So Ji-sub's 'Doctor Lawyer' Hits 18.8% Ratings

The viewership rating for the third episode of SBS's Friday-Saturday drama 'Chief Kim' reached a nationwide average of 18.8%, setting a new personal best. The highest momentary rating hit 23%. This record ranks it first among all miniseries broadcast on any channel in 2026, and it also secured an overwhelming first place among all programs across all channels and genres broadcast during the same time slot and weekly. The 2049 viewership rating also reached a high of 7.5%, proving its popularity. 'Chief Kim' continues to break its own viewership records with each episode and is on the verge of surpassing 20%.

Episode 3 depicted Chief Kim (played by So Ji-sub), who continues his relentless pursuit to find his missing daughter Kim Min-ji (played by Seo Soo-min), his life-or-death collaboration with his friends Seong Han-su (played by Choi Dae-hoon) and Park Jin-cheol (played by Yoon Kyung-ho), and his first encounter with the North Korean operative Park Kang-seong (played by Kim Sung-kyu). The warm daily life of Chief Kim and Min-ji in the past was revealed, emphasizing Chief Kim's desperate feelings for his daughter. After being taken to the police station, Chief Kim escaped by subduing the detective chief upon receiving a call from Min-ji and began his pursuit to find his daughter. At the same time, the Special Mission Agency, aiming to apprehend the infiltrated Park Kang-seong and Chief Kim, entered the scene, marking the prelude to the biggest chase in history.

Chief Kim defeated the agents from the Special Mission Agency with the help of his friend Seong Han-su. Park Jin-cheol, who escaped from the detention center, engaged in a fierce battle with Park Kang-seong but lost him, informing Chief Kim that a North Korean operative had infiltrated. Chief Kim, along with Seong Han-su, tracked Min-ji's phone signal, subdued the organization members, and retrieved the phone. However, he later learned of his daughter's lonely and difficult times, shedding tears of deep guilt. At the end of the broadcast, as Seong Han-su comforted Chief Kim, Park Kang-seong pointed a gun at Chief Kim's head, creating a cliffhanger that heightened the tension to its peak.

Meanwhile, a shocking twist revealed that Chief Kim's bank colleague Jeong Sang-ah (played by Son Na-eun) and his neighbor, the dry cleaner owner (played by Park Jin-woo), were actually undercover agents monitoring Chief Kim. Additionally, the first meeting between Chief Kim and Park Jin-cheol in the past was shown in an epilogue, sparking curiosity. Episode 4 of 'Chief Kim' will air on the 4th at 9:50 PM.