[Edaily Starin Choi Hee-jae Reporter] "This man moves with such style. It’s a kind of coolness that words can’t describe."

Director Lee Seung-young made these remarks about So Ji-sub, who played the lead role of Manager Kim, during an interview held on the 30th at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, to celebrate the finale of the SBS Friday-Saturday drama *Manager Kim*.
Director Lee said, “I had the opportunity to cast him in different projects in 2019 and 2024, but I failed both times.” He added, “I thought I knew him well because I’d studied him extensively, but while filming the first episode, I was truly amazed to see a depth, acting skill, and attention to detail that I hadn’t seen before.”
He continued, “I apologized to So Ji-sub many times. I saw so many new facets of him that I even told him I didn’t really know him well before.”

◇Behind the Scenes of the Global No. 1 Hit ‘Director Kim’ and So Ji-sub
“Director Kim,” which wrapped up on the 25th, is a revenge action drama about an ordinary father, Director Kim (played by So Ji-sub), who becomes a dangerous man to fight and win back his only daughter. The series starred So Ji-sub, Choi Dae-hoon, Yoon Kyung-ho, Joo Sang-wook, and Son Na-eun.
According to Netflix’s official site, Tudum, “Director Kim” captivated fans worldwide by topping the global non-English TV show rankings for three consecutive weeks. According to Nielsen Korea, a ratings research firm, “Director Kim” began with a nationwide household viewership rating of 9.5% for its first episode and reached a peak rating of 23.1% by its eighth episode. This marks the second-highest rating in the history of SBS Friday-Saturday dramas.
Director Lee said he hadn’t expected this. “Before the premiere, actor So Ji-sub told me that when he usually stars in a drama, he has a sense of whether it will be a hit with the public or not, but with ‘Director Kim,’ he didn’t have that feeling,” Lee said. He recalled, “I told him, ‘I think it’s funny, but if the public doesn’t like it, maybe it’s time for me to retire.’ I said we should accept whatever the outcome with humility.”
“Manager Kim” started with a 9.5% viewership rating for its first episode and hit 15.7% by its second episode, becoming what is known as a “blockbuster hit.” Director Lee said, “I sleep with my phone under my pillow, and the morning after the second episode aired, it kept vibrating.”
After the second episode, he also received a call from So Ji-sub. Director Lee shared the anecdote: “He called early in the morning. I asked him why he was calling when we’d agreed to stay composed about the ratings, and he said he’d wanted to call me as soon as we passed 10%.”
He continued, “But then, in the second week (when the ratings exceeded 20%), he called again. I remember hanging up saying, ‘I guess this is the last call, right?’” He expressed his gratitude, adding, “By the second week, even the supporting actors were sending me text messages. Everyone participated wholeheartedly with a real sense of ownership.”

◇“Choi Dae-hoon and Yoon Kyung-ho Are Truly the Best Couple”
Regarding Choi Dae-hoon and Yoon Kyung-ho, who showcased unprecedented chemistry alongside So Ji-sub, he described them as “workaholics in the best sense of the word.” Director Lee said, “The two of them show up on set with four or five alternative takes. While the set is being prepared, they rehearse together to see what works best and creates the most synergy. They put that much effort into filming.”
He then drew laughter by adding, “They might get distracted once in a while, but if you try to stop that, you can’t get the other nine times right. I tell them it’s okay even if it’s a bit messy.” At the same time, he praised them highly, saying, “I feel like they breathe divine vitality into the scenes—it’s truly awe-inspiring.”
Given their track record of success, there must be high expectations for the year-end awards ceremony. Director Lee said, “Actor So Ji-sub said he’d rather do a series than win an award, and I feel the same way.” However, he did express hope that Choi Dae-hoon and Yoon Kyung-ho would win the Best Couple Award.
He said, “Since the viewers have shown us so much love, it would be nice to make them laugh one more time at the awards ceremony.” He added, “They’re actually best friends and the couple who eat lunch together the most during filming. They’re truly the best couple.”
He also shared behind-the-scenes details about the much-talked-about scenes featuring artificial intelligence (AI). In the drama, there’s a scene where Manager Kim—a former special agent—carries out a special mission inside a tunnel. For the first time in a Korean drama, a scene lasting about three minutes was produced using AI. Director Lee explained, “To convey that Manager Kim was once a formidable killing machine, we needed a scene where he was actively in action. We initially planned to film it live-action, but given our limited resources, it was a major scene that could have disrupted the core of the drama.”
He continued, “Just when I was thinking of giving up, I decided to use AI as an alternative and let my imagination run wild.” He noted that while such a scene would have been difficult to realize just six months ago, they were able to apply rapidly advancing technology. Director Lee said, “We worked by thoroughly preparing in the early stages and continuously adapting to the ever-evolving technology. It was actually a scene that might not have been completed,” adding, “Since it was such a risk, the production team and the AI team worked with a strong sense of responsibility.”

◇More Than Just Catharsis: “Rewarding Good and Punishing Evil”… “Discussions Underway for Season 2”
What does Director Lee think is the key to the popularity of “Manager Kim”? He replied, “Personally, I realized that just seeing the expression of a father who loves his daughter is enough to capture people’s hearts. I liked the aspect of portraying a genuine human being.”
He continued, “Some viewers said they found the lighthearted comedy easy to watch, while others seemed to find it cathartic to see the gang of villains brought to justice.” He added, “People often use the term ‘refreshing,’ but I’d like to frame it more positively as ‘rewarding good and punishing evil’—the idea that justice always prevails. Rather than deliberately creating villains just to beat them up and feel a sense of satisfaction, aren’t there moments when the protagonist risks danger to resolve a situation where what’s right must prevail, making you think, ‘That’s right. Justice is alive and well’?”
He reflected, “I felt that the audience is truly kind,” adding, “It seems they hope that what is right will be achieved, even if only within the drama, and I think *Director Kim* fulfilled that desire to some extent.”
Director Lee remained cautious when asked about the rediscovery of actors, a second season, and award-winning recognition. He was concerned that he might cause confusion among those who worked on *Director Kim*.
“Since the response was so much greater than expected, I think I focused on accepting it with humility and maturity throughout the broadcast period,” he said, adding, “Although we’re being very cautious, serious discussions about Season 2 have just begun.”