Actor So Jisub's return to SBS after 13 years, "Manager Kim", was a smash hit. The great popularity was something neither So Jisub nor the production team had expected. He was happy and grateful for the popularity that exceeded expectations, but So Jisub laughed, saying, "It feels like being pranked by a hidden camera."
So Jisub conducted a finale interview for the SBS Fri-Sat drama "Manager Kim" (written by Nam Dae-joong, directed by Lee Seung-young and Lee So-eun) on the afternoon of the 30th at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.
"Manager Kim" is a revenge action drama in which the most ordinary father in the world becomes the most dangerous man in the world to get back his one and only daughter. After its first broadcast on the 26th of last month, it received great love from viewers for five weeks and clearly emerged as this year's most talked-about work.
"Manager Kim" started with a 9.5% rating on its first broadcast (according to Nielsen Korea), surpassed 20% by the fourth episode, and its highest rating surged to 23.1%. It was a rare high rating for terrestrial broadcasting since the OTT era began, recording overwhelming buzz throughout its run. And So Jisub gained a new signature role known as "Manager Kim."
The sharp rise and popularity of "Manager Kim" surprised the lead actors and production team. Regarding this, So Jisub said, "Each episode as it aired was extremely surprising. The reactions were so hot that it was astonishing. Today feels like the last of 'Manager Kim,' but I still feel stunned. I don't know what's happening, but it kind of feels like being pranked by a hidden camera," he said with a laugh.
The popularity of "Manager Kim" could also be felt through real-time reactions from those around him. In an interview with OSEN, So Jisub said, "Messages kept coming. It feels like this in a long time," and added, "The most special thing might just be being called 'Manager Kim.' I usually go to similar places, and people who never acknowledge me suddenly said, 'Manager Kim, Manager Kim.' I thought many people were watching the drama," recounting moments when he felt the work's popularity.
There were many touching messages. Responses from fathers with children were especially notable. So Jisub mentioned the reactions around him, saying, "Many fathers with children contacted me saying they cried a lot. I heard several times from people around me that it was sad. They said they cried without realizing it."
"Manager Kim" is a work in which So Jisub once again took on action, following the Netflix series "Gwangjang" released last year. So Jisub has shown overwhelming action performances not only in "Gwangjang" but also in the film "A Company Man."
Regarding why he chose "Manager Kim," So Jisub said, "After filming 'Gwangjang,' I wanted to do action again after a long time. Beyond the action, the narrative was attractive. Manager Kim has a high school–aged child, and I was curious about that aspect myself. Having worked for a long time, it's not easy to show a new side, so I decided because it might be something new."
Playing the role of a father with a high school daughter, So Jisub made efforts such as first offering a 'heart candy' to get closer to actress Seo Sumin, who played the character Kim Min-ji, to build chemistry. Such consideration was important for Seo Sumin, for whom "Manager Kim" was her first work as an actress.
So Jisub said, "I was a little nervous too. It felt awkward, and I said, 'Please take care of me. Let's do well.' (The heart candy) was something I did to relax my own nerves as well."
He added with a laugh, "I think we practiced scenes with Seo Sumin a lot. She gave me inspiration by watching how the character behaved toward her father. She came prepared with many things she wanted to say from the daughter's perspective beyond the lines, and those parts were well incorporated. When she was a little unprepared or needed time, she would come and gently grab my lapel saying, 'I'll hold on for a moment,' which was so cute."
[Photo] Provided by Fifty One K.
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