'Agent Kim Reactivated' breaks 20% ratings barrier in just 4 episodes

SBS drama series "Agent Kim Reactivated" has crossed the so-called "magic 20%" viewership threshold, cementing its status as a ratings phenomenon.

The Friday episode, which aired July 4, recorded a Greater Seoul average of 22.7%, a national average of 21.6% and a peak of 25.1%, according to Nielsen Korea — all series highs. The show became the first drama in roughly two years to surpass 20% nationally, doing so in just four episodes. Among SBS Friday-Saturday dramas, it now ranks third all-time by ratings, behind "Penthouse 2" (29.2%) and "Fiery Priest" (22%).

SBS said the show reached 20% faster than "Fiery Priest," "Stove League" and "Penthouse 2" had.

Episode 4 followed Agent Kim as he launched a life-or-death search for his kidnapped daughter Minji (played by Seo Su-min), alongside Seong Han-su (Choi Dae-hun) and Park Jin-cheol (Yun Gyeong-ho).

A flashback to 28 years earlier showed a young Agent Kim undergoing brutal survival training alongside Codename 66, Park Yeong-gwang (Ok Taecyeon), as the two grew into legendary operatives — only for a mission to go wrong, leaving Park dead in a trap and Agent Kim the sole survivor.

Back in the present, Agent Kim came under threat from Park Gang-seong (Kim Seong-gyu), Park Yeong-gwang's younger brother, narrowly surviving a surprise shooting. When Jeong Sang-a (Son Na-eun) and a dry-cleaning shop owner (Park Jin-u) appeared and urged Agent Kim to surrender, he revealed his daughter's kidnapping, asked for time and slipped away with Seong Han-su.

Pressing on despite his wounds, Agent Kim and Seong Han-su reunited with Park Jin-cheol, completing what the show has dubbed the "Dad Universe" trio. The three tracked down a homeless man who had found Minji's phone and secured a crucial lead — but as they followed a location trace, an explosion suddenly flipped their vehicle.

Even as the car overturned, Agent Kim held on to the clue "Myeong Pohang." Seong Han-su created a diversion to help him escape, then leaped into the river with a single parting word to Park Jin-cheol watching from inside the wrecked car: "I'm going." Park Jin-cheol climbed out, flashed a steely look and muttered, "Is this my moment?" — before raising both hands and shouting "I surrender," choosing to turn himself in.

Meanwhile, a shock twist revealed that Minji — whom villain Gold Tooth (Jo Bok-rae) had believed dead and sent to a freezer — was still alive. Unaware of this, Agent Kim arrived alone at Myeong Pohang, repeating to himself, "Minji, just be alive. Just be alive." As he headed to a container office to find her, Minji, barely surviving inside the freezer, came face to face with Gold Tooth once more and found herself in mortal danger again.

With Park Gang-seong also converging on Myeong Pohang, tension has reached its peak, and attention now turns to how the fathers' alliance will navigate the crisis ahead.