporters.

The petitioner said they were not denying the May 18 movement but questioned why a politically debated historical subject had been introduced into the medical drama.

The controversy also reached international media. The South China Morning Post reported on the petition and noted that the Gwangju storyline was not part of the original Japanese work, making it a creative addition by the Korean production team.

Some overseas viewers defended the decision to include the historical subject, while others felt the drama should focus more on its medical stories.

Meanwhile, Indian media outlet India.com gave the sixth episode four out of five stars, praising Kim Ji Won's performance and the emotional depth of the storyline.

The different reactions have brought further attention to how Doctor X presents a major event in Korean history to an international audience.

Alongside the discussion, Doctor X has maintained strong viewing numbers.

According to Netflix, the drama recorded 5.8 million views during the October 19–25 tracking period, ranking No. 2 on the platform's global Top 10 list for non-English shows after spending two consecutive weeks at No. 1.

In South Korea, episode 6 also reached a new personal best nationwide rating of 19.5%, according to Nielsen Korea.

However, beyond its ratings success, the latest episode has attracted attention for another reason: introducing international viewers to the history of Gwangju.

For some overseas viewers, Doctor X became more than a medical drama, encouraging them to learn about a historical event that continues to hold deep meaning in South Korea.