Ryu Seung-ryong is earning deep resonance for his grounded depiction of a middle-aged family man.

The actor currently stars in JTBC's drama Mr. Kim Who Works at a Major Corporation and Owns an Apartment in Seoul as Kim Naksu, the veteran chief of Sales Team 1. His performance captures the ordinary yet weighty life of a Korean middle-aged breadwinner, drawing empathy with every episode. His low, steady voice and meticulous emotional detail add sincerity to the role.

A Father Holding Himself Together

In one scene, Naksu tells his son, Kim Sugyeom, "Living 25 years as a department head at a large company, buying an apartment in Seoul, and sending your kid to college—that life is extraordinary."

It sounds like advice for his son, but it is actually self-comfort — a quiet monologue revealing exhaustion, fear, and pride tangled together.

The Weight of Survival at Work

Even as his footing at the company begins to crumble, Naksu pushes through. He encourages a junior colleague with a baseball metaphor:

"In the bottom of the ninth with two outs, you empty your head. You wait for the pitch you like, then you swing full force."

That single line struck home for many office workers, turning Naksu into a character they root for.

A Heartbreaking Final Goodbye

After deciding to retire, Naksu returns home from his last day of work and pretends nothing is wrong. Over dinner, he quietly admits to his wife, Park Hajin, "I'm sorry."

Her gentle comfort breaks him — a moment Ryu Seung-ryong delivers with restrained dialogue, delicate expressions, and lived-in realism. The warmth and fragility of a family come through in quietly powerful waves.

Ryu Seung-ryong's layered performance captures responsibility, survival, pride, and vulnerability all at once. Viewers are left reflecting on what it truly means to keep living without relying on titles or status.

Episode 11 of Mr. Kim airs on November 29 at 10:40 PM.