[Edaily Starin Gim Ga Yeong Reporter] “My goal for this year? It would be great to win the Rookie of the Year award, but my goal is just to be nominated.”

There is one rookie who has stood out the most this year: actress Seo Su-min, who burst onto the scene like a comet through the SBS drama *Manager Kim*. She left a strong impression in the series by playing Min-ji, the daughter that Manager Kim (played by So Ji-sub) had been desperately searching for.
In an interview with Edaily, Seo Su-min said, “I can’t believe it,” adding, “I feel incredibly lucky just to have had the opportunity to work with such wonderful senior actors and staff.”
“Manager Kim” recorded the highest viewership rating of any drama aired this year at 23.1% and even reached No. 1 on Netflix globally, gaining popularity both domestically and internationally. She said, “While the fact that viewers enjoyed the show played a big part, I think this result was possible because all the senior actors, directors, and everyone else gave their all to the production.”
Seo Su-min, who joined *Director Kim* through an audition, explained, “The character Min-ji herself serves as the turning point where the story of *Director Kim* begins.” She continued, “When I received the script, I had high expectations because the show is based on a popular webtoon, and since it marked Senior So Ji-sub’s return to SBS after a long absence, I did feel some pressure. I thought the audience’s reaction would hinge on how well I portrayed the character Min-ji.”
However, Seo Su-min overcame this pressure and played a significant role in enhancing the immersion of *Manager Kim*. She explained, “After passing the audition, I read the script countless times,” adding, “I read it so thoroughly that I could identify which scene corresponded to which episode and scene even without the script. At first, I analyzed Min-ji thoroughly, and afterward, I prepared for *Manager Kim* by focusing on the overall flow of the story.”
Min-ji, played by Seo Su-min, was an ordinary student, but after becoming entangled with Nam-hoon (played by Rael), she became the target of Joo Hye-ri’s (played by Yoo Ji-an) attacks, suffering school bullying and even experiencing conflict with her father, who fails to understand her feelings. In particular, after being struck by Joo Hye-ri, she ends up locked in a freezer. Although Min-ji is a victim in this process, she naturally makes viewers think, “She really is Director Kim’s daughter.” Despite being a victim of school bullying, she doesn’t just take it lying down—she fights back—and even in the freezer, she manages to escape, demonstrating the courage that clearly comes from Director Kim’s bloodline. In this way, Seo Su-min subtly portrayed the multifaceted Min-ji, adding depth to the drama.
She explained, “While Min-ji shows the kind of fluttery excitement typical of an ordinary student when she sees Nam-hoon, she displays a more adolescent-like attitude toward her dad. There are also various elements, such as her being a victim of school violence, but I thought Min-ji interacted differently with each person, so I focused on that.” She added, “I tried to portray a complex mix of emotions rather than just a single one.”
She also expressed her gratitude to So Ji-sub, with whom she shared the father-daughter dynamic. “I actually called him ‘Dad,’ and he called me ‘daughter.’ He really felt like a dad,” she revealed. “It was amazing how I could feel such a fatherly bond even though he wasn’t my real dad. It was truly remarkable that we developed a bond like a real father and daughter.”
She marveled, “He has the image of being a man of few words, but he’s actually very kind and often initiates conversations with me. He also approached other new actors with kindness and talked to them a lot,” adding, “I think he’s just a genuinely good person. I’m sure everyone on set felt that.”
It is reported that So Ji-sub gave gold gifts to all the actors and staff after *Manager Kim* wrapped up. Seo Su-min, who also received a gold gift, said, “I can never sell it. I have to keep it as a family heirloom. I plan to store it in a safe where I keep my most precious possessions.”
The name “Min-ji,” the character she played, was one of the most frequently called names in *Director Kim*. She drew laughter by saying, “It feels like my own name is Min-ji. I react reflexively whenever someone calls out, ‘Min-ji!’”
Seo Su-min, who transitioned from high school student to adult while filming *Director Kim*, shared, “I had to act out being locked in a shipping container right after my graduation ceremony.” She added, “I went straight there after the ceremony, and on set, the staff clapped and said, ‘Congratulations on your graduation, Min-ji.’ I felt grateful because I realized that being celebrated in a place like that isn’t something just anyone can experience.”
Expressing her desire to appear in Season 2, she confided, “Min-ji’s tough times are over, but if I were to return as Ji-min, I’d like to show a side of her where she builds close bonds with new friends, rather than focusing on the unpleasant incidents.”
She added, “I’d like to live as Min-ji, spending a lot of time with my dad.”