"Manager Kim" Yoon Kyung-ho's pay-so... The reason for shedding tears twice during the interview [★FULL Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

"I used to work thirty part-time jobs in the past. The biggest crisis came when I got married and became pregnant with my first child. Until then, I thought that even if my credit cards were cut off and I went into debt, I could just endure the pain alone. But once I had a child, I started wondering whether I should quit acting, thinking, 'I don't want to pass this on.' At that time, the movie 'Ganghwa Island' came to me, and it held great meaning for me. I was so thin back then, weighing only 34 kilograms. Just talking about those days brings tears to my eyes. I told my daughter in my womb, 'Daddy is sorry. I've never taken on a role like this before, but I want to do well this time. Please wait even if you have to be a little hungry.' After that, I ended up doing 'Okja' and 'Goblin.' It felt as though a path was opening up for me."

"When I read the letter I received at a fan signing event, it said, 'We like your acting, so we also like your image on variety shows. You are doing well,' and I started to cry."

Actor Yoon Kyung-ho (46) gave an interview where laughter and tears intertwined. Yoon Kyung-ho has recently entered the biggest peak of his career in 27 years since his debut, thanks to the success of SBS's Friday-Saturday drama "Manager Kim" (script by Nam Dae-jung, directed by Lee Seung-young and Lee So-eun) and the birth of a "chatty" variety show character through his YouTube content "Excuse Me." With his naturally likable image, he has received high praise such as "Now is the era of Yoon Kyung-ho," yet he himself was trying hard not to become intoxicated by that popularity. Instead, he was reflecting on past pains and treating his current popularity as a time to gather his thoughts.

"Mr. Kim" is a revenge action drama about an ordinary father who becomes the most dangerous man in the world to reclaim his only daughter. "Mr. Kim" debuted with a viewership rating of 9.5% and recorded 21.6% within four episodes, writing new history as the first drama in two years to surpass the 20th% mark. The final episode, broadcast on the 25th (episode 10), achieved a peak viewership rating of 23.1%, proving its phenomenon status (Nielsen Korea nationwide basis). "Mr. Kim" successively surpassed records of past SBS Friday-Saturday dramas such as "Stove League," "Taxi Driver Season 2," and "The Priest," setting a historic record by ranking second in viewership among all SBS Friday-Saturday dramas.

The global box office performance was also dazzling. "Manager Kim" secured the number one spot in Netflix's non-English TV series category globally for three consecutive weeks, proving its worldwide popularity. In addition, it recorded three consecutive weeks at the top of TV-OTT drama buzz rankings and dominated the top tier in actor/actress buzz, achieving dominance in viewership ratings, global popularity, and public interest alike.

In the drama, Yoon Kyung-ho took on the role of Park Jin-cheol, a former "god of the battlefield" who was once beyond the control of the state and now lives as a doting father to his daughter. Park Jin-cheol, alongside Department Head Kim (played by So Ji-seob) and Sung Han-soo (played by Choi Dae-hoon), showcased chemistry within the "dad universe," delivering fearless power action and embodying the lively and humanistic "Rock & Roll Park Jin-cheol." Yoon Kyung-ho portrayed Park Jin-cheol, a marine with an air of pretension, injecting energy into the series through grounded, everyday acting that generated laughter simply by his presence.

- "Kim's Department Head" ended with good ratings.

I felt a happiness and gratitude so overwhelming that it seemed unbelievable, as if I could not have received so much love in my life. This result was absolutely something I could not have achieved on my own; it is the fruit of the collective effort of many actors and staff members. On another note, after yesterday's broadcast ended, I received countless congratulations, with so many people reaching out to me. While spending time recharging with my family, I took a moment to reflect on myself. I realized I needed to carefully manage my excited emotions. I also worried that if I became too intoxicated by the success, it might negatively affect my next steps.

-Recently, actor Yoon Kyung-ho's performances have been so impressive that some are saying "It is the era of Yoon Kyung-ho."

▶While reading recent comments, I find many expressions of support that make me smile. I believe this is not something happening to me alone but rather a result of good fortune accompanying me. While some may say it is "a reward for the hardships you endured," I intend to humbly accept whatever situation comes my way in the future. I consider this a period when luck is staying with me.

How did Park Jin-cheol prepare for his character?

