Yoon Kyung-ho is experiencing a remarkable rise in popularity. His relatable charm showcased in the YouTube variety show 'Pinggaego' quickly captured the public's attention. This newfound interest has seamlessly transitioned into his recent role in the SBS drama 'Kim Manager,' which concluded with a high viewership rating of 23% on July 25. The combination of his approachable persona off-screen and his solid acting skills has propelled Yoon Kyung-ho to unprecedented heights in his career.
"I never thought I could receive so much love in my life. On one hand, I felt a happiness that I might never experience again, and I am truly grateful. However, I believe this is not something I achieved alone. It is the result of the hard work of all the actors and staff, so my feelings are not just about celebrating myself but expressing gratitude and congratulations to everyone involved," he said.
'Kim Manager' tells the story of an ordinary father who becomes the most dangerous man in the world to reclaim his only daughter. Yoon Kyung-ho portrayed Park Jin-cheol, a former secret agent known as the god of the battlefield. His intense action scenes captivated viewers, despite a short preparation period.
"Honestly, it's hard to put it into fancy words. The casting situation left little time for physical preparation. However, the director insisted that I take on this role, and having waited a long time for such an opportunity, I wanted to meet those expectations. I drew on my years of boxing training to work with the action director to prepare for the main action scenes," he explained.
In particular, he aimed for the action sequence with Nam Manager to appear as a 'battle of experts,' requesting a higher level of difficulty in the action design.
"My co-star Lee Dong-ha is such a nice person that he worried about hurting me even a little. I told him, 'You need to be really scary here. If you keep worrying about me, you'll end up with a kind expression, so just hit me.' I was more focused on fully embodying my character than on any discomfort or danger. After we finished, we both applauded each other, and the next day we were both exhausted and got massages," he said.
Thanks to the show's soaring ratings, Yoon Kyung-ho fulfilled his promise of a 13-hour silent retreat after the show surpassed 13% viewership just two episodes in. What began as a daunting task turned into an emotional experience as he connected with fans.
"From the moment we surpassed 13%, I was deep in thought about how to carry out this promise. I held an emergency meeting with my team to discuss how to do it sincerely. As I went through it, I found myself wanting to take it seriously. The turning point was the fan signing event, where the fans who came to see me were more nervous than I was. I could feel their anxiousness as they left without saying a word. They sent me letters expressing what they couldn't say, and when I read them at home, I cried. Their messages of 'You are doing well' really strengthened my resolve. The 13 hours became a time for me to feel gratitude for their love and to solidify my own sense of self," he shared.
The chemistry he shared with fellow actors So Ji-sub and Choi Dae-hoon, known as the 'Dads,' was also rooted in their genuine friendship.
"I've worked with Ji-sub on two projects, and Dae-hoon is a friend my age. In this project, I wanted to be the lubricant between the two of them, and the chemistry was fantastic. By the end, we felt like real friends. Ji-sub, being a man of few words in his role, often threw in fun ideas for us to play off of. As our friendship grew, the emotions we portrayed during the final fight scene felt more authentic than just acting," he said.
Behind the current spotlight lies over 20 years of struggle, during which Yoon Kyung-ho juggled around 30 different part-time jobs. In moments of desperation when he considered giving up acting, it was the thought of his family that kept him going.
"I did everything from manual labor to working as a clown blowing up balloons. The hardest time was when I got married and my first child was on the way. Before that, I thought I could endure even with a negative bank balance, but once I had a child, I didn't want my dreams to make my child suffer. Just when I was seriously considering quitting acting, the film 'Battleship Island' came along. I thought to my unborn daughter, 'I want to tell this story, and I'm preparing for it. Please wait a little longer, even if you're a bit hungry. I'll give it one last shot.' After my daughter was born, 'Goblin' came along, and it felt like a path was opening up. I used to aspire to be the best actor, but after my child was born, I became willing to work anywhere, regardless of the circumstances," he said.
Despite concerns that his friendly image from variety shows might undermine his identity as an actor, the strong support from fans has kept him grounded.
"Having received so much love in such a short time through variety shows compared to my 20 years of acting experience was confusing. I worried that I might be more suited for variety shows and that my confidence in acting might wane. However, one fan wrote to me, 'You have been doing well in acting, which is why we like you. If it weren't for that, we wouldn't have liked you in variety shows. Please take pride in your acting.' That message was truly comforting," he said.
As he navigates the demands of multiple projects amid a flood of offers, he faces the inevitable challenge of physical limitations. During these times, he turns to fellow actor Jo In-sung for guidance.
"I understand how much the phrase 'lack of preparation time' can undermine audience trust, so it's a significant concern for me. In those moments, Jo In-sung advised me, 'If the current situation is the worst, don't make it worse; make it the least bad.' That really helped me. If I can't prepare perfectly, I decided to focus on delivering thrilling action and aimed for more impactful and precise performances," he said.
With the success of 'Kim Manager,' discussions about a potential Season 2 are cautiously emerging. Yoon Kyung-ho is quietly sweating it out, imagining the day he will return to the screen as Park Jin-cheol.
"Everything is still open. While watching the final broadcast together, we excitedly shared our hopes for what could come next. I am cautious about making definitive statements about everyone's thoughts here. However, if there is hope, I hope we can all move forward joyfully together. I want to see what stories unfold in Season 2, and if I can portray Park Jin-cheol again, I want to prepare thoroughly and show an even better version of myself. I have been working out continuously in July whenever I have time. I see it as a way to give back, even just a little, for the love I have received," he said.
