A small altercation that led to an unexpected snowball effect—that’s how Kim, an accountant team manager, suddenly found his way back to his secret past life. Actor So Ji-sub is making a comeback in Agent Kim Reactivated as a loving father doing whatever it takes to save his precious daughter, even if it means he has to become the man he promised he’d never be again.
Here is SEA Wave’s High Five review about the series and what made it stand out.
Not the Usual Spy Thriller
So Ji-sub and Seo Su-min as father-daughter duo Kim Do-hyeon and Kim Min-ji | Still from SBS
Though he seems to be an ordinary office worker and an unassuming father, Kim reveals his past as a secret agent who specialized in ruthless enemy takedowns once his daughter is kidnapped. Although the drama is categorized into revenge, action thriller, and crime genres, you might think otherwise because of the other themes that are strongly present in the show. The violence in several fight scenes might have ruled it out as a family drama, but the motivations of the characters are heavily centered on love for their family and the desire to protect them.
“As a fellow parent raising a daughter, I ask that you find it in your heart to forgive us,” said one character in a memorable scene. I found it interesting how the writers used the same exact line Agent Kim used when he apologized for his daughter, and Ju Gang-chan (Joo Sang-Wook) says the same when the tables have turned as Agent Kim avenged his daughter. Although they have different ways of handling things, you are able to see the dedication of each in their role as a father. Even though heartless sides are shown for each character, the emotional core in the series finds a way to humanize them both.
Well-Balanced Pacing
Still from SBS
Despite its intense premise and being very loaded with movement, the series finds room for lighthearted and heart touching moments. The fight scenes are well-choreographed and well spaced-out, and the distinct fighting styles reveal a lot about each character, but the cherry on top is the hint of comedy squeezed into these tight moments. The conclusion to each episode feels earned, and the comedy balances the seriousness out. I find that the not-so-subtle product placements also add a bit of fun to the show as well.
A Father’s Love
Still from SBS
In the early part of the show, when Kim starts his search for his daughter Min-ji (Seo Su-min), we see him threatening a man for more information, but the man still doesn’t take him seriously. Not until he says the line: “There’s no term for parents who lose their children.” In this moment, I felt a chill run down my spine as he is slowly losing his hope that Min-ji is still alive. It seems like he was actually painting a picture of what kind of person he might become and he continues saying, “The sight of their grief is too wretched to name. It’s as if they nothing left to lose.” Somehow like a warning that he has no identity without his child, implying that he may lose whatever control that keeps him level-headed at the moment.
While one’s career and identity may change, being a parent is a lifelong commitment. His love for his daughter is what keeps him fighting. We see this recurring trait in all of the fathers in the drama. Beneath all the layers, the drama is a tender story about parenthood driven with the conviction that no sacrifice is too great when it comes to protecting your child.
Use of AI Generation
A still from the AI generated scene by Morpheus Studio
The show also made headlines for being the first ever live-action K-drama to air a fully AI-generated scene. The full sequence can be found at the start of the second episode and spans roughly around 3 minutes, showing the back story of Kim as a secret agent stationed in North Korea.
This was produced by Morpheus Studio, an AI technology company which was a former visual effects (VFX) production house, using their very own text-to-video platform called AICROM. Although there is still a debate among the public regarding the usage of AI-generated footage and assets, it was revealed that the choice of the production team to use AI instead was due to budget constraints. Admittedly, the result of this project is quite impressive as they were able to make the sequence quite cohesive and realistic enough.
Natural Ensemble Dynamic
(From left) Choi Dae-hoon, So Ji-soob and Yoon Kyung Ho | Photo from SBS News
In my opinion, the casting choice for this drama is really what set it up for success. So Ji-sub is back with another action-packed show and his chemistry with Choi Dae-hoon and Yoon Kyung-ho add some much-needed flavor to the picture. Starting from their press conference for the show, the chemistry was already palpable and it did not disappoint as you watch throughout the show.
Choi portrays Seong Han-soo, a former Olympic Taekwondo gold medalist and three-time World Taekwondo champion, while Yoon portrays Park Jin-cheol, a former representative soldier of the elite “Cheonsan” special forces unit. Both are long-time friends with Kim who did not hesitate to help him once they found out that his daughter was missing.
Even though they split up to take care of their own business at times, they always find their way back and save each other right on time. The loyalty and trust this trio have in each other and willingness to do anything for the sake of their children really gives you warmth. The bonds created with the other supporting cast added emotional depth to the series, showing us what the drama’s strongest weapon is—not espionage, but the bond between people who refuse to abandon one another.
Overall, if I had to compare, I would say Kim’s character is quite similar to John Wick with his skills and motivations, with his dynamic with the ensemble giving off a similar vibe to The A-Team, and the overall premise reminding me of Taken. The combination of various inspirations resulted in a series that may not be entirely unique, but as a whole, it definitely delivers on the action, revenge, and drama.
SEA Wave gives Agent Kim Reactivated 3.5 out of 5 stars.