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Agent Kim Reactivated

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Agent Kim Reactivated
Promotional poster
Also known asMr. Kim[1]
Hangul
김부장
Lit.Manager Kim
RRGim bujang
MRKim pujang
Genre
Based on
Manager Kim
by 
  • Jeong Jong-taek
  •     Toy
Written byNam Dae-joong [ko]
Directed by
Starring
Music byKim Sung-yul
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes10
Production
Executive producers
  • Hong Sung-chang
  • Namkoong Jung
  • Kim Chul-min
  • Lee Kwang-soon
  • Kim Bo-ram
Producers
  • Yoon Yoon-sun
  • Kim Deok-jin
Cinematography
  • Jo Dae-geun
  • Han Sang-gyu
  • Jo Ho-soo
Editors
  • Sun Han-saem
  • Lee Ji-hyun
Production companies
Original release
NetworkSBS TV
ReleaseJune 26 (2026-06-26) –
July 25, 2026 (2026-07-25)

Agent Kim Reactivated (Korean: 김부장) is a 2026 South Korean revenge drama and action thriller television series written by Nam Dae-joong [ko], and directed by Yi Seung-young [ko] and Lee So-eun. It stars So Ji-sub in the titular role as a former black-ops operative alongside an ensemble cast featuring Choi Dae-hoon, Yoon Kyung-ho, Joo Sang-wook, Son Na-eun, Kim Sung-kyu, Lee Jae-yong, Won Hyun-jun [ko], Park Jin-woo [ko], Jo Bok-rae, Lee Dong-ha [ko], Seo Su-min, and Yu Ji-ahn. Based on the Naver Webtoon Manager Kim by Jeong Jong-taek and Toy, the plot centers on Mr. Kim, a retired covert agent living a quiet life as a bank employee and single father who is forced to unearth his lethal past when his high school daughter is kidnapped.

Jointly produced by Studio S and Fantagio, the series adapts a spin-off of the PTJ Webtoon Universe and has frequently been compared by media outlets to the American action film Taken. Notably, the production made K-drama history as the first series to generate an entire three-minute, action-heavy backstory sequence using full artificial intelligence (AI) models to reduce high visual effects and production costs.

Agent Kim Reactivated aired on SBS TV from June 26 to July 25, 2026, every Friday and Saturday at 21:50 (KST), and was made available globally for streaming on Netflix. The series was a major commercial and critical success, with praise directed at So Ji-sub's emotional performance and the core "father-trio" dynamic, though the finale drew minor viewer controversy regarding heavy product placement (PPL). It achieved a peak nationwide rating of 23.1%, making it one of the highest-rated Friday–Saturday dramas in SBS network history.

Synopsis

[edit]

Kim Do-hyeon, known as Mr. Kim, is a former North-South Korean covert operative who retired to live as an office worker and single father, fulfilling his late wife's wishes. When his daughter, Min-ji, is kidnapped, Kim utilizes his past combat training to rescue her. His sudden activity draws the attention of the National Special Missions Bureau. During his search, Kim aligns with two other fathers who are also former operatives: Seong Han-soo and Park Jin-cheol. The trio faces opposition from various figures, including construction executive Ju Gang-chan, an associate named Jung Sang-a, and Park Kang-seong, a North Korean agent.

Cast and characters

[edit]

Main

[edit]
  • So Ji-sub as Kim Bu-Jang / Mr. Kim (Hong Dong-yeong [ko] as young Kim): A typical middle-aged salaryman at a bank and a single father raising his teenage daughter, Min-ji. He's secretly a North Korean defector, later serving as a South Korean special forces operative, forced to conceal his lethal past and his identity as "Agent 66".[2]
  • Yoon Kyung-ho as Park Jin-cheol: A Korean Marine Corps veteran of the elite "Cheonsan" special forces unit. He's also a long-time friend and comrade of Kim, and a volunteer member of the Marine Corps Veterans Association.[4]
  • Joo Sang-wook as Ju Gang-chan: A very wealthy and powerful figure, he's the president of Juhak Construction and the father of his daughter Ju Hye-ri. He maintains a private security force composed of former special forces mercenaries and relies heavily on corruption and physical intimidation to eliminate competition and adversaries to his business.[5]
  • Son Na-eun as Jung Sang-a: A Special Missions Directorate (SMD) agent who's assigned to keep Kim under surveillance while working undercover as his co-worker.[6]
  • Park Jin-woo [ko] as Im Ho-won: The owner of a laundromat located in Kim's block and another undercover SMD agent assigned to monitor Kim.[7]

