Doctor X: Mafia in White Ending Review — Korean Reactions After the Finale
⚠️ Spoiler warning: This post covers the ending of Doctor X: Mafia in White.
SBS’s Friday–Saturday drama Doctor X: Mafia in White, starring Kim Ji-won, wrapped up with its 12th episode on November 14. Korean viewers are now talking a lot about the ending.
Some are already shouting “Announce Season 2!”, while many others say it was a letdown. Because the early episodes were so strong, the overall verdict in Korea leans toward “disappointing.” Personally, I agree with the disappointed side.
Korean TV Ratings: A Clear Hit on Paper
These are the nationwide TV ratings in South Korea for the SBS broadcast.
| Episode | South Korea nationwide rating |
|---|---|
| Ep. 1 | 11.4% |
| Ep. 2 | 14.9% |
| Ep. 4 | 18.5% |
| Ep. 6 | 19.5% (peak) |
| Ep. 7 | 16.5% |
| Ep. 8 | 15.6% |
| Ep. 9 | 15.3% |
| Ep. 10 | 17.7% |
| Ep. 11 | 14.5% |
| Ep. 12 (finale) | 15.2% |
The show hit 19.5% in Episode 6, and many expected it to break 20%, but it never did. Still, the finale ranked first in its time slot, and the drama stayed No. 1 among miniseries on all channels throughout its run. You can’t call it a failure.
Episodes 1–5 Were the Best, Then Things Got Shaky
From Episode 1 to 5, Doctor X was gripping and satisfying, and the ratings shot up. For me, this stretch was the most fun.
After that, the show started dealing with heavy social issues like the May 18 Gwangju Uprising and the doctors’ strike, and I began to tilt my head a little. I still enjoyed it, and Episode 10 dropped a major twist that pushed my expectations back up. But Episodes 11 and 12 dragged that story out for too long. Those two episodes were where I lost the most interest.
For me, this is the most memorable scene. It was funny and sad at the same time, and I think a lot of office workers will relate to it. Across Episodes 11 and 12, this was the saddest moment for me.
The Supporting Cast Stood Out
Kim Ji-won was good as the lead, and I think she did her job well. But my eyes kept going to the supporting actors, especially the hospital director and the other doctors.
The intern, however, felt way too over the top. Maybe the character was written that way on purpose, but I couldn’t understand it.
The Biggest Letdown: Wasted Characters
This is what disappointed me most. First, the hospital director played by Son Hyun-joo. He seemed like a villain at first, then ended up as the one holding the doctors together. That feels like a waste of such a good actor. The show hinted that he had trouble grabbing objects and was losing his central vision, so I expected something to come of it. It was simply dropped.
I also expected to learn the backstories of the Korean medicine doctor and the internal medicine doctors working with Director Jang. Nothing was ever revealed. Why create these characters at all?
The Story Fell Apart From Episode 11
Did the writer run out of steam? Or was it because everything had to fit into 12 episodes? The ending in Episodes 11–12 was far below expectations. It felt like the show pulled out every storyline and left them all open. If they call that an “open ending”…
In the end, Gye Su-jeong saves Kim Seung-hyo with a heart transplant even though she could have taken revenge on him, then turns down the hospital’s official job offer and goes her own way. Choosing her duty as a doctor is a fine ending, but it wasn’t as powerful as the early episodes.
Disappointing in Korea, No. 1 on Netflix Worldwide
What’s interesting is that the reaction overseas has been quite different. In its first week, the show ranked No. 1 on Netflix’s global non-English TV chart with 4.6 million views and made the Top 10 in 36 countries. In its second week, it stayed No. 1 for a second straight week with 7.1 million views and made the Top 10 in 48 countries.
Korean viewers care a lot about story development, so the weak second half hurt. International viewers seem to enjoy Gye Su-jeong herself — a genius surgeon who refuses to bow to power — and the satisfying payoffs. Scenes criticized in Korea as medically unrealistic tend to be accepted abroad as typical drama exaggeration.
Doctor X: My Final Verdict
I’m quite disappointed, especially when I think about the fast pace and immersion of Episodes 1 to 5. It almost felt like the writer changed halfway through.
I haven’t seen the Japanese original. But if the first five episodes followed the original and the show went its own way from Episode 6, I’d say that choice failed.
Even so, Doctor X will probably be remembered as a successful drama. It definitely drew a big audience.
