So Ji Sub has revealed what attracted him to SBS’s Agent Kim Reactivated and shared an early idea about how his character could evolve if the drama returns for a second season.
On August 18, global media platform BoldPage released part of its Global Q’s interview with the actor, covering the success of Agent Kim Reactivated, his approach to choosing projects, and his thoughts after nearly 30 years in the industry.
Speaking about the attention he received following the drama, So Ji Sub said younger viewers who were unfamiliar with some of his earlier works have started recognizing him through his latest role.
He explained, “There are many generations who haven’t seen ‘I’m Sorry, I Love You,’ but many different age groups watched ‘Agent Kim Reactivated.’ These days, people call me ‘Agent Kim Reactivated’ more often than my actual name.”
Although Agent Kim Reactivated features action, So Ji Sub said that was not the main reason he accepted the project.
After previously working on Mercy for None, he had been interested in doing another action-focused series. However, the story behind the lead character ultimately became the deciding factor.
He said, “Rather than the action, I really liked Agent Kim Reactivated’s story, the environment he lived in, and the life he had gone through.”
So Ji Sub also reflected on why he is often drawn to characters who refuse to give up on protecting someone important to them, as seen in projects including Agent Kim Reactivated, Always, and I’m Sorry, I Love You.
He shared, “I don’t intentionally search for those roles, but when I see a script like that, I think I’m naturally drawn to it.” He added with a laugh, “I seem to like holding onto one major storyline and following it all the way to the end.”
The actor also addressed the possibility of Agent Kim Reactivated season 2 and said he would personally prefer another major storyline rather than a purely episodic structure.
So Ji Sub explained, “Rather than making it completely new, I personally hope there is one big storyline running through the season.”
He continued, “I don’t know how it would be prepared yet. Depending on that, Agent Kim Reactivated’s role could change a little. Then I think I could show different sides of the character. Maybe he would move as part of a team. The world of the story is very large.”
Beyond the drama, So Ji Sub spoke about how his responsibility as an actor has grown over the years. Despite approaching three decades in the industry, he said choosing projects has become more difficult rather than easier.
He explained, “If one project goes wrong, it can affect so many people, so I always have to be careful and pay attention.”
So Ji Sub added that the current production environment has made that responsibility feel even heavier, since the performance of one project can potentially affect opportunities for other productions.
Still, the actor said he plans to keep searching for something different despite having already played a wide range of characters.
He said, “It isn’t easy to show a completely new side because I’ve already shown so many things. But I’ll continue looking for something new.”
With Agent Kim Reactivated bringing him attention from a wider range of viewers, So Ji Sub’s comments suggest that a possible second season could explore a different side of his character while expanding the drama’s larger world.