Supporting

[edit]
  • Seo Su-min as Kim Min-ji (Kong I-jae as baby Min-ji | Choi Ha-yoon and Lee A-ra [ko] as young Min-ji): Kim's daughter and a sophomore at Songin High School. She's a constant victim of bullying stemming from being raised in a single parent household and struggles to get along at school and at home.[8]
  • Won Hyun-jun [ko] as Kang Guk-cheol / Mole Cricket: The director of the Special Missions Directorate (SMD), operating under the codename "Mole Cricket".[9]
  • Choi Bum-ho [ko] as Director Jang So-Jang: A General of the South Korean special forces' unit, "Cheonsan" who's overseen Kim during his time as an ROK operative.[10]
  • Kim Sung-kyu as Park Gang-seong (Yang Hee-sang as young Gang-seong): A North Korean operative who's tasked with infiltrating South Korea to bring Kim back to the North.[11]
  • Yu Ji-ahn as Ju Hye-ri: Gang-chan's daughter and a student at Songin High School.[13]
  • Lee Dong-ha [ko] as Secretary Nam Shil-jang: Gang-chan's chief of staff and bodyguard.[14]
  • Jo Bok-rae as Jung-dae / Gold Teeth: A gangster and subordinate of Gang-chan. He's known as "Gold Teeth" after Gang-chan forcibly pulled all of his teeth out and replaced them with gold.[15]
  • Chael as Kim Nam-hoon: A student and volleyball player at Songin High School.[19]
  • Lee Na-yeon as Park Da-bin: Park Jin-cheol's daughter.[20]

Special appearances

[edit]
  • Ok Taec-yeon as Park Yeong-gwang (Kang Ye-chan as young Yeong-gwang): A North Korean operative and Gang-seong's older brother.
  • Won Tae-min as Shin Seong-ho: A gang leader who took Min-ji's phone.

