'Cha Ye-ryun ♥' Joo Sang-wook: "Even if my second-grade daughter becomes a middle schooler, I hope she hasn't seen 'Manager Kim'" [★FULL Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

• Interview with actor Joo Sang-wook, who played the role of Joo Kang-chan in SBS's Friday-Saturday drama "Manager Kim"

Actor Joo Sang-wook, making a new appearance in "Manager Kim," expressed his deep affection for his wife Cha Ye-ryun and their second-grade daughter.

Recently, Joo Sang-wook held an interview to commemorate the finale of SBS's Friday-Saturday drama "Manager Kim" (written by Nam Dae-jung, directed by Lee Seung-young and Lee So-eun) at HB Entertainment's office in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

"Manager Kim" is a revenge action drama about an ordinary father who becomes the world's most dangerous man to reclaim his only daughter. According to ratings survey company Nielsen Korea, the final episode aired on the 25th recorded viewership of 23.4% in the capital area and 23.0% nationwide. Notably, peak viewership soared to 27.1%, shattering its own record.

Joo Sang-wook portrayed Joo Kang-chan, a construction company chairman with a background as a loan shark enforcer, vividly depicting the cold demeanor of a powerful figure, twisted paternal love, and obsessive madness. As an antagonist who puts Manager Kim (played by So Ji-sub) in danger, he left a striking impression that drew strong criticism from viewers.

Regarding the drama's phenomenon-level success, Joo Sang-wook stated, "I thought it would be great if we could achieve double-digit ratings, but I never imagined it would be loved to this extent. We broke into double-digit ratings within just two episodes, leaving everyone wondering, 'What is going on?' I'm grateful to have encountered such a work after a long time, and I don't know what else to say. It feels like something unbelievable has happened."

Starting his acting career in 1998 with the KBS drama "New Generation Report: Adults Don't Know," Joo Sang-wook garnered attention by taking on his most despicable villain role since his debut through "Manager Kim."

Joo Sang-wook modestly remarked, "I think it might have been refreshing for someone who doesn't look like a typical villain to play one, rather than an actor who obviously fits the image of a villain."

He also revealed behind-the-scenes details about the memorable sauna scene that introduced Joo Kang-chan's intense presence. He said, "When I saw the sauna scene in the script, I thought, 'What should I do?' For three months before filming began, I followed a strict diet and exercise regimen and didn't drink alcohol at all. My weight was around 78kg when I started exercising, but it dropped to 71kg by the time filming began. It was the first time I drank water instead of alcohol at social gatherings. Friends told me, 'You're not yourself; I can't stand seeing you like this.' But my hard work paid off."

He continued, "Actually, the bath in the sauna scene wasn't a hot spring but a cold plunge pool. We filmed for about three hours, and just thinking about it is exhausting now. After each cut, we immediately moved to a hot bath to warm up."

He also expressed his desire for a second season. "I don't know how the series will develop in the future, but I believe there will definitely be a Season 2. Since there's an original webtoon, Joo Kang-chan might lose some power, but new stories could emerge. If Joo Kang-chan tries to scheme again, viewers might get tired of it," he candidly shared.

He added jokingly, "If people say 'Manager Kim Villain' like in the movie 'The Outlaws,' they will expect something great. I hope the story can expand endlessly until the next season. Of course, it's a bit disappointing that it ended quickly as a 10-episode series despite all the filming. If Season 2 is produced, wouldn't it be interesting if Joo Kang-chan, now living a good life, made a cameo appearance? Or maybe he could appear as Manager Kim's (So Ji-sub) twin brother with just one mark on his face."

When asked about his feelings of showing a new side after 28 years in the industry, Joo Sang-wook replied, "I feel like I've reached another turning point since my 2010 work 'Giant.' I don't know what lies ahead, but I believe there will be a clear distinction between before and after 'Manager Kim.' As an actor, I used to focus heavily on screen time and position in dramas, but now I think more about the power of characters and how to express them."

