Kim Ji-won's 'Doctor X' takes global No. 1, breaks this year's ratings record at 14.9%

A winning combination of a strong source story and commanding performances proves the formula behind K-dramas' global success

The medical drama 'Doctor X', starring actor 'Kim Ji-won', is captivating viewers worldwide and riding a wave of global success.

According to the global Top 10 chart released on the official 'Netflix' site Tudum on the 14th, 'Doctor X: The Age of the White Mafia' — hereafter 'Doctor X' — recorded 4.6 million views from the 5th through the 11th, ranking No. 1 among non-English TV shows. Views are an objective measure of a show's performance, calculated by dividing total viewing time by the program's total runtime.

The achievement was underscored by No. 1 rankings in seven Asian countries, including South Korea, the Philippines, Singapore and Indonesia, as well as Top 10 placements in 36 countries worldwide. In particular, the show reached the top spot among non-English TV shows just three days after its premiere on the 9th, once again demonstrating the strength of K-content.

A Korean reimagining of TV Asahi's megahit 'Doctor-X: Surgeon Michiko Daimon', the series delivers a tightly plotted account of a brilliant surgeon's satisfying fight against the entrenched power of a medical system rife with corruption. 'Kim Ji-won' is driving the show's success with her commanding portrayal of Gye Soo-jung, a genius doctor who clashes with the establishment while holding fiercely to her belief: "I never fail."

Airing as an SBS Friday-Saturday drama, 'Doctor X' is also enjoying near-syndrome-level popularity on Korean television. Its first episode posted an 11.4% nationwide rating, the highest among miniseries that premiered this year. The second episode then surged to 14.9%, drawing an explosive response from viewers.

Meanwhile, the romantic comedy 'Charge Me Up', starring 'Kim Young-kwang' and 'Chae Soo-bin', also ranked No. 3 among non-English TV shows with 3 million views. Based on a popular web novel of the same name, the series follows a third-generation chaebol heir whose artificial-heart battery has run out and a drama writer with the special ability to conduct electricity through her body as they embark on a three-month contract romance. After entering the Top 10 in 44 countries worldwide, the series settled into the global No. 3 spot just three days after its release, showcasing the strength of K-romance.