Yoon Kyung-ho to Perform 13-Hour Silent Retreat as 'Manager Kim' Viewership Rating Surpasses 15%

Actor Yoon Kyung-ho expressed extraordinary gratitude for the explosive success of the SBS drama 'Manager Kim' and declared his intention to keep his promise to the viewers. Rather than viewing the work's success as a personal achievement, he showed warm camaraderie by attributing it to the efforts of the fellow actors and staff who created it together.

On the 28th, Yoon Kyung-ho posted a long message on his SNS, stating, “Since it seems I might not be able to speak for 13 hours, I wanted to leave the words I want to say here in advance.”

He shared his thoughts, saying, “‘Manager Kim’ recorded a phenomenal figure of a 15% viewership rating after only 2 episodes. It set an amazing record of 15.7% nationwide and 15.9% in the metropolitan area. As a cast member, I sincerely thank the viewers for their passionate love.”

He continued, “While pondering how to express my gratitude, I remembered the pledge I made at the production press conference,” adding, “To be precise, it is thanks to the help of Joo Sang-wook hyung and Park Kyung Lim noona,” which brought laughter to his fans.

Previously, at the 'Manager Kim' production press conference, Yoon Kyung-ho made a unique pledge that if the viewership rating exceeded 13%, he would perform a 13-hour silent retreat (muk-eon-su-haeng). At the time, it was a promise filled with expectations and support for a high target, but following a 9.5% viewership rating from the first broadcast, the drama surpassed the 15% mark in just 2 episodes, forcing him to face the fulfillment of his pledge much faster than expected.

Yoon Kyung-ho expressed his surprise at the success, saying, “Knowing how high a wall a 13% viewership rating is, it was a number I secretly hoped for but dared not dream of. I couldn't believe my eyes when the record of 9.5% came out from the first broadcast.”

In particular, he emphasized the meaning of his colleagues beyond his personal pledge of a silent retreat. “When I wondered what the meaning of me performing a 13-hour silent retreat alone would be, or who it would be for, I thought of the words of actors Choi Dae-hoon and Son Naeun, who stepped forward saying, ‘Then I will join you too,’” he said, adding, “They are truly my grateful colleagues.”

He also credited the actors and production team who created the hit, saying, “I think 'Manager Kim' was able to receive such great love because of colleagues like these.” He further created a playful atmosphere by mentioning So Ji-sub, adding, “He originally said nonchalantly that he is usually silent for 13 hours every day.”

However, Yoon Kyung-ho noted that it is difficult to carry out the silent retreat immediately as he is currently traveling with his family. He promised, “In my heart, I want to practice this right now with my gratitude, but as soon as I return, I will definitely take on the challenge for those who are waiting for me.”

Along with this, he expressed his gratitude by directly mentioning the names of the staff and actors who made 'Manager Kim' together. He showed that he does not view the success of the work as the result of a specific actor or lead, but as the effort of all members who filled the set.

'Manager Kim' is gaining sympathy from viewers as it is based on the reality of an ordinary office worker and the stories unfolding within an organization, combined with the solid acting and realistic character portrayals of the actors. In particular, it is drawing attention as a work that continues the trend of successful SBS dramas this year, recording high viewership ratings from the early stages of broadcasting.

Yoon Kyung-ho's 13-hour silent retreat pledge is garnering additional attention as an expression of affection for the work and gratitude toward the people involved, moving beyond a simple event. The sincerity and teamwork shown by the actors behind the success are being evaluated as another driving force behind the 'Manager Kim' craze.