Love Scout

A Slow Burn Heartwarming Tale of Mature Love and Unwavering Support

I just finished *Love Scout*, and the overwhelming positivity in this drama makes it an absolute gem. What stood out to me the most was how it beautifully portrays women having the freedom to make choices, take the first step in relationships, experience struggles, seek support, and ultimately find a loving partner. It reinforces the idea that a woman can achieve anything she sets her mind to.

At its core, this drama is about mature relationships and discovering that one person who truly becomes your pillar of strength. What makes it especially dear to me is the unwavering support of the male lead—Yu Eun Ho is the ultimate green flag, always standing by her side and respecting her decisions. That kind of emotional support is rare to see in dramas.

Everything ties up wonderfully in the end, with even the side characters finding fulfilling relationships. If you're in the mood for a slow-burn, mature romance with minimal twists—just pure, heartwarming storytelling—this is the one. Highly recommend!

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80% Scout 20% Love

Based on the description and the reviews I wrongly assumed this was mainly romance focused.
To my dismay the main focus of the drama is the scouting aspect which I found utterly uninteresting. The episodic storytelling , is one of my least favourites in K-drama. Each case never led us to the development of the characters or progression of a main story but it felt like unnecessary fillers.

Now for the romance ... I understand that not every relationship starts as a passionate love story but this one lacked chemistry and spark. I understand the CEO falling for the caring secretary, but we never saw his perspective, it never felt like this relationship offered him much OR THAT HE EVER WAS INTERESTED IN HER; it was more as if he had a saviour complex and wanted to save her from her own incompetence. Speaking of incompetence how can she be such an emotionally unintelligent person and work in recruiting ? That's the number one requirement to be successful in that field.

Too many coincidences , too much office/scouting drama and not enough LOVE.

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The story itself is nothing special. In short, one could say that out of spite a woman wants to take the company away from its rival and even succeeds. But the best part is the relationship that develops between this director and her assistant. I like how he is attentive to everything that concerns her. A true gentleman and also a sweet father.
Then I was struck by certain shots, such as zooms on the hands which were scenes that speak without words, as well as the good OST, I particularly liked them.
A small note to the make-up artists, they could have dulled the protagonist's face a little, who always seemed sweaty.

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Excellent

==Breakdown==
Background plot - 25%
Romance - 60%
Misc comedy - 15%

Background plot - Pretty good
Romantic chemistry - EXCELLENT
Misc comedy - Good
Production value - Good

I don't think I had to fast forward more than 5% of this drama, which-- for me-- is basically nothing. Sometimes when the villain appeared, I skipped a few seconds ahead. She repeated herself quite a bit.

The main couple is magnetic. The progression of their relationship felt realistic and was a joy to watch. The side stories in each episode (of helping talented people find a good professional fit for their skills) was also enjoyable. The second couple was very cute and I would've liked more screen time for them; I hope the actors are in another drama together. I didn't even mind the kids' storyline! They were adorable and added a great element to the overall plot. The only reason this show doesn't get a 10/10 is because I wasn't absolutely obsessed with it while watching it and didn't have a problem waiting between episodes.

Loved this one and will likely re-watch my favorite scenes.

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A non-toxic mature series for adults - Yoo Eun Ho is the greenest forest ever!

I love mature romance stories, with healthy relationships where nice people fall in love and treat each other right. This series is like that. Plus, I've watched Lee Joon Hyuk since her debut projects and it's really rare to see him be a male lead in a romance, and he's paired with Han Ji Min! Both are my beloved actors, so why can I miss out on this series?

"Love Scout" is a lighthearted slow-burn mature romance Kdrama where both the leads equally love and respect each other. I'm satisfied with it. The leads have great chemistry, while both second leads are very nice, and them ending up together is the best part. There's no toxic love triangle, no toxic ex coming back and meddling between the leads. And the ending is just perfect. I would feel awkward if they got married right away at the end but luckily it didn't happen, because it's not realistic in their situation.

Most of the characters are likeable. The leads are surrounded by kind-hearted and supportive people, except for the female lead’s business rivals who go shady against her. That is understandable, as our female lead Ji Yoon is a CEO. Being a businesswoman means you have a lot of rivals and have to go through hardships.

This is also a realistic office-themed and slice of life series with great messages about self-value, self-discovery, and what to prioritize in life. There is great career advice as well. I relate so much to the characters that want to quit and change jobs but they're still stuck in the same position because of the money and other things, or they don't know what is suitable for them. I wish Ji Yoon's company really existed so that I could register as their candidate.

