Living in rural Korea has its own quiet moments.
On days when I don’t have anywhere in particular to go, I sometimes get a little bored at home. That’s when I often turn to Netflix.
I enjoy finding a good drama, getting comfortable, and spending a few hours following an interesting story.
Recently, I started watching a Korean medical drama called Doctor X: Mafia in White.
I’ve watched four episodes so far, and I’m enjoying it more than I expected.
Kim Ji-won, a Beautiful and Talented Actress
One of the reasons I was interested in this drama was actress Kim Ji-won.
Personally, I think she is a very beautiful actress. But what I like just as much is her acting.
She has appeared in several popular Korean dramas, including The Heirs, Descendants of the Sun, Fight for My Way, My Liberation Notes, and Queen of Tears.
I enjoy watching her take on different kinds of characters in each drama.
In Descendants of the Sun, she played Yoon Myung-ju, a military doctor with a strong personality.
That role is another example of how she can bring confidence and emotion to a character.
In Doctor X, she plays Gye Su-jeong, a talented surgeon who refuses to be intimidated by the powerful people around her.
Her confident attitude and determination make the character interesting to watch.
I think Kim Ji-won suits this role very well.
I Didn’t Know Doctor X Was a Japanese Remake
While looking up more information about Doctor X, I discovered something interesting.
The Korean drama is actually a remake of a popular Japanese television series.
The original, Doctor-X: Surgeon Michiko Daimon, first aired in Japan in 2012.
It starred Ryoko Yonekura as Michiko Daimon, a highly skilled freelance surgeon who refuses to give in to hospital politics and authority.
The Japanese drama became popular enough to run for seven seasons and was followed by a theatrical movie.
The Korean version brings the central idea into a Korean hospital setting, with Kim Ji-won playing Gye Su-jeong.
Learning that the series has a Japanese original made the story even more interesting to me.
I think it’s fascinating how a drama created in one country can be adapted for viewers in another.
A Drama That Reminds Me of Real-Life Stories
Although I started watching Doctor X simply to enjoy a new drama, I found myself thinking about South Korea’s healthcare system.
Over the years, there have been heartbreaking news reports about patients who could not receive medical treatment in time.
Some of those cases have ended in death.
Whenever I hear such stories, I feel deeply saddened.
What if someone in my own family suddenly became seriously ill or faced a medical emergency?
If they needed immediate treatment but no hospital could accept them, how frightening and helpless would that feel?
It is difficult to imagine the anxiety that patients and their families must experience in those situations.
Watching Doctor X brought these real-life concerns back to my mind.
Of course, a television drama is not a documentary about actual hospitals.
Some situations are created or exaggerated for dramatic effect, and it would be unfair to judge every Korean hospital based on what happens in a fictional story.
Still, I think dramas sometimes give us a reason to reflect on problems that exist in real life.
Why Having a Doctor Among Your Acquaintances Can Feel Reassuring
In Korea, people sometimes say it would be reassuring to know at least one doctor personally.
I think that expression reflects how anxious people can feel when facing serious medical problems.
When someone needs major surgery or specialist treatment, the waiting time can sometimes be long.
Depending on the patient’s condition and the hospital, some people may have to wait weeks or even months for a planned procedure.
For someone who is ill, it is only natural to want to find a good doctor and receive treatment as soon as possible.
Having a friend or acquaintance who works in healthcare might help someone understand medical information or learn where to seek appropriate care.
Of course, I don’t think personal connections should determine who receives treatment first.
But I understand why people feel more reassured when they have someone knowledgeable they can ask for advice.
Perhaps what people really want is to feel less helpless when they or their loved ones become ill.
Doctors Have Their Own Difficulties, Too
At the same time, I also think about the challenges doctors face.
Doctors carry enormous responsibilities because their decisions can directly affect people’s lives.
As patients, we naturally hope that doctors will treat us with care, skill, and a strong sense of duty.
When we visit a hospital, we want to feel that we are in good hands.
But doctors are people, too.
Some work under considerable pressure, make difficult decisions, and deal with demanding schedules and complicated situations within their workplaces.
They also have their own lives, worries, and limitations.
I believe dedication is important in the medical profession. However, doctors also need working conditions that allow them to provide good care without sacrificing their own well-being.
Patients deserve timely and appropriate treatment, and medical professionals deserve an environment where they can do their jobs responsibly.
I think both are important.
A Hospital Is Also a Workplace
Another interesting part of Doctor X is the way the drama portrays the hospital as an organization.
A hospital is a place where patients receive treatment, but it is also a workplace where people have different responsibilities, opinions, and interests.
Relationships between doctors, hospital administrators, and other medical professionals can be complicated.
In the drama, we see conflicts involving authority, personal beliefs, and professional responsibility.
Of course, real hospitals should not be judged entirely by a television drama.
Still, these situations make me wonder how difficult it can be for someone to hold on to their principles while dealing with the realities of their profession.
My Thoughts After Watching Four Episodes
I’ve only watched four episodes of Doctor X, so I think it’s still too early to judge the entire drama.
So far, though, I like Kim Ji-won’s performance and the strong personality of her character.
I also appreciate that the story gives me something to think about beyond the medical scenes.
I hope doctors can continue to value the responsibility and purpose of their profession while working in an environment that respects their own lives and difficulties.
And I hope patients and their families can feel safe knowing they will receive the medical care they need.
That may sound simple, but I imagine achieving that balance is not always easy.
For now, I’m looking forward to seeing how the story develops.
Sometimes, when there’s nothing special to do in rural Korea, all I want is a good drama to enjoy at home.
And if that drama also leaves me with a few thoughts about life, that’s an extra pleasure.
Doctor X is becoming one of those dramas for me.