[Edaily Starin YUN GI BACK Reporter] The SBS Friday-Saturday drama “Manager Kim,” starring So Ji-sub, continued its run as a hit, maintaining viewership ratings in the 20% range for six consecutive episodes ahead of its finale. A shootout with North Korean agents and Joo Sang-wook’s brutal hostage situation brought the tension leading up to the final episode to a fever pitch.

Episode 9 of “Director Kim,” which aired on the 24th, recorded a nationwide rating of 21.5% and a Seoul metropolitan area rating of 21.3% according to Nielsen Korea, with a peak rating of 23.2%. By surpassing the 20% mark for six consecutive episodes, it claimed the top spot in viewership ratings for both its time slot and weekly miniseries. The 2049 demographic ratings also reached a peak of 6.6% and averaged 5.8%, marking the highest figures among all programs aired that week and proving the show’s popularity.
The episode depicted Director Kim (So Ji-sub) launching a rescue operation for Lee Eung-ryeong (Lee Jae-yong). After the high-level inter-Korean talks were suspended, Director Kim and Lee Eung-ryeong were handed over to the North Korean side, but Director Kim successfully counterattacked by subduing Ju Kang-chan (Ju Sang-wook) and the North Korean agents. Having chosen a new life with his daughter Min-ji (Seo Su-min) over revenge, he accepted Ju Kang-chan’s proposal and launched the operation to rescue Lee Eung-ryeong.
Director Kim and his team successfully infiltrated the resort and rescued Ri Eung-ryeong, but the plan went awry in an instant when North Korean agents detonated an EMP bomb that cut off all power. After a gunfight erupted throughout the resort, Director Kim and Ri Eung-ryeong found themselves surrounded by North Korean agents and in a critical situation.
The finale delivered a shocking twist with Ju Kang-chan’s brutal counterattack. After freeing himself from his bonds and escaping, Ju Kang-chan staged a hostage situation in front of Seong Han-su (Choi Dae-hoon) and Park Jin-cheol (Yoon Kyung-ho), showing them a video of their children being kidnapped. Shocked by the threat—“If you lay a single finger on me, the kids die”—Seong Han-su and Park Jin-cheol were left reeling, and the tension reached its peak ahead of the final episode.
With its finale approaching, “Director Kim” continues to solidify its status as this year’s most successful drama, dominating both ratings and buzz. The key questions now are whether Director Kim can break through the North Korean agents’ encirclement to protect Ri Eung-ryeong, and whether Seong Han-su and Park Jin-cheol can safely rescue their children.
The finale of “Director Kim” will air on the 25th at 9:45 p.m.