Agent Kim Reactivated Closes 2026 Run at No. 1 as Love on the Menu Opens Strong

Agent Kim Reactivated ended its run with a commanding finish, closing as the most-watched Korean drama of 2026 and leaving the weekend ratings race with a clear benchmark for the rest of the year.

The SBS series aired its finale on July 25 and recorded an average nationwide rating of 23.0 percent. That result placed the drama just below its own series high of 23.1 percent, reached one week earlier, and confirmed that the show maintained unusually strong audience interest through its final episode.

The ending was notable not only for the size of the number but for its consistency. Across all 10 episodes, Agent Kim Reactivated ranked first in its time slot, completing a full run without losing the lead. It also finished as the most-watched program of any kind to air during the week, a sign that its appeal extended beyond the usual drama audience.

A Finale That Held Its Audience

Many hit dramas experience some ratings volatility as viewers react to plot turns, schedule shifts, or competing programs. Agent Kim Reactivated instead delivered a finale performance that was almost identical to its peak. A 23.0 percent nationwide average is rare in the current television environment, where audiences are divided across streaming platforms, cable channels, and short-form digital viewing.

The finale result suggests that the drama built a loyal base and kept casual viewers engaged until the end. For SBS, the series also strengthens the reputation of its weekend drama lineup, which has often relied on action-driven, character-centered stories that can appeal to both younger viewers and older household audiences.

Because the final episode landed so close to the drama’s record high, the series exits with momentum rather than fatigue. That matters for future reruns, streaming performance, overseas licensing, and cast visibility. A show that ends at or near its peak often has a longer afterlife than one that slides in its final weeks.

Love on the Menu Starts With Double Digits

The same night also introduced a new competitor. KBS 2TV’s Love on the Menu, a romance starring Ha Seok Jin and EXID’s Hani, premiered to an average nationwide rating of 11.7 percent for its first episode. The debut made it the second most-watched program of Saturday, behind only the Agent Kim Reactivated finale.

That opening gives Love on the Menu a strong foundation as it moves into its early episodes. Premiere ratings do not guarantee long-term success, but a double-digit launch gives a new drama immediate visibility and room to build word of mouth. The next two weeks will be especially important as viewers decide whether the romance can hold its audience once the finale boost around its rival has passed.

The contrast between the two dramas also shows the range of Korean weekend programming. One title ended with a dominant action-oriented finish, while another began by leaning into romance and star chemistry. For broadcasters, that variety is essential at a time when television dramas must compete not only with each other but with global streaming releases.

Weekend Rivals Settle Into Place

Elsewhere in the Saturday lineup, KBS 2TV’s The Husband began the second half of its run with an average nationwide rating of 4.8 percent. JTBC’s The Apartment Job slipped to a series low of 4.1 percent for its fifth episode, indicating a tougher fight for attention in its current slot.

On cable, tvN’s Spooky in Love posted an average nationwide rating of 4.4 percent for its third episode and ranked first in its own time slot across cable channels. That performance gives the drama a stable early position, especially as cable titles often build gradually through online discussion and delayed viewing.

Taken together, the numbers point to a busy but uneven weekend field. Agent Kim Reactivated leaves with the year’s strongest drama label, Love on the Menu enters with a promising start, and the remaining titles now have to define their identities without the shadow of a major finale dominating the conversation.

For viewers, the immediate question is where attention shifts next. For the industry, the bigger takeaway is that broadcast dramas can still produce event-level ratings when a series combines broad appeal, consistent scheduling, and a finale that gives audiences a reason to watch live.