So Ji-sub plays a man with a shadowy past, driven to extreme lengths to rescue his daughter when she vanishes without a trace
So Ji-sub. Photo: Netflix, courtesy of Han Cinema.
So Ji-sub, the renowned South Korean actor, has been confirmed to headline the upcoming noir action thriller Manager Kim, based on the popular webtoon of the same name. He’ll play the titular character, a loving father who’s pushed to the edge when his daughter, Minji, goes missing.
The source material follows Mr. Kim, a single father working as a bank manager, whose seemingly ordinary life turns out to be a façade. In reality, Kim is a former black-ops member who’s been living a quiet life until his daughter suddenly disappears, leaving no trace behind. As he searches for her, he becomes this merciless force, stopping at nothing to search for the truth and destroying any opponent who gets in his way.
In the process, it is revealed that Kim has a shadowy past as a seasoned agent involved in secret missions between North and South Korea. So, at present, his stay in South Korea is precarious, as being found out as who he really is would lead to severe consequences. Nonetheless, he’s willing to risk everything to find and rescue his daughter, no matter the cost.
Manager Kim will be helmed by director Lee Seung-young and written by Nam Dae-joong. It follows So Ji-sub’s last action noir thriller series, Mercy for None, released in June 2025, where he plays an ex-gangster consumed by revenge after his brother is murdered. With his proven track record in gripping shows like Phantom (2012), My Secret Terrius (2018), and Doctor Lawyer (2022), So Ji-sub is poised to bring a layered portrayal of his role in Manager Kim.
Although more information is yet to be revealed about the rest of the cast details, the series is expected to be released next year. According to media reports, ‘Manager Kim‘s production team says, “With a solid source material and So Ji-sub’s dynamic portrayal of the extraordinary father, ‘Manager Kim‘ is poised to become a ‘mature blockbuster’ that will captivate audiences in 2026.” They add, “We ask viewers to look forward to So Ji-sub’s remarkable performance in this upcoming drama.”