Lee Jun Hyuk has shared his thoughts on his career and his role in the hit drama 'Love Scout.'

On February 14, the drama ‘Love Scout’ (‘My Perfect Secretary’ as its original Korean title) concluded with its highest rating of 12%. At the heart of this drama, which gained attention for reversing the traditional gender roles of ‘secretary dramas,’ is actor Lee Jun Hyuk in the role of Eunho. Playing the perfect male secretary who assists female CEO Kang Jiyoon (played by Han Ji Min), Lee Jun Hyuk captivated viewers with memorable scenes in every episode.

In an interview with Kyunghyang Shinmun on February 10, Lee Jun Hyuk shared, “It feels like my heart has connected with the world.”

“The ‘Love Scout’ team worked hard for a long time, and it feels like our efforts paid off. Creating a drama is about bringing something that doesn’t exist into the world. It’s touching to see that people resonated with the outcome we created with trust and teamwork.”

The drama relied heavily on Lee Jun Hyuk’s charm. While it provided freshness by overturning the conventional romance trope of ‘male boss-female secretary,’ it still adhered to the familiar conventions of the romance genre. Eunho’s charm was directly tied to the drama’s success, earning playful comments like “Lee Jun Hyuk’s face is the reason for the plot’s credibility."

Portraying a character who is ‘openly perfect’ was a challenge for Lee Jun Hyuk. He aimed to present Eunho in a subtle, understated manner. “Eunho had to be like the bass in a band—present but not overpowering like a lead vocal. If I pushed too hard and tried to show off, it could ruin everything. Everyone on the team understood and shared that vision.”

Despite his efforts to remain subtle, Eunho’s charm stood out to viewers. Even Lee Jun Hyuk humbly admitted, “There were scenes where I thought, ‘That turned out really well.’” However, he was quick to emphasize that Eunho is purely fictional, a mere "fantasy."

“It made me wonder if mass media still has a brainwashing effect. In reality, the fantasy would probably break quickly… but please keep believing it for just a little longer. Haha.”

Lee Jun Hyuk named the ending scene of Episode 4 as the most challenging. In this scene, a drunken Ji Yoon gazes at the sleeping Eunho and sincerely says, “You’re so handsome, Yoo Eunho,” marking the beginning of their romance.

“At first, I said I couldn’t do it. ‘Using my face for an ending like this?’ That’s not something you hear every day in real life. But after watching Han Ji Min’s performance, I thought it worked. If Han Ji Min says I’m handsome, it must feel believable.” (Laughs)

Lee Jun Hyuk believes that viewers were particularly drawn to Eunho because he represented an ‘achievable vision.’ He said, "If ‘Dongjae, the Good or the Bastard’ was a work that scratched at the injustices of the world, ‘Love Scout’ presents a blueprint for hope."

"Eunho’s actions are simple—listening attentively to others and offering a hand to prevent someone from hitting their head. What I love most about this drama is that it shows a vision that ‘anyone can achieve,’ planting the idea that good things can happen through small, thoughtful actions.”

Now in his 19th year as an actor, Lee Jun Hyuk is enjoying the peak of his career. Last year, his drama ‘Dongjae, the Good or the Bastard’ received critical acclaim, and his film ‘Firefighters,’ released at the end of last year, attracted 3.85 million viewers. With the success of ‘Love Scout,’ he has hit three home runs in a row. Yet, Lee Jun Hyuk remains grounded.

“I’m 42 this year, and at this point, nothing really excites me too much. There’s too much to memorize scripts to feel excited. Still, I’m grateful that I don’t have to worry about finding my next project right away like before. I always work with the mindset of ‘Winter is coming’ (line from ‘Game of Thrones’).” (Laughs)

Have you also finished watching 'Love Scout'? What are your thoughts?

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