Doctor X: Mafia in White

Moviewrld official review for SBS and Netflix's Doctor X: Mafia in White (premiered October 2026). Based on the long running Japanese hit Doctor-X, this 12-episode K-drama successfully blends intense medical noir with dark workplace comedy. Storyline: The plot follows Gye Su-jeong, a wildly talented but fiercely independent freelance surgeon who is brought in to fill a staffing shortage at Guseo University Seonam Medical Center. The hospital is essentially run like a cartel by a corrupt, power hungry board known as the "Magnolia Association". Su-jeong refuses to play office politics, repeatedly clashing with the establishment while taking on seemingly impossible surgeries that nobody else will touch. It is highly episodic, but the mystery regarding her dark past and the deeply satisfying way she dismantles the hospital's bloated egos keeps the momentum going strong. Cinematography: Visually, the show leans heavily into its "medical noir" label. Director Lee Jung-rim shoots the hospital corridors like a dangerous corporate battleground, utilizing stark lighting and shadows to highlight the moral rot of the administration. The surgical scenes are visceral, fast-paced, and sharply edited, intentionally contrasting Su-jeong's precise, flawless technique with the chaotic, messy politics happening outside the operating room. Cast: Kim Ji-won is absolutely magnetic as Gye Su-jeong, playing a cynical, unapologetic anti-hero who only cares about saving lives. Son Hyun-joo makes for a fantastic primary antagonist as the deeply corrupt chairman Bu Seung-gwon, who is obsessed with the power of controlling human lives. Lee Jung-eun adds a lot of great nuance as the conflicted hospital director Jang Hui-suk, and Kim Woo-seok provides the necessary heart and warmth as a highly empathetic surgical intern. The Verdict: If you are a fan of medical dramas but want something grittier and more rebellious than the usual hospital soap opera, this is a highly entertaining watch. Watching a genius surgeon bulldoze her way through a corrupt system is just incredibly satisfying television. Rating: 8/10

— Official Editorial