'Manager Kim' Breaks 20% Viewership in Just Four Episodes, Hooray! SBS Saturday-Sunday Drama 'Manager Kim' Ranks Third All-Time [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

'Manager Kim' has surpassed 20% viewership in just four broadcast episodes. This marks the highest box office record of 2026 and ranks third among all-time Saturday-Sunday dramas on SBS.

The fourth episode of SBS's Saturday-Sunday drama "Manager Kim" (script by Nam Dae-jung, directed by Lee Seung-young and Lee So-eun, planned by Studio S, produced by Studio S, Fantagio), which aired on the 4th, recorded an average viewership of 22.7% in the Seoul metropolitan area, 21.6% nationwide, and a peak instantaneous rating of 25.1%, according to Nielsen Korea. This once again shattered its own record for highest viewership. Notably, by surpassing 20% nationwide viewership in just four episodes, the drama has earned its place as the first since 2024 to break through the "mythical 20%" mark after approximately two years. Additionally, it achieved a stunning feat by ranking third among all-time Saturday-Sunday dramas on SBS, following "The Penthouse 2" (29.2%) and "The Priest" (22%).

Viewership among the 20-49 age group also reached an average of 7.6% and a peak of 8.81%, further proving its popularity. Most importantly, breaking through 20% in just four episodes is faster than "The Priest," "Stove League," or "The Penthouse 2."

In the fourth episode of "Manager Kim," Manager Kim (Choi Dae-hoon), along with Park Jin-cheol (Yoon Kyung-ho) and Sung Han-soo, embarked on a life-or-death pursuit to find his daughter Min-ji (Seo Su-min). Despite being shot, Manager Kim made a desperate run that moved audiences. Sung Han-soo willingly disposed of the earthworm (Won Hyun-jun) for his friend before diving into the river. Park Jin-cheol also drew attention by surrendering with white flags.

First, a glimpse into Manager Kim's past from 28 years ago was revealed. As a young boy who volunteered to join after hearing he could eat his fill, Manager Kim underwent harsh survival training alongside Park Young-gwang (Ok Taek-yeon), codenamed 66, and grew into a legendary operative. However, the story depicted him being trapped during a mission, resulting in Park Young-gwang's death, leaving Manager Kim as the sole survivor.

Returning to the present, Manager Kim was threatened by the gun of Park Kang-sung (Kim Sung-kyu), younger brother of Park Young-gwang, and barely escaped alive amid a surprise shooting. At that moment, Jeong Sa-a (Son Na-eun) and the laundromat owner (Park Jin-woo) appeared, blocking Park Kang-sung and urging Manager Kim to surrender. Upon learning their true identities, Manager Kim revealed his daughter had been kidnapped, asked for time, and then vanished with Sung Han-soo. Instead of heading to a hospital after being shot, Manager Kim clenched his teeth, stopped the bleeding from his wounds, continued the pursuit, and unleashed his desperate paternal love for his daughter.

Meanwhile, Park Jin-cheol appeared before a bunker where he was racing in hanbok, completing the "Dad Universe" for the first time. The three tracked down the homeless person who had found Min-ji's phone and secured crucial evidence: a white vehicle and Kim Sang-man (Kim Daehun). However, as the trio headed toward the location revealed by the location tracking loading screen, a sudden explosion caused the bunker to flip over. Sung Han-soo continued provoking the earthworm in front of them.

Until the car flipped, Manager Kim clung to the clue "Myeong Pohang." He escaped the scene through Sung Han-soo's deception. After pushing the earthworm into the river beneath a bridge, Sung Han-soo jumped into the water, leaving only the words "I'm going" for Park Jin-cheol, who watched from inside the overturned car, surprising everyone. Shortly after, Park Jin-cheol emerged resolutely from outside the car. Seeing a gun pointed at him, he flashed a sharp gaze and said, "Is this the moment I should step in?" but then immediately raised both hands, shouted "Surrender," and chose to be arrested himself, leaving everyone stunned.

Meanwhile, Min-ji, who had been sent to a freezer warehouse under the mistaken belief that she was dead by Geum-i-ppal (Jo Bok-rae), appeared alive, delivering shock. Unaware of this fact, Manager Kim kept repeating, "Min-ji, just stay alive. Just stay alive," forgetting his gunshot wound and making an unstoppable dash toward Myeong Pohang, moving audiences with his determination. While Manager Kim arrived alone at Myeong Pohang and headed to the container office to search for Min-ji's whereabouts, inside the freezer warehouse, Min-ji barely survived and once again faced a life-or-death crisis upon encountering Geum-i-ppal.

With Park Kang-sung also appearing at Myeong Pohang, the sense of crisis reached its peak. Amid uncertainty about whether Sung Han-soo, who dove into the river for Manager Kim, and Park Jin-cheol, captured by the Special Mission Bureau, would survive, viewers were left wondering how the life-or-death cooperation between the fathers would unfold.

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*This content was translated by AI.