"I never thought I could receive so much love in my life. On one hand, I felt a happiness that I might never experience again, and I am truly grateful. However, I believe this is not something I achieved alone. It is the result of the hard work of all the actors and staff, so my feelings are not just about celebrating myself but expressing gratitude and congratulations to everyone involved," he said.
'Kim Manager' tells the story of an ordinary father who becomes the most dangerous man in the world to reclaim his only daughter. Yoon Kyung-ho portrayed Park Jin-cheol, a former secret agent known as the god of the battlefield. His intense action scenes captivated viewers, despite a short preparation period.
"Honestly, it's hard to put it into fancy words. The casting situation left little time for physical preparation. However, the director insisted that I take on this role, and having waited a long time for such an opportunity, I wanted to meet those expectations. I drew on my years of boxing training to work with the action director to prepare for the main action scenes," he explained.
In particular, he aimed for the action sequence with Nam Manager to appear as a 'battle of experts,' requesting a higher level of difficulty in the action design.
"My co-star Lee Dong-ha is such a nice person that he worried about hurting me even a little. I told him, 'You need to be really scary here. If you keep worrying about me, you'll end up with a kind expression, so just hit me.' I was more focused on fully embodying my character than on any discomfort or danger. After we finished, we both applauded each other, and the next day we were both exhausted and got massages," he said.
Thanks to the show's soaring ratings, Yoon Kyung-ho fulfilled his promise of a 13-hour silent retreat after the show surpassed 13% viewership just two episodes in. What began as a daunting task turned into an emotional experience as he connected with fans.
"From the moment we surpassed 13%, I was deep in thought about how to carry out this promise. I held an emergency meeting with my team to discuss how to do it sincerely. As I went through it, I found myself wanting to take it seriously. The turning point was the fan signing event, where the fans who came to see me were more nervous than I was. I could feel their anxiousness as they left without saying a word. They sent me letters expressing what they couldn't say, and when I read them at home, I cried. Their messages of 'You are doing well' really strengthened my resolve. The 13 hours became a time for me to feel gratitude for their love and to solidify my own sense of self," he shared.
The chemistry he shared with fellow actors So Ji-sub and Choi Dae-hoon, known as the 'Dads,' was also rooted in their genuine friendship.
"I've worked with Ji-sub on two projects, and Dae-hoon is a friend my age. In this project, I wanted to be the lubricant between the two of them, and the chemistry was fantastic. By the end, we felt like real friends. Ji-sub, being a man of few words in his role, often threw in fun ideas for us to play off of. As our friendship grew, the emotions we portrayed during the final fight scene felt more authentic than just acting," he said.
Behind the current spotlight lies over 20 years of struggle, during which Yoon Kyung-ho juggled around 30 different part-time jobs. In moments of desperation when he considered giving up acting, it was the thought of his family that kept him going.
"I did everything from manual labor to working as a clown blowing up balloons. The hardest time was when I got married and my first child was on the way. Before that, I thought I could endure even with a negative bank balance, but once I had a child, I didn't want my dreams to make my child suffer. Just when I was seriously considering quitting acting, the film 'Battleship Island' came along. I thought to my unborn daughter, 'I want to tell this story, and I'm preparing for it. Please wait a little longer, even if you're a bit hungry. I'll give it one last shot.' After my daughter was born, 'Goblin' came along, and it felt like a path was opening up. I used to aspire to be the best actor, but after my child was born, I became willing to work anywhere, regardless of the circumstances," he said.
Despite concerns that his friendly image from variety shows might undermine his identity as an actor, the strong support from fans has kept him grounded.
"Having received so much love in such a short time through variety shows compared to my 20 years of acting experience was confusing. I worried that I might be more suited for variety shows and that my confidence in acting might wane. However, one fan wrote to me, 'You have been doing well in acting, which is why we like you. If it weren't for that, we wouldn't have liked you in variety shows. Please take pride in your acting.' That message was truly comforting," he said.
As he navigates the demands of multiple projects amid a flood of offers, he faces the inevitable challenge of physical limitations. During these times, he turns to fellow actor Jo In-sung for guidance.
"I understand how much the phrase 'lack of preparation time' can undermine audience trust, so it's a significant concern for me. In those moments, Jo In-sung advised me, 'If the current situation is the worst, don't make it worse; make it the least bad.' That really helped me. If I can't prepare perfectly, I decided to focus on delivering thrilling action and aimed for more impactful and precise performances," he said.
With the success of 'Kim Manager,' discussions about a potential Season 2 are cautiously emerging. Yoon Kyung-ho is quietly sweating it out, imagining the day he will return to the screen as Park Jin-cheol.
"Everything is still open. While watching the final broadcast together, we excitedly shared our hopes for what could come next. I am cautious about making definitive statements about everyone's thoughts here. However, if there is hope, I hope we can all move forward joyfully together. I want to see what stories unfold in Season 2, and if I can portray Park Jin-cheol again, I want to prepare thoroughly and show an even better version of myself. I have been working out continuously in July whenever I have time. I see it as a way to give back, even just a little, for the love I have received," he said.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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