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'The Good Doctor,’ a remake of a Korean soap opera that aired in 2013, has become a smash hit in the U.S. since airing on ABC in September. (ABC)


“The Good Doctor,” a U.S. remake of a Korean soap opera called “Good Doctor” (굿 닥터) that aired in 2013, has been gluing U.S. audiences to their TV screens at home every Monday night.

The soap opera has aired on ABC since Sept. 25 in the prime time slot of 10 p.m. on Mondays. The first episode recorded a 2.2 percent viewership rating, and that rose to a 2.4 percent with the second episode on Oct. 2.

With the show's growing popularity, ABC has announced that it will give its audience five additional episodes, bringing the total number of episodes in season one from 13 up to 18.

“The Good Doctor” centers on a surgeon who is on the autism spectrum and who has savant syndrome. He challenges the skepticism and prejudice that he sees at the hospital, but rises nonetheless to become an outstanding surgeon with his skill and humanity.

Actor Freddie Highmore plays the male lead, which was played by Joo Won in the original version. David Shore, who also produced the TV show "House,” adapted the show. 

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ABC’s 'The Good Doctor’ is adapted from a 2013 Korean soap opera. Pictured are the male and female leads, Joo Won (left) and Moon Chae-won, from the Korean original. (KBS)



USA Today weighed in on the drama’s popularity in an online article titled “Winners and losers of fall TV, and why ‘The Good Doctor’ is a big new hit" on Oct. 25.

"ABC’s medical drama is the fall’s breakout hit,” the article said. “It’s averaging 17.4 million viewers, has been steady week-to-week, and was TV’s No. 1 show for the week of Oct. 9.” 

TV Guide, too, wrote on Oct. 18 that, "The third episode of the ABC newcomer officially surpassed the CBS staple ‘The Big Bang Theory’ as the most-watched show on television on Monday, Oct. 9.” Under the title of “More people are watching 'The Good Doctor’ than ‘The Big Bang Theory,’" the article said, “Big Bang pulled in 17.9 million viewers while Freddie Highmore’s ‘The Good Doctor’ checked in a healthy audience of 18.2 million.”