At a press conference held Oct. 2 at Myeong-dong Community House Masil in central Seoul, cast members Lee and Kim joined producer Kim Jung-wook to tease what viewers can expect from the show.
“Manager Seojin” shakes up the talk-show format by sending Lee Seo-jin and Kim Kwang-gyu on the road as hands-on, day-of managers to big-name stars. The result is an up-close look at candid moments you’d only catch if you were on a celeb’s team. In the premiere, the duo shadows comedian Lee Su-ji as her managers for a day.
While looking after Su-ji, Lee Seo-jin admitted he was thrown by her comedy persona. “I had no idea about Su-ji’s alter egos,” he said. “Watching those characters up close was a lot to take in―I honestly didn’t know how to react.”
He added, “I’ve heard people really love her characters. But when she keeps them going right in front of you, it’s hard to tell what’s funny or whether it’s the persona or the real her. Younger audiences might vibe with it more, but for those of us in our 50s, like me and Kwang-gyu, figuring out the right reaction felt awkward at times.”
Lee also recalled a hilarious―but slightly hazardous―moment on the road. “Su-ji started eating soondae-guk (Korean blood sausage soup) in the car,” he said with a laugh. “I was worried because it’s hot and we were moving, and then she asked me to sip the broth. Eating soondae-guk in a car isn’t exactly easy. I didn’t want her to get hurt, so I took a sip―and burned the roof of my mouth. It was tasty, though. I actually love soondae-guk.”
Kim Kwang-gyu echoed the sentiment, saying Su-ji’s characters caught him off guard, too. “I couldn’t quite find the right timing for my reactions,” he admitted. “I watched a video of her ‘Haembugi’ persona the day before, but when I met her in person I blanked―and felt bad about it.”
“Because we weren’t catching on, these awkward silences kept happening,” Kim continued. “We should’ve been clapping or laughing, but we couldn’t find the beats. It wasn’t easy for us, and I’m sure it wasn’t easy for Su-ji either. I want to apologize again for not giving her the laughs she deserved.”
Even so, Lee Seo-jin praised Lee Su-ji’s work ethic. “Watching her up close, I thought, ‘She really works hard,’” he said. “She’s constantly creating new characters, researching, and thinking about how to entertain people. It’s not just about tossing out a funny alter ego―there’s real effort and thought behind it. I hope people see that.”
Following Su-ji’s episode, “Manager Seojin” will welcome Jang Ki-yong and Ahn Eun-jin, stars of SBS’s new drama “Accidental Kiss,” with appearances from veteran actress Seonwoo Yong-nyeo and Uhm Ji-won also on deck.
“Manager Seojin” premieres Oct. 3 at 9:50 p.m. KST on SBS.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)