So Ji-sub's 'Agent Kim: Reactivated' Surpasses 15% Viewership Rating in Just Two Episodes
The new SBS spy-comedy thriller ‘Agent Kim: Reactivated,’ highly anticipated as actor So Ji-sub’s comeback project, is receiving an explosive response from the start. According to foreign reports and local media, the series recorded a nationwide viewership rating of 15.7% in just two episodes, setting a record as the fastest Korean drama in the last five years to surpass the 15% mark.
After a smooth start with a 9.5% rating in its premiere, ‘Agent Kim: Reactivated’ saw an exceptional surge of over 6 percentage points in just one episode. This is considered a highly unusual achievement compared to the typical trend where dramas gradually build their audience through word-of-mouth in the early stages.
At the heart of this success is the direction, which blends the tension of the spy genre with comedic elements, alongside So Ji-sub’s solid acting performance. So Ji-sub plays the protagonist ‘Kim,’ receiving praise for maximizing viewer immersion by simultaneously portraying a charismatic agent and a surprisingly comedic side.
Industry insiders analyze that this record is not merely a result of the lead actor’s popularity, but a victory of high-quality planning that captures both genre-specific fun and mass appeal. In particular, the setting that twists the typically heavy atmosphere of spy thrillers into a comedic tone is credited with driving viewership by appealing to a wide range of audiences, from the younger generation to middle-aged viewers.
In a situation where the K-Drama market is recently being reorganized around global OTT platforms, it is a very encouraging phenomenon for a domestic terrestrial drama to record such overwhelming viewership from the beginning. This is expected to be another case proving the recent Hallyu trend where the enthusiastic response of domestic viewers immediately leads to interest from global fandoms.
As the influence of Korean dramas continues to expand in the global content market, the early box-office sensation shown by ‘Agent Kim: Reactivated’ is expected to have a positive impact on the export competitiveness of K-Content in the future. It is particularly noteworthy that the genre characteristics of a spy-comedy thriller possess universal appeal that can easily resonate in overseas markets.
Beyond mere numerical achievements, this record demonstrates that Korean dramas still exert a powerful attraction to both domestic and international viewers. Attention is now focused on what further records this drama will set in the remaining episodes and how it will be received by global audiences through international platforms.
