Reactivated Agent Kim continues ratings streak despite online boycott calls

According to Nielsen Korea, episode 4 of Agent Kim reactivatedwhich aired on July 4, it recorded 21.6% nationwide and 22.7% in the Seoul metropolitan area. The drama also reached a peak minutes rating of 25.1%, making it the most-watched program in its time slot and setting a new personal best for the series.

The result is particularly notable because Agent Kim reactivated became the first Korean drama since 2024 to surpass the 20% ratings threshold nationwide. Among SBS Friday-Saturday dramas, it is now only behind The attic 2 (29.2%) e The fiery priest (22%), making it the network’s third-highest rated series in the timeslot.

Despite the drama’s impressive ratings, renewed attention has been drawn to past allegations involving Park Tae-jun and claims that his works contained references associated with Ilbe (Ilgan Best), a controversial South Korean online community that has often been criticized for extremist and offensive content.

A recent video uploaded by YouTube channel Yeouido Yeop Mullae-dong (여의도옆문래동) revisited several allegations that have been circulating for years.

Among the examples discussed were scenes from Park Tae-jun’s popular webtoon Lookismincluding:

• A line that mentions “5 minutes and 23 seconds” which some online users interpreted as a reference to May 23, the date of the death of former South Korean president Roh Moo-hyun.
• A reading of imaginary signs “The owl of the rocks”, which critics say may allude to Owl Rock (Bueongi Rock), the place where Roh died.

When the allegations first surfaced years ago, Park Tae-jun firmly denied them. He stated: “It’s absurd. No matter how imperfect I may be, I would never use the image of a deceased person in that way, nor would I have the courage to do such a thing.” His denial remains his publicly stated position, and no new evidence has been presented in the latest wave of online discussions.

Following the renewed controversy, some viewers in online communities and social media called for a boycott Agent Kim reactivated. However, ratings suggest that the series’ popularity has remained largely unchanged so far.

Whether the controversy will have a long-term impact on the drama’s success remains uncertain, but for now Agent Kim reactivated continues its strong upward trajectory as the debate around its main producer has once again become a topic of public discussion.

Sources: Daum | My daily newspaper

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