Episodes

[edit]
No.Directed byWritten byOriginal release date
1Lee Seung-YoungNam Dae-joongJune 26, 2026 (2026-06-26)
Kim Bu-Jang raises his daughter Kim Min-ji as a single father, struggles to get along as she grows older. While having dinner with his friends and former operatives Seong Han-soo and Park Jin-cheol, attract the attention of a group of thugs Kim had encountered earlier. Jin-cheol incites a brawl while being restrained by Han-soo before being subdued by police while Kim walks away. Ju Hye-ri, the daughter of Ju Gang-chan, and her friends spot Min-ji speaking with Hye-ri's love interest Kim Nam-hoon. Hye-ri confronts Min-ji before both become entangled in a physical altercation. The school summons their fathers, Ju Gang-chan and Kim respectively. Kim apologizes to Gang-Chan, aware of his status as a powerful figure, much to the ire of Min-ji. She refuses to return home despite her birthday being the next day, which is also the day her mother died. Min-ji goes missing the next day, prompting Kim to investigate. He encounters Hye-ri and her friend, who is also a thug. He attempts to take out Kim, revealing bullet wounds and scars all over his body, and his true past as a South Korean covert operative who defected from North Korea; partaking in missions against the North, who presumes Kim (codename "66") to be dead.
2Lee Seung-YoungNam Dae-joongJune 27, 2026 (2026-06-27)
In 2008, Agent Kim, an operative of the Cheonsan unit, assassinates a high-ranking North Korean general. Immediately after, he visits his wife in the hospital, before she dies from childbirth complications. He holds his own general hostage, having broken his promise numerous times to discharge Kim after a number of missions. Fast forward to the present on the night Min-ji went missing, Hye-ri's friends lure Min-ji and both become involved in another fight before Hye-ri knocks out Min-ji. Believing Min-ji is dead, she enlists Jung-dae (also known as "Gold teeth"), a subordinate of her father to dispose of Min-ji's body, all of whom are unaware she's still alive. North Korea discovers Kim is alive and Director General on South Korean intelligence, Ri Eung-ryeong enlists Park Gang-seong, the brother of Young-kwang, who was killed in a covert operation, to be sent to kill Kim, believing he was responsible for his brother's death. Gang-seong sneaks into South Korea and encounters Jin-cheol at a police station before Jin-cheol breaks himself out, realizing Kim is in danger. Kim himself goes out of his way to find his daughter before he is arrested by local police.
3Lee Seung-YoungNam Dae-joongJuly 3, 2026 (2026-07-03)
The Special Missions Directorate (SMD), its operatives Jung Sang-a and Im Ho-won, who are Kim's co-worker and neighbor respectively, and Gang-seong begin to tail Kim. Kim breaks free of police custody and enlists Han-soo to find his daughter by tracking her cellphone's location. Gang-chan becomes suspicious of Hye-ri's behavior and orders his bodyguards to investigate. Kim and Han-soo find themselves in an abandoned clubhouse occupied by a gang specializing in online scams and organized crime. The duo subdues everyone inside including the ringleaders before being stopped at gunpoint by Gang-seong.
4Lee Seung-YoungNam Dae-joongJuly 4, 2026 (2026-07-04)
In 1997, Major Ri Eung-ryeong recruits Kim and Park Young-kwang on the premise of scouting for young athletes. Instead, it was a ploy to train the boys into becoming elite operatives for North Korea. Kim is assigned number "73" while Park is given "66" as both undergo intense training. Their squad sneaks into South Korea in a covert mission to kill top South Korean figures, but it turned out to be a trap as someone from North Korea tipped off the mission to South Korea, resulting in the entire squad being killed except for Kim. Gang-seong, believing Kim was responsible for his brother's death, and taking his "66" identity, labels him "fake 66" before being stopped by Sang-a and Ho-won. Kim and Han-soo convince Sang-a and Ho-won to let them go before Gang-seong escapes. The duo reunites with Jin-cheol and begins to trace their way to Min-ji at Myeongpo Port before being stopped by SMD director Kang Guk-cheol. Han-soo distracts Guk-cheol and both fall into a river while Kim drives off in his vehicle; Jin-cheol surrenders himself to the SMD. Jung-dae decides to use Min-ji as leverage against his boss Gang-chan. Meanwhile, a presumably dead Min-ji wakes up in a cold storage warehouse, much to the surprise of Jung-dae.
5Lee Seung-YoungNam Dae-joongJuly 10, 2026 (2026-07-10)
Jung-dae's henchmen, Kim Sang-man and Park Gang-min are attacked by Kim upon his arrival to Myeongpo Port. He kills Sang-man and chases down Gang-min before being interrupted by Gang-seong. Kim and Gang-seong both fight before Kim reveals that before Gang-seong's brother died in Kim's arms, as he prevented Kim from committing suicide and urged him to stay alive. In addition, he reveals Ri Eung-ryeong was the one that leaked the mission to South Korea in a ploy to make himself the Director General. Min-ji lures Jung-dae into the warehouse and knocks him out while Jin-cheol frees himself from SMD captivity and reunites with Han-soon with an unconscious Guk-cheol downstream. Gang-chan's right-hand man, Secretary Nam and his crew, arrive at the port and tortures Jung-dae, before Jung-dae reveals Min-ji is alive. Nam orders a frantic search party, leaving one of his guards behind to finish off Jung-dae, but Jung-dae manages to kill the guard and escape unnoticed. Kim chases down Min-ji, unaware her father is also at the port. She unknowingly hitchhikes on Gang-chan's SUV while SMD director Guk-cheol is found by his fellow agents and decides to take Min-ji hostage, knowing that it's the only way to lure and capture Kim.
6Lee Seung-YoungNam Dae-joongJuly 11, 2026 (2026-07-11)
