It has been announced that the popular medical drama "Doctor X: Surgeon Daimon Michiko" (TV Asahi), starring Ryoko Yonekura, will be remade in Korea. On December 12, TV Asahi announced that the drama will be produced by major Korean production companies Studio Dragon and Studio S, and will be broadcast on terrestrial broadcaster SBS in 2026 under the title "Doctor X: The Age of the White Mafia."
"Doctor X: Surgeon Daimon Michiko" depicts the story of Daimon Michiko, a genius freelance surgeon played by Yonekura, who saves patients by following her own beliefs and not bowing to the authority of hospitals or organizations. Michiko's catchphrase, "I will not fail," became a hot topic. The series began airing in October 2012, and the average viewership for all seven series was 11.6% for individuals and 20.4% for households (Kanto region, Video Research survey). The final film in the series, "Doctor X: The Movie Final," was released in December last year and became a hit, grossing over 3 billion yen at the box office.
The Korean version will be remade as a social suspense "medical noir" set in the world of medicine. The protagonist, Kye Soo-jung, who corresponds to Daimon Michiko, will be played by Kim Ji-won, who starred in the hit drama "Queen of Tears" (2024) and has a large fan base in Japan. The role of Jang Hee-sook, director of the referral center for top doctors, corresponds to Kanbara Akira, played by Kishibe Ittoku, will be played by Lee Jeong-eun, a talented actress known for her roles in films such as "Parasite" (2019).
TV Asahi Executive Producer Seiko Uchiyama commented, "Doctor X has been watched by many people overseas since the series began, and I have always hoped to see it localized in countries around the world. I have been talking about a remake with producers in Korea and North America for many years, and I am delighted that it has now come to fruition with such a wonderful cast and staff. I believe that there are Doctor Xs all over the world. I am looking forward to it both as a producer of the original work and as a fan of Doctor X."
