'Manager Kim' So Ji-sub: "Over 20% Ratings Leave Me Dazed, Like Being Caught by a Surprise Camera" [Interview ①]

*This content was translated by AI.

• Interview with actor So Ji-sub, who plays Manager Kim in the SBS Saturday-Sunday drama 'Manager Kim'

Actor So Ji-sub shared his thoughts on the surprising success of the drama 'Manager Kim'.

On the 30th, So Ji-sub held a wrap-up interview for the SBS Saturday-Sunday drama 'Manager Kim' (written by Nam Dae-jung, directed by Lee Seung-young and Lee So-eun) at a café in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

The drama 'Manager Kim', which concluded on the 25th, is an action revenge drama about a father who becomes 'the most dangerous man in the world' to reclaim his only daughter, described as 'the most ordinary dad in the world'. So Ji-sub played Manager Kim, a seemingly ordinary employee at a small-to-medium savings bank but actually a veteran agent deployed on countless special operations, leading record-breaking viewership.

When asked about his feelings upon the drama's conclusion, So Ji-sub smiled brightly, saying, "I'm still dazed. Every day I think, 'What is going on?' It feels like I've been caught by a surprise camera."

According to Nielsen Korea, the final episode of 'Manager Kim' achieved 23.4% viewership in the Seoul metropolitan area and 23.0% nationwide. Notably, peak viewership soared to 27.1%, breaking its own record and ending on a high note.

So Ji-sub remarked, "The strong opening ratings were no different from what we saw later. The steep rise in ratings, their sustained performance—nothing about it felt ordinary. I truly wondered, 'What kind of surprise camera is this?' When the ratings passed 10% and then 20%, I think I even called the director asking, 'What's going on?' The director responded the same way: 'What's going on?'" This comment drew laughter from those present.

He continued, "Isn't an era where 20% ratings are possible absurd? Everyone was surprised. Since my daily activities are limited to certain spaces, I don't always feel the popularity myself, but it's still astonishing that people pretend to know me and react with 'Oh? Manager Kim?' It keeps surprising me."

How did So Ji-sub work to create his unique version of Manager Kim? He explained, "I put effort into portraying paternal love. Since I don't have children myself, I had to develop the character of Manager Kim through discussions with the director. As this was my first role as a father of a high school student, I wondered if it would feel awkward. I recall giving a small gift to Seo Su-min, who plays his daughter Min-ji, on the first day of filming and saying, 'Please take care of me.'"

He further added, "I think Manager Kim is fundamentally a lonely person, starting from the premise that he crossed over from North Korea. He's grateful for having two trustworthy friends and happy to have a daughter, but his basic nature must have been deeply lonely."

So Ji-sub expressed his desire to take on action roles again after the Netflix original series 'Square', which was released in June last year. He said, "When I was pondering my next project, 'Manager Kim' came along. I chose it because I wondered, 'What would my life be like as a father with a daughter?' I didn't feel much pressure about playing a dad role; instead, I'm satisfied because it feels like there's more I can do in the future. I still believe I can handle action roles well and want to do even more." He revealed his affection for the action genre.

So, what is the charm of action acting from So Ji-sub's perspective? He stated, "I enjoy when emotions are revealed through physical entanglement. I prefer action scenes where there's a clear target for punishing someone. I'd rather have more action than dialogue."

'Manager Kim' also attracted significant attention due to a vow of silence made as part of a ratings pledge. Earlier, during the production press conference, when asked about a ratings pledge, actor Joo Sang-wook suggested to Yoon Kyung-ho, "How about you take a vow of silence if the ratings exceed 13%?" Yoon Kyung-ho promised, "Then I'll observe a 13-hour vow of silence." In reality, 'Manager Kim' achieved 15.7% nationwide viewership in just two episodes, making Yoon Kyung-ho's 13-hour vow of silence a reality.

Regarding Yoon Kyung-ho's vow of silence, So Ji-sub humorously replied, "It was fun. I actually do (vows of silence) quite often."

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*This content was translated by AI.