Actor Lee Dong-ha, who successfully concluded "Manager Kim," expressed his emotional thoughts on the finale.
On the 28th, at the OSEN building located in Hapjeong-dong, Mapo District, Seoul, an interview was held with Lee Dong-ha, an actor in the SBS Fri-Sat drama "Manager Kim."
In the drama, Lee Dong-ha played Nam, chief secretary and closest aide to Ju Kang-chan (played by Joo Sang-Wook), demonstrating steady acting skills and explosive action ability, increasing the work's immersion.
"Manager Kim" began with a 9.5% rating for episode 1 and, in just the second episode, far exceeded the pledged 13% rating by recording 15.7%. By episode 4 it surpassed 21.6%, clearing the elusive 20% threshold, and through the final episode, episode 10, it achieved over 20% ratings for seven consecutive episodes, ending with a nationwide 23.0% rating. (Provided by Nielsen Korea)
Regarding this, Lee Dong-ha said, "I can't believe it, it's amazing. I think the entire drama team didn't expect it, but I'm very grateful that people viewed it favorably. The atmosphere on set was good, the energy came together and became one. Maybe that's why people liked it; I'm so happy."
Asked whether he felt the popularity, he said, "My high school friends contacted me, and I really felt that things were going well. It was the first time I received such messages, so it felt strange. Relatives, whom I only see and contact during holidays, reached out this time," conveying his stunned feelings.
When asked about the process of appearing in "Manager Kim," Lee Dong-ha said, "I had a video audition. The director remembered my appearance in 'Gwangjang' and suggested I would suit the role of Nam, so I took it."
How did he plan the Nam role specifically? He said, "I received the script up to episode 4 at first. He is a person who faithfully carries out the role as Ju Kang-chan's devoted subordinate. Since it's based on a webtoon, I became curious about later content and looked it up. In the original, he had one eye closed," and explained, "No specific reason was given, and Nam's backstory showed he had been the top member of a special mercenary organization called AKL."
Lee Dong-ha added, "I felt he was tough both physically and mentally, and the reason he joined was because he needed money. The reason why he needed money wasn't given, so I created my own backstory. He left the mercenary organization and was scouted by Chairman Ju; I added the setting that he grew up without parents in his grandmother's care, and the grandmother fell ill so he needed money."
He said, "I wondered why his eye was like that, and when I searched I found that if the eye is stabbed with a knife it can droop like ptosis. I paid external attention to that part. Through that backstory, I wanted to think about a narrative in which I would become mentally and physically stronger."
Describing Nam, Lee Dong-ha said, "If I were to express him as an animal, I thought of a Doberman. Loyal to its owner and aggressive toward anything else. Whenever I met senior Joo Sang-Wook, he had an overwhelming charisma and presence as a superior, and I naturally felt I carried out the role well."
[Photo] Reporter Lee Dae-sun, SBS "Manager Kim"
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