[Edaily Starin Gim Ga Yeong Reporter] SBS’s “Manager Kim” has wrapped up its run, leaving behind numerous achievements, including high viewership ratings, widespread buzz, and strong global rankings. Among these, the standout aspect is the outstanding performances of its many actors. Actor Lee Dong-ha is no exception. He dominated the drama, proving that how he appears is more important than how often he appears. His emergence is cited as an indispensable, dazzling achievement of “Manager Kim.” This isn’t simply a matter of “luck.” Having prepared for a long time, his opportunity finally arrived, and he seized it.

In a recent interview with Edaily, Lee Dong-ha appeared visibly moved, saying, “It’s been like a dream,” and adding, “Every day is deeply moving.”
“Director Kim” is a revenge action drama about an ordinary father who becomes a dangerous man to fight and win back his only daughter. In this drama, Lee Dong-ha plays the role of Nam, the chief of staff to Ju Kang-chan. Although his title is Chief of Staff, his true role is to serve as Ju Kang-chan’s shadow and shield. He is a character who acts on Ju Kang-chan’s orders without adding his own interpretation or asking questions. Orders take precedence over right and wrong, and he does not hesitate to get his hands dirty if necessary. Lee Dong-ha flawlessly portrayed Chief Nam—a man who seems unlikely to shed even a single drop of blood if stabbed—thereby heightening the drama’s tension.
This portrayal of Director Nam was entirely the result of Lee Dong-ha’s efforts. It demonstrates just how deeply committed he is to the production and the character. He said, “I was grateful, amazed, and delighted to be able to play this role. That’s why I really wanted to deliver a great performance,” he said. “Since this character is regarded as one of the top agents in an international special mercenary organization, I wanted to portray him as physically and mentally strong. To that end, I consulted extensively with the martial arts director and increased my boxing practice from three to six times a week. I gained 6–7 kg and worked hard to change my appearance through my facial expressions.”
Lee Dong-ha proved once again that hard work never goes unrewarded. Presenting a completely different image from his previous works, he authentically portrayed Director Nam—a figure whose very presence was intimidating—and played a key role in heightening the drama’s tension. In fact, the atmosphere around “Director Kim” would shift whenever Director Nam appeared.
Regarding the overwhelming praise directed at Director Nam, he said, “I felt so proud and grateful.” He added, “I’ve been performing for a long time and have played various characters on stage, but I’ve always felt a bit of regret that I couldn’t do the same on screen. However, through *Director Kim*, I was able to show that I can also portray a character like Director Nam, which makes me even more grateful and gives the experience deep meaning.”

What makes Lee Dong-ha’s portrayal of Director Nam even more remarkable is that there is absolutely no trace of Director Nam in his real-life persona. He has a kind gaze, a warm tone of voice, and a heart even deeper than that. These qualities were so palpable that they came through strongly even during the interview, which lasted just over an hour. Lee Dong-ha embodied kindness itself to such an extent that it made viewers wonder, “How on earth did he portray Director Nam?”
He began by understanding the character in order to portray Director Nam. Lee Dong-ha revealed, “I thought of Director Nam as someone who, despite his misdeeds, is sincere in carrying out the tasks assigned to him,” adding, “I tried to consider why this person turned out this way, why he acts this way, and what kind of mindset drives his actions.”
“When acting, I like to create a backstory for the character,” he said. “The Director Nam I envisioned was someone who lost his parents at a young age and was raised by his grandmother—a character from a difficult background. I imagined him as someone who was desperately poor, needed money, and joined an international special forces organization to earn it, striving to become stronger.” Regarding his loyalty to Joo Kang-chan, he said, “Since he was the one who trusted and chose me, I felt I had to be completely loyal. Because I was acting on his behalf, I felt that anyone who threatened him had to be crushed.”
At the same time, he felt a sense of regret. “Director Nam is a man of honor who will do whatever it takes to protect what he must,” he said. “If his path had led him down a more righteous path—such as the National Intelligence Service—rather than this dark path, wouldn’t he have been able to use that strength in a more meaningful way?”
He also felt a sense of liberation while playing a character completely different from his real self. “There’s a thrill in playing a character different from myself,” he said. “As a child, I was an introverted kid who couldn’t even press the bus bell properly, but when I act, everything around me fades away, and I can immerse myself in the role, seeing only my co-star. “The sense of liberation and joy I feel in that moment cannot be expressed in words,” he said, displaying the true spirit of a born actor.
As “Manager Nam” from *Manager Kim* garnered attention, his personal life—which differs from his on-screen persona—also became a topic of discussion. In particular, his affectionate and peaceful daily life with his wife, Park So-jin, drew attention. He said, “My wife was the one who watched me prepare for *Manager Kim* right by my side. Hearing someone like that tell me, ‘You’re doing great,’ gives me tremendous strength,” he said. “My wife is very good at offering thoughtful words of encouragement, and thanks to her, I feel incredibly empowered and truly happy. Having a wife who supports me like this by my side is truly the best. I feel like I made an excellent choice in marriage.”
In particular, reflecting on similarities with Yoon Kyung-ho, his co-star in *Director Kim*, he said, “I’m introverted too, but I become quite talkative once I’m home. While I expend a lot of energy outside, I feel my guard come down and my energy recharge as soon as I’m home. I even find myself wanting to rush home to talk with my wife. Thanks to that, I think I was able to focus and immerse myself more deeply in the project.”
Lee Dong-ha brilliantly portrayed Director Nam—a character completely opposite his real-life personality—solely through his acting skills. This project demonstrated his ability to excel in any role and raised expectations for his future performances. He emphasized, “It was a set where I truly gained a lot of insight and learned a great deal. Building on these lessons, I want to show even better performances in future projects by being considerate and communicating effectively with others.”
As he bid farewell to the character of “Director Kim,” he confessed, “I am a very fortunate person.” He continued, “Not only did I marry a wonderful person, but it’s also hard to believe that I got to work on such a great project alongside such wonderful senior actors and a fantastic production team,” adding, “I definitely want to repay this kindness,” as he expressed his deep affection for the project.