SBS Comedic Thriller K-drama Agent Kim Reactivated with So Ji Sub Rockets Out of the Gate Going From 9.5% Premiere to 15.7% by Second Episode
Holy smokes, is this a incredible feat to witness in this day and age, and feels like it’s heralding a resurgence of K-dramas or at least I hope so. SBS Fri-Sat new premiere Agent Kim Reactivated with So Ji Sub as the titular top secret agent coming out of retirement to save his daughter is the biggest news story of K-ent this week. The drama premiered with a decent 9.5% but the shocker is the second episode making the biggest ratings jump in 5 years going up to 15.7%. This makes the drama the highest rated drama of 2026 so far and has barely even started airing. This is not a fluke as the drama is FANTASTIC, seriously so good. A slow burn first episode setting up schlubby So Ji Sub (perfectly cast) as a mid-level bank manager with a unhappy teen daughter and ends with a banger when she’s maybe dead/kidnapped.
There are phenomenal side characters played by top character actors including Choi Dae Hoon and Yoon Kyung Ho as comedic relief and also former top secret agents turned daddies as well, soon to team up to make the perfect revenge trio of ahjusshi’s kicking butt. We even get smexy Joo Sang Wook in a surprise turn as the antagonist embodying the phrase baddie daddy. There are a lot of surprises in store I’m sure Son Na Eun is not just a random bank colleague nor is Park Jin Woo just a neighborhood dry cleaner. The three male leads were also giving major cuteness at the press conference doing aegyo poses and basically talking up a storm, really giving a preview of their onscreen chemistry. This is now the third big K-drama in a month to come out, first there was My Royal Nemesis and then Teach You a Lesson and like those two it’s headlined by older male leads who definitely personify “male” attractiveness in male lead over flower boy visuals.
Sounds like a sequel of sorts to My Secret Terrius, also starring SJS as a secret agent in hiding playing nanny to his neighbours kids, I love that drama hence remember it well.
One of my favourite drama. That’s why I’m so excited for this one
It’s really good! after My Secret Terius it really looks like So Jisub was born for the dad/dad figure roles, the kid playing his daughter is excellent too (Seo Soo-min), they make such a believable father and daughter
I m so glad good hot masculine actors are winning and earning their dues. Tired of twinks in lead roles. I want to see a hairy man rocking screen ( ok k male leads aren’t but still can be rugged )
Woohoo! Such a strong cast! It is my favorite genre, too, so I will definitely check it out. However, I am going to wait until it finishes its premiere run. Right now, I am hooked on BBC classics and HBO fantasy. Teach You a Lesson is definitely the breakout show on Netflix this year, as its viewership far surpassed other top 10 titles in the first few weeks. Currently, Agent Kim Reactivated is sitting in the third spot, closely trailing Teach You a Lesson in viewership. I may see it take over the number one spot soon.
Was debating on watching this since I didn’t get much of a comedy vibe from the trailer.
@prettyautumn it has comedic elements in the interaction between SJS and all parts involving the other former agent dads but yeah it’s mostly action/thriller with the father/daughter element