Recently, Ham Jun-ho, the producer of “Love Scout,” has been embroiled in controversy due to past allegations of assault and defamation. On January 13, the drama’s production team confirmed the claims, stating: “It is true that PD Ham Jun-ho was accused of assault and defamation while under the influence in early 2020,” and issued an apology.
The production team further explained: “PD Ham Jun-ho sincerely apologized to all the victims and subsequently received their forgiveness and reached a settlement. He also underwent legal proceedings. Following the incident, Ham Jun-ho was suspended from the company and spent three years reflecting on his actions before returning to his role as director.”
This controversy gained traction after a 2020 report by MBC Newsdesk regarding an SBS drama producer, identified as “A”, was revisited online. The report revealed that “A” was none other than Ham Jun-ho from “Love Scout”.
According to the 2020 report, Ham Jun-ho was arrested on the spot in Hannam-dong for causing a disturbance, which included indiscriminately pouring soju on passers-by and assaulting them. The police requested an arrest warrant for Ham Jun-ho, citing his criminal record, but the prosecution denied the request and he was released.
However, the production team clarified, “The criminal history mentioned in the report is for a misdemeanor and is not related to the incident in question.”
Despite the controversy, “Love Scout,” which premiered in March, garnered considerable attention for the chemistry and visuals of its leads, Han Ji-min and Lee Joon-hyuk. Starting from a viewership rating of 5.2% (according to Nielsen Korea), the drama entered double-digit ratings in just two weeks. The January 11 broadcast, which depicted the budding romance between the main characters, reached a new high of 11.3%, marking four consecutive episodes of rising ratings and cementing its hit status.
But the unexpected controversies surrounding the Democratic Party dampened the celebratory atmosphere. Many viewers expressed their disappointment, commenting, “I was enjoying the show, but now I feel discouraged” “The actors are not to blame” and “This incident will come to mind every time I watch the drama.”
