Actor So Ji Sub is making a major television comeback. He will star in the new SBS action drama ‘Manager Kim,’ scheduled to premiere in 2026. This marks his first drama on the SBS network in 13 years, following the success of his 2013 hit series ‘Master’s Sun’.
The series is based on a popular webtoon and features So Ji Sub as Kim Jang Bu, a seemingly ordinary bank manager and single father living a quiet life. This calm life is destroyed when his daughter, Min Ji, is kidnapped. To save her, he must expose a dangerous secret: he is a former elite North-South covert operative. His name is at the top of North Korea’s most-wanted blacklist, and his true identity is a secret that must never be revealed in South Korea.
“I’m only letting you live because I believe my daughter is still alive. If not, you, your friends, and your family will all die by my hand.” โ Manager Kim, in the drama’s teaser.
The story follows Manager Kim as he re-enters the violent world he left behind, using all his skills to find his daughter. He is not alone. He teams up with two other fathers, also hiding dangerous pasts. They are Sung Han Soo (played by Choi Dae Hoon), a former taekwondo gold medalist and secret agent, and Park Jin Chul (played by Yoon Kyung Ho), a once-legendary battlefield force. Together, these three men risk everything to protect their families.
Plot Details: An Ordinary Dad with a Dangerous Past
The core of ‘Manager Kim’ is a story about family and hidden identity. So Ji Sub’s character has worked hard to build a normal life as a humble office worker at a small savings bank. In the released teaser, he is shown bowing and apologizing to his bosses, presenting himself as a meek employee. This frustrates his daughter, Min Ji, who asks him, “Dad, don’t you have any pride?”.
This quiet life is a cover. Manager Kim is actually a veteran of countless special missions. When Min Ji disappears, the calm father vanishes. He transforms into a ruthless, highly skilled operative. The teaser shows him engaging in intense hand-to-hand combat and using firearms with ease, promising the kind of action scenes So Ji Sub is famous for.
The drama explores whether these three fathers can save their children while keeping the secrets of their past lives buried. It mixes high-stakes action with themes of paternal love and bromance, as the three allies fight together.
Main Cast and Character Breakdown
The drama brings together a strong trio of actors, each playing a father with a hidden, powerful history.
- So Ji Sub as Manager Kim Jang Bu: A single father and former black-ops agent. He lives in South Korea under a false identity, working a normal job to stay hidden. His daughter’s kidnapping forces him to use every skill he has to rescue her.
- Choi Dae Hoon as Sung Han Soo: A former national taekwondo champion whose signature move is a 1440-degree kick. After retirement, he hid his past as a secret agent and now runs a local taekwondo studio. He is the father of a son named Tae Hoon.
- Yoon Kyung Ho as Park Jin Chul: A once-feared legend on the battlefield, known as a force that no nation could control. He now finds his greatest pride in being called “Da Bin’s dad,” showing his deep love for his daughter.
The production team has stated that the combination of these three nationally beloved actors creates a powerful lineup. They promise fantastic teamwork that will captivate viewers.
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Release Date and Production Background
‘Manager Kim’ is set to premiere in 2026. It will air in the coveted Friday-Saturday drama slot on SBS. The drama was first officially confirmed with So Ji Sub in the lead role in September 2025. A special teaser for the show was later unveiled at the 2025 SBS Drama Awards on December 31.
The series is an adaptation of a well-known Naver webtoon of the same name. The original webtoon is part of a connected universe that includes other popular series like ‘Lookism’ and ‘Viral Hit’. The script is written by Nam Dae Joong, known for ‘Love Reset,’ and is directed by Lee Seung Young of ‘Wonderful World’ and Lee So Eun.
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