"Jackpot from Debut," Seo Su-min: "My Father Cried from the Very First Scene of 'Manager Kim'" [★FULL Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

"May I touch Mal-lang while interviewing you?"

It was her first interview since debut, and it seemed she was quite nervous. The press corps was disarmed by the cute and shy request of 19-year-old Z-generation actress Seo Su-min.

Seo Su-min gained attention when a vlog video of her chatting with friends on a bus while wearing a school uniform accidentally garnered millions of views. This student, who evoked fresh youthful sentiments from her school days, received love calls from various agencies for acting and singing. Seo Su-min turned down offers from three major music entertainment companies and chose the path of an actress, achieving a massive hit with her first work. That work was SBS's Friday-Saturday drama "Manager Kim" (screenplay by Nam Dae-jung, directed by Lee Seung-young and Lee So-eun).

"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 percent and recorded 21.6 percent within four episodes, writing new history as the first drama in two years to surpass the 20th percent mark. The final episode, broadcast on the 25th as the 10th episode, achieved a peak viewership rating of 23.1 percent, proving its phenomenon status (based on Nielsen Korea nationwide data). "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.

Global box office performance was also dazzling. "Manager Kim" secured the number one spot in Netflix's global non-English TV show category 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, sweeping all aspects of viewership ratings, global popularity, and public interest.

In the drama, Seo Su-min took on the role of Kim Min-ji, played by Kim Bu-jang (portrayed by So Ji-seob), making her first foray into acting in a television series. Seo Su-min delicately portrayed the multifaceted emotions of Min-ji, from the realistic depiction of a teenage daughter to the fear and anxiety amidst an unexpected crisis, and finally, the desperation to endure until the end. Particularly in the early episodes where feelings of resentment and tenderness coexist toward her father, as well as in scenes depicting her enduring extreme situations after being kidnapped, she naturally conveyed the character's emotional shifts up to the moment she finally reunites with her father, thereby enhancing audience immersion.

What are your thoughts on the conclusion of your debut work, "Manager Kim"?

"I thought it would go well since I was working with such a great senior, but I didn't expect it to go this smoothly. I consider it a miracle. We filmed in a wonderful atmosphere every day with the staff and seniors on set."

Since it was your first drama, weren't you burdened when approaching the work?

▶It was quite a burden. Since the drama 'Manager Kim' is based on a webtoon, I worried whether fans of the original webtoon would accept it well. I also had concerns about whether my acting might cause any issues, but the director and staff made me feel as though they were nurturing me together, creating a very comfortable environment on set where I could act freely.

How do you feel about the popularity of 'Manager Kim'?

Even after the broadcast of "Manager Kim," he continued to go around without wearing a hat or a mask, and people recognized him on subways and elsewhere. His friends and teachers were unaware that he was actually acting. They contacted him frequently upon seeing him appear on TV unexpectedly.

-Before "Kim the Manager," he became known through everyday life videos on YouTube.

I originally had no intention of acting and started with Instagram before YouTube. People who visited my Instagram were curious about what I was like at school. At that time, I was at my company (agency), and I secretly posted videos there. When I asked the company, "Is it okay to post videos?" they replied, "It would be better to stop posting now." I was grateful for all the attention. Although the company told me not to post videos, I posted again anyway, and it turned out to be a huge hit. I said, "I was just too bored and couldn't help it." Currently, only the "bus video" remains public because it features not only me but also my friends from high school, making it a memorable video. I intended to make the other videos public as well, but since "Manager Kim" became a hit and drew attention, while it's nice that people are showing good interest, I might post them later once things calm down.

-When did it enter the agency Waiwon Entertainment, which is currently affiliated with him?

▶I joined the company around the time of winter break. I began filming makeup videos and subsequently entered the company. Currently, I approached the company directly. The makeup videos garnered over 2 million views, prompting inquiries from various agencies representing actors and idols; however, since I cannot dance, I could not pursue a career as an idol and wished to act instead. I enjoy watching movies, dramas, and exhibitions, believing that the characters portrayed therein possess a certain power. Acting also seems to have the power to move people's hearts, which is why I wanted to exert such influence on others myself.

-Did you study acting before?

"I learned acting while working at a company and never received professional training in it. After auditioning several times, I landed the role of 'Manager Kim.' The director told me he was 'smitten with me at first sight' (laughs). He also watched my two-minute free video and said he became convinced about casting me."

What were your thoughts after being cast in this work?

"I could only think, 'This is a huge break.' Immediately after, I threw myself into practice. I was grateful that such an important role was given to a newcomer with no film credits, yet I felt it was impossible for me to appear as the daughter of senior actor So Ji-sub. I thought I would fail the audition, so I was surprised when I passed."

How did Minji prepare for the role?

▶It wasn't just about being a student; I had to be present even amidst kidnappings and gunfights. When I first received the script, which consisted of four parts, I read it multiple times and visualized each scene. In fact, I really dislike reading scripts, but since I was given such a significant role, I thought I needed to work hard. I believe that repeating and embodying scenes is what an actor does.

