Actor So Jisub is once again proving his mettle as an "action master" through Manager Kim. From hand-to-hand combat to car chases and shootouts, he showcases the essence of genre action, renewing legendary moments each episode and fully exploding the dopamine of living room audiences.
In the SBS Friday-Saturday drama Manager Kim, So Jisub, who plays former secret agent Manager Kim hiding his past, is carrying the drama with overwhelming action and a weighty presence. The show also recorded nationwide viewership of 22.3% in its sixth episode (Nielsen Korea), continuing its relentless rise, and So Jisub's action acting has become a central pillar of its box office success.
#Flipped the script with bare hands… multi-on-one action with overwhelming impact
The first thing that captures the eye is the hand-to-hand action. In episode 3, Manager Kim is shown confronting gang members alone at the location where Min-ji (Seo Sumin)ʼs cellphone signal was detected. In the scene where So Jisub subdues his opponents using only his bare hands and a cellphone, he completes an overwhelming immersion with uncluttered movement and weighty impact. Even within restrained action that eliminates unnecessary movements, he conveys explosive power, maximizing the realism and charisma befitting a former special agent.
#When he speeds, hearts race too… the essence of breathless car chasing
The car chase scenes are also unmissable highlights. In episode 5ʼs pursuit at Myeongpohang, Manager Kim not only barrels through containers without hesitation but also makes a daring breakthrough by ramming the other vehicle, imprinting his reckless side. In the following episode 6, the desperation of racing without brakes to save his daughter Min-ji adds depth, turning the chase into action steeped in paternal love. Scenes that contain both thrill and emotion kept viewers on the edge of their seats.
#Guns and blades are different in So Jisub's hands… weapon action that triggered a dopamine explosion
So Jisubʼs presence stood out even in weapon-based action with guns and knives. In particular, the knife fight with Gangseong (Kim Sungkyu) in episode 5 elevated the dramaʼs tension to its peak with quick movements, sharp exchanges and meticulous timing. Beyond merely flashy action, the acting that naturally infused the characterʼs emotions and experience made the character Manager Kim more three-dimensional and increased immersion.
In this way, So Jisub perfectly digests all elements of genre action — hand-to-hand combat, car chases, shootouts and weapon fights — firmly holding the center of Manager Kim. His solid physicality, restrained movement, overwhelming charisma and action that delicately captures emotional lines once again prove why So Jisub is regarded as Koreaʼs representative action actor.
[Photo] Provided by SBS
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