So Ji-sub's 'Manager Kim' hits 22.3% viewership rating, SBS Fri-Sat drama

Records 22.3% viewership rating, changing the landscape of SBS Friday-Saturday dramas

The SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Mr. Kim' (Kim Bu-jang), starring actor So Ji-sub, is dominating home screens with a fearsome upward trend. The 6th episode of 'Mr. Kim', broadcast on the night of the 11th, recorded a nationwide viewership rating of 22.3%, according to Nielsen Korea. This is a 1.8 percentage point increase from the 20.5% rating of the 5th episode, showing a relentless momentum of breaking its own record every episode.

This record is one of the most notable achievements in the history of SBS Friday-Saturday dramas. In just 6 episodes, 'Mr. Kim' has surpassed previous hits like 'The Fiery Priest' (22.0%) and 'Taxi Driver 2' (21.8%). With this, 'Mr. Kim' has risen to 2nd place in the all-time SBS Friday-Saturday drama viewership rankings, following 'Penthouse 2' (29.2%). Starting with 9.5% in the first episode, the drama had already broken the 20% barrier by reaching 21.6% in just 4 episodes.

The narrative is a traditional revenge action piece about a former special agent father who lives as an ordinary breadwinner but dives back into the battlefield to find his missing daughter. It has drawn viewers' immersion as an 'Apha Universe' action series, where the most ordinary dad transforms into the most dangerous man to reclaim his daughter.

Tense 6th episode ending during the daughter rescue operation and key characters' performances

In the 6th episode, the core was the desperate struggle of Mr. Kim (played by So Ji-sub) and his colleagues to rescue his daughter, Kim Min-ji (played by Seo Su-min), who was held hostage by the Special Mission Bureau. In the drama, Mr. Kim carried out a life-threatening rescue operation alongside Seong Han-su (played by Choi Dae-hoon) and Park Jin-cheol (played by Yoon Kyung-ho). In particular, when Seong Han-su faced a crisis while attempting to infiltrate the Special Mission Bureau to rescue Min-ji, a scene was staged where Park Jin-cheol made a dramatic appearance to turn the tide.

The tension peaked at the ending. In a desperate moment where they were surrounded by enemies and had no choice but to surrender, a scene was depicted where Mr. Kim appeared holding the Vice Minister of National Security (played by Lim Chul-hyung) hostage, leading to a tearful reunion with his daughter Min-ji. It is evaluated that the combination of spectacular action and emotional lines drove the rise in viewership ratings.

The chemistry among the cast is also notable. So Ji-sub anchored the drama with overwhelming action performances, and Choi Dae-hoon and Yoon Kyung-ho also contributed to increasing the dramatic tension as reliable supporters of Mr. Kim. Seo Su-min provided the driving force for the drama by playing the role of the missing daughter, Min-ji.

Reclaims 1st place globally on Netflix, proving the power of K-action

The response is hot not only in the domestic living rooms but also in the global market. 'Mr. Kim' is showing a strong presence on the global OTT platform Netflix as well. Within three days of its release, it entered 3rd place in the Netflix global non-English TV show category, signaling an extraordinary start.

Entering its second week of release, 'Mr. Kim' reached its peak in the global rankings. It finally stood tall at the 1st place on the Netflix global chart, overtaking 'The Glory' (or 'Revenge Education'), which had held the 1st place for four consecutive weeks. It appears that the domestic success is spreading into a global syndrome.

This global achievement is read as an instance that proves the charm of well-made K-action to the entire world. Breaking the 20% domestic viewership rating and reaching 1st place globally on Netflix are very unusual records among SBS dramas this year.

Future steps for 'Mr. Kim', airing every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 PM

'Mr. Kim' airs every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 PM on the SBS channel. As the viewership rating curve is currently steep, the key point to watch will be whether it can break the all-time record of 29.2% held by 'Penthouse 2'.

The work is based on a classic yet powerful narrative where a person living an ordinary life while hiding their identity picks up the sword again for their daughter. Along with evaluations that So Ji-sub's action performance has reached its peak, attention is focused on whether the trend of breaking its own highest viewership rating every episode will continue.

Background and Context

'Mr. Kim', which began its first broadcast on the 26th of last month, is a traditional revenge action drama about a former special agent father who lived as an ordinary breadwinner while hiding his identity, but dives back into the battlefield to find his missing daughter. Starting with 9.5% in the first episode, this work has already broken the 20% viewership barrier by recording 21.6% in just 4 episodes.

On Netflix, it entered 3rd place in the global non-English TV show category within three days of its release. Subsequently, in its second week of release, it rose to 1st place globally, overtaking 'The Glory' (or 'Revenge Education'), which had held the 1st place for four consecutive weeks.