ATEEZ to Perform “BAD” on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” as SBS Previews Action-Revenge Dramas

ATEEZ is set to bring its latest title track “BAD” to U.S. television, while two upcoming Korean thrillers—Agent Kim Reactivated and The Husband—are building buzz with fresh promotional material. The flurry of entertainment news highlights how major performers and dramas are increasingly using cross-border platforms and high-stakes narratives to capture global attention.

ATEEZ heads to “The Kelly Clarkson Show” with “BAD” performance

On June 25 local time, “The Kelly Clarkson Show” announced that ATEEZ will appear on its upcoming July 1 episode. During the segment, the K-pop group will perform its newly released title track, “BAD,” scheduled for release on June 26 at 1 p.m. KST.

The appearance marks a notable push into mainstream U.S. media for ATEEZ, whose expanding overseas visibility has been reflected in repeated international promotions. The show’s announcement teased fans with a playful countdown—framing the performance as a moment likely to make “BAD” “stuck in your head.”

With K-pop acts increasingly targeting late-night and daytime talk formats—where broad audiences can encounter performances without needing niche music-platform discovery—the Kelly Clarkson slot functions as both a promotional stage and a cultural crossover moment. For ATEEZ, whose musical identity hinges on intense choreography and dramatic tone, a live TV performance also offers an immediate, high-impact way to introduce the track to viewers who may not follow weekly music show lineups.

SBS tees up So Ji Sub’s revenge action in “Agent Kim Reactivated”

Meanwhile, SBS has shared a glimpse of its upcoming drama Agent Kim Reactivated, centered on Manager Kim (played by So Ji Sub), an outwardly ordinary dad with a concealed past. According to the preview, the series is an action revenge story adapted from a popular webtoon.

In the drama’s setup, Manager Kim works at a small bank while hiding that he is a former secret agent. His dormant skills and long-suppressed instincts are said to awaken when his daughter becomes endangered, thrusting him into a dangerous effort to find her. Newly released stills show Kim shifting from controlled to ruthless as he searches through a heavy downpour, tracking a clue in a vacant lot near his daughter’s high school.

The promotional images also point to the character’s emotional volatility—culminating in a scene where he can no longer restrain himself and throws a punch at another man. The tone signals a drama that aims to blend personal stakes with kinetic action, leaning on So Ji Sub’s established ability to portray restrained menace and sudden intensity.

Agent Kim Reactivated is scheduled to premiere on June 26 at 9:50 p.m. KST.

Namkoong Min tackles a kidnapping thriller in “The Husband”

Adding to the current wave of suspense programming, KBS 2TV’s upcoming thriller The Husband has unveiled character posters for its four leads, spotlighting a story built around an increasingly desperate rescue mission. The series stars Namkoong Min as Kang Tae Joo, a neurosurgeon whose life takes an abrupt turn when his marriage collapses—and then escalates into a life-or-death struggle to save his kidnapped wife.

The teaser materials emphasize the central contrast: Kang Tae Joo appears to be a man on the brink of divorce, but he becomes entangled in a confrontation with a dangerous criminal, driven by a single directive—“I’m coming to get you”—as captured in the poster’s caption. In one of the images, his solemn posture and bowed head underscore a determined focus, suggesting a character who turns private desperation into action.

His wife, Go Se Yoon (played by Lee Seol), is shown looking terrified as she lies helplessly on the floor, with the poster’s text conveying confusion and anguish: “Why are you doing this to me… why in the world… why…” The villain, Noh Man Hee (portrayed by Kim Dae Myeung), appears with a chilling stare and a warning that endurance has limits—hinting at a criminal driven by volatile calculation. Finally, Kim Kyung Ae (played by Lee Sang Hee) is presented as an enigmatic figure, seated on stairs and offering cryptic commentary, implying the story includes layered identity and possible twists.

The Husband is set to premiere on July 4 at 9:20 p.m. KST.

Cross-media momentum: live TV exposure meets high-stakes storytelling

Taken together, today’s entertainment updates sketch a common strategy: pairing visibility with stakes. ATEEZ’s planned performance on an established U.S. talk show aligns with the industry’s push to bring K-pop into formats that deliver immediate cultural touchpoints. On the drama side, both SBS and KBS 2TV are positioning their series as must-watch suspense: one fueled by a secret agent’s reawakened fighting instincts, the other by a neurosurgeon’s refusal to accept defeat when his wife is taken.

While these are different genres and audiences, the promotional patterns overlap. Each project leans on emotionally charged premises—danger, rescue, and concealed identities—to create hooks that travel beyond local familiarity. That approach is particularly effective in a crowded content landscape, where trailers and teaser posters must communicate urgency in seconds.

What to watch next

For ATEEZ, attention will quickly shift to how “BAD” translates in a live television performance and whether the track’s rollout receives additional traction following the July 1 appearance. Fans will also likely look for performance clips and further promotional schedules tied to the release date of the title track.

For viewers of the dramas, the focus is on pacing and payoff: Agent Kim Reactivated arrives first on June 26, and early episode momentum will determine whether Manager Kim’s action arc sustains its promise of ruthless urgency. The Husband, premiering July 4, will be watched to see how the kidnapping mystery expands and whether poster hints about limits, identity, and “not like this is a movie” deliver on the thriller’s implied twists.