Besides being a supportive partner to Ji Yoon, our male lead Eun Ho is also a role model as a loving and caring single father. His daughter is his first priority and he always tries to be with her when she needs him. It’s rare to see a single father like him in Kdramas. It's usual to see single mothers like this. That's another thing I love about the show. I hope it will help to break the stereotypes and help people realize that men can be a caring father too.

I love how Eun Ho talked about parenthood and said how his daughter had 'raised' him so that he could become a great person like he was at the moment. I also love what Ji Yoon told Byeol that quality is more important than quantity when it comes to love, that having both parents doesn't mean that you receive double love from them, but one parent loving you wholeheartedly is enough. I agree with this to the bone. This is actually quite a new concept in recent Asian series too, since a lot of Asian people still consider divorce as some kind of a crime and think that being a single parent is not good for the kids.

I also love the relationship between Eun Ho and the second female lead. I find it very interesting. Both are single parents and they are 'parenting friends' who help each other take care of the kids when the other is busy with other schedules. This is a new type of relationship recently and I think it's a beautiful platonic relationship in this modern society.

Another light of the show is the two little kids. They are just so adorable. Byeol is such a cutie pie! I love watching her father-daughter relationship with Eun Ho, and especially love her interactions with Ji Yoon as well.

There are only 2 little things I didn't like much about this series, but it didn't really affect my viewing experience in general:

+ First, why don't they just let the leads meet each other in a natural way when they are adults? Why do they have to add a traumatizing childhood past to make them be more like "destined to be together"? When I watched the episode that showed Ji Yoon's father had died in a fire accident, I really whispered to myself: "Please don't let the leads be related to each other through that accident". And what I had feared came true! The moment Eun Ho freaked out when hearing the sound of a fire truck, I knew right away that Ji Yoon's father had died while saving him. What happened next was quite predictable to me. After years of watching Kdramas, I'm too used to this situation. Luckily it didn't stir up any drama between the leads, and instead it gave them some space to reflect on themselves and their relationship. That's a great thing.

+ Second, why don't they just let the second female lead be a real single mother, instead of an aunt adopting her nephew as her own son? This situation is also quite familiar in Kdrama plots. I found it not very creative but it's not a big deal either. Anyway, as I've mentioned above, our second female lead is a nice person and kind at heart. I'm happy that she finally meets another great person who cherishes her. Although it was obvious that they would end up together from the beginning, it still felt nice to see their love growing through each episode. Besides the leads, their romance story is also slow-burn and mature.

Everything in this show is mature. I love it so much!

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Real romance is BACK.

I’ve been craving a soft romance like this for a while and finally got it: a drama that is slow and quiet (with a soothing OST) and gives the characters and the story time to breathe, but one where it’s not quite a melodrama either because it’s full of life and has dashes of humor in all the right places. I was just so impressed with the story of this show and the pacing it was given. The case-of-the-week subplot style really works in tandem with the overarching growth of our characters.

The two leads are fantastic. Ji-yun is a headstrong and ambitious female lead, but she never comes across as cold or rude (which many male CEO characters do); she’s just passionate about her job and very very good at it. Eun-ho is such a green flag male lead as well; he’s soft and warm, an amazing father, and good at his job too. In fact, Eun-ho is the character that owns the

I feel like it’s actually pretty rare to see a drama where both main characters have equal footing in the story, instead of one being the lead and one being the love interest.

I also just love how mature they both are and what that did for the romance. There are the butterflies and the nervousness of falling in love and not wanting to overstep your bounds, but the communication between the leads was actually really great and the romance never felt frustrating.

The second leads and side characters are really great as well. Yes, there’s some unrequited love (as dramas always have) but it’s also not stretched out unnecessarily, and they also approach everything with maturity. The side characters are surprisingly memorable even without much screen time, and they really add to the feeling of closeness at their workplace.

I’ve seen a few comments about how the addition of childhood connection is unnecessary, and I actually do agree. The characters had built up a very solid foundation already, and it would’ve meant even more if they grew from their past without it being forcefully shoved in their faces.

Although this is probably the only reason why this isn’t getting a full rating, but honestly the addition of this plot didn’t affect my enjoyment of the drama that much. The main leads’ communication and maturity stopped the show from getting frustrating, and other than this trope, I was pleasantly surprised at how this show subverted most other clichés.

