Han Ji-min Breaks Details on Her Iconic 'Near Kiss' Ending Scene with Lee Jun-hyuk in 'Love Scout'

"Was it a kiss or wasn’t it?" Han Ji-min and Lee Jun-hyuk’s heart-stopping moment in 'Love Scout' Episode 4 has left fans reeling—and the actress herself is finally sharing what went down behind the scenes.

The drama 'Love Scout', starring Han Ji-min and Lee Jun-hyuk, has captured both high ratings and audience buzz. The fourth episode, in particular, reached a peak viewership rating of 14%, reflecting its growing popularity. According to the FUNdex TV drama rankings released by Good Data Corporation for the third week of January, the show claimed the top spot, further proving its widespread appeal.

On the OTT content search platform KinoLights, 'Love Scout' ranked No. 1 on Wavve’s streaming chart as of January 16. It was followed by 'Motel California' at No. 2 and 'Bloody Game Season 3' at No. 3.

The fourth episode delivered a heart-stopping ending, as Han Ji-min’s character, intoxicated, leaned in closely to Lee Jun-hyuk’s face, leaving viewers breathless. The scene ended just a second before their lips might have met, driving fans wild with anticipation for the next episode. Even star producer Na Young-seok couldn’t escape being drawn into the show’s romantic tension.

On January 15, the YouTube channel 'Fullmoon' featured a special broadcast where Na Young-seok and Han Ji-min reviewed the fourth episode and shared behind-the-scenes stories. Han Ji-min revealed that this was her first time working with Lee Jun-hyuk. She shared how, prior to the drama, she had seen fan-made compilation videos on YouTube and heard comments like, “It’d be great if you worked with him.” Once the casting decision was finalized, she said it felt “amazing and like fate.”

Han Ji-min humorously recounted filming the confession scene in which her character, drunk, tells Lee Jun-hyuk’s character, “You’re so handsome, Yoo Eun-ho.” She laughed as she described the climactic moment of Lee Jun-hyuk leaning in for a potential kiss. Na Young-seok teased her, saying, “You did it, didn’t you? How much do you remember?” Han Ji-min responded, “I got so many texts and calls after the episode aired. Everyone was asking, ‘Did you kiss?’”

Na Young-seok’s reactions while watching the scene, which included springing out of his chair and crumpling a piece of paper in excitement, had not only Han Ji-min but also the production team in stitches.

Fans who watched the special broadcast flooded the live chat with comments like, “Next time, let’s have both Han Ji-min and Lee Jun-hyuk on for a live commentary,” “Watching this live makes me feel like a winner,” and “Na PD’s reactions are so spot-on, I wish he’d comment on every episode. But seriously, did they kiss or not? How am I supposed to wait for Episode 5?”

Han Ji-min also shared insights into portraying her character’s drunken confession. “You act drunk, but the next day, your character would be hazy about the details. I had to make sure the romance felt natural,” she explained.

'Love Scout' follows the story of Kang Ji-yoon (Han Ji-min), the CEO of a headhunting company, and her assistant Yoo Eun-ho (Lee Jun-hyuk), as their professional relationship evolves into a close and heartwarming romance. With its swoon-worthy chemistry and captivating story, 'Love Scout' continues to charm viewers, leaving them eagerly awaiting the next chapter in Kang Ji-yoon and Yoo Eun-ho’s journey.