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Get ready to meet the "Mr. Everyman" of modern South Korea. In his new series, soon to be broadcast on JTBC, Ryu Seung-ryong plays a deeply human character, at once funny, pathetic and touching. The drama is entitled "서울 자가에 대기업 다니는 김부장 이야기"which can be translated as "The Story of Chief Kim Who Works at a Big Company and Owns a Home in Seoul"or simply "The Story of Manager Kim.
A (seemingly) perfect life
Adapted from a best-selling novel that sold over 300,000 copies and more than 10 million online viewsThis series promises to be one of the most human dramas of late 2025. The story follows Kim Nak-sooA man in his fifties, an executive in a major corporation, head of the number 1 sales team. He has an apartment in Seoul, a loving family, a good job: on the surface, everything seems perfect.
But behind this façade lies a much harsher reality. The world is changing, priorities are shifting, and Kim Nak Soo is starting to lose his footing. He discovers that everything he thought he'd built solidly can wobble in an instant.
An acclaimed performance
In the first stills revealed, Ryu Seung Ryong (known for his roles in Extreme Job or Kingdom and more recently Low Life) plays a character full of contradictions. In one scene, we see him in the office, all smiles, coffee in hand, delivering an inspiring speech to his junior colleagues. A model of success.
But the next scene shows him head down in front of his superiors, his confidence gone. The contrast is striking, and perfectly sums up the duality of a man between two worlds. The first is social success, the second is human frailty.
Between professional pressure and family life
The series also plunges us into Kim Nak-soo's private life. In the evening, once his shoes have been polished, he meets up with his wife and children, moments of tenderness captured with simplicity. His tired smile says it all: he lives for them, he fights for them.
We sense that he's out of breath, but still on his feet, ready to do anything to prevent the collapse of what has taken him so many years to build.
The Story of Manager Kim promises to be a generational drama, able to speak to everyone (from young workers to their parents) by highlighting the silent challenges of everyday life: surviving, holding on, not losing face.
According to the production team, "This drama will highlight the transformation of an ordinary man, who will lose everything he took for granted to finally discover who he really is."
Directed by Jo Hyun Tak (Sky Castle) and a screenplay by Kim Hong Ki, the series promises a humorous, poignant and deeply realistic tone.
The 1st episode will air on jTBC from October 25.
