So Ji-sub's 'Dad-like' Care: Rookie Actress Seo Su-min Reveals Heartwarming Gestures on 'The Spy Who Loved Me' Set

Rookie actress Seo Su-min (서수민), who rose to prominence in the popular SBS Friday-Saturday drama “The Spy Who Loved Me,” recently sat down for a media interview to discuss her experiences working with lead actor So Ji-sub (소지섭). She not only praised his “inherent star aura” but also revealed his warm and considerate nature off-screen. So Ji-sub reportedly gave her strawberry candies on their first day of filming to ease her nervousness and surprised her with an autographed gift from her favorite idol group, DAY6, on her birthday, moving her to tears on the spot.

“The Spy Who Loved Me” tells the story of an ordinary father who transforms into a dangerous man to seek revenge and save his only daughter. Seo Su-min plays Kim Min-ji, So Ji-sub’s daughter in the drama, a pivotal character driving the entire plot.

Since its premiere on June 26, the drama’s viewership ratings steadily climbed from 9.5% for its first episode to 23% for its finale, making it one of the most anticipated K-dramas of the year.

Recalling her first collaboration with So Ji-sub, Seo Su-min confessed, “I’ve always known So Ji-sub *sunbaenim* (senior) is an incredibly talented actor, so I was really surprised when I found out I’d be playing his daughter. I kept worrying if I would be a burden to him or affect his performance.”

However, once she joined the set, she discovered So Ji-sub was even warmer than she imagined. “He genuinely looked after me like a father, which made me feel very secure, so I was much more comfortable during filming,” she revealed. She also mentioned having watched So Ji-sub’s “Master’s Sun” and knowing the plot of “I’m Sorry, I Love You,” even if she hadn’t finished watching it.

Seo Su-min even joked that she was completely awestruck by So Ji-sub’s star presence the first time she met him. “He truly has an inherent star aura; his face is incredibly small, and his body proportions are unbelievably good. It was the first time in my life I’d seen such perfect proportions. At that moment, I really thought, ‘Celebrities are indeed different.’”