Kim reunites with Han-soo and make their way to Gang-chan's estate. Gang-chan orders Min-ji to be killed but is hidden in the basement as SMD agents barge in. Gang-chan's guards force the SMD out while Sang-a and Ho-won sneak in through the rear and successfully rescue Min-ji and hands her over to Guk-cheol. As they return to SMD headquarters, Han-soo hides as a stowaway under Guk-cheol's vehicle while Kim chases from behind. Guk-cheol orders SMD HQ to be reinforced by tactical units, anticipating Kim's arrival. As Han-soo sneaks into SMD HQ, Guk-cheol interrogates Min-ji, revealing her dad's lethal past. Vice Minister of National Security Im Do-hyeon visits Guk-cheol and scolds him before demanding the handover of Min-ji, to which Guk-cheol rebukes him. Han-soo and Jin-cheol rescue Min-ji but are surrounded by SMD agents and SWAT teams. Vice minister Im suddenly appears and orders the troops to stand down while being held in a chokehold by Kim.
7Lee Seung-YoungNam Dae-joongJuly 17, 2026 (2026-07-17)
Kim holds vice minister Im hostage as leverage to force the SMD and tactical units into standing down. Kim, Han-soo, Jin-cheol, and Min-ji are briefly stopped by Sang-a and Ho-won, but Kim promises to surrender once he guarantees his daughter's safety. They drive off, dumping minister Im in the process. Nam follows them and carjacks their vehicle, but Kim and the trio fight back, subduing Nam and his men. The group makes their way back to Gang-chan's estate where Kim overpowers Gang-chan and forces him to apologize on his knees to Min-ji. Later, the SMD surrounds Kim's apartment as he and Min-ji have their last meal together before Kim, Han-soo, and Jin-cheol turn themselves in. Gang-chan bribes Assemblyman Shim Eui-won into suppressing any police investigations against him while Ho-won closes his laundromat following Kim's arrest. Kim is later transferred into North Korean custody where he finds himself in a North Korean torture chamber.
8Lee Seung-YoungNam Dae-joongJuly 18, 2026 (2026-07-18)
Kim is tortured for several days in North Korea but escapes, only for it to turn out to be a set up to test his loyalty. Impressed, Director Jang gives Kim one final mission, if successful, he and his daughter would be free and be given new identities. Kim requests Han-soo and Jin-cheol to be released in exchange, and both are promptly dumped in Haenam. Kim is tasked with protecting a high-ranking North Korean officer who recently defected, which turns out to be Director General Ri Eung-ryeong. Just days prior, North Korea discovered Ri's plot the make himself the Director General, forcing Ri to evade arrest. Meanwhile, the Juhak Heritage Resort is used to host North Korea for Inter-Korean talks. Upon learning of Kim's true identity and Ri's defection from vice minister Im, Gang-chan bribes Suh Gwang-nam, the head of North Korea's delegation in exchange for information leading to Kim and Ri's capture. North Korean agents storm the safehouse holding Ri, which was also guarded by Sang-a and Ho-won. All manage to escape but the Prime Minister of South Korea Sim Jong-seon, orders the SMD to detain Kim and Ri, who are seeking refuge at Jin-cheol's place. SMD agents arrive and Guk-cheol declares that Kim's mission has failed.
9Lee Seung-YoungNam Dae-joongJuly 24, 2026 (2026-07-24)
After Kim and Ri escaped, Gang-chan suggests North Korea threaten to cancel the Inter-Korean talks unless South Korea hands Kim and Ri over. Prime Minister Sim orders the SMD to do just that. Gang-chan is to personally execute Kim but decides to do so later, before being subdued by Han-soo and Jin-cheol. Sang-a, Ho-won, and Kim's trio devise a plan to sneak into the hotel and rescue Ri. Meanwhile, Ri is secretly brought back to the hotel and interrogated by Gwang-nam. He offers Ri a chance to live, in exchange for the key to a safe containing $8 million USD in casino chips Ri funneled from the North into a casino in Macau. Kim knocks out Gwang-nam and comes to Ri's aid, but the North Koreans dsicover Kim and his crew have infiltrated the hotel. Han-soo and Jin-cheol distract a majority of the North Koreans while Gwang-nam regains consciousness and orders Ri and Kim to be killed. Gang-chan frees himself and reveals he's holding Han-soo's and Jin-cheol's kids at gunpoint; Kim and Ri force their way through a shootout but are caught in a Mexican standoff by armed North Koreans.
10Lee Seung-YoungNam Dae-joongJuly 25, 2026 (2026-07-25)
Sang-a, Ho-won, Kim, and Ri escape but are stopped by Gang-seong, confronting Ri about the truth of his brother's death and why Kim is protecting the man that used them as bait. Kim explains the whole operation was to protect his daughter, before the group drives off. Kim then diverges and finds Da-bin and Tae-hun, Jin-cheol's and Han-soo's kids respectively are being held at gunpoint by Secretary Nam. Gang-chan forces Kim into an MMA cage with Han-soo and Jin-cheol. Both must kill Kim in exchange for freeing their kids, but the trio break themselves out of the cage, taking down Gang-chan and Nam. North and South Korea sign a free-trade agreement while South Korea informally agrees not to take retaliatory action against North Korea for the shootout at Juhak Resort. The North Korean delegation leaves and Gwang-nam orders his men to inform the Workers Party of Korea that Kim and Ri have been executed. Ri is treated at a hospital while Director Jang interviews Ri on North Korea's ballistic missile capabilities. While in his sleep, Ri is kidnapped by Kim, who hands Ri over to Gang-seong, both promising to stay alive. Ri wakes up on the coast of North Korea before being chased by his own soldiers. Kim phones an old contact who agrees to orchestrate Juhak Construction's downfall at a price. The government opens an investigation into the company. Assemblyman Shim, Vice Minister Im, Gang-chan, and Hye-ri (who fled to Cambodia) are all arrested. A wounded Gang-chan is escorted out of the hospital but is stabbed by Jung-dae. The government fakes Kim's death, while Kim and Min-ji are given new identities and relocate away from Seoul. North Korea confirms Kim's "death" and his profile is deleted by Gwang-nam, who now sits as the new Director General. Kim appears for a "job interview" by a man connected to his old contact, with Kim preparing to "interview" with a duel.

