Viewership for 'My Perfect Secretary' Rises Despite Director's Controversy

'My Perfect Secretary' (나의 완벽한 비서) has shown resilience in its viewership ratings, unaffected by the recent controversy surrounding its director's past alcohol-related assault allegations. According to Nielsen Korea, the fifth episode aired on January 17 recorded a nationwide rating of 10.7%, with a peak of 13.3%, maintaining its position as the top show in its time slot. The target demographic rating for viewers aged 20-49 also reached 3.9%, solidifying its popularity as the highest-rated program of the week. While the fifth episode's rating saw a slight decline of 0.6% from the previous week's 11.3%, it did show an increase of 0.2% compared to the third episode's 10.5%. Notably, the ratings have been on an upward trend, with the first episode starting at 5.2%, the third at 10.5%, and the fifth at 10.7%. The Saturday episodes have also seen growth, with the second episode at 6.5% and the fourth at 11.3%. Given this trajectory, the sixth episode airing today is expected to set a new record for the series. The show faced scrutiny after it was revealed that director Ham Joon-ho (함준호) had a history of alcohol-related violence, including an incident five years ago where he assaulted pedestrians and verbally abused a female police officer. SBS confirmed the allegations, stating that Ham sincerely apologized to the victims and underwent legal proceedings. They emphasized that the past offenses were minor and unrelated to the current project, noting that Ham has since taken a three-year hiatus for reflection before returning to directing. Despite the controversy, 'My Perfect Secretary' continues to thrive in viewership ratings.