Seo Soo-min Skips College for Breakout Role in 'Kim Manager'

Seo Soo-min recently revealed she decided not to enroll in college to fully dedicate herself to her role in Kim Manager. In a post-drama interview held on the 28th at the Daily Sports office in Seoul, she expressed her disbelief about her achievement, saying, “It feels surreal, like a dream. Thanks to the viewers who enjoyed the show, we received a great outcome.”

In Kim Manager, she plays the pivotal role of Kim Min-ji, the daughter of the lead character played by So Ji-sub. Born in 2007, this project marks her debut as an actress. While discussing the reactions from those around her, Seo said, “My dad was worried I might feel pressured, so he bragged about me to my mom in secret, while my friends call me 'Min-ji.' Even though I didn’t go to university, I received messages from teachers and juniors saying I did a great job.” She also mentioned that she had been accepted into a university's theater and film program but chose to withdraw to pursue her acting career instead.

The actress explained, “I met my agency during my second year of high school and began acting seriously. While preparing for college entrance exams, I got cast in Kim Manager. Since I’m still developing my skills, I wanted to focus entirely on this project.” Seo was officially cast through an audition process. In a previous interview, the director, Lee Seung-young, shared with Daily Sports that, after seeing hundreds of actors, they requested profiles of新人 (rookies), which led him to discover Seo. “I watched a short video of her audition and was instantly captivated,” he recounted.

Seo recalled filming the audition during high school, still in her uniform after class, portraying the character’s emotions as they came to her. She had been a fan of the original webtoon from her school days, humorously referring to herself as a ‘successful fan’ or ‘seongdeok’. She found it particularly meaningful to embody a character she admired. “I referenced the original work, but I read the script 10 to 20 times, visualizing each scene in my mind as I prepared intensely,” she shared.

Kim Manager, which concluded on the 25th, is a revenge-action drama centered around a father confronting his violent past to rescue his missing daughter. The drama achieved impressive viewership, peaking at 23.1%, making it the highest-rated show of the year.

At the wrap party for Kim Manager, Seo Soo-min made a charming appearance wearing a casual gray tee and wide-leg jeans, effortlessly showcasing a youthful innocence. Her natural long hair and bright smile created a refreshing vibe. During a photo session, she offered sweet gestures, posing with hearts and cheerful waves, bringing a lively atmosphere to the event.

Just a day prior, Seo shared behind-the-scenes photos on her social media, captioning, “My dad and uncles. Only Han-soo is in the sunlight. Our dad does everything for us.” The images featured her alongside So Ji-sub and fellow cast members, playfully striking ‘LOVE’ poses. The touch of warmth seen in So Ji-sub's interactions in the photos contrasted beautifully with his intense on-screen persona, revealing a different side of the actor as a caring ‘real-life dad’.

In the finale, after confronting his past, the character of Kim Manager embarks on a new journey with his daughter, concluding with a heartwarming portrayal of a father who protects his child.