Production

[edit]

Development

[edit]

In April 2023, The Grimm Entertainment signed a drama production contract for the Naver webtoon Manager Kim with Fantagio. The webtoon is a spin-off series centered around the character Manager Kim from Lookism, alongside Park Jin-cheol from My Life as a Loser [ko] and Seong Han-soo from Viral Hit. The series marks a major expansion of the "One Source Multi-Use" (OSMU) strategy for the PTJ Universe.[22] It is described as a revenge-action drama revolving around a father who uses a dangerous skillset to rescue his daughter. Media and production sources have frequently compared its premise to the Hollywood film Taken.[23][24]

The script is written by Nam Dae-joong [ko], known for his work on films such as The Last Ride (2016) and Homme Fatale (2019), and directed by Yi Seung-young [ko], whose previous credits include Voice 2 (2018), Tracer (2022), and Wonderful World (2024). It is planned and produced by Studio S along with Fantagio.[25][26]

Casting

[edit]

In September 2025, My Daily [ko] reported that So Ji-sub, Choi Dae-hoon, and Yoon Kyung-ho would lead the series as the central trio. So was cast in the titular role of Mr. Kim, marking his return to the action-noir genre, while Choi was selected to portray Seong Han-soo and Yoon was cast as Park Jin-cheol.[25] Media outlets highlighted So's casting by drawing comparisons between his character's trajectory in the revenge thriller and Bryan Mills from the action film Taken.[24] The following month, Kim Sung-kyu and Son Na-eun were reportedly joined the cast.[27][28] By the end of 2025, Joo Sang-wook, Lee Dong-ha [ko], and Jo Bok-rae were cast to play various villain roles.[29][30][31]

In May 2026, Won Hyun-jun [ko] was confirmed to join the cast.[32] The same month, SBS officially confirmed the onscreen appearances of So, Choi, Yoon, Joo, Son, and Kim.[23]

Visual effects

[edit]

The series was the first Korean drama to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) generation for an entire major sequence.[33] In the first two episodes, which depict the backstory of protagonist Mr. Kim (played by So Ji-sub) as a North Korean secret agent, a three-minute action sequence was produced through AI technology rather than live-action filming.[33][34] The sequence includes depictions of building explosions, car chases on snowy roads and inside tunnels, a vehicle overturning and crashing into a river, gunfights, and martial arts choreography.[33][34][35]

The sequence was created by Morpheus Studio using its "AICRON" platform, an AI content creation system launched in February 2026.[33][34][35] The platform uses a node-based integrated pipeline that processes prompts, image and video generation, audio generation, and editing on a single interface using various commercial AI models.[34] The AI production was supervised by Ryu Jae-hwan, the vice president of Morpheus Studio and a visual effects (VFX) director who previously won technical awards at the Grand Bell Awards and Blue Dragon Film Awards.[33][34][35]

According to the production team, an AI-generated sequence was selected to manage the high location, set construction, pyrotechnic, and conventional VFX costs associated with filming a large-scale scene within budget constraints.[33][34][35] The production team stated that the platform minimized character consistency issues typical of AI-generated video, allowing the actor's facial expressions and appearance to remain stable during fast-moving action shots.[33][34][36][35][37] Following the broadcast, South Korean media outlets reported that audience reception to the visual quality of the sequence was generally positive, with minimal criticism regarding visual awkwardness.[35]

Ryu stated that the sequence demonstrated AI could be used to construct entire narrative scenes rather than just replacing short VFX shots.[33][34][35] He argued that when used with clear planning and production objectives, AI technology can function as a viable tool for storytellers.[33][34][35]

Release

[edit]

SBS confirmed that the series is slated to air in 2026, as part of their Friday–Saturday lineup.[26] The series premiered on SBS TV on June 26, every Friday and Saturday, and is available for streaming on Netflix.[23][24]

Reception

[edit]

Critical response

[edit]

The series received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its balance between action sequences and character emotional development. James Melzer of MovieWeb considered the series a blend of the Taken and John Wick franchises, with influences from the television series Reacher, noting that it builds substantial suspense before transitioning into action.[38] Both Melzer and Joel Keller of Decider commented on the show's pacing; Keller observed that the first episode is a "slow build," but noted that this deliberate pacing allows for a deeper understanding of the protagonist's transition from an elite agent to a mild-mannered bank worker.[38][39]

Critics also highlighted the emotional core of the series. Monica Yadav of the Hindustan Times praised its "confident start," stating that while the show displays expected revenge-thriller tropes, the central emotional narrative is what keeps viewers invested. Yadav concluded that if the writing remains focused and develops more nuanced antagonists, the show has the potential to become one of the best action thrillers of the year.[40] Additionally, critics noted positive reception regarding the release strategy and early audience metrics; Melzer considered Netflix's two-episode weekly release model highly effective and pointed out the show's strong early audience scores on IMDb, where it achieved an average user rating of 8 out of 10.[38]

