‘Agent Kim Reactivated’s’ AI-Generated Flashback Sequence Signals a New Era for Korean Television

South Korean television has crossed a technical threshold that industry watchers have been anticipating for years. ‘Agent Kim Reactivated,’ the SBS drama that has dominated domestic ratings charts throughout its run, used artificial intelligence to produce an extended narrative sequence rather than a handful of visual effects shots, and the experiment has become as much a talking point as the show itself.

The series, which stars So Ji-sub as a former black-ops agent forced back into action to save his kidnapped daughter, was already a hit before the AI sequence aired. What followed has turned a niche production detail into a broader conversation about where Korean television is headed.

How the AI-Generated Action Sequence Was Built

The sequence in question runs roughly three minutes and depicts the hidden past of Manager Kim, the character played by So Ji-sub, as he carries out a covert mission tied to his years as a special agent. It aired within episode six on July 11 and shows the former agent completing a secret operation.

The footage was developed with Morpheus Studio, a Korea based production company, and it represents the first time a Korean drama has used AI to generate an entire narrative sequence rather than a few seconds of effects work. The material includes large scale action beats such as building explosions, high speed car chases across snow covered roads and through tunnels, vehicle rollovers, and underwater submersion sequences.

The sequence was generated using AICRON, an AI platform built by Korean visual effects specialists, and it also includes gunfights and hand to hand combat while working to maintain consistent character appearances across shots, one of the persistent technical challenges in AI generated video. Producing those same beats through conventional methods would have required overseas location shoots, large set construction, practical effects, and extensive visual effects work, so the team turned to AI as a way to portray the character’s backstory without that level of expense.

Studio S, the production company behind the series, spoke about the decision in detail. Morpheus Studio Vice President Ryu Jae-hwan said the goal was not to replace a few seconds of visual effects cuts with AI but to build entire sequences that strengthen the completeness of the story, and he noted the production team had a clear vision from the start for how the technology would support rather than replace traditional storytelling, according to the Korea Times. Ryu also explained that no matter how realistic the images appear, audiences notice when the flow feels wrong, so the team approached the work as if shooting live action, paying close attention to shot construction and the visual grammar of cinema, with the physical interaction in action scenes representing the biggest technical hurdle.

So Ji-sub Leads the Cast of Agent Kim Reactivated

‘Agent Kim Reactivated’ is based on the Naver webtoon ‘Manager Kim’ by Jeong Jong-taek and Toy, and it follows an ordinary, hardworking head of household who is forced to reveal a hidden identity and risk everything to rescue a missing daughter. Kim Do-hyeon, known as Manager Kim, is a former secret agent living quietly as a single father and salaryman when his daughter’s kidnapping forces him to expose his classified past.

The series was written by Nam Dae-joong and directed by Lee Seung-young and Lee So-eun, and it stars So Ji-sub in the title role alongside Choi Dae-hoon, Yoon Kyung-ho, Joo Sang-wook, Son Na-eun, and Kim Sung-kyu. Nam Dae-joong’s film credits include ‘The Last Ride,’ ‘Love Reset,’ and ‘First Ride,’ while director Lee Seung-young previously worked on ‘Wonderful World,’ ‘Tracer,’ and ‘Voice 2,’ with rookie co-director Lee So-eun joining to round out the creative team.

Reviews of the series have pointed to its ensemble cast as one of its strongest assets. So Ji-sub has been praised as ideally cast as the former spy turned protective father, while Choi Dae-hoon and Yoon Kyung-ho provide comedic support that keeps the series from taking itself too seriously. Son Na-eun’s turn in an action oriented role has also drawn attention from fans, and word of mouth reportedly spread quickly within the show’s broader fictional universe community by the second episode.

Ratings Success for Agent Kim Reactivated

The show’s commercial performance has been difficult to ignore. ‘Agent Kim Reactivated’ premiered on SBS TV on June 26, 2026, airing every Friday and Saturday. It opened with a 9.5 percent viewership rating and, according to Nielsen Korea, surpassed 20 percent by the fourth episode, remaining above that threshold for the rest of its run and making it the most watched miniseries in Korea so far this year.

Episode six, the installment that carried the AI generated sequence, recorded a nationwide rating of 22.3 percent and 23.2 percent in the Seoul metropolitan area. The finale went on to score 23.4 percent in the Seoul metropolitan area and 23.0 percent nationwide, with a peak real time rating reaching 27.1 percent.

The show’s reach extended well beyond domestic broadcast. ‘Agent Kim Reactivated’ topped Netflix’s Global Top 10 Non-English Shows chart for three consecutive weeks and frequently appeared in the platform’s overall U.S. Top 10 rankings during its run. Its popularity prompted SBS to air a two episode special featuring behind the scenes footage and cast interviews, and producers are reportedly discussing a possible second season.

Viewer Reaction to the AI Sequence and the Show Itself

Response to the AI generated footage has not been unanimous. Online reaction has ranged widely, with one viral clip from a K-drama commentary account describing frustration with the AI sequence, while other viewers questioned whether the colors, voices, and backgrounds looked convincing at all.

Some observers voiced concern before the premiere that the series would suffer from genre fatigue given its similarities to vigilante revenge shows like ‘Taxi Driver’ and ‘The Fiery Priest,’ though the production distinguished itself by grounding its story in the webtoon’s father daughter relationship. Critics and viewers have generally credited the show’s script, execution, and performances, though some singled out heavy product placement as a recurring complaint.

That criticism extended to specific scenes involving branded candy and a sushi restaurant chain, which some viewers felt pulled them out of the story, and SBS later clarified that a widely discussed eyeglasses store scene in the finale was not sponsored but included to symbolize the characters starting fresh. Even with that friction, the AI sequence appears to have added to the show’s momentum rather than detracted from it. Rather than turning viewers away, the sequence became another talking point for a drama that continued to dominate the ratings, suggesting audiences are willing to embrace the technology when it is used to support rather than replace storytelling.

Whether other Korean productions follow Studio S down this path may depend on how audiences continue to respond, but for now ‘Agent Kim Reactivated’ has given the industry a real world test case worth watching. With the finale already aired and talk of a second season circulating, viewers who sat through Manager Kim’s AI rendered mission are left wondering how much of his next chapter might be built the same way.