Kim set to lead the Korean remake of Japanese megahit franchise in SBS' 'Doctor X: Mafia In White'
After "Queen of Tears" took the world by storm, Kim Ji-won is finally returning to the small screen following a two-year hiatus with a Korean remake of the megahit Japanese franchise "Doctor X."
“I spent some time wondering what kind of image I should show after taking a two-year break, and there was also a period when I was waiting for the right project. Then I received such a wonderful script that I decided to take it on,” Kim said during a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday when asked about her choice of comeback material.
The actress noted that she underwent a noticeable physical transformation to step into her new role in "Doctor X: Mafia In White."
“I changed my hairstyle to a bob to portray Gye Soo-jung. My previous project, 'Queen of Tears,' featured very glamorous fashion, so this time, I approached the character by trying to strip things down as much as possible,” she said.
The series centers on Gye Soo-jung (Kim), a maverick genius surgeon taking on the corrupt politics governing hospital administration. Industry buzz around the project had largely focused on how the Japanese source material — which ran for seven seasons and solidified lead actress Ryoko Yonekura as a household name — would be localized for Korean audiences.
“As you mentioned, the backgrounds and systems are quite different, so we reinterpreted the story by keeping its basic framework and appealing elements while trying to bring out a distinctly Korean sensibility,” Director Lee Jung-rim said.
Lee also highlighted that "Doctor X: Mafia In White" emphasizes a dark, atmospheric tone.
“The show deals with power struggles within a hospital organization, while also incorporating human drama and the cathartic appeal of a genius doctor character,” Lee said.
“What makes this series different is that we added noir to those elements.”
"DoctorX: Mafia In White" is slated to premiere Friday on SBS.
yoonseo.3348@heraldcorp.com
