There is a director who has made his presence felt with a series of hits. From the absurd humor of the 'Blue Tower' era to the military universe of 'New Recruit', and the everyday mystery of 'Salon de Holmes'. Director Min Jin-ki is steadily expanding his own directorial world across various genres.
ENA's Monday-Tuesday drama 'Salon de Holmes' (directed by Min Jin-ki and Jung Hyun-nam, written by Kim Yeon-sin, produced by Artist Company, A2Z Entertainment, and Neo Entertainment) recorded a nationwide viewership rating of 3.6% in the final episode that aired on the 15th, achieving its highest rating yet.
'Salon de Holmes', which recorded a nearly threefold increase from its first episode rating of 1.3%, completed a perfect 'beginning and end' conclusion by the final episode. This marks the completion of three consecutive hits for ENA's Monday-Tuesday dramas following 'New Recruit' Season 3 and 'Tastefully Yours'.
'Salon de Holmes' is a drama depicting the activities of a female detective squad set against the background of an apartment complex. It combines the elements of comedy, women's romance, and mystery as a former detective, the insurance king, the queen of part-timers, and a super connector gather to punish everyday 'villains'. The structure is characterized by its flexibility across various genres, with the unique rhythmic direction of Director Min Jin-ki anchoring the work.
In the final episode, an all-out effort by the female detective squad was launched to rescue the daughter kidnapped by the serial killer 'Ribbon Man' Kim Hyun-deok (played by Kim Jung-ho). The conclusion, set against the backdrop of a fire in an abandoned hospital, wrapped up with a happy ending, and subsequently, a detective agency named 'Salon de Holmes' began to thrive, hinting at a new beginning.
Director Min Jin-ki popularized the military sitcom genre starting with 'Roller Coaster 2' in 2012, followed by 'Blue Tower' and 'Golden Tower', and has since built his skills through co-directing or solo directing in various genres, such as 'SNL Korea', 'Circle', and 'When the Devil Calls Your Name'. Leading to the confirmation of the production for 'New Recruit' Season 4 after the series premiered on OTT in 2022, he has proven the continuity and stability of direction by completing a universe focused on bromance.
'Salon de Holmes' marks the first female-centered narrative presented by Director Min Jin-ki, showcasing a different approach from his previous works. The ordinary apartment serves as a stage where female characters tackle case solving, and the balance of solidarity, joy, and emotional depth revealed in the process adds flavor to the work.
Even amidst changes in genre, the directing skill that does not lose its focus, character-centered story structure, and details reflecting reality caught the eye. In this way, Director Min Jin-ki demonstrates his influence as a director by leading the project steadily without relying on star casting, securing both viewership ratings and production quality.
[Photo] ENA 'Salon de Holmes', program poster
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