Love Scout is one of the few dramas this year that stayed strong until the very end, and I’m SO happy that it’s what I started the year with. Highly recommend!

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It's quite good! (maybe a tiny bit overrated, there is less substance here than in Run On)

Kdramas do this thing where they pick a profession or an organization & then over-romanticize it. In this one that is the headhunter profession. I have mixed feelings about that, while this topic seems somewhat decently researched, it's a rather hard sell for me for various reasons.. Anyways,I can look past that with some difficulty. At the very least the show as an office drama -most of the day to day company happenings etc- works rather well. (discounting maybe episode 11 & the big shareholder guy's few scenes)

The romance is pretty good, it's not the best thing ever or anything, but nothing particularly annoying happens and there is quite a bit of fluff & cuteness in the final episodes. The bickering early on & the the minor enemies to lovers thing works well too. Considering the subject matter, the whole single dad + wealthy woman thing, the writers really sidestepped most of the mines that plague pretty much all such kdrama relationships that I've seen thus far.
The triangles are very minimal, so that's obviously pretty great too.

All things considered the writers did an acceptable job, overall more good than bad. However the pacing is a bit weird & some character personalities really shift too suddenly in the early episodes. Kind of like how sometimes in Hollywood there is a Pilot episode shot for the studio & then they change a bunch of things for episode 2 once the whole season is on order. I don't know, could be that kdrama writers are still not very comfortable with the 12 episode format, I cannot help but feel that the sweet spot for this kind of storytelling would be 13-14 episodes. Though at least in this one the final episode is reasonably well done, albeit the preceding `collapse of the company` plot is pretty dumb and sudden.
Also good god, "Peoplez" & "WE Company" are both incredibly stupid names. (sure real life Korean entrepreneurs have come up with countless awful brand names, but Koreans cannot even pronounce that "z" consonant, was there really a need for this?)

The child actor or rather actors are the best in this one. I just cannot believe a 7 year old kid can be this good.

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Short-lenght drama, well written, carried by CL with real chemistry

PLOT: The irascible headhunter, FL, meets the ML, a brilliant fired HR executive and single father. He will become her assistant, teaching her to manage her relationships (friendly, professional) with more gentleness. This CL will also have to confront the traumas of the past.

+++ Great CL (Lee Jun Hyuk and Han Ji Min) with remarkable presence and chemistry.
+++ Lots of excellent actors
+++ Dynamic production, great OST (the "Korean Touch" :)
+++ Story a bit Dramaland, but the dialogues are full of humanity and wisdom. We (barely) avoid the clichés of "break-up to protect you" and the ex's return who has been missing for ages (or the White truck of doom).
+++ The series highlights (once again) the discrimination in Korea against "unconventional" families (orphans, single or divorced parents, etc.). Society is deeply marked by Confusianism where lineage is essential :(

### Some characters are exaggerated:
- Such an "totally green flag" ML, mature, sweet, attentive, understanding,... doesn't exist in real life. That's a shame !
- The competing Villain and the father of ML2

=> Short series (12 episodes) with a sometimes heavy tone, but carried by an exceptional CL
***************************************************
Drama court, bien écrit, CL avec real chemistry

PLOT: La chasseuse de têtes irascible, FL, rencontre le ML, brillant cadre RH congédié et père célibataire. Il va devenir son assistant, lui apprendre à gérer ses relations (amicales, professionnelles) avec plus de douceur. Ce CL devra aussi affronter les traumas du passé.

+++ Great CL (Lee Jun Hyuk et Han Ji Min) avec une présence et une alchimie remarquables.
+++ Bcp d'excellents acteurs
+++ Réalis° dynamique, great OST (the "Korean Touch" :)
+++ Story un peu Dramaland, mais les dialogues sont pleins d'humanité et de sagesse. On évite (de justesse) les clichés du "break-up pr te protéger" et du retour de l'ex disparue depuis des lustres (ou le White truck of doom).
+++ La série met (une fois de plus) en exergue, la discrimination en Corée vis à vis des familles différentes (orphelins, parents isolés ou divorcés, etc.). La société est profondément marquée par le confusianisme où le lignage est primordial :(

### Certains personnages sont exagérés :
- Un tel ML "all green flags", mature, sweet, attentionné, compréhensif,... ça n'existe pas dans la vraie vie. Dommage !
- La Villain concurrente et le père du ML2

=> Série courte (12 ép) au ton parfois pesant, mais portée par un CL exceptionnel

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A big teddy bear hug in drama form ?

