'Softies' Han Ji-min and Lee Jun-hyuk: Why the Sudden Tension? 'Love Scout' to Show Intimate Care Romance

SBS's 'Love Scout' Unveils First Look at Han Ji-min and Lee Jun-hyuk's Uncomfortable First Encounter.

SBS's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Love Scout' has revealed stills of Han Ji-min and Lee Jun-hyuk's first meeting, drawing attention as anticipation for its premiere peaks.

The drama follows Ji-yoon (played by Han Ji-min), a headhunting company CEO who excels at work, and Eun-ho (played by Lee Jun-hyuk), a perfectionist secretary. Touted as an "intimate care romance," the story showcases their evolving relationship. With just one day to go before the premiere, newly released stills depict the awkwardness of their first meeting, sparking curiosity about their initial tension.

In the photos, Ji-yoon and Eun-ho are locked in an intense stare. Unlike the romantic atmosphere of the previously released images and teasers, the air between them feels cold. Ji-yoon’s sharp gaze as she accepts Eun-ho’s business card contrasts with Eun-ho’s equally piercing stare, hinting at an underlying conflict.

The source of this tension was hinted at in the fourth teaser released on December 27. Eun-ho, a young and ambitious HR manager at Hansu Electronics, works tirelessly to retain top talent. However, his first encounter with Ji-yoon occurs when she, as the CEO of the headhunting company "Peoples," approaches one of his key employees.

For Ji-yoon, who must secure the employee's resignation, and Eun-ho, determined to prevent it, the meeting was bound to be unpleasant. Their heated exchange includes Eun-ho snapping, “Is this how headhunters work? Stealing employees for money?” while Ji-yoon retorts, “Let’s make sure this is the last time we meet.”

Despite this rocky start, the biggest question remains: how do these two, with their worst first impressions, go from adversaries to sweet office romance? This transformation promises to be one of the drama's key appeal points. The production team teased, “Ji-yoon and Eun-ho’s story is filled with elements that viewers will love. Please look forward to discovering how these two, who were so antagonistic at first, end up developing a heartwarming office romance.”

'Love Scout' is an original drama without a source material and premieres on SBS on January 3 at 10 PM (KST). Episode 2 will air slightly earlier, at 9:50 PM (KST) on Saturday. The drama’s OST features artists like Paul Kim, Kwon Jin-ah, and Sam Kim. For more details on the character relationships and plot, visit the official website.