'Manager Kim' So Jisub has made headlines again. It recorded 22.3%, marking its highest viewership to date.
According to ratings survey company Nielsen Korea on the 12th, the sixth episode of the SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Manager Kim' (written by Nam Dae-joong, directed by Lee Seung-young and Lee So-eun), which aired on the 11th, recorded a 22.3% nationwide household rating. This is a 1.8 percentage point increase from the 20.5% recorded for episode five and ranks first in its time slot.
It was also a 0.7 percentage point increase from the 21.6% recorded by episode four, which aired on the same Saturday last week, marking another new highest viewership to date.
Just four episodes into its run last week, it recorded a nationwide rating of 21.6% and a peak instantaneous rating of 25.1%, easily surpassing the so-called "20% barrier" and setting a new record within a week. It is also the first "mini series" to break the 20% mark in about two years.
With this, 'Manager Kim' overtook The Fiery Priest (22%) on a nationwide basis and, following The Penthouse 2 (29.2%), rose to the second-highest rating in SBS Friday-Saturday drama history.
'Manager Kim' is a revenge action drama in which an "ordinary" father becomes the "most dangerous" man to get back his one and only daughter.
The speed at which it reached the 20% viewership mark in just four episodes is the shortest in SBS history, surpassing the rise of SBS mega-hits such as The Fiery Priest, Stadium (Stove League), and The Penthouse 2, and based on four episodes it has the highest ratings among SBS Friday-Saturday dramas. It has claimed not only ratings but also topicality and global OTT rankings, perfectly proving the "Manager Kim syndrome" that shook living rooms.
Talk of a season 2 is already circulating. Earlier at the "SBS drama media day: next episode" held on June 1, So Jisub directly mentioned, "I really want to do season 2," heating up the atmosphere at the event. Viewers have also sent enthusiastic support, saying, "The trusted combination of SBS and So Jisub!", "I'm already looking forward to season 2", and "the birth of an irreplaceable, unique IP."
'Manager Kim' is a total of 10 episodes, which is very short compared with typical dramas. There is talk that this 10-episode run is insufficient to contain the entire story of the webtoon.
SBS showed a highly excited reaction, saying "already rising expectations for 'season 2'," but regarding season 2 also said, "'Manager Kim' season 2 is not officially under discussion," adding, "Perhaps viewers love it so much that those talks are coming up," showing a cautious response so far.
[Photo] OSEN DB, provided by SBS
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