▶The character of Park Jin-cheol required strong action skills, so I wanted to deliver a satisfying experience through the action sequences. I aimed to produce crisp, impactful action different from previous works. The martial arts director I had seen in the work "That Guy Inside Me" joined this project as well, and he was very supportive of me. Trusting the director, I tried to show everything I could within my limits. In fact, after being cast as "Department Manager Kim," I had very little time to physically prepare. Nevertheless, having waited a long time for this role, I was grateful just for being chosen. I have been practicing boxing for about four years since my theater days, and I retrained in boxing for this project. Especially in the scene where I fight with Manager Nam inside the container, I aimed to raise the difficulty level of the action. On set, I tried to perform without relying on a stunt double as much as possible. 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 pay attention even to the decoration, even if it took more time. I want to respond to being chosen for this role. Actor Jo In-sung once told me, "If you think the current situation is the worst possible one, choose the second-worst option." Since I couldn't physically show my body to its full extent, I focused on delivering strong action performances.

-The peak viewership reached 23.1%. How much viewership did you expect?

▶I made a pledge when the ratings exceeded 13%, and it was truly a gratifying experience. While others were pleased, I was surprised by my own fulfillment of that pledge. During my period of silent meditation, I experienced many things; I was anxious about what would happen if the ratings surpassed 25%. (There was a proposal for 'Yoon Kyung-ho's 25-hour silent meditation challenge upon breaking through 25% in viewership.') On one hand, I did have expectations about how far we could go, but at other times, our actions became so overwhelming that we found ourselves speechless.

"Manager Kim" broke through a 15.7% viewership rating in just two episodes, and actor Yoon Kyung-ho drew even greater attention by fulfilling his pledge to "observe silence for 13 hours" after surpassing the 13th% mark.

▶I was worried, thinking to myself with my company colleagues, "Was there no other promise?" When I saw the ratings for the first episode of 'Manager Kim,' people around me told me to prepare a promise, and it really exceeded 13 percent. I struggled with whether to endure real hardship or to do something cute just for show. At the fan signing event, fans tried to speak on my behalf, but they seemed restless. When I read the letter I received then, which said, "You are doing well," tears came to my eyes. I wanted to show a changed version of myself as a character who has grown in life, but here I am now (talking too much). (Laughs)

Actor Ju Sang-wook recently said in an interview, "I talk more than actor Yoon Kyung-ho."

"I think my brother Joo Sang-wook said that he talks more than I do, and I am grateful that he acknowledged it. (Laughs) Brother Joo Sang-wook has a way of speaking that draws people in. I tend to ramble even about things I haven't asked about, so I wanted to learn from his speaking style. His eloquence is truly masterful. The moment you listen, your filters kick in and your ears perk up. When the time came for the promises made at the press conference to be put into practice, I felt I needed to be more careful with my words."

What was his wife's reaction to 'Manager Kim'?

My wife is also talkative, but she doesn't talk as much as I do and tends to say "Well done" strictly. She also says things like "You must have worked hard on that action scene," and after watching the chemistry with senior actress Kim Ji-young, she said, "The chemistry was good."

How was the on-site chemistry with actor Choi Tae-hoon?

"I had previously worked with Ji-seop on two projects, and actor Chae-hoon is my same age; we became friends while working together on the previous project 'Confession.' Since Ji-seop is a man of few words, we didn't have many conversations in that earlier work, but this time I felt like we were close friends as we shared great chemistry with both of them. It turns out that Ji-seop is quite funny and provides a lot of material when acting. In the scene where the three of us fight, it was painful not only as an actor but also because my unfamiliar feelings toward him seemed to blend into the performance, resulting in emotions beyond just acting. I wondered if such chemistry could have emerged without the two of them; everything felt like a miracle."

If there were any parts that were difficult while acting, what were they?

Actor Dong-ha is also someone who takes good care of his body, so I trusted him and acted with him. Since it was not a dialogue scene but one where punches were exchanged, even after Dong-ha swung just a little, he asked me, "Senior, are you okay?" So I told him, "It's fine, go ahead and swing." We filmed action scenes all day long, trying to do so while feeling the rush of dopamine. The next day, both of us were completely exhausted.

-You are currently taking a popular path, appearing on the YouTube channel 'Tteun Tteun's 'Pinggeo-go,' among others. Is there a moment when you feel that popularity?

"I believe that yesterday's glory belongs to yesterday," he said, adding that he tries to reset every day. He considers popularity like stocks; thinking it was good yesterday seems to make him complacent. Writing his name every morning is a way for him to discipline himself. He once changed his name based on its meaning, and he always keeps in mind what the name-giver told him: "You are someone who is reborn into a vessel suitable for whatever task you undertake." He recalled that when he recently visited a temple, he was moved by the enthusiastic cheers he received, and he expressed gratitude that everyone shouted along with him when he said "rock and roll."

