'Manager Kim' So Ji-sub finally wraps up on the finale day.. Highest rating 27.1% [Comprehensive]

*This content was translated by AI.

'Manager Kim' So Ji-sub completed a dignified finale as the highest-rated drama of the year, featuring a desperate struggle to protect his family, tearful reunions, and a happy ending where laughter and emotion coexisted.

According to ratings survey company Nielsen Korea on the 26th, the final episode of SBS's Friday-Saturday drama 'Manager Kim,' broadcast on the 25th, recorded 23.4% in the Seoul metropolitan area, 23.0% nationwide, and a peak instantaneous rating of 27.1%. In particular, the peak instantaneous rating of 27.1% is its own highest record, proving 'Manager Kim's' untiring box office power until the very end. With this, 'Manager Kim' not only secured first place in the same time slot across all channels for 10 consecutive episodes but also rewrote the record for the highest-rated mini-series broadcast in 2026 once again, capping off an overwhelming box office phenomenon. The 2049 rating also averaged 7.4% with a peak of 8.42%, proving its broad appeal across all generations.

On this day, Manager Kim (So Ji-sub) walked into the cruel trap set by Ju Kang-chan (Joo Sang-wook), who had kidnapped Taehoon and Davin, the children of Sung Han-soo (Choi Dae-hoon) and Park Jin-cheol (Yoon Kyung-ho). Ju Kang-chan placed the three friends in a ring and threatened them, saying, "Choose whether to kill your friend or your child," while ordering Sung Han-soo and Park Jin-cheol to take down Manager Kim with the words, "If 660,000 dies, the children will live." Manager Kim replied, "You must take me down for the children to live," willingly offering his life. Sung Han-soo and Park Jin-cheol swallowed their indignation and swung their fists. However, this was a countermove devised by Manager Kim. The two continued their attack toward the iron bars, knocking them down, and finally, Manager Kim, Sung Han-soo, and Park Jin-cheol joined forces to subdue Ju Kang-chan's gang, completing a thrilling reversal.

Afterward, Manager Kim punished Ju Kang-chan's evil deeds until the end for destroying his life and Min-ji's. As corruption and black dealings at Juhak Construction were brought to light, those involved fell one after another, and Lee Jae-yong was also forced into revenge by being sent back to North Korea by Gang Seong (Kim Sung-gyu) after having all information stripped from him. Ju Kang-chan too paid a gruesome price for his crimes to Geum-eobbal (Jo Bok-rae), completing a satisfying catharsis against the villains.

Having completed all missions, Manager Kim faked his death and finally returned to Min-ji. The two met again at the columbarium, trying hard to hold back tears, but when their father said, "I will never leave you again," Min-ji was overcome with sobs in his embrace. The father and daughter, now living on under new names and identities, promised to get to know each other little by little, while Sung Han-soo and Park Jin-cheol, who had returned to their own lives, continued to appear unchanged, helping the two move and sharing meals, maintaining their enduring friendship.

As Manager Kim, Sung Han-soo, and Park Jin-cheol walked side by side wearing glasses, Min-ji's narration played: "All fathers in the world must be ordinary people. They work for their families, fear their mothers, and sometimes even have smelly feet when they come home from work." This was followed by the final line, "It may be hard to believe, but our dad is just an ordinary middle-aged man. Of course, as long as he doesn't touch me," further imprinting 'Manager Kim's' unique and powerful identity. With this, the ending where Manager Kim visits Lee Do-gyu for a job interview at his new workplace, Baekho Personnel, added a meaningful sense of anticipation.

Studio S Hong Seong-chang (CEO) stated, "Thanks to the viewers' passionate love for the work, we have achieved gratifying results and are sincerely grateful. We were able to receive so much love thanks to the overwhelming performances and deep paternal affection conveyed by actors So Ji-sub, Choi Dae-hoon, Yoon Kyung-ho, and the entire cast, as well as the perfect blend of refreshing action catharsis. We will repay this with high-quality, well-made content in the future."

The production team said, "We sincerely thank the viewers who sent their passionate love and support from the first journey to the final moment of 'Manager Kim.' We hope that the stories of fathers who willingly gave up their ordinary lives to protect their families will remain in the hearts of viewers as a warm comfort and refreshing energy for a long time. Thank you for staying with us until the end for the new beginnings of Manager Kim, Sung Han-soo, Park Jin-cheol, and all characters."

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*This content was translated by AI.