KOR
Yesterday afternoon (June 25), a press conference for SBS's new Friday-Saturday drama *Agent Kim Reactivated* (written by Nam Dae-joong, directed by Lee Seung-young and Lee So-eun) was held at the SBS headquarters in Mok-dong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. Hosted by TV personality Park Kyung-lim, the event was attended by director Lee Seung-young and actors So Ji-sub, Choi Dae-hoon, Yoon Kyung-ho, Joo Sang-wook, and Son Na-eun, who shared various insights about the project.
Based on the popular webtoon of the same name, *Agent Kim Reactivated* is a "father universe" revenge action drama. It tells the story of the "world's most ordinary" father who becomes the "world's most dangerous" man to rescue his only daughter.
▲ So Ji-sub Returns to SBS After 13 Years: "Different in Tone from Ryu Seung-ryong's 'The Dream Life of Mr. Kim'"
So Ji-sub, returning to an SBS drama for the first time in 13 years since *Master's Sun*, shared, "I made my debut in 1996 with the SBS drama *Model*. Since then, I've done many SBS projects, and I even landed my first lead role at SBS. Because my previous SBS works have had a good track record, I have high expectations for *Agent Kim Reactivated* as well." He added, "SBS feels like home to me, so I felt comfortable and happy. Returning to a familiar place allowed me to film comfortably without any awkwardness."
In the drama, So Ji-sub plays "Agent Kim," an ordinary employee at a small savings bank whose entire world revolves around his high school sophomore daughter, Min-ji (played by Seo Su-min). However, his true identity is a former black-ops agent shrouded in mystery—a man who is essentially a walking time bomb.
Regarding his decision to choose this project, So Ji-sub cited his thirst for action and the solid narrative. "I received the script just when I was itching to do an action drama again," So Ji-sub explained. "I felt that Agent Kim's backstory and the desperate emotions of a father who has lost his daughter would be a great challenge for me as an actor."
He also opened up about how the action in this series differs from his previous works, such as the Netflix series *Mercy for None*, describing it as a highly intense, top-tier challenge. "If my previous action roles were like moths jumping into flames, risking death, the action in *Agent Kim Reactivated* is a desperate struggle to survive and live with his daughter. The tone is completely different," So Ji-sub emphasized.
Having to portray deep paternal love despite not having children in real life, So Ji-sub expressed his gratitude, saying, "I received a lot of advice from director Lee Seung-young and help from actress Seo Su-min, who played my daughter. She treated me like a real father on set, which helped me fully immerse myself in the role."
During the press conference, a question was raised comparing the show to another familiar "Manager Kim" character—the JTBC drama *The Dream Life of Mr. Kim*, played by actor Ryu Seung-ryong. To this, So Ji-sub drew a clear line, saying, "Although both share the name 'Kim Bu-jang,' the tone of our project is completely different, so it wasn't something I particularly worried about."
So Ji-sub pointed to "harmony" as the unique charm of *Agent Kim Reactivated*. "The biggest appeal of our drama is the perfect combination of thrilling, satisfying action and characters who each have their own deep backstories," he explained. "Because his daughter is missing, Agent Kim himself cannot be cheerful. However, when he meets his friends, there is a sense of humor that allows him to breathe. That kind of harmony is very charming."
▲ The Addition of 'Hot' Stars Choi Dae-hoon and Yoon Kyung-ho: A 'Father Universe' Completed with Delightful Chemistry
Choi Dae-hoon plays Seong Han-soo, Tae-hoon's father and a former secret agent who was a Taekwondo gold medalist and known as an "unconventional figure". Yoon Kyung-ho plays Park Jin-chul, Da-bin's father and a former secret agent dubbed the "God of War". Appearing as long-time friends of the protagonist Agent Kim (played by So Ji-sub), the two are set to energize the drama with their extraordinary chemistry, next-level action, and deep paternal love.
Taking on formal action acting for the first time, Choi Dae-hoon shared, "Since the Taekwondo style I had to portray uses a lot of kicks, I felt a lot of pressure about the angles and the overall form. Although I felt lacking, I practiced and paid close attention to do my absolute best. I watched a lot of videos of experts to prepare."
Yoon Kyung-ho confidently introduced the distinct action style of *Agent Kim Reactivated*, which he crafted alongside So Ji-sub and Choi Dae-hoon. "The action styles of the three characters are completely different. While So Ji-sub's action is cold yet hot, and Choi Dae-hoon's is flashy, my action is powerful and explosive," he teased. "My character basically has a 'rock spirit' at his core, which will deliver a strange sense of catharsis to the viewers."
The acting chemistry among the three actors was nothing short of perfect. Choi Dae-hoon shared his thoughts, saying, "The lineup and combination were perfect. Even before being actors, I think this will be remembered as a project that was wonderful on a human level." He expressed deep trust in the eldest, So Ji-sub, who anchored the set: "When doing action scenes, Ji-sub-hyung taught me a lot and always encouraged us, saying, 'Let's not overdo it or get greedy, and let's make sure we don't get hurt.' Thanks to our leader standing firm as a reliable cornerstone, we filmed happily, and I felt a deep sense of sadness when it ended. Even without words, our great chemistry will surely reach the viewers."
