Despite losing ground in Korea, the hit K-drama continues to rank among Netflix’s top non-English series globally
“Doctor X: Mafia in White,” considered one of the breakout K-dramas of the second half, has seen a decline in domestic viewership amid lingering controversy over its medical accuracy and portrayal of history.
According to Nielsen Korea, the series’ eighth episode, which aired Saturday, recorded a nationwide household rating of 15.6 percent. That marked a drop from 16.5 percent for Friday’s episode and a 3.9 percentage-point decline from its sixth episode, which posted a series high of 19.5 percent on Oct. 24.
The ratings slide comes as the series continues to face criticism on multiple fronts.
The most recent controversy centered on the drama’s depiction of the May 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising in its sixth episode. In the episode, the protagonist attempts to remove a bullet that had been lodged in a patient’s brain for 46 years. The patient was shot during the military’s crackdown on demonstrations in Gwangju in May 1980.
The Gwangju Democratic Uprising was a pro-democracy movement against Chun Doo-hwan’s military rule in May 1980. It culminated in a violent military crackdown on May 27, when troops forcibly suppressed the uprising.
Following the episode’s broadcast, the drama faced a mounting online backlash over its depiction of the politically sensitive events. The criticism eventually led to a petition filed with the National Assembly calling for the series to be taken off the air and its production process reviewed.
Separately, the series has faced criticism over its portrayal of medical procedures, with viewers arguing that inaccuracies detract from its realism and undermine viewer immersion. Among the points raised were scenes in which a surgeon makes unilateral decisions during multispecialty procedures, with some viewers arguing that the drama should adhere more closely to real-world medical protocols.
Although domestic viewership has dropped, the series maintains a strong international audience.
According to Tudum, Netflix’s official rankings platform, “Doctor X: Mafia in White” placed second on the global non-English TV list for the fourth week of October, following two consecutive weeks at No. 1.
“Doctor X: Mafia in White" follows Gye Soo-jung (Kim Ji-won), a brilliant surgeon who challenges the corrupt power structures and political dynamics shaping hospital administration. The drama premiered to strong viewership, recording the highest debut rating among Korean miniseries released in 2026.
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