His wife, actress Cha Ye-ryun, was also a passionate viewer of "Manager Kim." Joo Sang-wook joked, "Since the drama is rated for viewers aged 15 and above, our second-grade daughter hasn't seen it. Even when she turns 15, I hope she doesn't watch it." He then added, "My wife loves it very much. Many people around us have said good things about it, so it seems to be well-received. Friday and Saturday, the days 'Manager Kim' airs, are usually reserved for family and friends to gather and watch dramas together. Now that it has ended, I feel a bit sad."

Most notably, the scene in Episode 7 aired on the 17th, where Joo Kang-chan (played by Joo Sang-wook) kneels before Minji (played by Seo Su-min) after being counterattacked by Manager Kim (So Ji-sub), left a deep impression. Regarding this scene, Joo Sang-wook said, "Since Joo Kang-chan was getting beaten up one-sidedly, viewers must have felt satisfied." He added, "In that scene, I had to take hits while circling the entire room. We filmed it all day long. I took the hits as hard as possible."

Joo Sang-wook spoke about his acting chemistry with So Ji-sub, who played Manager Kim: "This was our first time acting together, and he is truly a kind person. He's genuinely good and upright. Thanks to him, the atmosphere on set was excellent. As So Ji-sub mentioned on site, there are sometimes uncomfortable filming environments while acting, but 'Manager Kim' was an exciting and comfortable set."

"Manager Kim" featured approximately three-minute sequences showcasing Manager Kim's past, which were entirely created using AI. This marked the first time in Korean drama history that such a technique was used. When this fact became known, many viewers expressed surprise. Surprisingly, even Joo Sang-wook was unaware of it.

Joo Sang-wook joked, "I didn't know those sequences were made with AI either. I thought the filming team must have worked hard, but when I learned they were AI-generated, I wondered, 'Was that really AI?' That's why I thought maybe (So Ji-sub) covered half his face."

Joo Sang-wook also sparked a trend with actor Yoon Kyung-ho's "silent meditation" pledge. During the press conference, when asked about ratings promises, Joo Sang-wook suggested to Yoon Kyung-ho, "What if you go on silent meditation if the ratings exceed 13%?" Yoon Kyung-ho promised, "Then I'll do silent meditation for 13 hours." In reality, "Manager Kim" achieved a nationwide viewership of 15.7% within just two episodes, fulfilling Yoon Kyung-ho's 13-hour silent meditation pledge.

Regarding this, Joo Sang-wook revealed with laughter, "Originally, I planned to say, 'If ratings hit 15%, let's do something in Gwanghwamun,' but if I had said that, Manager Kim (So Ji-sub) might have scolded me. Actually, the silent meditation pledge was just a joke, but it turned out like this. When Yoon Kyung-ho called and asked, 'What should I do?' I told him to film himself drying up in solitary confinement for 13 hours."

He then awkwardly admitted, "Thinking back, I probably talked more on set than Yoon Kyung-ho did."

In the drama, Joo Kang-chan drew strong criticism from viewers for covering up the truth that his daughter Hye-ri (played by Yu Ji-an) was a perpetrator of school violence.

When asked how he would feel if his real daughter were involved in such an issue, Joo Sang-wook responded, "Just thinking about it makes me dizzy." He added firmly, "My daughter is now in second grade. If she became either a victim or a perpetrator of such an incident, I think I would take decisive action. It's unbelievable."

He continued, "Our relationship with our daughter is good. Actually, it's too early to discuss what kind of relationship we have. She's just so beautiful and cute. I put her to bed and take her to school. When I ask her, 'Do you like Mom or Dad?' she says, 'Both.' And when I ask, 'Who is scarier?' without thinking, she answers, 'Mom.' I don't want to imagine my daughter's teenage years. Everyone says it won't last long, and just thinking about it makes me emotional. Maybe it depends on the father."

Recently, his daughter's drawing skills were revealed through Cha Ye-ryun's YouTube channel. Her advanced composition and color sense sparked significant interest, leading to speculation that she inherited artistic talent from Joo Sang-wook, who studied at an art university. In response, Joo Sang-wook firmly said, "A teacher must have helped her," which drew laughter.

He added, "She used colors based on her own ideas. As someone who studied at an art university, I thought she would draw well. Although she's still young, she knows that both her parents are actors. She may not know the exact details, but she understands what we do."

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*This content was translated by AI.