If I had to describe Love Scout in one word, it would be: wholesome.

This drama had a proper narrative arc, character development, emotional depth—the whole lot—but what set it apart for me was that no matter what the characters were going through, the series never lost its light, comforting tone. There’s a sense of emotional safety throughout the entire watch, like a warm blanket you never want to let go of.

Every single character (well, minus the villains) was utterly lovable. It’s not often you get an ensemble cast that clicks this well and gives off one-big-happy-family energy. From the children to the bookstore couple, to the supportive friends and extended circles—it all just worked.

Performance-wise, the cast delivered in every sense. Each actor embraced their role with sincerity and warmth, which made it easy to fall in love with their characters. Yu Eun-ho, played with such grace and quiet confidence by Lee Joon-Hyuk, was the walking, talking definition of a green flag. The emotional steadiness, the clarity of priorities, and the sheer calm he brought to every scene… I think I felt my blood pressure drop every time he came on screen. His portrayal of a single father navigating life with quiet resilience was both moving and inspiring.

Han Ji-min, as Kang Ji-yun, once again proved why she’s one of the best in the business. She brought so much depth to her role—a high-achieving woman grappling with insomnia and a hollow sense of loneliness. Her vulnerability was never exaggerated, just real and quietly heartbreaking, and she portrayed it all with the kind of nuance only she can deliver.

One of the things I really appreciated was how the drama subtly weaved in social commentary. It didn’t scream out its messages but planted them gracefully—whether it was about a father taking parental leave to prioritise his daughter’s mental well-being, or the emotional toll of societal pressure on women to ‘have it all.’ These themes were handled with empathy and elegance, never interrupting the pace or tone of the series.

The children—oh the children! Byeol and Seo Jun-i were little scene-stealers, not just because they were adorable, but because of the wisdom and emotional intelligence they showed. They’d both grown up missing a parent (or two), but the love and warmth poured into their upbringing had made them kind, considerate, and emotionally aware. Watching them give that love right back to their parents was heart-melting.

And how could I forget the Do Dam Bookstore couple? I adored their presence. They were the grounding force of the story—a simple, affectionate couple whose space became the safe haven for Eun-ho and Ji-yun’s connection to blossom.

Even the second lead couple felt like a warm hug. After watching Kim Do-hoon in the emotionally intense and dark Moving, it was refreshing to see him as the sweet, lollipop-loving Woo Jeong-hun. Despite carrying emotional baggage of his own, he brought a youthful lightness to the screen. Kim Yoon-hye as Su-hyeon was a revelation—her portrayal of a single mother who chose love over blood to raise Seo-jun with unwavering devotion was simply beautiful. Watching her and Jeong-hun slowly find comfort in each other was such a satisfying arc, and their coming together in the final episodes was the perfect finishing touch.

Yes, Love Scout was filled with classic K-drama tropes—childhood connections, second leads finding love through shared heartbreak—but what made them work here was how sincerely they were delivered. Nothing felt forced or rushed. Instead, it all unfolded with an authentic sweetness that made you root for everyone.

Even though it took me a while to finish (thanks to the whirlwind of life and work), every episode was worth the time. There were moments where I found myself smiling mid-scene without realising it, and that says a lot.

The ending left me completely satisfied. No loose ends, no unnecessary drama—just closure, comfort, and characters who found the happiness they deserved.

A breath of fresh air, a drama led by the king of green flags, and a warm cup of tea for the soul. Love Scout gets a 10 from me—no questions asked. Love, love, love.

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a great start for 2025!

Love Scout isn't special in its tropes; plenty of other dramas have done workplace romances or childhood connection or single-parent romance before. But what is special about this drama is that it does all these tropes right. I love the switched up roles in that our female lead is the CEO and her male lead the secretary. I love that there isn't unnecessary drama about the past when it is brought up. And I love mature leads! Where there is unrequited love, there is proper resolution and communication as well. It feels like the writer watched all the previous romantic dramas that we have watched and took notes to correct all the ways they went wrong!

One nitpick: I wish they would've fleshed out everyone besides Kang Ji-hyun more. Everyone besides her felt too perfect and mundane to the story. And the first half is stronger before the leads get together, but that's most dramas. Otherwise, if you're in the mood for a workplace romance done right, this is well worth the watch!

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