The film "The dream life of Mr. Kim" tells the story of Kim Nak Soo (Ryu Seung Ryong) - Head of Business Department of Team 1 at ACT Group. During 25 years of working, Mr. Kim has made tireless efforts to advance his career, and owned a private house in Seoul (Korea).
However, after an incident, he was dismissed from his position as a Safety Manager at the factory. Working a job that was not in his field and often assigned small tasks, Mr. Kim decided to apply for early retirement. From here, the storms came when he hid his wife and children to bring their pensions and borrowed more from the bank to invest in real estate.
The drama Mr. Kims Dream Life has now aired 8 episodes with a viewership rating of 4.7% in the most recent episode (evening of November 16) and is also in the top 5 most watched TV series, while Ryu Seung Ryong is 6th in the cast list, according to Good Data Corporation.
This shows that, although the achievements are not too high, the film still receives the attention and sympathy of a part of the audience when witnessing the challenges that middle-aged people are going through.
That is the worry of "holding a salary", a way to promote in the office, get along with young colleagues while still maintaining one's own value. In addition, the film also intertwines hot topics such as real estate, early retirement, what to do after retirement...
Daum (Korea) commented that the way the film emphasizes the perseverance of life instead of painting is a plus point. Mr. Kim's 25-year life at the company, buying a house in Seoul, and sending his children to study at a prestigious university are undeniable achievements.
The male lead Ryu Seung Ryong himself said: At first, I thought Kim Nak Soo looked like an acquaintance you could meet anywhere. He's not special, and that's why the character feels so realistic. We all live in our own place and endure different difficulties. I think many people will see themselves in this story.
The actor said that after the film, he hopes many people will reflect on where they value themselves and how meaningful contentment is.
Along with "Mr. Kim's dream life", Kim Hee Sun's "Once Upon a Time" is a slice of the story of women in their 40s with worries about their careers, children, and marriage. Although it did not record good viewership achievements, the work was still highly appreciated thanks to the good acting of the cast.
