SBS's 'Kim Bujang' hit 15% nationwide viewership by episode 2—the network's first drama to do so since 'Penthouse 3' in 2021—while ranking #3 on Netflix globally.
So Ji-sub's Kim Bujang posted 15.7% nationwide viewership in episode 2. Seoul metro hit 15.9%, with a peak of 18.1% per Nielsen Korea. SBS hadn't seen a drama break 15% within two episodes since Penthouse 3 in 2021. That's five years.
The June 26 premiere opened at 9.5% nationwide (9.8% in Seoul metro), enough to top every miniseries premiere that aired in 2026.
The 2049 numbers tell a different story. Episode 2 averaged 5.8% in that bracket, peaking at 7.17%. It ranked first across every Saturday program that week, every show on any channel or genre. An SBS drama hadn't cleared 5% with the 2049 group since Queen of Tears on tvN and Good Partner on SBS—roughly two years back.
Globally, Kim Bujang ranked third on Netflix's worldwide TV show chart per FlixPatrol, entering the Top 10 in 90 countries. It topped the chart in eight: South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and New Caledonia.
The story centers on an ordinary father who reawakens his instincts as a legendary special operations agent to protect his daughter. So Ji-sub leads the cast alongside Choi Dae-hoon, Yoon Kyung-ho, Joo Sang-wook, and Son Na-eun. Nam Dae-joong wrote the screenplay. Lee Seung-young and Lee So-eun directed. Studio S and Fantazio produced.
CP Lee Gwang-soon said: "I was concerned about how the weight of the character Kim Bujang and his struggle to protect his family would resonate with younger generations." On those 2049 numbers, he noted that viewers across all generations seemed to connect with the meaning of "dad" and the show's counterattack sequences. (The "Dad Universe" framing is doing a lot of work, and apparently it's landing.)
Episode 3 airs July 3 at 9:50 PM.
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