Yoon Kyung-ho also boasted about their unique chemistry, saying, "What more is there to say?" Mentioning the delightful chemistry they showed as co-presenters at the SBS Drama Awards late last year, he described the atmosphere on set: "Even though our drama is not a comedy and focuses on passionate paternal love rather than lighthearted fun, our chemistry on set was as joyful and happy as it was during the awards ceremony."
Above all, this project is a monumental return for Yoon Kyung-ho. Having debuted in 2002 with a minor role in the SBS drama *Rustic Period*, he has made a triumphant return to SBS as a lead actor. Yoon Kyung-ho expressed his overwhelming emotions, saying, "It has been 25 years since my appearance in *Rustic Period*, so I really wanted to take this opportunity."
Having recently emerged as a "hitmaker" by leading successful projects like *The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call* and *The Legend of Kitchen Soldier*, Yoon Kyung-ho also opened up about the pressure he feels. "I feel grateful yet worried, and at the same time, whenever I start a new project, I have a strong desire to do well," he confessed honestly. "Between those conflicting emotions, I just do my best and humbly accept the results." He added, "The success of a project is never achieved alone; it's thanks to the hard work of all the staff and fellow actors. I was able to find courage because I am with the reliable *Agent Kim Reactivated* team this time as well, and I prepared with determination to show a new side of myself through the character Park Jin-chul."
▲ Joo Sang-wook's Unprecedented Villainous Transformation X Son Na-eun's Mysterious Gen Z Charm
The transformations of Joo Sang-wook and Son Na-eun, who will inject tension into the series, are also highly anticipated. Joo Sang-wook plays Joo Kang-chan, a ruthless figure who started as a hired thug and rose to become the chairman of Juhak Construction—a legendary self-made man who solves everything with money and violence. On the other hand, Son Na-eun plays Sang-ah, a Gen Z colleague who works at the same company as the protagonist Agent Kim. She smartly helps him navigate the difficulties he faces in dealing with his daughter Min-ji, while also harboring a mysterious, hidden side.
Joo Sang-wook shared, "This is my first time playing an outright villain. It was fresh and fun all the way until the end of filming." Director Lee Seung-young praised him, saying that the role of Joo Kang-chan went to Joo Sang-wook like destiny. "Without a doubt, Joo Sang-wook's acting career will be divided into before and after *Agent Kim Reactivated*," the director raved.
Son Na-eun, who plays the mysterious Sang-ah and is the only female lead in the main cast, smiled and said, "While I was thrilled to act alongside such prominent senior actors, I also felt a lot of pressure. But in the end, I loved being the only woman in the group." Regarding her preparation for the character, she shared, "I studied the style of Gen Z a lot. Since she is a secretive character, I tried to balance the emotions between what is shown on the outside and what is hidden. I focused on how to make the viewers curious about Sang-ah and spark their interest."
Director Lee Seung-young shared the challenges of adapting the massive original webtoon into a 10-episode drama. "We kept 70 to 80% of the original's unique storyline, distinctive characters, and style," the director explained. "However, we stripped away the unrealistic action elements typical of webtoons and recreated them as 'realism action' that feels authentic."
The narrative of *Agent Kim Reactivated*, where a father embarks on a revenge mission to save his daughter, naturally brings to mind the movie *Taken*. Director Lee Seung-young, who helmed the series, expressed a deeper sense of pride that goes beyond the label "Korean version of *Taken*."
"I believe our project will surpass the movie *Taken*," the director said with a smile. He emphasized, "While *Taken* focused on a father's real-time pursuit to find his daughter, our story is a long-form narrative told over 10 episodes. While keeping the strengths of *Taken*, we added the backstories of surrounding characters and vibrant personalities that a movie couldn't capture. The performances of various actors have brought these characters to life, offering plenty of spectacular things to watch."
He also emphasized how the show differs from sensational revenge dramas. "We didn't maximize provocative episodes just to promote a satisfying revenge story," Director Lee asserted. "Instead, we focused on how an ordinary person becomes strong to protect what is precious to him, and the universal love and emotion of fathers who would risk their lives for their daughters. It will be a drama where you can laugh and enjoy in the beginning, and be deeply moved by the end."
Lastly, regarding taking over the baton of success from the previous drama *My Royal Nemesis*, Director Lee expressed strong confidence: "If *My Royal Nemesis* was like a sweet cake, we are a spicy and refreshing flavor for viewers who want something new. Having completed the post-production for all 10 episodes, we have created a drama that runs powerfully to the very end without losing steam."
Attention is focused on whether the team of *Agent Kim Reactivated*, who boldly promised to fulfill a pledge if viewership ratings surpass 13%, can take over the Friday-Saturday drama throne. *Agent Kim Reactivated* premieres tonight (Friday, June 26) at 9:50 PM KST.
[Photo = Reporter Baek Seung-chul]
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)