So Ji Sub’s ‘Kim Bujang’ Holds Above 20 Percent As Netflix Momentum Builds

SBS drama “Kim Bujang” is turning into one of the clearest Korean television breakouts of 2026. The So Ji Sub-led action series stayed above the 20 percent national ratings mark with its fifth episode, showing that the sharp early climb was not a one-week accident.

According to Korean ratings coverage citing Nielsen Korea, the July 10 broadcast of episode 5 recorded 20.5 percent nationwide and 21 percent in the Seoul metropolitan area, with a real-time peak of 23.1 percent. The figure was slightly below episode 4’s 21.6 percent national rating, but it kept the drama firmly in rare territory for a modern weekday miniseries.

The numbers are notable because Korean drama ratings have generally become harder to consolidate as viewers split time between linear television, streaming platforms, clips, and social media. A scripted series holding above 20 percent on broadcast television is now an event, especially when it happens this early in a run.

A Fast Climb For SBS

“Kim Bujang” premiered on June 26 with 9.5 percent, then rose to 15.7 percent for episode 2 and 18.8 percent for episode 3. By episode 4, it had crossed 20 percent with 21.6 percent, placing it ahead of other major 2026 drama benchmarks and even surpassing several weekend-drama highs that usually dominate Korean TV ratings.

That pace has made the show a ratings story as much as a drama story. Money Today reported that episode 4’s 21.6 percent made “Kim Bujang” the highest-rated drama of 2026 at that point, overtaking KBS weekend titles and earlier miniseries hits. The show has also ranked as the top program in its time slot and among the year’s leading miniseries by household ratings.

The premise is straightforward but effective: So Ji Sub plays Kim Bujang, a seemingly ordinary father with a hidden past who becomes dangerous again while searching for his missing daughter. The series is based on a webtoon and leans into revenge-action momentum, family stakes, and a lead performance built around restraint that can quickly shift into force.

Why Viewers Are Responding

Part of the appeal appears to be the drama’s direct emotional engine. The search for a daughter gives the action a clear purpose, while So Ji Sub’s screen image gives the character instant weight. Reports on the latest episode highlighted tense developments involving Kim Bujang’s pursuit, new revelations around the people connected to his daughter’s disappearance, and a cliffhanger that widened the mystery.

The supporting cast has also helped broaden the reaction. Coverage has singled out performances from actors including Choi Dae Hoon, Yoon Kyung Ho, Joo Sang Wook, Jo Bok Rae, Seo Su Min, and Kim Sung Kyu as part of the ensemble that keeps the story moving beyond a single-hero vehicle. For an action drama, that matters: the audience needs both the lead’s urgency and credible obstacles around him.

The series is also benefiting from an easy-to-explain hook. It does not require viewers to learn a complicated fantasy system or a dense historical setup. The pitch is immediate: a father, a missing daughter, a hidden past, and a fight that keeps escalating. That clarity can help a drama travel across age groups and platforms.

Netflix Gives The Breakout A Global Layer

The domestic surge is now pairing with international streaming momentum. Netflix’s Tudum rankings for the week of June 29 to July 5 placed “Kim Bujang” at No. 1 among non-English TV shows, with 10.5 million views. The drama had entered the chart at No. 3 after only a few days of availability, then moved to the top in its second week.

The show reportedly reached No. 1 in 11 countries and entered the Top 10 in 79 countries during that chart week. That kind of spread gives SBS a stronger story than ratings alone: “Kim Bujang” is not just a domestic broadcast hit, but a Korean action drama finding a larger streaming audience at the same time.

This dual-track performance is increasingly important for Korean entertainment. Broadcast ratings still signal broad local recognition, while Netflix rankings can turn a domestic hit into an exportable conversation. When both indicators rise together, the series gains leverage with advertisers, overseas fans, and the broader industry conversation about what kinds of K-dramas can still gather mass audiences.

There is still a long way to go before the drama’s final standing is clear. Early success can bring heavier expectations, and action-thriller stories often need to keep raising the stakes without exhausting the emotional core. For now, however, “Kim Bujang” has delivered the combination networks want most: appointment-viewing numbers at home and chart-topping streaming visibility abroad.

If the series can keep its ratings above 20 percent while maintaining Netflix interest, it may become one of the defining Korean drama success stories of the year. The next episodes will show whether the current heat is a peak or the beginning of a longer run.