After surpassing 20% in viewership ratings and sweeping the number one spot on Netflix's global charts to become this year's hottest drama, the SBS Friday-Saturday series "Agent Kim Reactivated" has taken its first steps toward a potential second season.
Director Lee Seung-young, who helmed "Agent Kim Reactivated", shared the update during a wrap-up interview with reporters at a cafe in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 30th regarding the possibility of a second season, which has been a major point of interest for viewers. "Starting last week, the people involved have begun official discussions in a positive direction," he stated.
Based on the webtoon of the same name, "Agent Kim Reactivated" is a revenge action drama about an ordinary father who sets out to rescue his daughter, and it successfully concluded its run on the 25th. The finale of "Agent Kim Reactivated" achieved massive success, recording 23.0% nationwide and 23.4% in the metropolitan area according to Nielsen Korea. The series also maintained its global popularity by ranking first in the Netflix non-English TV shows category for three consecutive weeks.
In the final episode of "Agent Kim Reactivated", Agent Kim (So Jisub) safely rescued his daughter Minji and returned to his happy everyday life. However, the ending showed Agent Kim visiting a place called Baekho Labor Agency and meeting a new character named Lee Do-gyu, sparking a flood of speculation about whether it was hinting at a second season of "Agent Kim Reactivated".
Regarding this, Director Lee said, "The ending of season 1 is indeed an open ending. It was an open ending that kept season 2 in mind, but even if it hadn't, it was designed in a way that left room for possibilities."
Director Lee had already hinted at the possibility of a seasonal format for "Agent Kim Reactivated" as early as the SBS Drama Media Day held before the show premiered. However, after the show's actual success, he kept quiet about it.
Explaining why he refrained from mentioning season 2 specifics, Director Lee confessed, "During filming, we were busy shooting day by day. After filming ended, we were tied up with post-production, and once it aired, the response was much hotter than expected, so I spent a nervous month on edge. Because I was in a state that was both joyful and tense, any talk about season 2 up to that point was just joking around."
Now that the project has successfully drawn its grand curtain while proving both its commercial success and artistic quality, the situation has begun to turn serious. Director Lee raised anticipation by sharing, "Starting last week, we finally began having serious conversations about season 2. Since we are just at the stage of starting discussions, we plan to talk things over in an orderly and measured manner."
Behind the scenes of how discussions for season 2 could quickly gain positive momentum so soon after "Agent Kim Reactivated" ended lie not only the drama's phenomenal popularity but also the overwhelming teamwork and affection shared by the staff and cast who led the set. Even in harsh conditions, such as high-difficulty action scenes filmed while spraying water in the freezing midwinter cold, the team was united by perfectionism without a single complaint.
Recalling the experience, Director Lee said, "At the wrap party, everyone was sad that we wouldn't be going to the filming set anymore, and at the end-of-broadcast party, while trying to humbly accept the good results, we freely shared the joy of our success among ourselves. Finding a project where not only the process was good, but the results are this grateful is an amazing experience that happens only a few times in a lifetime for a director or an actor."
Given that lead actor So Jisub along with cast members Joo Sang Wook, Yoon Kyungho, and others hold an exceptional affection for the project and the team, specific discussions regarding season 2 are expected to deepen further during their reward vacation. Director Lee stated, "The reward vacation will be an opportunity to set aside the word 'Agent Kim Reactivated' and rest for a bit," while unable to hide his deep affection for his team members.
Based on its webtoon origin, "Agent Kim Reactivated" left a deep resonance on the small screen by harmoniously blending intense paternal love to protect one's child and the humanity of multidimensional characters, going beyond a simple cathartic revenge story. Director Lee Seung-young's directing style, which balanced plausible action and cheerful comedy instead of brutal killings, was also cited as a primary contributor to its box office success.
Analyzing the factors behind the show's popularity, Director Lee remarked, "I think that paternal love and the yearning for humane characters are a universally powerful force across both the East and the West. Even in extremely urgent situations because of his daughter, the character in 'Agent Kim Reactivated' does not treat human life lightly. We didn't shoot a single scene where Agent Kim takes a human life. Viewers wouldn't like it just because the protagonist goes around beating up bad people. I think the response came from the combination of characters being human yet providing cathartic, refreshing thrills, where justice and poetic justice prevail. I believe people liked seeing justice and righteousness upheld, even if just within a drama."
Anticipation is already building over what kind of narrative and action "Agent Kim Reactivated", which has officially set sail, will return with.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)
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