Kim Ji Won is returning to the small screen after two years with SBS’ upcoming medical noir Doctor X.
Premiering October 9th, the series follows Gye Soo Jung, a brilliant surgeon dispatched to Guseo University Hospital by a doctor staffing agency. Armed with extraordinary surgical skills and little tolerance for failure or compromise, she takes on the corruption entrenched within the hospital.
Explaining what drew her to the project, Kim said, “I was intrigued by the gap between how Gye Soo Jung appears on the surface and the new sides of her that emerge the more you get to know her. I wanted to portray that contrast well.”
While Soo Jung may appear to others as a “genius surgeon,” Kim said she sees the character somewhat differently.
“She has exiled herself to the darkness and devoted herself entirely to honing her surgical skills,” Kim explained. “To others, the title of ‘genius surgeon’ may seem fitting, but after looking at the path she’s taken, I saw her less as a ‘genius’ and more as someone who has simply done everything she could out of a desperate determination.”
Kim also pointed to Soo Jung’s personality as something that sets her apart from more conventional medical drama protagonists.
“If a sense of justice and duty is something medical drama leads generally have in common, Soo Jung expresses those qualities differently,” she said. “Because she has focused most of her abilities on surgery, she’s somewhat awkward when it comes to emotional areas like social skills and flexibility.”
That contrast also brings an unexpected touch of humor to the character. “Seeing Soo Jung struggle socially despite her flawless surgical skills sometimes made me laugh,” Kim said. “I tried to bring out both sides of her.”
To prepare for the role, Kim trained with a medical consultant to become comfortable with the techniques required for the drama’s operating room scenes. “Soo Jung’s genius isn’t only shown through the surgery scenes; it’s also tied to the larger narrative, so I tried to carry that same energy into my performance as well.”
Kim also teased the drama’s unusual premise, noting that Soo Jung is a doctor sent out on assignment by a staffing agency.
“I think the idea of a doctor being dispatched from a medical staffing agency will be an interesting point for viewers,” she said. “As you follow Soo Jung’s story at Guseo University Hospital, you’ll encounter the different characters’ choices, regrets, desires and pain.”
Doctor X premieres October 9th on SBS.
>> ‘Doctor X’ Teaser Introduces Kim Ji Won as a Brilliant Surgeon Who ‘Never Fails’
In the meantime, watch trending K-dramas for free on Amasian TV.
Source (1)