- He has been active as a "talkative character" in the "Excuse High School" segment. Last year, he won the Rookie Award at the "Excuse High School Awards," and there are rumors that he is a strong contender for the Grand Prize at this year's end-of-year "Excuse High School Awards."

In the past, talking too much was considered a flaw. I heard from my mother and wife many times to "be careful with your words," so it surprised me that this very trait of mine became my defining characteristic. Seeing how such chatter could become a "meal companion" for some made me realize it could offer communication, comfort, friendship, and empathy to lonely people. Although I am aware of my own ignorance and have sometimes held back from speaking, I also came to think that being honest about it is good. The subjects themselves are grateful just to be mentioned. Last year, when I attended the "Pinggego" awards ceremony, I saw Ji Seok-jin receive the grand prize. Watching him take a long time to accept it made me realize this was not an award one could easily win. Although I had been acting for a long time, seeing someone gain attention in variety shows in such a short time left me confused. I even wondered, "Perhaps I have more talent for variety shows than acting," which only added to my confusion. One fan wrote a letter saying, "I liked you because you acted well," and that meant so much to me.

Is there a possibility of 'Manager Kim' Season 2?

▶Everything is wide open. Everyone just wants to go on a well-deserved vacation happily and hopes that Season 2 will be made. Like my senior So Ji-sub, I am also curious about what story will be told if Season 2 is produced. If Season 2 comes out, I am working out and training to get into even better shape than I am now.

-You came wearing luxury shoes today; is this proof of popularity?

▶This pair of shoes was a gift I received. The clothes were bought at Top Ten. Feeling that the outfit might be too plain, I wore nice shoes to balance it out. My fortune reading says 'wealth is leaking,' so I am trying hard to manage my finances; recently, I have invested in Samsung and SK Hynix. I am also trying to cut back on eating. They say I am the type who first takes on debt, pays it off, and then accumulates wealth. A close priest in Rome told me, 'You keep bringing up fortune-telling topics; please stop.' (laughs) I once heard that a 23-year luck cycle seems to be approaching. However, I try not to get overly excited or depressed by it. I aim to live within the average, and my wife tries to calm my restless mind. She tells me, 'Don't look at your phone so much; think about being a good actor and a good father.'

You have mentioned that there were difficult times in the past.

▶I used to have done thirty part-time jobs in the past. It was difficult to hold a steady part-time job while performing in plays, so I did many short-term and daily-wage part-time jobs. The most common ones were manual labor, and I also worked as a clown handing out balloons at store openings. The biggest crisis came when I got married and became pregnant with my first child. Until then, I thought that even if my credit cards were cut off and I went into the negative, I could just endure the pain alone. But once the child arrived, I started wondering whether I should quit acting, thinking, "I don't want to pass this on to her." I worried a lot about questions like, "I don't have any other qualifications; what should I do? Should I learn a skill?" Then the movie "Ganghwa Island" came my way. That work meant a great deal to me, and I lost as much as 34 kilograms during that time. When I talk about those days, tears come to my eyes. I told my daughter in my womb, "Daddy is sorry. I've never taken on such a role before, but I want to do well this time. Please wait for me even if you get a little hungry." After that, I was able to take on roles in "Okja" and "Goblin." It felt like a path was opening up for me. Before, I only wanted to become the "best actor," but after my child was born, I worked without hesitation or discrimination, and it seems another world opened up for me.

-As someone with a daughter herself, she took on the role of "daughter doting father" from "Manager Kim."

"After having my daughter, I noticed that the way people view women in society has changed; the women I used to see now appear not just as juniors or colleagues, but as 'someone's daughter.' I became aware of the experiences unique to being a woman, such as the fact that their resident registration numbers start with '2.' This likely helped me empathize more deeply with the character 'Manager Kim.' My daughter is now in fourth grade and keeps searching for her own name online. She often says, 'Dad, please talk about my name more,' (laughs)."

What kind of actor do you want to become now?

"I now think, 'I just hope work keeps coming,' and 'I want to save money well until my children can become independent.' I want to live by working steadily, like individual strands of noodles. I envy the senior actors who have performed consistently for a long time without ups and downs. I believe today's popularity is like a passing lottery win."

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*This content was translated by AI.