Domestic South Korean media also gave high praise. Star Today noted that lead actor So Ji-sub, returning to SBS after 13 years since Master's Sun (2013), successfully blended a cold agent with profound fatherly love, delivering convincing eye acting and action scenes that set a new benchmark for his career. Furthermore, the "Dad Universe" trio composed of So Ji-sub, Choi Dae-hoon, and Yoon Kyung-ho was well received; reports praised the contrast and chemistry between their top-tier combat skills and their "relatable dad" personas around their children, which became a key element of the show's popularity. A column analysis in Economic Review argued that the product placement (PPL) of the auto repair shop (SpeedMate) transformed "car repair" into a symbolic metaphor for "repairing life," serving as a positive example of integrating commercial sponsorship with script narrative.[41][42]

Audience response and controversy

[edit]

Following the broadcast of the series finale, it received widespread praise from South Korean viewers as a "strong start and strong finish" (용두용미), with many expressing satisfaction with the heartwarming conclusion that punished evil and promoted good.[43]

However, during the final 20 minutes of episode 10, a heavy concentration of product placement (PPL)—including caffeinated candy, automobiles, conveyor-belt sushi, and eyewear brands—sparked dissatisfaction among some viewers and netizens, who criticized the excessive advertising density for ruining immersion and emotional continuity.[44] This phenomenon sparked discussion regarding the differences in production environments between broadcast networks and OTT platforms, with some viewers expressing a desire for a potential second season to be produced by an OTT platform (such as Netflix) to minimize commercial interruptions.[44]

Viewership

[edit]

Agent Kim Reactivated recorded strong viewership ratings upon its debut. According to Nielsen Korea, the premiere episode broadcast on June 26, 2026, achieved a nationwide rating of 9.5%, marking the highest premiere rating for any miniseries broadcast in 2026.[45] The series experienced a significant increase for its second episode, rising 6.2 percentage points to a nationwide rating of 15.7%, with a peak real-time rating reaching 18.1%. This marked the first time a miniseries surpassed the 15% viewership threshold within two episodes since the third season of The Penthouse: War in Life in 2021.[46]

By its fourth episode on July 4, 2026, the series surpassed the 20% mark, recording a nationwide viewership rating of 21.6%. This achievement set a record as the fastest SBS Friday–Saturday drama to cross the 20% threshold, surpassing the pacing of previous series such as The Fiery Priest, Hot Stove League, and The Penthouse 2. The 21.6% rating also positioned Agent Kim Reactivated as the third highest-rated SBS Friday–Saturday drama series in the network's history, behind The Penthouse 2 (29.2%) and The Fiery Priest (22%).[47]

Agent Kim Reactivated : South Korea viewers per episode (millions)
SeasonEpisode numberAverage
12345678910
11.9713.2533.7674.4304.0214.5824.4764.6864.1354.5503.987
Source: Audience measurement performed nationwide by Nielsen Korea.[48]
Average TV viewership ratings
Ep. Original broadcast date Average audience share
(Nielsen Korea)[48]
Nationwide Seoul
1 June 26, 2026 9.5% (2nd) 9.8% (1st)
2 June 27, 2026 15.7% (1st) 15.9% (1st)
3 July 3, 2026 18.8% (1st) 19.6% (1st)
4 July 4, 2026 21.6% (1st) 22.7% (1st)
5 July 10, 2026 20.5% (1st) 21.0% (1st)
6 July 11, 2026 22.3% (1st) 23.2% (1st)
7 July 17, 2026 21.9% (1st) 22.6% (1st)
8 July 18, 2026 23.1% (1st) 23.6% (1st)
9 July 24, 2026 21.5% (1st) 21.3% (1st)
10 July 25, 2026 23.0% (1st) 23.4% (1st)
Average 19.8% 20.3%
  • In the table above, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.

See also

[edit]
  • Taken, has a similar premise about tracking down a kidnapped daughter – 2008 film by Pierre Morel

