According to Nielsen Korea, Episode 4 of Agent Kim Reactivated, which aired on July 4, recorded 21.6% nationwide and 22.7% in the Seoul metropolitan area. The drama also reached a peak minute rating of 25.1%, making it the most-watched program in its time slot while setting a new personal best for the series.
The achievement is particularly notable as Agent Kim Reactivated became the first Korean drama since 2024 to surpass the 20% nationwide ratings mark. Among SBS Friday-Saturday dramas, it now ranks behind only The Penthouse 2 (29.2%) and The Fiery Priest (22%), making it the network’s third-highest-rated series in the time slot.
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 frequently been criticized for extremist and offensive content.
A recent video uploaded by the YouTube channel Yeouido Yeop Mullae-dong (여의도옆문래동) revisited several accusations that have circulated for years.
Among the examples discussed were scenes from Park Tae-jun’s popular webtoon Lookism, including:
- A line mentioning “5 minutes and 23 seconds,” which some online users interpreted as referencing May 23, the date of former South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun’s death.
- A fictional sign reading “Rock Owling,” which critics alleged could allude to Owl Rock (Bueongi Rock), the location where Roh died.
When the allegations first emerged years ago, Park Tae-jun firmly rejected the accusations. He stated: “It’s absurd. No matter how flawed I may be, I would never use a deceased person’s image 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 discussion.
Following the renewed controversy, some viewers on online communities and social media called for a boycott of Agent Kim Reactivated. However, the ratings suggest the series’ popularity has remained largely unaffected so far.
Whether the controversy will have any long-term impact on the drama’s success remains uncertain, but at present, Agent Kim Reactivated continues its strong upward trajectory while the debate surrounding its chief producer has once again become a topic of public discussion.
Sources: Daum | 마이데일리
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