The drama 'Doctor X: The Age of the White Mafia,' starring actress Kim Ji-won, has topped the Asian OTT market, following its rising domestic viewership ratings. It ranked No. 1 on Netflix's TV show charts in Hong Kong, Malaysia, and the Philippines, once again proving Kim Ji-won's box office competitiveness both at home and abroad.

■ No. 1 on Netflix in Hong Kong, Malaysia, and the Philippines... A Sensation Across Asia

According to Netflix's country-by-country rankings on the 16th, 'Doctor X' ranked No. 1 in the TV show category in Hong Kong, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Notably, in Hong Kong, it appeared at No. 3 in the earliest confirmed rankings before maintaining the top spot for five consecutive tally days.

Previously, as of October 12, the series reportedly ranked No. 1 in Netflix Korea's TV show category and No. 4 globally. By country, it entered the TOP 10 in 67 countries and ranked No. 1 in eight countries including South Korea. It is a meaningful achievement in that a work that began as a domestic broadcast is meeting Asian viewers through OTT and gaining attention.

■ Premiere at 11.4% → Episode 2 at 14.9%... Domestic Ratings Also Rising

The early upward trend in domestic ratings is also clear. According to Nielsen Korea, the first episode aired on the 9th recorded a nationwide household rating of 11.4%, while the second episode on the 10th recorded 14.9%. The rating rose 3.5 percentage points in just one episode, numerically proving viewers' interest.

■ Acting Transformation After 'Queen of Tears'... Taking on the Role of Gye Su-jeong

At the center of this success is Kim Ji-won. Having shown emotional depth in 'Queen of Tears' in 2024, she chose a different genre and character setup with 'Doctor X,' challenging herself with an acting transformation.

Gye Su-jeong, played by Kim Ji-won, is a doctor with outstanding surgical skills who does not compromise with the injustices within the medical field. Amid the conflicts and tensions unfolding in medical settings, the character's convictions and choices form the core of the story. As a medical drama, the urgency of surgery scenes, confrontations between characters, and various situations surrounding patients determine the show's immersion, so how Kim Ji-won portrays Gye Su-jeong's cool judgment and inner emotions is a key point to watch. Unlike her previous work, which focused on delicate emotional acting, this series centers on a professional character with strong convictions, offering viewers who awaited her next work after 'Queen of Tears' a chance to see a new side of her.

■ Netizen Awards Ranking Competition Also Draws Attention

Meanwhile, as of the afternoon of the 16th, Kim Ji-won ranks 6th in the October Netizen Awards Best Actress category and 10th in the Globe Netizen Awards Best Actress category. In particular, the Globe Netizen Awards is a stage where global fans' interest can be gauged, so attention is focused on how the rankings will move in line with 'Doctor X's' overseas success. With strong results in multiple Asian countries, it remains to be seen how fans' affection will affect the remaining October rankings.

However, country-by-country rankings fluctuate with each tally date and do not carry the same meaning as actual viewing scale. How the actor's individual recognition, the work's overall quality, and viewers' reactions to the story development will affect future performance also remains a point of interest. Whether 'Doctor X,' which showed an early upward trend, can maintain viewers' attention at home and abroad, and how Kim Ji-won's portrayal of Gye Su-jeong's changes and the plot developments unfold, are expected to be key variables in sustaining its box office momentum.

[OTT rankings may fluctuate depending on the time of measurement, and interpretations of box office performance do not represent the evaluation of all viewers. AI assistance was used in writing this article.]