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ 프로그램 소개 [Program Introduction]. SBS (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 26, 2025. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  2. ↑ 김부장 [Mr. Kim]. SBS (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 27, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  3. ↑ 성한수 [Seong Han-soo]. SBS (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 27, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  4. ↑ 박진철 [Park Jin-cheol]. SBS (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 27, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  5. ↑ 주강찬 [Ju Kang-chan]. SBS (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 27, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  6. ↑ 정상아 [Jung Sang-a]. SBS (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 27, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  7. ↑ 세탁소 임씨. SBS (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 27, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  8. ↑ 김민지 [Kim Min-ji]. SBS (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 27, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  9. ↑ 땅강아지 [Mole Cricket]. SBS (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 27, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  10. ↑ 장소장 [Director Jang]. SBS (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 27, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  11. ↑ 박강성 [Park Gang-seong]. SBS (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 27, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  12. ↑ 리응령 [Ri Eung-ryeong]. SBS (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 27, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  13. ↑ 주혜리 [Ju Hye-ri]. SBS (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 27, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  14. ↑ 남실장 [Secretary Nam]. SBS (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 27, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  15. ↑ 귿이빨 [Gold Teeth]. SBS (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 27, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  16. ↑ 김상만 [Kim Sang-man]. SBS (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 27, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  17. ↑ 박강민 [Park Kang-min]. SBS (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 27, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  18. ↑ 심의원 [Assemblyman Shim]. SBS (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 27, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  19. ↑ Choi, Moon-seon (June 17, 2026). 루네이트 카엘, 훈훈한 배구부 에이스 된다...'김부장'으로 연기 도전 [Lun8's Chael becomes a handsome volleyball team ace...Challenging acting with Agent Kim Reactivated]. NewsPim (in Korean). Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  20. ↑ ""박진철이 아내 옆에서 웃다니"...'김부장' 윤경호, 해병대 원스타 아내-딸과 흐믓 미소". 스포츠서울 (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2026-07-23. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
  21. ↑ 임유진 [Im Yu-jin]. SBS (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 27, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  22. ↑ Kim, Sung-hyun (April 12, 2023). 네이버웹툰 '김부장' 드라마로 제작된다 [Naver Webtoon Manager Kim to be Adapted into Drama series]. Zdnet Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 14, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2026. 김부장은 '외모지상주의'에 등장하는 김부장 캐릭터와 '인생존망' 박진철, '싸움독학' 성한수 등을 중심으로 펼쳐지는 스핀오프 작품으로.. [Manager Kim is a spin-off work centered around the character Manager Kim from Lookism, along with Park Jin-cheol from My Life as a Loser and Seong Han-soo from Viral Hit..]
  23. 1 2 3 Shin, Young-eun (May 22, 2026). 한국판 '테이큰' 드디어 온다...소지섭 '김부장' 6월 26일 첫 방송 [Korean version of Taken is finally coming...So Ji-sub's Agent Kim Reactivated first broadcast on June 26]. Star Today (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 24, 2026. Retrieved May 30, 2026. 소지섭이 선보일 한국판 '테이큰'에 관심이 집중된다. [Attention is focused on the Korean version of Taken that So Ji-sub will showcase.]
  24. 1 2 3 Waugh, J.R. (May 29, 2026). "Netflix's Upcoming Action Thriller Is Taken Meets Mercy For None". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on June 29, 2026. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
  25. 1 2 Kim, Jin-seok (September 10, 2025). [단독]소지섭·최대훈·윤경호, '김부장'으로 뭉친다(종합) [[Exclusive] So Ji-sub, Choi Dae-hoon, and Yoon Kyung-ho to Unite for Agent Kim Reactivated (Comprehensive)]. My Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 4, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  26. 1 2 Jung, Hee-yeon (September 11, 2025). 소지섭 아빠 됐다...그런데 이제 남북파공작원 출신인 (김부장) [So Ji-sub Becomes a Father...But He's a Former Inter-Korean Secret Agent (Agent Kim Reactivated)]. Sports Dong-A (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 23, 2026. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  27. ↑ Lee, Mi-ji (October 15, 2025). [단독]김성규, '김부장' 캐스팅..소지섭과 호흡 맞춘다 [[Exclusive] Kim Sung-kyu Cast in Agent Kim Reactivated..To Work Alongside So Ji-sub]. Herald Muse (in Korean). Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  28. ↑ Chang, A-leum (October 22, 2025). [단독] 손나은, 소지섭 만난다...