Yoon Kyung-ho performs '13-hour silent meditation' as viewership ratings exceed 13%
Actor Yoon Kyung-ho from the drama 'Manager Kim' will undergo a 13-hour vow of silence on the 13th, following a promise to exceed a 13% viewership rating. Both his radio appearance and fan signing event will be conducted in silence.
'Too Much Talker' Yoon Kyung-ho's Unique Promise Becomes Reality
Actor Yoon Kyung-ho, well-known in the entertainment industry for his great conversational skills, is closing his mouth. Leading the success of the drama 'Mr. Kim,' he has declared an unprecedented 'silent retreat' to fulfill his viewership rating promise.
The SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Mr. Kim' made a pleasant start, recording a national viewership rating of 15.7% (according to Nielsen Korea) after just two episodes. Subsequently, in the 4th episode, it broke its own record by hitting a phenomenal 21.6%. The moment it easily surpassed the target of 13%, the promise Yoon Kyung-ho made at the production press conference became a reality.
During the 'Mr. Kim' production press conference held on the 25th of last month, Yoon Kyung-ho mentioned a special number. Noting that lead actor So Ji-sub returned to an SBS drama after 13 years, he made a pledge that if the viewership rating exceeded 13%, he would undergo a silent retreat for 13 hours. At the time, he drew laughter from the crowd by stating, "If we exceed 13%, I will perform a 13-hour silent retreat with the hope of seeing 'Mr. Kim Season 2'."
The 13th: Radio and Fan Meeting Conducted in Silence
On the 13th, Yoon Kyung-ho will officially begin fulfilling his promised pledge. This fulfillment is even more special because it is not simply spending time quietly alone, but will take place in official settings where he communicates with fans.
First, he will appear as a guest on the SBS Power FM 'Cultwo Show,' which is broadcast live on the 13th. The biggest highlight of this event is whether he, who usually boasts witty conversation, can handle the broadcast without uttering a single word amidst the hosts' barrage of questions. Due to the nature of a live radio broadcast, it is a high-difficulty mission to maintain silence while conducting the show.
Following the radio appearance, a session to meet fans directly will also be arranged. At 4 PM, a 'Silent Retreat Fan Signing Event' will be held at the SBS Broadcasting Center in Mok-dong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. Announced through the official SBS drama social media accounts, this event will be conducted in a way where actor Yoon Kyung-ho maintains strict silence and only performs autographs, even if fans ask questions or attempt to converse. SBS added a witty notice: "You are allowed to speak, but actor Yoon absolutely cannot."
Revenge Action Drama 'Mr. Kim' and Yoon Kyung-ho's Role
The drama 'Mr. Kim' is a revenge action series based on the popular webtoon of the same name. It depicts the process of a father who looks like the most ordinary person in the world transforming into the most dangerous man in the world to reclaim his only daughter. Led by So Ji-sub, actors with solid acting skills such as Yoon Kyung-ho and Choi Dae-hoon have joined, increasing the immersion of the drama.
Yoon Kyung-ho is delivering a passionate performance in the role of 'Park Jin-cheol.' Park Jin-cheol is a former secret agent once called the 'God of the Battlefield,' but is currently an ordinary father living only for his daughter. While anchoring the drama by portraying a character that moves between action and emotion, he plans to directly convey the excitement of the work's success to fans through this viewership rating promise fulfillment.
Airing every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 PM, 'Mr. Kim' has currently established itself as one of this year's biggest hits. Considering the vertical rise from a 15.7% rating in episode 2 to 21.6% in episode 4, industry eyes are focused on how much Yoon Kyung-ho's silent retreat event can boost the buzz surrounding the work.
Fan Expectations and the Highlights of the Silent Retreat
This event is receiving enthusiastic support from fans because it goes beyond simple fan service, as the actor is responsibly fulfilling a promise made to the viewers. In particular, the setting itself—where Yoon Kyung-ho, who usually has a 'too much talker' image, must maintain silence—comes across to fans as a massive piece of variety-show-style entertainment.
Fans are looking forward to how Yoon Kyung-ho will communicate with them through non-verbal communication (gestures, facial expressions, notes, etc.) during the radio broadcast and fan signing event on the 13th. The core of this pledge fulfillment is what kind of pleasant atmosphere the fan signing event, conducted in a situation where he cannot speak, will create, and whether he can complete his promise for the long duration of 13 hours.
"If it exceeds 13%, a 13-hour silent retreat"
On the stage of the 'Mr. Kim' production press conference held at SBS in Mok-dong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, on the 25th of last month, Yoon Kyung-ho threw out a pledge containing specific numbers. He attached significance to the fact that So Ji-sub returned to SBS after 13 years.
At the time, he mentioned, "Since the number 13 is also meaningful, if we exceed 13%, 'Mr. Kim Season 2'... this is just my wish." He then added, "I will perform a 13-hour silent retreat," expressing his determination to achieve the viewership rating.
The Pledge Fulfillment Triggered by Surpassing 13% Viewership
The scene of the 'Mr. Kim' production press conference held at Mok-dong SBS on the 25th of last month. Yoon Kyung-ho made a pledge to perform a 13-hour silent retreat if the viewership rating surpassed 13%, citing that So Ji-sub visited SBS after 13 years.
The drama 'Mr. Kim' surpassed the target figure, recording a national viewership rating of 15.7% according to Nielsen Korea, just two episodes after its broadcast on the 27th of last month. Accordingly, the official SBS drama Instagram announced the news of Yoon Kyung-ho's silent retreat fan signing event on the morning of the 8th.
