Agent Kim Reactivated tops Korean TV ratings, hits 21.6% viewership

South Korea’s SBS drama Agent Kim Reactivated has become the year’s biggest TV hit. The series opened with a 9.5 % nationwide rating, rose to 15.7 % for episode 2, 18.8 % for episode 3 and reached 21.6 % for episode 4 – the third‑highest rating ever for an SBS Friday‑Saturday drama, trailing only The Penthouse 2 and The Fiery Priest. The surge made it the highest‑rated mini‑series of 2026 and the most‑watched SBS program this year. Its popularity also translated to streaming, where it entered Netflix’s global non‑English TV Top 10 at No. 3 within days of its premiere.

The drama stars So Ji‑sub as former special‑agent Kim, who returns to his lethal skills to rescue his kidnapped daughter Min‑ji. Amid the ratings boom, the show revived online scrutiny of its source webtoon creator Park Tae‑june, with critics pointing to background symbols such as a “Rock Owling” sign that they say echo far‑right imagery linked to former President Roh Moo‑hyun. Park has denied deliberate political intent, and both SBS and the production team have not commented on the renewed controversy.