기대작 '김부장' 합류 [[Exclusive] Son Na-eun to Meet So Ji-sub...Joins Highly Anticipated Series Agent Kim Reactivated]. News1 (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 4, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  29. ↑ Jung, Eun-ji (November 20, 2025). [단독] 주상욱, 드라마 '김부장'서 냉혹한 빌런으로 안방 복귀 [[Exclusive] Joo Sang-wook to Return to the Small Screen as a Cold-Blooded Villain in Drama Agent Kim Reactivated]. Sports Dong-A (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 5, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  30. ↑ Yeon, Hwi-sun (December 2, 2025). '걸스데이 소진♥' 이동하, 결혼 후 첫 드라마 소지섭 '김부장' 빌런 변신 [공식] [[Official] 'Spouse of Girl's Day's Sojin' Lee Dong-ha to Transform into a Villain in So Ji-sub's Agent Kim Reactivated First Drama Since Marriage]. OSEN (in Korean). Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  31. ↑ Park, So-jin (December 11, 2025). 조복래, '김부장' 합류...강렬한 존재감 예고 [Jo Bok-rae Joins Agent Kim Reactivated...Foreshadowing a Powerful Presence]. MBN Star (in Korean). Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  32. ↑ Son, Bong-seok (March 5, 2026). 원현준, '김부장' 강국철 役 캐스팅 [Won Hyun-jun cast as Kang Guk-cheol in Agent Kim Reactivated]. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Retrieved May 20, 2026.
  33. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Kelly (July 11, 2026). 這個蘇志燮竟然是AI！《金特務》3分鐘動作戲全由AI打造，創下韓劇史上首例 [This So Ji-sub is actually AI! Agent Kim Reactivated 3-minute action scene built entirely by AI, marking a first in K-drama history]. Kdaily (in Chinese). Archived from the original on July 14, 2026. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  34. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Yoo, Hyung-dong (July 9, 2026). "소지섭 북파 장면, AI로 제작"...SBS '김부장', 韓 드라마 최초 '풀 AI 시퀀스' 구현 ["So Ji-sub's North Korea infiltration scene produced by AI"...SBS Agent Kim Reactivated implements Korea's first 'Full AI Sequence']. AI Post Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 14, 2026. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  35. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Kang, Joo-hee (July 10, 2026). '김부장' 소지섭 AI 였다니..."3분 액션 시퀀스 통째로 AI 제작" [Agent Kim Reactivated So Ji-sub was AI... "The entire 3-minute action sequence produced by AI"]. Ilgan Sports (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 16, 2026. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  36. ↑ Kim, Chae-yeon (July 10, 2026). 시청률 21.6% '김부장', 소지섭 AI로 제작했다..韓 드라마 최초 [With 21.6% viewership ratings, Agent Kim Reactivated produced So Ji-sub via AI..A first for Korean dramas]. OSEN (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 12, 2026. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  37. ↑ Ahn, Jin-yong (July 10, 2026). AI로 찍어낸 '김부장' 3분 액션... 시청자는 몰랐다 [3-minute action sequence of Agent Kim Reactivated printed by AI... Audiences didn't notice]. Munhwa Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 13, 2026. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  38. 1 2 3 Melzer, James (2026-06-29). "Netflix Finds New Global Smash With Taken Meets John Wick Action Thriller". MovieWeb. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
  39. ↑ Keller, Joel (2026-06-26). "Stream It Or Skip It: 'Agent Kim Reactivated' On Netflix, Where A Mild-Mannered Office Worker Dregs Up His Black Ops Past When His Daughter Goes Missing". Decider. Archived from the original on 2026-07-14. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
  40. ↑ Yadav, Monica (2026-06-29). "Agent Kim Reactivated review: So Ji Sub powers a gripping K-drama action revenge thriller with heart and rage". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 2026-07-18. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
  41. ↑ "['김부장' 종영②] 소지섭, 또 경신한 인생캐…13년만 SBS 복귀 '대성공'" [['Mr. Kim' End②] So Ji-sub refreshes his life role... SBS return after 13 years a 'great success']. Star Today (in Korean). 2026-07-26. Archived from the original on 2026-07-26. Retrieved 2026-07-26.
  42. ↑ "[기고] 콘텐츠와 PPL이 균형있게 공존하는 법" [[Contribution] How content and PPL coexist in balance]. Economic Review (in Korean). 2026-01-19. Retrieved 2026-07-26.
  43. ↑ "'종영' 김부장, 기어코 해냈다…'용두용미' 결말에 반응 대박, '시즌2' 확정 소식만 남았다" ['Ended' Mr. Kim finally pulled it off... Huge response to 'dragon head, dragon tail' ending, only Season 2 confirmation left]. Xports News (in Korean). 2026-07-26. Archived from the original on 2026-07-26. Retrieved 2026-07-26.
  44. 1 2 "'김부장', 마지막 20분 PPL 폭격에 시청자들 아쉬움 "시즌2는 OTT로"" ['Mr. Kim', viewers express disappointment over PPL bombardment in last 20 minutes: "Season 2 should be on OTT"]. Sports Seoul (in Korean). 2026-07-26. Retrieved 2026-07-26.
  45. ↑ Lee, Jong-hee (June 27, 2026). 소지섭 '아빠 유니버스' 통했다...'김부장' 9%대 출발 [So Ji-sub's 'Daddy Universe' worked...Agent Kim Reactivated starts in the 9% range] (in Korean). Newsis. Archived from the original on July 14, 2026. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  46. ↑ Nam, Jung-hyun (July 12, 2026). 소지섭 '김부장', 2회 시청률 15%…'펜트하우스3' 이후 5년 만 [So Ji-sub's Agent Kim Reactivated, Episode 2 Ratings Hit 15%...First Time in 5 Years Since The Penthouse 3] (in Korean). Newsis. Archived from the original on July 14, 2026. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  47. ↑ Ahn, Tae-hyun (July 5, 2026). '김부장' 제대로 터졌다...4회 만에 21.6% 기록 [N시청률] [Agent Kim Reactivated exploded...recording 21.6% in just 4 episodes [N Rating]]. News1 (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 13, 2026. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  48. 1 2 Nielsen Korea ratings:
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