So Ji Sub returns to SBS with 'Agent Kim Reactivated' after 13 years, can he spark another drama sensation?

Actor So Ji Sub is returning to an SBS drama for the first time in about 13 years. With 'Agent Kim Reactivated' marking his first SBS project since 'The Master's Sun,' attention is growing over whether he can once again deliver a major hit.

Premiering today (June 26 KST), SBS’s new Friday-Saturday drama 'Agent Kim Reactivated' is a revenge action series about an ordinary father who becomes the most dangerous man in the world to rescue his only daughter. The series is based on the webtoon of the same name.

Beyond its flashy action sequences, the drama centers on themes of family and fatherhood. At its core is the story of a man who once lived a glamorous yet dangerous life, but chose an ordinary existence solely for the sake of his daughter — only to be pulled back into a violent world.

So Ji Sub stars as Kim Bu Jang, an employee at a small savings bank who appears to be an average office worker but is actually a former operative from a North-South faction spy unit. He is a man who throws himself into danger to protect his only daughter.

Kim Bu Jang once lived an extraordinary life, but after Min Ji’s mother asked him on her deathbed to “forget everything and live only as Min Ji’s father,” he chose a completely different path. Raising his daughter from infancy through high school on his own, he gradually becomes a devoted father who loves her more than anything in the world.

That peaceful life shatters when Min Ji is kidnapped. To get her back, Kim Bu Jang returns to fighting, and two men from his past step in to help him exact his revenge.

Choi Dae Hoon plays Seong Han Soo, a former gold medalist and secret agent who now runs a neighborhood taekwondo studio and teaches children.

Yoon Kyung Ho takes on the role of Park Jin Chul, a man once known as a god of the battlefield, now a devoted father and neighborhood figure. Together, the three men will join forces in Kim Bu Jang’s revenge mission, bringing energy and momentum to the drama.

Each character is expected to bring a distinct action style to the series. Kim Bu Jang delivers brutal, instinctive combat, Park Jin Chul relies on overwhelming hand-to-hand strength, and Seong Han Soo adds dynamic kicking techniques. The contrast between their ordinary “dad” personas and explosive action skills is one of the drama’s biggest draws.

The project is drawing particular interest because it marks So Ji Sub’s return to SBS. The actor has not appeared in an SBS drama since The Master's Sun in 2013.

In that series, So Ji Sub played Joo Joong Won, the president of the Kingdom shopping complex, revealing a different side of himself from his typically intense image. Best known for his commanding presence in noir and melodramas, he surprised viewers with his comedic timing and charming romantic appeal in the romantic comedy, winning over female audiences.

The result was a major success. 'The Master's Sun' recorded a peak rating of 21.8 percent nationwide, according to Nielsen Korea, and became a full-fledged drama phenomenon. It remains one of So Ji Sub’s signature works and helped establish his strength in the romantic comedy genre.

In fact, So Ji Sub’s ties to SBS go back decades. He made his acting debut in the 1997 SBS drama 'Model' and went on to build an impressive SBS filmography with titles such as 'Glass Slippers,' 'Something Happened in Bali,' 'Thousand Years of Love,' 'We Are Dating Now,' and 'Phantom.' In particular, 'Something Happened in Bali' and 'The Master's Sun' became defining works in his career thanks to their popularity and strong ratings.

That history has also helped build expectations for 'Agent Kim Reactivated.' So Ji Sub has enjoyed notable success with SBS over the years, and his return to the network is being seen as a promising sign for the new drama.

The actor himself also expressed affection for his SBS comeback. During SBS Drama Media Day on June 1, he said, “I debuted through an SBS drama, so it always feels like home to me — warm and familiar. It had been a long time, but I filmed comfortably and happily.”

The momentum from the previous time slot is another positive factor. Brave New World, the drama that aired before 'Agent Kim Reactivated,' ended on a high note with a peak rating of 10.4 percent. With SBS’s Friday-Saturday drama block already enjoying a solid viewership base, the new series is expected to benefit from natural audience carryover.

The cast lineup is another strength. The combination of So Ji Sub, Choi Dae Hoon, and Yoon Kyung Ho — all actors with proven screen presence in recent projects — is expected to deliver strong chemistry, entertaining bromance, and powerful action teamwork.

Joo Sang Wook and Son Na Eun also add to the anticipation. Joo Sang Wook plays Joo Kang Chan, a legendary underworld figure who started as a hired thug and rose to become the chairman of Joohak Construction, solving everything through money and violence.

Son Na Eun plays Sang Ah, Kim Bu Jang’s co-worker and a mysterious figure who helps him when he struggles with how to care for his daughter, Min Ji. Viewers are already curious about how she will become entangled with the three men and what kind of relationship dynamics will unfold.

With So Ji Sub reuniting with SBS after 13 years, the momentum of the previous drama, and a cast packed with trusted performers, 'Agent Kim Reactivated' arrives with plenty of reasons for anticipation. All eyes are now on whether it can continue SBS’s streak of Friday-Saturday drama success.

'Agent Kim Reactivated' is a 10-episode series and premieres on June 26 at 9:50 PM KST.