There’s a drama that’s been making me stop everything and sit in front of the TV every Friday night lately. It’s SBS’s Friday-Saturday drama Mr. Kim (김부장). I clicked on it at first just because the title amused me, but after one episode, I found myself counting down the days until the next Friday. The premise — an ordinary office worker who turns out to be a secret agent — isn’t exactly new, yet something about this particular story pulls me in more than most.
What Is Mr. Kim About?
Mr. Kim is based on the webtoon of the same name by artist Jeong Jong-taek (정종택), blending action, crime, and comedy. It premiered on June 26, 2026, directed by Lee Seung-young and Lee So-eun, with a script by Nam Dae-jung. The story follows Mr. Kim, an unremarkable department head at a savings bank whose entire world revolves around his one daughter — until she vanishes without a trace.
To find her, he has to dig up a past he’d long buried. It turns out he was once a covert operative, and his daughter’s disappearance is no ordinary case — it’s tied to something far larger and more dangerous. The tagline sums it up perfectly: the most ordinary father becomes the most dangerous man alive.
The series was originally planned as 8 episodes but expanded to 10 during filming. As I write this, the finale isn’t far off, which somehow makes waiting for each new episode feel even more bittersweet.
The Numbers Behind Mr. Kim’s Popularity
I thought this obsession was just mine — turns out I’m far from alone. Mr. Kim hit No. 3 on Netflix’s Non-English TV Shows chart just four days after its premiere, then claimed the global No. 1 spot by its second week. It held that top position for two consecutive weeks, racking up over 10.5 million view hours in a single week. It topped the charts in as many as 22 countries — including South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Taiwan — and landed in the Top 10 in 79 countries. Clearly, this isn’t just happening in my living room.
Domestic ratings kept breaking their own records with every episode. The show crossed 20% nationwide viewership by episode 4, and according to AGB Nielsen, its highest nationwide rating hit 23.1% by episode 8, with a reported minute-by-minute peak in the mid-20s — a standout number even among SBS’s Friday-Saturday dramas. It also topped the TV-OTT drama buzz rankings for two straight weeks, with lead actor So Ji-sub (소지섭) ranking No. 1 in cast buzzworthiness for two weeks running. At this point, I think I’m allowed to call it my drama of the year.
The Actors Who Give This Story Its Warmth
So Ji-sub (소지섭) as Mr. Kim
So Ji-sub’s performance as Mr. Kim is the heart of this show and its most compelling element. What’s remarkable is how naturally he shifts between two faces — the gentle father and the ice-cold former agent — without ever feeling forced. The contrast between his warmth when talking about his daughter and his unreadable expression in the face of danger is one of the show’s biggest draws.
I always feel a little wary when an older actor takes on physical action roles, but So Ji-sub’s action scenes lean on restraint rather than flash. Somehow, that restraint makes them feel even more real.
Choi Dae-hun (최대훈) as Seong Han-su
Choi Dae-hun plays Seong Han-su, Mr. Kim’s core partner in the field. Their chemistry carries both the comedy and the action of the show, and Choi’s knack for dropping a well-timed line into a tense moment keeps things from getting too heavy.
Yoon Kyung-ho (윤경호) as Park Jin-cheol
Yoon Kyung-ho’s Park Jin-cheol is the one who brings the laughs, with a personality big enough to lighten scenes that could otherwise feel too dark. Personally, I find myself relaxing a little every time he shows up on screen.
Joo Sang-wook (주상욱) and Son Naeun (손나은) — Where the Tension Lives
Joo Sang-wook, who plays the main villain, changes the air in the room the moment he appears. Every scene he’s in instantly ratchets up the tension. Son Naeun rounds out the cast as another key figure, adding depth to the story’s structure.
Moments That Stay With Me
What I love most about this drama isn’t the action sequences — it’s the brief moments when Mr. Kim slips back into being an ordinary father. Lingering outside his daughter’s bedroom door. Pulling out an old photograph. These quiet beats are placed right between the action, reminding me that underneath it all, this is a story about family.
I’m also struck by how the story keeps widening its scope. What begins as one man’s search for his missing daughter gradually unfolds into something much bigger — a conspiracy on a national scale. The reveal never feels rushed; it peels back one layer at a time, which is exactly why I can’t wait for the next episode.
About the Filming Locations
Since the show is still airing as I write this, detailed information about filming locations hasn’t been widely shared yet. Given that the story is set in Seoul, the series naturally moves between the everyday rhythms of office life and tense, high-stakes chases across the city. Once the show wraps, I’m hoping fan-compiled location lists start circulating — and when they do, I’d love to come back and share them here.
Final Thoughts
Watching Mr. Kim, I keep coming back to the same thought: at its core, this is a story about how far an ordinary person will go to protect what matters most. Between the action and the humor, a father’s love for his daughter feels genuinely real — enough to pull me in, week after week.
If you’re in the mood for a night that mixes action, humor, and a touch of heartfelt family drama, consider this your sign to hit play on Mr. Kim. You might just find yourself, like me, counting down to next Friday.