'Near-Kiss Moment': 'Love Scout' Hits No. 1 as Romantic Tension Peaks Between Han Ji-min and Lee Jun-hyuk

'Love Scout' Soars to No. 1: A Romantic Moment Captivates Viewers

SBS’s new Friday-Saturday drama 'Love Scout' has quickly risen to the top, overtaking a 50-billion-won production in just four episodes.

According to Nielsen Korea, the January 11 KST broadcast of 'Love Scout' drew an impressive 2.22 million viewers, achieving nationwide and metropolitan ratings of 11.3%, with a peak of 14%. This marks a 1.006 million viewer increase and a 4.8% rise in ratings compared to the previous week, solidifying its status as the most-watched drama in its time slot.

In contrast, tvN’s competing drama 'When the Stars Gossip' struggled with its third episode, dropping to 2.2% nationwide and 2.6% in the metropolitan area. This marked its lowest ratings yet, with a decline of 262,000 viewers and a 1.087% drop from the previous week.

The fourth episode of 'Love Scout' captivated viewers with a tension-filled romantic ending between Han Ji-min (Ji-yoon) and Lee Jun-hyuk (Eun-ho). Their near-kiss moment left audiences on the edge of their seats, setting social media abuzz. The episode revealed Ji-yoon’s painful backstory. Five years ago, while working at "CareerWay," she was embroiled in a fraudulent project involving a shell company. This led to a scandal that implicated internal employees, forcing her to demand an investigation. However, the company’s CEO took sole responsibility for the incident and tragically ended his life.

Devastated and ostracized, Ji-yoon left the company and established her own firm, "Peoples." Meanwhile, her former mentor, Hye-jin (Park Bo-kyung), became the CEO of CareerWay, making them fierce industry rivals.

Eun-ho, Ji-yoon’s reliable secretary, played a crucial role in comforting her. Upon learning about her difficult past through CFO Mi-ae (Lee Sang-hee), Eun-ho grew even closer to Ji-yoon, supporting her in quiet but meaningful ways. “I’ll believe only what I see,” Eun-ho reassured her, solidifying his role as her steadfast ally.

The episode also highlighted workplace dynamics at Peoples. Tensions flared between employees Kyung-hwa (Seo Hye-won) and Young-soo (Heo Dong-won), but Eun-ho organized a team dinner that helped mend their relationship. Ji-yoon, initially hesitant to join, was encouraged by Eun-ho’s thoughtful message and decided to attend, further strengthening their bond.

The Tipping Point: A Romantic Confession

The episode’s most unforgettable moment came in its final scene. After the dinner, a tipsy Ji-yoon returned to the office, only to find Eun-ho waiting for her in the CEO’s room. She gazed at him as he slept and, in a moment of vulnerability, touched his lips, murmuring, “You’re so handsome, Yoo Eun-ho.” Eun-ho opened his eyes just then, raising the romantic tension to new heights and leaving viewers eagerly anticipating the next episode.

With its compelling blend of romance, drama, and workplace intrigue, 'Love Scout' continues to win over viewers and dominate the ratings. The chemistry between Han Ji-min and Lee Jun-hyuk is undeniably a major draw, and the series promises even more heart-fluttering moments in the episodes to come.