South Korean drama “Kim Manager” surges to 15% ratings amid behind‑the‑scenes buzz

Actor So Ji‑sub shared behind‑the‑scenes photos from the SBS drama “Kim Manager” on his social media, highlighting his role as a former special‑forces officer turned father searching for his missing daughter. The publicity coincided with the series achieving a 9.5% nationwide rating for its premiere and climbing to 15.7% by the second episode, the highest viewership for a Korean drama in five years.

The second episode also introduced a new character, played by Kim Seong‑kyu, a secret South‑Korean operative named Park Kang‑seong, whose storyline connects to North Korean espionage. This added a political‑spy dimension to the family‑action plot, contributing to the drama’s rapid popularity and strong audience engagement.