SBS's weekend drama 'Kim Manager' concluded with a viewership rating of 23%. Among the seasoned veteran actors, a fresh face captured the audience's attention: Seo Su-min, who played the role of 'Min-ji,' the only driving force that pushed the protagonist, played by So Ji-sub, back into the fray. Despite being a debut performance, Seo skillfully navigated the emotional landscape, enhancing the show's immersion. We explored Seo Su-min's solid start at the center of this grand narrative.
"I still can’t quite believe it. Everyone around me has been congratulating me, but with OTT platforms dominating, I thought it was impossible to achieve over 20% viewership. Now that it has become a reality, I’m not sure if this is a dream. Of course, it’s thanks to the viewers enjoying the show, but every staff member, director, and senior actor on set kept saying that 'Kim Manager' would do well. I believe it’s the result of our collective effort," Seo said.
Seo's parents experienced a unique level of immersion while watching their child’s debut performance. They felt a mix of pride, affection, and concern as they witnessed their daughter portray a character facing intense challenges and bullying.
"My father’s friends really liked me, and I think he felt proud hearing them say, 'You raised your daughter well.' However, we couldn’t watch the drama together. My father reacted so intensely every time I appeared that my mother and I would sometimes go to another room to watch it. My mother even said she was too upset to continue watching the first episode and asked if I could quit acting. My father was fully immersed, feeling sad, jealous, and asking what would happen next, even requesting autographs," Seo shared.
Having been a long-time fan of the original webtoon, Seo expressed his excitement about joining the 'Kim Manager' world. "I was really passionate about it in middle school. The story was engaging, and the action was thrilling, so I continued to follow it into high school. Then I got cast. It was one of my favorite webtoons, and being cast as So Ji-sub's daughter was hard to believe at first," he said.
Given his deep affection for the source material, the pressure on Seo as a newcomer to hold a key role in the narrative was significant. However, he alleviated his fears through a rigorous audition process that confirmed the director's strong trust in him.
"The pressure was immense. I often wondered if I was fit for this role. With original fans and viewers of the drama, I worried that having a newcomer play a pivotal character might make them uncomfortable. The casting process wasn’t straightforward; it took several auditions, and I learned that the director had confidence in me after reviewing other footage. I believe the process took about a month. Seeing how much the director valued Min-ji and trusted me helped me set aside my worries and focus on the present," Seo explained.
The most significant support came from So Ji-sub, who played the role of 'Dad.' Although meeting such a senior actor was nerve-wracking, Seo quickly found comfort in So's kindness.
"I remember my first meeting with So Ji-sub clearly. During the first shoot, we didn’t have a scene together, but we met at the same location while getting on separate buses. I was surprised by the number of people and cameras, feeling overwhelmed. But he asked, 'Min-ji, aren’t you cold?' and offered me something to eat, saying he was looking forward to working with me. His kindness from the start made it easier for me to feel comfortable during filming," Seo recalled.
The bond between the two continued off-camera, contributing significantly to the emotional depth of their father-daughter relationship as the story progressed. Their connection was not forced but rather a natural result of their shared experiences.
"In the early stages, we talked a lot and joked around. I think that helped reduce any awkwardness during our father-daughter scenes. Even when we weren’t filming, he treated me like a daughter, which was fascinating since I have a real dad. It was surprising to feel that way towards someone who wasn’t my father. I knew it was all part of the production, but I still felt that emotion. That’s why I think I could perform better in the emotional scenes in episodes 7 and 10. I wasn’t acting; I was genuinely sad, as if it were the last time I would see my dad, which led to some NGs. I spent time preparing to let go of my emotions rather than trying to force them out," he said.
Seo also appreciated the support from fellow cast members, including Choi Dae-hoon, who played 'Uncle Han-soo,' and Yoon Kyung-ho, who portrayed 'Jin-cheol.' Their camaraderie helped him feel secure in the unfamiliar environment.
