Director of Current Hit Drama Exposed for 2020 Special Assault Arrest, SBS Issues Public Apology
SBS Friday-Saturday drama “Love Scout” is facing controversy after it was revealed that its director, Ham Jun Ho, had been arrested as a perpetrator in a special assault case in 2020.
On January 13, an SBS representative addressed the issue, stating to MyDaily, “We apologize for causing concern with unfavorable news related to Ham Jun Ho PD.”
The network clarified, “It is true that Ham Jun Ho PD faced charges of assault and insult under the influence in early 2020. However, he sincerely apologized to all the victims, reached forgiveness and settlement, and underwent legal resolution. Additionally, the minor offense mentioned in reports five years ago is unrelated to the current matter. Regarding the incident, Ham Jun Ho PD was subjected to disciplinary suspension by the company and took three years for self-reflection and penance before returning to directing. We ask for the viewers’ understanding.”
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The controversy resurfaced recently through an online community post, which included a screenshot of an article from March 5, 2020, detailing the incident.
According to the report, an SBS drama production director (referred to as PD A) caused a disturbance in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, on March 1, 2020. While intoxicated, A threw soju at passersby, assaulted them indiscriminately, and created chaos. After being apprehended as a flagrant offender, A allegedly shouted at the officers and directed obscene insults at a female police officer.
The police booked PD A for special assault, injury, and insult charges. Due to prior offenses, an arrest warrant was requested but later dismissed by the prosecution, allowing A to return home.
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The individual in question was revealed to be Ham Jun Ho. At the time, SBS stated, “We view the assault allegations involving a drama PD on March 1 as a very serious matter. We are investigating the issue and will handle it in accordance with company regulations.”
Despite the incident, Ham Jun Ho returned three years later to direct the SBS drama “Payback” and is currently helming the popular series “Love Scout” which has recently achieved a nationwide Nielsen rating of 11.3%.
The renewed focus on Ham Jun Ho’s past actions is expected to spark significant public debate and scrutiny.
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