The new K-drama Agent Kim Reactivated has taken the entertainment world by storm. The show, which started airing on June 26, 2026, has quickly become one of the most talked-about series of the year. Viewers cannot stop praising the action sequences, especially the intense rampage scenes featuring the lead character Manager Kim.
The drama airs every Friday and Saturday on SBS in South Korea. It also streams globally on Netflix for international audiences. The series has a 10-episode run, with each episode running for about 60 minutes. New episodes arrive weekly through late July 2026.
What Makes Agent Kim Reactivated So Special
Agent Kim Reactivated tells the story of Kim Do-hyeon, a bank manager who lives as a single father raising his teenage daughter Min-ji. On the surface, he seems like an ordinary office worker who avoids trouble. But he has a hidden past. He used to be an elite secret agent involved in dangerous black-ops missions.
When his daughter gets kidnapped, he has no choice but to bring back his old fighting skills. What follows is a non-stop action ride as he tears through anyone standing in his way to save her. Fans have compared the show to popular action films like Taken and John Wick.
One Reddit user described the show as “A mix of John Wick and Taken, with a touch of comedy” . Another fan wrote, “Honestly, I never experienced such a well-curated storyline. The tension, the layered characters, the depth, etc., anything and everything about this drama has been impeccable” .
So Ji-sub’s Comeback Wins Hearts
So Ji-sub plays the lead role of Manager Kim. This marks his return to the small screen after some time away. The actor is known for his action roles, and this drama puts him right back in his element.
Fans have been loving his performance. On Reddit, one viewer said, “Damn So Ji Sub is back after Mercy For None with another explosive series. His face goes from cute puppy to Cujo in an instant” . Another user pointed out, “He’s perfect for the john wick vibes role. the way his eyes tells everything you need to know. masterpiece” .
So Ji-sub plays two sides of the same character very well. He shows a gentle office worker who just wants to raise his daughter, and a cold, deadly agent who stops at nothing to get her back.
Ratings Break Records in Just Four Episodes
The numbers prove just how big this show has become. Episode 4, which aired on July 4, recorded a nationwide viewership rating of 21.6% according to Nielsen Korea. This makes it the highest-rated drama of 2026 in South Korea so far.
The show started strong with a 9.5% rating in its first episode. It jumped to 15.7% in episode two, becoming the first SBS drama in 2026 to cross the 15% mark. This is also the fastest SBS drama to reach this milestone in five years, since The Penthouse 3 in 2021. Episode three hit 18.8%, and episode four broke the 20% barrier.
The drama now ranks as the third highest-rated SBS Friday-Saturday drama ever. It sits behind only The Penthouse II: War in Life and The Fiery Priest. The show also reached a peak rating of 23% during episode four.
Global Success on Netflix
Agent Kim Reactivated is not just a hit in South Korea. It is also doing very well internationally. The show entered Netflix’s global Top 10 for non-English TV just three days after its premiere. It ranked No. 3 on the list during the June 22-28 tracking period.
Early global viewership numbers reached around 6.6 to 7 million views. The show’s rapid rise shows strong demand for action dramas led by experienced actors.
The Supporting Cast Also Shines
The drama features a strong group of actors besides So Ji-sub. Choi Dae-hoon plays Sung Han-su, a taekwondo teacher. Yoon Kyung-ho plays Park Jin-cheol, another skilled fighter. Together with So Ji-sub, they form what fans call the “Ahjussi trio” – a group of middle-aged men who each have dangerous abilities.
Joo Sang-wook plays Joo Kang-chan, the main villain. Lee Dong Ha plays Manager Nam, Joo Kang-chan’s right-hand man. Lee Dong Ha is married to Girl’s Day member Sojin. She showed her support for her husband by sharing a screenshot from the first episode and saying, “It’s already so fun from the first episode. Didn’t you know? My husband appears in ‘Agent Kim Reactivated.’ He’s Manager Nam. He’s scary” .
Other cast members include Son Na-eun, Seo Su-min (who plays Min-ji), and Yu Ji-ahn.
Fans Love the Father-Daughter Story
One of the most praised parts of the show is the relationship between Manager Kim and his daughter Min-ji. The emotional core of the story gives the action scenes more weight. Viewers care about the characters, so they feel more invested in the fight scenes.
The show spends time building up the characters before pushing the story into high gear. This approach helps viewers connect with Manager Kim’s journey. He is not just a fighter – he is a father who loves his child and will do anything to protect her.
So Ji-sub said he was drawn to the role because of this image of an ordinary father willing to do anything to protect his child.
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What to Expect From the Rest of the Season
With six more episodes to go, the action is only going to get more intense. The show has already introduced organized crime and two rival intelligence agencies, both looking for Manager Kim. The world is expanding, and the stakes are getting higher.
The drama is an adaptation of the popular Naver webtoon Manager Kim. The webtoon has a large fan base, which created high expectations for the TV version. So far, the show has met those expectations and even surpassed them.
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