"Uncle Han-soo (played by Choi Dae-hoon) approached me when I was struggling with my performance, asking, 'Is Min-ji having a hard time?' and offered practical advice on how to approach the scenes. Thanks to him, I could find direction in my acting. Jin-cheol (played by Yoon Kyung-ho) praised me loudly when I felt intimidated, creating a supportive atmosphere. One helped me find my way, another created a positive environment, and my dad quietly watched over me. Each of them provided different energy, but it felt like a harmonious triangle. I’m really grateful for that," Seo said.
Even after filming wrapped, the friendly atmosphere continued. Seo mentioned that he and So Ji-sub, Yoon Kyung-ho, and Choi Dae-hoon often joked around and took playful photos together, creating a family-like atmosphere.
"We took a lot of MZ or Gen Z-style photos together. Yoon Kyung-ho would ask, 'What should we take today? Who should we target?' and we would brainstorm poses. Especially towards the end of the filming, So Ji-sub suggested we do a 'devil heart' pose, which surprised me. When I asked, 'Dad, what’s a devil heart?' he showed me the pose himself. It was cute and funny to think that my dad secretly studied Gen Z poses. I’m thankful that everyone was so engaged," he said.
Born in 2007, Seo Su-min was a high school student during the filming of 'Kim Manager.' He utilized his real-life high school experiences to add authenticity to his character.
"I think my high school experiences were reflected a lot. Since I filmed while still in high school, those memories are fresher than my experiences as an adult. Scenes like studying or looking at my phone, and how I interact with my dad, were influenced by my real life. For instance, when my dad says, 'Kim Min-ji, wake up,' and tells me to get ready, there’s a scene where Min-ji doesn’t go to the bathroom but instead goes to the sofa to sleep again. That’s a bit of my own life added in. I think those details helped a lot," he said.
With such a significant achievement from the start, expectations for Seo's next steps have naturally grown. He is preparing to turn the page on his acting career with a sense of pleasant pressure.
"I do worry about whether I can capture the same level of performance next time. However, I’m looking for projects where I can leave a mark as a different character, not just Min-ji. I haven’t decided on my next project yet. While becoming famous is nice, I want to be an actor who is remembered for a long time," he concluded.
"I still can’t quite believe it. Everyone around me has been congratulating me, but with OTT platforms dominating, I thought it was impossible to achieve over 20% viewership. Now that it has become a reality, I’m not sure if this is a dream. Of course, it’s thanks to the viewers enjoying the show, but every staff member, director, and senior actor on set kept saying that 'Kim Manager' would do well. I believe it’s the result of our collective effort," Seo said.
Seo's parents experienced a unique level of immersion while watching their child’s debut performance. They felt a mix of pride, affection, and concern as they witnessed their daughter portray a character facing intense challenges and bullying.
"My father’s friends really liked me, and I think he felt proud hearing them say, 'You raised your daughter well.' However, we couldn’t watch the drama together. My father reacted so intensely every time I appeared that my mother and I would sometimes go to another room to watch it. My mother even said she was too upset to continue watching the first episode and asked if I could quit acting. My father was fully immersed, feeling sad, jealous, and asking what would happen next, even requesting autographs," Seo shared.
Having been a long-time fan of the original webtoon, Seo expressed his excitement about joining the 'Kim Manager' world. "I was really passionate about it in middle school. The story was engaging, and the action was thrilling, so I continued to follow it into high school. Then I got cast. It was one of my favorite webtoons, and being cast as So Ji-sub's daughter was hard to believe at first," he said.
Given his deep affection for the source material, the pressure on Seo as a newcomer to hold a key role in the narrative was significant. However, he alleviated his fears through a rigorous audition process that confirmed the director's strong trust in him.
"The pressure was immense. I often wondered if I was fit for this role. With original fans and viewers of the drama, I worried that having a newcomer play a pivotal character might make them uncomfortable. The casting process wasn’t straightforward; it took several auditions, and I learned that the director had confidence in me after reviewing other footage. I believe the process took about a month. Seeing how much the director valued Min-ji and trusted me helped me set aside my worries and focus on the present," Seo explained.