- He said he was nervous for today's interview and brought Malang-i, but did he also stroke Malang-i to calm his mind and body during the filming of 'Manager Kim'?

If you bring Malang to the scene, it might look like you're playing around, so I played with him a lot in the car before leaving.

What does 'Manager Kim' mean to actress Seo Su-min?

▶It is a work that allowed me to continue dreaming of becoming an actor. I wondered if acting could become such a difficult profession, but there were two or three times while performing on set when I felt strange emotions after embodying the character and feeling their feelings. In the final episode, I was truly moved during the scene where I cried while holding my father's ashes and the scene where we shared our last meal together as father and son.

What did you learn on set while acting?

"At first, I was very conscious of the camera, but Senior actor So Ji-sub taught me a lot about that. Even when I wasn't being filmed, Senior actor Max-hoon told me how to act, and Senior actor Yoon Kyung-ho showed me how to adjust so my heart wouldn't break when acting didn't go well."

After finishing the first work, do you feel like a real actor?

It still doesn't feel real, and my heart is racing. I don't feel like I've become an actor yet. After "Manager Kim," overseas fans left comments on social media, so I realized I need to be more careful going forward.

What was the actual father's reaction to 'Manager Kim'?

"My father was crying from the very beginning. After seeing Minji enter the room, he said, 'That's exactly your look. Isn't that just a daily scene?' In the emotional scene, he remarked, 'It looks like both you and me.'"

Who is the character resembling actor Seo Su-min's real-life father in 'Manager Kim'?

Among the roles, I feel that Park Jin-cheol (played by Yoon Kyung-ho) resembles my father in real life, much like Senior Maxe-hoon.

Which senior actor would you like to act with in the future?

▶Senior Kim Go-eun, I would like to act alongside Senior Lee Hye-young. I admire Senior Kim Go-eun for her wide spectrum of acting across various genres. I also want to take on roles like that of a student with a secret, not just an ordinary student, similar to the work "The Witch."

There are comments that she resembles actress Kim Da-mi.

"I really want to act with senior Kim Da-mi. She is so talented at acting, so I truly hope to meet her."

What if there were a 'Manager Kim' season 2?

"I think I will continue to support them even if they do not appear. Since I read the webtoon when I was in middle school, I am looking forward to season 2 and hope it will be fun."

What kind of actor do you want to become?

"I want to become famous and an actor who is remembered by people for a long time. I want to always keep a humble heart."

Manager Kim did well and was sent to Guam for a reward vacation.

"I have been filming 'Manager Kim' since I was a high school student, so I couldn't go on graduation trips with my parents and friends. I am grateful to be receiving this reward leave."

-Her real name is Oh Ji-woo, but what is the reason she chose Seo Su-min as her stage name?

First, the name was given as "Su-min," and a surname containing the consonant "s" (siot) was chosen to match the name.

-What kind of student were you actually in high school?

He was an ordinary student who sometimes ordered delivery food at school, ate together with teachers, and participated in club competitions. He belonged to the computer club and had been interested in computers long before acting.

-Do you recall any memorable comments regarding 'Manager Kim'?

The comment "Minji, when are you eating?" left the deepest impression.

How do you want to communicate with fans going forward?

"I want to share many behind-the-scenes photos because 'Manager Kim' is so well-liked."

Before meeting 'Manager Kim,' how did you know actor So Ji-sub?

I thought the senior actor was an incredibly skilled performer, so I worried that I might get in the way of his acting. When we met on set, he warmly took care of me and made me feel like I could rely on him as if he were my father, which made it easy for me to act. I had seen some episodes of "The Sun of My Lord," "I'm Sorry, I Love You," and "Only You," so I was somewhat familiar with the content. Senior actor So Ji-sub's aura was truly extraordinary. I thought, "Actors are really different." From the very first day of filming, I was extremely nervous because I felt I couldn't make any mistakes, but he gave me a strawberry candy and said, "Let's do our best," which helped me calm down immediately so I could start filming.

What title was used to refer to actor So Ji-sub?

"At first, I called him 'senior,' but as time went on, I started calling him 'dad.'"

-According to the profile, it says singer Taeyang is a fan of Silica Gel.

That's right. I was celebrating my birthday during filming when So Ji-sub, who played my father, kindly came over and said, "Here, this is a gift," while handing me an autographed photo of the group DAY6. As soon as I received it, I started crying. It seems that Senior So not only treated me like his daughter while acting but also in other ways, which allowed us to portray our father-daughter relationship well. In return, I made and served him desserts such as financiers and cookies. For Senior Yoon Kyung-ho and Senior Choi Tae-hoon, who have children of their own, I shared the soft marshmallows I had purchased. During the final filming session, it was said that Senior So Ji-sub distributed gifts to the staff and actors; when we opened them later, they turned out to be gold bars. At first, we wondered, "What is this? Is it a toy?" before exclaiming, "This is amazing!" I don't think I'll ever be able to use that gold, which holds such precious memories.

As 'Manager Kim' comes to an end, what advice did you receive from your seniors?

"I hope you become a shining actor," and "I hope the passion you have for acting continues in the future" were words I heard.

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*This content was translated by AI.