So Ji-sub surprised by 'Chief Detective 1958' success, credits family and friendship

The SBS drama 'Chief Detective 1958' wrapped up its run on March 25th, achieving a remarkable peak viewership rating of 23.1%. While many point to its straightforward narrative and thrilling action as key to its success, lead actor So Ji-sub offers a different perspective. He believes the drama's true appeal lies in its exploration of familial love and the bonds of friendship.

So Ji-sub, speaking at a cafe in Jongno-gu, Seoul, admitted to feeling somewhat bewildered by the show's immense popularity. "Everything about it is amazing," he said. "From the first episode's ratings to the steep rise in viewership and buzz afterward. I felt like, 'Is this a hidden camera prank?'"

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I felt like, 'Is this a hidden camera prank?'

When asked about the reasons behind the drama's success in an era of rare 20% ratings, he confessed he still wasn't entirely sure. "They say it's easy, fast, thrilling, and like 'cider' [a term for satisfying relief], but I'm not sure if that's entirely accurate. I personally felt it was a drama that depicted family and friendship, alongside the thrill, right from the start. That feeling was strong when I watched the broadcast too."

The drama, adapted from a webtoon, centers on Kim (played by So Ji-sub), an ordinary-looking office worker in a bank's accounting department who is secretly a former special agent with formidable abilities. His life takes a drastic turn when he discovers his only daughter, Minji, has been kidnapped. To rescue her, he must unleash the powers he had long suppressed. He is assisted by his close friends, Park Jin-cheol (Yoon Kyung-ho) and Sung Han-soo (Choi Dae-hoon), who possess exceptional combat skills and martial arts prowess, as they pursue the kidnappers.

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They say it's easy, fast, thrilling, and like 'cider', but I'm not sure if that's entirely accurate. I personally felt it was a drama that depicted family and friendship, alongside the thrill, right from the start.

So Ji-sub also shared his initial apprehension about portraying a father of a high school student. "It was my first time playing a father to a high schooler, so I worried it might feel awkward. But the setup where the father and daughter have an awkward relationship due to her entering adolescence actually worked out well," he explained. He mentioned getting closer to his on-screen daughter, played by Seo Soo-min, by gifting her autographs from the band Day6. "Early on, I asked her about her favorite singers. I managed to get autographs through someone I knew. Coincidentally, the day I received the autographs was her birthday. It was fortunate for me."

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It was my first time playing a father to a high schooler, so I worried it might feel awkward. But the setup where the father and daughter have an awkward relationship due to her entering adolescence actually worked out well.

He highlighted the synergy between himself, Yoon Kyung-ho, and Choi Dae-hoon, referring to them as the "three bespectacled gentlemen." "I wonder if I could have acted like this without them. It was great that the three characters were so different. Yoon Kyung-ho expresses a lot with his whole body despite being talkative, Choi Dae-hoon acts with precise calculation, and I focus on maintaining a steady presence. Our chemistry was excellent." He added, "When we get together, we discuss how we should act. We filmed most of the scenes featuring the three of us that way."

Demonstrating his signature action sequences once again in 'Chief Detective 1958,' So Ji-sub emphasized his continued desire to perform in the action genre. "There's a certain thrill that comes from physical impact. I consider action to be a form of dialogue. I prefer action over extensive dialogue." He also commented on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in an action scene in the second episode, stating, "Things that are dangerous or expensive will likely be replaced by AI." However, he added, "The scent of human sweat is difficult to replicate accurately."

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I wonder if I could have acted like this without them. It was great that the three characters were so different. Yoon Kyung-ho expresses a lot with his whole body despite being talkative, Choi Dae-hoon acts with precise calculation, and I focus on maintaining a steady presence. Our chemistry was excellent.