The most significant support came from So Ji-sub, who played the role of 'Dad.' Although meeting such a senior actor was nerve-wracking, Seo quickly found comfort in So's kindness.
"I remember my first meeting with So Ji-sub clearly. During the first shoot, we didn’t have a scene together, but we met at the same location while getting on separate buses. I was surprised by the number of people and cameras, feeling overwhelmed. But he asked, 'Min-ji, aren’t you cold?' and offered me something to eat, saying he was looking forward to working with me. His kindness from the start made it easier for me to feel comfortable during filming," Seo recalled.
The bond between the two continued off-camera, contributing significantly to the emotional depth of their father-daughter relationship as the story progressed. Their connection was not forced but rather a natural result of their shared experiences.
"In the early stages, we talked a lot and joked around. I think that helped reduce any awkwardness during our father-daughter scenes. Even when we weren’t filming, he treated me like a daughter, which was fascinating since I have a real dad. It was surprising to feel that way towards someone who wasn’t my father. I knew it was all part of the production, but I still felt that emotion. That’s why I think I could perform better in the emotional scenes in episodes 7 and 10. I wasn’t acting; I was genuinely sad, as if it were the last time I would see my dad, which led to some NGs. I spent time preparing to let go of my emotions rather than trying to force them out," he said.
Seo also appreciated the support from fellow cast members, including Choi Dae-hoon, who played 'Uncle Han-soo,' and Yoon Kyung-ho, who portrayed 'Jin-cheol.' Their camaraderie helped him feel secure in the unfamiliar environment.
"Uncle Han-soo (played by Choi Dae-hoon) approached me when I was struggling with my performance, asking, 'Is Min-ji having a hard time?' and offered practical advice on how to approach the scenes. Thanks to him, I could find direction in my acting. Jin-cheol (played by Yoon Kyung-ho) praised me loudly when I felt intimidated, creating a supportive atmosphere. One helped me find my way, another created a positive environment, and my dad quietly watched over me. Each of them provided different energy, but it felt like a harmonious triangle. I’m really grateful for that," Seo said.
Even after filming wrapped, the friendly atmosphere continued. Seo mentioned that he and So Ji-sub, Yoon Kyung-ho, and Choi Dae-hoon often joked around and took playful photos together, creating a family-like atmosphere.
"We took a lot of MZ or Gen Z-style photos together. Yoon Kyung-ho would ask, 'What should we take today? Who should we target?' and we would brainstorm poses. Especially towards the end of the filming, So Ji-sub suggested we do a 'devil heart' pose, which surprised me. When I asked, 'Dad, what’s a devil heart?' he showed me the pose himself. It was cute and funny to think that my dad secretly studied Gen Z poses. I’m thankful that everyone was so engaged," he said.
Born in 2007, Seo Su-min was a high school student during the filming of 'Kim Manager.' He utilized his real-life high school experiences to add authenticity to his character.
"I think my high school experiences were reflected a lot. Since I filmed while still in high school, those memories are fresher than my experiences as an adult. Scenes like studying or looking at my phone, and how I interact with my dad, were influenced by my real life. For instance, when my dad says, 'Kim Min-ji, wake up,' and tells me to get ready, there’s a scene where Min-ji doesn’t go to the bathroom but instead goes to the sofa to sleep again. That’s a bit of my own life added in. I think those details helped a lot," he said.
With such a significant achievement from the start, expectations for Seo's next steps have naturally grown. He is preparing to turn the page on his acting career with a sense of pleasant pressure.
"I do worry about whether I can capture the same level of performance next time. However, I’m looking for projects where I can leave a mark as a different character, not just Min-ji. I haven’t decided on my next project yet. While becoming famous is nice, I want to be an actor who is remembered for a long time," he concluded.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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