The male lead’s fans are “streaming” the series like their lives depend on it.
Just now
So Ji Sub’s new K-Drama is already off to a massive start, but the reactions to its success are not coming only from drama fans. Some of the loudest cheers are coming from Korean film fans, and the reason has everything to do with what So Ji Sub has been doing off-screen for years.
SBS’s new Friday-Saturday series Agent Kim Reactivated has quickly become one of the biggest drama hits of the year. According to Nielsen Korea, the second episode recorded 15.7% nationwide viewership and 15.9% in the Seoul metropolitan area. Its highest real-time rating rose to 18.1%.
With that, Agent Kim Reactivated not only dominated its time slot but also became the No. 1 weekly miniseries. The series also reportedly set a new record as SBS’s highest-rated series of 2026 after only two episodes. The achievement drew even more attention as the series crossed the 15% ratings mark in just two episodes, something that has not happened across all channels since The Penthouse 3 in 2021.
The 2049 target ratings were also strong, averaging 5.8% and peaking at 7.17%. That made Agent Kim Reactivated No. 1 not only among Saturday programs, but also among all programs across all channels and genres that aired during the week.
But beyond the impressive numbers, another group of viewers has been celebrating the series’s success for a much more personal reason.
On Korean online communities, film fans began reacting excitedly to the news that So Ji Sub’s drama had become a hit. The reason, according to many, is that So Ji Sub has long been known among cinephiles for investing in and importing acclaimed international films to Korea.
Over the years, So Ji Sub has earned a special reputation among Korean film fans for helping bring in high-quality foreign films, including works that were not necessarily expected to be major commercial successes. Among the films mentioned by netizens were The Substance, Sirat, and The Voice of Hind Rajab. Because of this, many film fans have viewed So Ji Sub as someone who quietly supports meaningful cinema, even when it may not be the most profitable choice.
‘악마와의 토크쇼’, ‘존 오브 인터레스트’ 공동제공(투자수입) 소지섭 과거 인터뷰
“솔직히 힘들긴 하다. 손실이 되게 크고, 마이너스가 난다. 이렇게 오래하게 될 줄은 몰랐다. 그동안 받은 걸 돌려드린다는 마음도 있다. 앞으로도 손해가 나더라도 하고 싶은 마음이 있다”https://t.co/AmNWfzPE6o pic.twitter.com/27CFor12pG
— 우아한 (@uahan2) May 16, 2024
Past interview with So Ji Sub, who co-presented/invested in and imported Late Night with the Devil and The Zone of Interest:
‘Honestly, it is hard. The losses are really big, and I end up in the red. I didn’t know I would be doing this for so long. Part of it is also because I feel like I’m giving back what I’ve received. Even if I continue to take losses, I still want to keep doing it.’
— @uahan2/X
As a result, some fans jokingly described watching Agent Kim Reactivated as a form of “repayment” for all the films he has helped bring to Korean audiences.
The reactions were especially funny because some fans admitted they had been waiting for a chance to support So Ji Sub in return. Some even said they had previously visited his music videos almost like a “pilgrimage” because they wanted to show support in whatever way they could.
- “I’m happy So Ji Sub is doing well. I don’t have to watch his music videos anymore.”
- “His show is going to take off and he’ll use that to bring in more good films.”
- “Is So Ji Sub’s new K-Drama actually a good watch? I’ve been leaving it on out of loyalty as his movie business fan LOL.”
- “Should I stream the re-runs?”
- “As a movie fan, I already liked So Ji Sub, so I’m happy he hit it big this time.”
- “I wanted to repay So Ji Sub’s kindness, but now that he’s doing well, all I can do is cry…”
- “I hope he always walks only on a flower path.”
- “Oh, I’m so ready. You already know So Ji Sub is probably going to import even more non-profitable films that only a few movie theater fans like.”
- “Please make a lot of money.”
- “So Ji Sub has imported a lot of lesser-known foreign films, so out of loyalty, I will always watch So Ji Sub’s dramas.”
Now that So Ji Sub has a new K-Drama on air, fans are joking that they finally have a proper way to repay him. Rather than only thanking him for importing films, they can stream and watch his new project.
Of course, the excitement has only grown because Agent Kim Reactivated is not just succeeding out of loyalty. Many viewers are also praising the drama itself as genuinely entertaining. With action, mystery, family tragedy, and So Ji Sub’s long-awaited return to SBS after 13 years, Agent Kim Reactivated has quickly become a hot topic.
- I love you, Great Ji Sub. Please make lots of money, live a long life, and may peace be with your family.
- He is simply light.
- On top of that, his taste is amazing. If I hear that So Ji Sub imported something, I trust it and watch it.
- So Ji Sub really has a good eye for films… Honestly, he must know they won’t make money, but he imports them purely out of love for film. I’m grateful…
- I was going to watch it to repay him, but the K-Drama itself is freaking good.
- People even watched his music video?! LOL. That’s cute.
- Not streaming the music video LOLLLLL.
- The movie forum was already buzzing before Episode 1 LOL. The films So Ji Sub brings in usually aren’t very commercial, but they’re good quality, so I’m just thankful.
- For those watching on Netflix, please watch it on Netflix 🙏🏻 So Ji Sub, please hit it big 🙏🏻 I hope he can land some ads too 🙏🏻 I like actor So Ji Sub too, so I’m happy the drama is fun LOL.
- I really need to repay So Ji Sub, but even without that, the series is actually a good watch.
- Wait, wow, Sirat was So Ji Sub too? He has my loyalty forever.
- Thank you for The Zone of Interest and The Substance. So Ji Sub, hwaiting!
- Thank you, So-cinephile.
- I hope he sees all the success he deserves.
Will you be tuning in? Watch the official trailer here:
Source: Sports Seoul and theqoo