Namgoong Min portrays the titular character in the South Korean drama 'Chief Kim,' also known as 'Good Manager.' (Photo : YouTube/KBS Drama)
Namgoong Min's drama "Chief Kim" is turning out to be one of the top-rated series for the first quarter of 2017. With TV ratings climbing at a higher level per episode, the KBS drama even bested the big budget production "Saimdang."
"Chief Kim," also known as "Good Manager," captured the interest of many viewers given its storyline that contains elements of intrigue and comedy. Despite debuting with nationwide TV ratings of 7.8 percent, the KBS drama's second-week broadcast posted double-digit ratings that further improved since then.
With the 16-episode drama nearing its halfway point, Namgoong's series is already close to reaching the 20 percent viewership mark. "Chief Kim" episode 6 posted nationwide TV ratings of 16.7 percent, according to Nielsen Korea, as cited by Yonhap News.
Released on Feb. 9, Thursday, the KBS drama also registered a 17.6 percent viewership share in the Seoul metropolitan area. Compared to the previous episode, the said ratings are higher by 1.2 percentage points and 1.8 percentage points across the nation and in Seoul, respectively.
Given the series' growing popularity, competitor dramas such as "Saimdang" was unable to match the KBS' series steady TV ratings climb. Despite debuting with ratings of 16.3 percent, Lee Young Ae's comeback drama posted declining viewership shares that dipped to 10 percent before rebounding to 12 percent.
Many critics expected "Saimdang" to post higher viewership numbers given its talented cast members that include the "Jewel in the Palace" star Lee. Prior to the SBS drama's release, the production was highly promoted and even lauded as the series that brought the famous Hallyu actress back to the small screens.
Meanwhile, Namgoong was identified as one of the reasons behind the success of "Chief Kim," according to Korea Herald. Credited as the celebrity responsible for bringing KBS to the top of the mid-week rating race, many industry experts are now looking forward to the said drama's story progression and character development.
"Chief Kim" airs every Wednesday and Thursday on KBS. Watch a teaser clip below:
