'Minister Kim' Yoon Kyung-ho: "Surpassing 13% ratings = 13 hours of silent meditation... I was anxious wondering what to do if it exceeded 25%" [Interview ①]

*This content was translated by AI.

Actor Yoon Kyung-ho (46) shared his own thoughts on 'Minister Kim'.

On the 27th, Yoon Kyung-ho met with StarNews at a café on Hak-dong-ro in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, for an interview regarding the SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Minister Kim' (written by Nam Dae-jung, directed by Lee Seung-young and Lee So-eun).

'Minister Kim' is a revenge action drama about a father who becomes 'the world's most dangerous man' to reclaim his only daughter. It launched with 9.5% ratings in the first episode and recorded 21.6% by its fourth episode, marking a new history as the first drama in two years to surpass 20%. The final episode aired on the 25th (Episode 10) achieved a peak rating of 23.1%, proving its phenomenon status. (Based on Nielsen Korea nationwide data.) 'Minister Kim' successively surpassed records of past SBS Friday-Saturday dramas such as 'Stove League', ' Taxi 2', and 'Priest', securing the second-highest ratings among all SBS Friday-Saturday dramas in history.

Its global box office performance was also dazzling. 'Minister Kim' ranked first globally in Netflix's non-English TV show category for three consecutive weeks, demonstrating worldwide popularity. It also topped the TV-OTT drama buzz chart for three consecutive weeks and dominated the top tier of actor-related buzz, achieving dominance in ratings, global popularity, and public interest.

In the drama, Yoon Kyung-ho portrayed Park Jin-cheol, a former 'God of War' who was beyond even the state's control in the past, now living as a doting father. Alongside Minister Kim (played by So Ji-sub) and Sung Han-soo (played by Choi Dae-hoon), he showcased the chemistry of the 'Father Universe', acting as the 'Rock & Roll Park Jin-cheol' with bold power action and cheerful humanity. Yoon Kyung-ho, dressed as a Marine with an air of pretension, brought vitality through grounded, relatable acting that generated laughter simply by appearing on screen.

'Minister Kim' concluded with excellent results.

▶I felt an unbelievable happiness and gratitude, as if I could never receive such love in my life. This result was absolutely not something I could have achieved alone; it was a fruit borne by many actors and staff working together. On one hand, after yesterday's broadcast ended, I received so many congratulations that too many people contacted me. While spending time recharging with my family, I reflected on myself. I realized I needed to carefully manage my excited emotions. I even worried that I might become intoxicated and affect my next steps.

▶Recently, there have been reactions saying 'It's the era of Yoon Kyung-ho' due to his excellent performance.

▶As I look through comments these days, I feel grateful for the many supportive messages and sometimes laugh out loud. I believe this is not something that happened solely because of me; it was luck that accompanied me. Some say it's a reward for my hard work, but I intend to humbly accept any situation that may come in the future. I think this is simply a period when luck has stayed with me.

▶How did you prepare for the character of Park Jin-cheol?

▶Since Park Jin-cheol required strong action skills, I wanted to deliver a sense of satisfaction through action. I aimed to produce action that was refreshing and impactful, different from previous works. The martial arts director I met in the work 'That Guy Inside Me' joined us again this time and spoke highly of me. Trusting the director, I tried to show as much as I could from within. In fact, after being cast in 'Minister Kim', I had very little time to physically prepare. Nevertheless, having waited for this role for a long time, I was grateful just that they chose me. I have practiced boxing for about four years since my theater days and trained again specifically for this role. Especially in the scene where he fights with Manager Nam in the container, I tried to raise the action difficulty. On set, I attempted to perform without relying on a stunt double. It was also difficult to find an actor with a body type that matched mine. (Laughs) By nature, if I were to serve food to someone, I would even pay attention to decoration, even if it took more time. I am trying to find a response to being chosen for this role. Actor Jo In-sung once told me, 'If you think the current situation is the worst, choose the second-worst.' Since I couldn't physically show my body well, I focused on delivering strong action.

▶You achieved a peak rating of 23.1%. What level of ratings did you expect?

▶I made a promise when the ratings surpassed 13%, and it was truly a grateful thing. While others were happy, I was surprised to fulfill my promise. During my silent meditation, I had many reflections; I was anxious wondering what to do if the ratings exceeded 25%. (There was a proposal for 'Yoon Kyung-ho's 25-hour silent meditation challenge upon surpassing 25% ratings.') On one hand, I also hoped we could go as far as possible, but our journey became so demanding that it left us speechless.

'Minister Kim' surpassed 15.7% ratings in just two episodes, and actor Yoon Kyung-ho's promise to perform '13 hours of silent meditation' upon surpassing 13% ratings garnered even greater attention.

▶I worried with my company colleagues whether there were no other promises. When the first episode aired, people around me suggested preparing a promise after seeing the ratings, and indeed, it surpassed 13%. I wondered whether to endure real hardship or do something cute for display purposes. At a fan signing event, fans tried to speak on my behalf but seemed restless. When I read a letter I received then, which said 'You are doing well,' tears came to my eyes. As someone who wants to show growth in life, I wanted to present a changed version of myself, yet here I am (talking too much). (Laughs)

▶In a recent interview, actor Joo Sang-wook said, 'I talk more than Yoon Kyung-ho.'

▶Actor Joo Sang-wook seemed to think he talked more than me, and I was grateful that he acknowledged it. (Laughs) Actor Joo Sang-wook has a way of speaking that draws others in. I tend to ramble even about things not asked, and I wanted to learn from his style. His speaking skills are truly masterful; the moment you listen, your filters drop and your ears perk up. At the production presentation, when the time came for my promise to be fulfilled, I realized I needed to be more careful with my words.

▶What was your wife's reaction to 'Minister Kim'?

▶My wife is also talkative, but not as much as me; she tends to speak sternly, saying 'Well done.' She also said, 'You must have worked hard on the action scenes,' and after watching the scene with senior actress (Kim) Ji-young, she commented, 'The chemistry was good.'

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*This content was translated by AI.