Actor Lee Jun-hyuk has emerged as the top buzzworthy figure in entertainment. According to Good Data Corporation's analysis for the second week of January, SBS's new drama Love Scout saw a significant increase in online buzz compared to the previous week, ranking second overall. This surge was attributed to the standout performances of leads Lee Jun-hyuk and Han Ji-min, who placed first and second in the drama buzz category, respectively. Notably, Lee Jun-hyuk achieved his first-ever No. 1 ranking for drama actor buzz.
Good Data’s data PD, Won Soon-woo, commented, “Netizens are responding positively to the chemistry between the lead actors, Lee Jun-hyuk and Han Ji-min.”
Meanwhile, JTBC's The Tale of Lady Ok maintained its No. 3 position, while tvN's When The Stars Gossip jumped to fourth place with a 19.3% increase in buzz. Tving's new drama The Queen Who Crowns rounded out the top five. MBC's new drama Motel California debuted at No. 6, earning praise as a surprisingly strong contender. Rankings seven through ten included Channel A’s Check-in Hanyang, KBS2's Iron Family, Disney+’s Trigger, and ENA's Namib, respectively.
SBS's romantic comedy Love Scout, which premiered on January 3, follows the evolving relationship between Ji-yoon (Han Ji-min), a workaholic CEO of a headhunting firm, and Eun-ho (Lee Jun-hyuk), her secretary and a devoted single father. Initially at odds, the two gradually develop feelings for one another, growing into a supportive relationship where they complement each other's shortcomings. Free from frustrating plotlines or antagonistic villains, the drama focuses purely on emotional growth and heartfelt romance.
The success of the drama owes much to the on-screen synergy between Lee Jun-hyuk and Han Ji-min. From the moment the cast was announced, expectations soared, with Love Scout marking Lee Jun-hyuk’s first lead role in a terrestrial romance series. Meanwhile, Han Ji-min, already acclaimed for her performances in the genre, further fueled anticipation. The pairing has solidified Love Scout as one of the most eagerly awaited dramas of the first half of the year.
Ratings for Love Scout are steadily climbing. The series premiered with 5.2%, rose to 6.5% in its second episode, and reached a remarkable 10.5% by its third episode. The fourth episode hit a new high of 11.3%. In comparison, MBC's Motel California, which airs in the same time slot, recorded lower ratings of 4.5% and 3.8% for its first two episodes.
Love Scout has also drawn attention for its director, Ham Joon-ho, who faced backlash due to a past scandal. In 2020, Ham was involved in an incident where he reportedly splashed soju on pedestrians and physically assaulted individuals in Hannam-dong. Following a suspension and three years of reflection, he returned to directing. Despite his public apology and explanation, many viewers expressed outrage over what they deemed “alcohol-fueled violence.”