'Manager Kim' Nam Sil-jang's Lee Dong-ha: "Gained 7kg for strength, hopes to turn over a new leaf in Season 2" [Interview ①]

*This content was translated by AI.

• Interview with actor Lee Dong-ha, who played Nam Sil-jang in SBS’s Friday-Saturday drama 'Manager Kim'

Actor Lee Dong-ha expressed his hopes for the second season of 'Manager Kim,' which concluded amid intense public interest.

Recently, Lee Dong-ha held a wrap-up interview with StarNews at the StarNews headquarters in Seorin-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, to discuss various topics related to SBS’s Friday-Saturday drama 'Manager Kim' (written by Nam Dae-jung, directed by Lee Seung-young and Lee So-eun).

The drama 'Manager Kim,' which concluded on the 25th, is a father-universe revenge action series about an ordinary father who becomes the world’s most dangerous man to reclaim his only daughter. According to viewership research company Nielsen Korea, the final episode achieved a viewership rating of 23.4% in the Seoul metropolitan area and 23.0% nationwide. Notably, the peak viewership reached 27.1%, setting a new record for the series and concluding with great success.

Lee Dong-ha portrayed Nam Sil-jang, the chief secretary to Ju Kang-chan (played by Ju Sang-wook). He convincingly depicted the character through restrained expressions, cold eyes, and ruthless actions, significantly enhancing viewer immersion.

Reflecting on completing the drama amidst overwhelming love, Lee Dong-ha said, "It feels like a dream. I can’t tell whether it’s reality or a dream; it doesn’t feel real at all, as if a new world has unfolded. Happy and moving moments keep coming. It’s truly amazing that my family, high school friends, and mentors have been in touch."

He continued, "Since everyone worked hard and happily during filming, I think that energy was well conveyed to the viewers. At the wrap party, we all gathered to watch the drama together, creating an atmosphere of shared applause."

The character Nam Sil-jang, whose name and specific background remain undisclosed, added to the mystery surrounding his role. Regarding this, Lee Dong-ha explained, "Even in the script, Nam Sil-jang’s name is not mentioned, so I came up with one myself. In my view, Nam Sil-jang is a person of 'intellect' and a 'solid physique,' so I assumed his name to be Nam Ji-seok. I was cast through a video audition, and the director remembered me from my appearance in Netflix’s 'The Square.'"

As an enigmatic figure, Nam Sil-jang stood out for his restrained expressions and chilling charisma. On this, Lee Dong-ha stated, "In the original webtoon, (Nam Sil-jang) is a member of an international special mercenary organization that fights for money and leads to victory. Among them, he is the top agent who earns the most money at the end. Considering this setting, (Nam Sil-jang) is someone who acts both for Ju Kang-chan and for money."

He further added, "To make the character more convincing, I constructed my own narrative. I imagined him as a globally powerful individual with an arrogant mindset: 'No one in Korea can defeat me.' In terms of family background, his grandmother might be his only relative. Having grown up in a harsh environment, he likely became hardened and evil out of a need to protect himself."

To handle the demanding action scenes in 'Manager Kim,' Lee Dong-ha practiced with a karambit day and night. He even gained weight for the role.

He explained, "When I read the script, I realized that Nam Sil-jang becomes increasingly fierce as the story progresses. Three months before filming began, I bought a karambit and practiced constantly, went to boxing six days a week, and gained 6–7kg. I felt it was necessary to become physically stronger first."

How was the acting chemistry with So Ji-sub (as Manager Kim), Choi Tae-hoon (as Sung Han-soo), Yoon Kyung-ho (as Park Jin-cheol), and Ju Sang-wook? When asked, Lee Dong-ha immediately replied, "It was truly a learning experience." He recalled, "This was the first time I worked on a set where there was so much communication, intense research, and mutual consideration. It made me realize, 'This is what acting is like; this is how happy it can be.'"

Regarding Ju Sang-wook in particular, he joked, "Whenever I had doubts about certain lines, the senior actor told me, 'I watched you on the monitor, and you looked so cool. Just do it.' It made me think that I should take good care of him not just on screen but also in real life," eliciting laughter from everyone.

Given the phenomenon-level popularity, thoughts about a second season were inevitable. Lee Dong-ha smiled when asked, saying, "I want to appear in Season 2." He then added, "I hope to return with a role that shows complete transformation. In the original work, there is indeed a continuation for Nam Sil-jang. I would love to appear again."

Lee Dong-ha also expressed his deep affection for 'Manager Kim,' saying, "Whenever I think about 'Manager Kim,' I am moved and overwhelmed with emotion. I feel like I should bow deeply to all those who watched the drama. Above all, it is a work that introduced me as an actor named Lee Dong-ha, so it will remain unforgettable for the rest of my life."

He concluded, "It was also a work that gave me insights into communication and consideration, serving as motivation to 'work hard,' making it even more precious."

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*This content was translated by AI.