Jun 29, 2026 9:00pm IST
‘Agent Kim Reactivated’ Review: So Ji Sub’s Revenge Combines A Father’s Fury With Espionage Thrill
With no hint of remorse in his eyes, Kim Do Hyeon (So Ji Sub) strangles the goon withholding information about his daughter’s whereabouts. A former secret intelligence agent, he is now a regular officer at a small- to medium-sized savings bank. Hence, the moments leading up to his violent breakout are what make this show a killer watch this weekend–no pun intended. “Agent Kim Reactivated” throws you in a spin, exploring how a man so unbothered by his former spy life soon turns into a brutal weapon when his child’s life is threatened.
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The K-drama opens with an introduction to the operative’s altered life, who does not retaliate even as local thugs throw him around. That changes when he’s called to his daughter, Kim Min Ji’s (Seo Su Min), school after a bullying incident. Not wanting to cause trouble for her future, he does not support her even as she gets wrongfully targeted by a rich man’s daughter. He is soon left to deal with the consequences of her disappearance.
The “I’m Sorry, I Love You” star heads out to locate her and even considers the possibility of her death. Kim Do Hyeon charges ahead, taking down anyone threatening the safety of his daughter.
The actor’s conviction in playing the calm father-turned-brute is what stands out in the first two episodes released so far. So Ji Sub sheds any hint of his past soft-boy appearances and becomes a brutal force driven by his will to find his only remaining family. Shirt popping off, revealing a chiseled torso and knife marks from years of spy work behind him, the flip is almost instant.
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The 48-year-old takes charge of his titular character and outshines his fellow actors. Choi Dae Hoon and Yoon Kyung Ho play his dear friends and former comrades who have each turned to alternative lifestyles to sustain themselves and stay away from the highly dangerous world of North-South communications.
The show offers a parental perspective on school violence and is a thrilling experience with unrelenting action. It combines cross-border tensions with hints of office politics and brings forth a truly satisfying look at a father’s emotional turnaround, increasing expectations for the forthcoming story.
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