'Agent Kim Reactivated' Surpasses 15% Ratings in Just Two Episodes, Achieving a First Since 'The Penthouse 3'
The SBS action drama has become 2026's biggest television sensation, reaching a milestone that no Korean drama has achieved in five years.
A Record-Breaking Start for SBS
SBS's Friday-Saturday drama Agent Kim Reactivated continues its explosive debut, reaching 15.7% nationwide viewership with only its second episode. The achievement makes it the highest-rated SBS drama of 2026 and the first television drama across all Korean networks to surpass the 15% mark within just two episodes since The Penthouse 3 in 2021.
According to Nielsen Korea, Episode 2, which aired on June 27, recorded 15.7% nationwide, 15.9% in the Seoul metropolitan area, and peaked at 18.1%, dominating its time slot and ranking as the week's most-watched miniseries.
Dominating Every Major Audience Metric
The drama also posted impressive results among viewers aged 20–49, recording an average rating of 5.8% and peaking at 7.17%.
These numbers made Agent Kim Reactivated the highest-rated program of the week among the key 20–49 demographic across all television genres, further cementing its status as one of Korea's hottest new dramas.
Episode 2 Delivered Major Twists
The second episode followed Kim Do Hyun (played by So Ji Sub) as he abandoned his ordinary office worker persona and returned to the deadly skills of his past in a desperate search for his missing daughter, Min Ji.
Flashbacks revealed that Kim Do Hyun had once been a legendary covert operative before leaving that life behind to fulfill his late wife's final wish of raising their daughter as an ordinary father.
As he tracked down those responsible for Min Ji's disappearance, viewers witnessed his overwhelming combat abilities and relentless determination, leading to one of the episode's most memorable moments.
After being mocked by a suspect who claimed the law could not punish juvenile offenders, Kim Do Hyun delivered a chilling response:
"Then I'll become an outlawed middle-aged man."
The scene quickly became one of the drama's most talked-about moments online.
A Shocking Cliffhanger
Just as Kim Do Hyun appeared to lose hope after receiving a message claiming his daughter had been killed, the episode delivered a dramatic twist.
The final moments revealed that Min Ji was still alive, subtly moving inside the trunk of a vehicle while everyone else believed she was dead.
The episode concluded with Kim Do Hyun answering an unexpected phone call labeled "My Daughter," setting up another emotional confrontation in Episode 3.
Meanwhile, the drama also introduced new threats, including the deployment of an elite North Korean operative tasked with eliminating Kim Do Hyun.
Momentum Continues to Build
Based on the popular Naver webtoon, Agent Kim Reactivated premiered on June 26 and stars So Ji Sub as a former secret agent forced to return to his dangerous past after his daughter is kidnapped. The series is also available on Netflix.
With record-breaking ratings after only two episodes and growing buzz both domestically and internationally, Agent Kim Reactivated has quickly established itself as one of the biggest Korean dramas of 2026.
Episode 3 is scheduled to air on July 3.