'Agent Kim Reactivated' hits 15% ratings in just 2 episodes

Actor So Ji-sub poses at the press conference for the new SBS Friday-Saturday drama series "Agent Kim Reactivated" held at the SBS headquarters in Mokdong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, on June 25. [Yonhap]

SBS drama series "Agent Kim Reactivated" is showing signs of a major hit, surpassing a 15 percent viewership rating after just two episodes.

The second episode, which aired June 27, drew a nationwide rating of 15.7 percent, a Greater Seoul rating of 15.9 percent and a peak of 18.1 percent, according to Nielsen Korea. The figures topped all competing programs in the same time slot and far outpaced other weekly miniseries. The episode also set a new high for an SBS drama series this year and marked the fastest any program across all channels had crossed the 15 percent threshold in five years, since "Penthouse 3" in 2021.

"Agent Kim Reactivated" is an action drama series about a former North Korean infiltration agent, Kim Bu-jang (played by So Ji-sub), who fights to rescue his suddenly missing daughter. The series is based on a webtoon of the same name.

Actors Choi Dae-hoon (from left), So Ji-sub and Yoon Kyung-ho pose at the press conference for the new SBS Friday-Saturday drama series "Agent Kim Reactivated" held at the SBS headquarters in Mokdong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, on June 25. [Yonhap]

Yoon Kyung-ho, who plays Park Jin-cheol in the series, wrote on his social media account Sunday that "'Agent Kim Reactivated' has achieved the remarkable rating of 15 percent in just its second episode. I am sincerely grateful for the viewers' warm support."

He said that while wondering how best to express his gratitude, he recalled a campaign pledge he had made at the June 25 press conference — that he would observe 13 hours of silence if the show exceeded a 13 percent rating.

Yoon also recalled that his co-stars Choi Dae-hoon and Son Na-eun had readily volunteered to join him in the silent vigil. "I am truly grateful for my colleagues. I think it is because of teammates like them that 'Agent Kim Reactivated' has received such great love," he wrote. He added with a light touch that So Ji-sub had casually remarked he was already silent for 13 hours every day, so it was no big deal for him.

"I knew how high a wall a 13 percent rating was, so it was a number I quietly hoped for but hardly dared to imagine," Yoon said. "From the very first episode, a 9.5 percent rating came in and I had to rub my eyes." He said he would love to begin his 13-hour silent vigil of gratitude right away, but that he was on a rare family trip after a long stretch without a break. He promised to take on the challenge as soon as he returned.

paq@heraldcorp.com