[Current Drama 2024] The Midnight Romance in Hagwon/ Graduation, 졸업- Jung Ryeo Won & Wi Ha Joon-Sat&Sun

[larus]

Watch: Wi Ha Joon And Jung Ryeo Won Begin To Explore Their Relationship In "The Midnight Romance In Hagwon" Teaser

Drama Preview

May 09, 2024

by S Kim

tvN’s upcoming romance drama “The Midnight Romance in Hagwon” has dropped a four-minute long highlight teaser!

Helmed by director Ahn Pan Seok of the hit drama “Something in the Rain,” “The Midnight Romance in Hagwon” tells the story of academy teacher Seo Hye Jin (Jung Ryeo Won) and her former student Lee Joon Ho (Wi Ha Joon), who later returns to the academy as a rookie instructor after resigning from a large company because of his lingering feelings for his first love.

The newly release teaser video kicks off with Seo Hye Jin reuniting with her former student Lee Joon Ho, who is one of her best students and her source of pride in her teaching career. Lee Joon Ho, who stands in front of her as a successful colleague, boldly expresses his feelings by saying, “There is no way that you did not notice that Lee Joon Ho’s first love is Seo Hye Jin.” However, Seo Hye Jin pushes him away due to their past relationship as teacher and student. But soon, she admits her feelings for Joon Ho and their relationship begins to develop romantically.

 

 

https://www.soompi.com/article/1660241wpp/watch-wi-ha-joon-and-jung-ryeo-won-begin-to-explore-their-relationship-in-the-midnight-romance-in-hagwon-teaser

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Watch: Jung Ryeo Won And Wi Ha Joon Fully Embody Their Characters On Set Of Upcoming Drama "The Midnight Romance In Hagwon"

Drama Preview

May 10, 2024

by J Lee

tvN’s weekend drama “The Midnight Romance in Hagwon” has unveiled behind-the-scenes footage ahead of its premiere!

Helmed by director Ahn Pan Seok of the hit drama “Something in the Rain,” “The Midnight Romance in Hagwon” tells the story of academy teacher Seo Hye Jin (Jung Ryeo Won) and her former student Lee Joon Ho (Wi Ha Joon), who later returns to the academy as a rookie instructor after resigning from a large company because of his lingering feelings for his first love.

The newly released video starts with Jung Ryeo Won describing her character as a “rational and quick-witted workaholic who is good at reading the room.” Viewers can catch a glimpse of Jung Ryeo Won’s dedication as she practices writing on the chalkboard, fully immersing herself in the role of a teacher. Furthermore, she perfectly embodies the essence of a top-tier hagwon instructor as she grills students with exam-related questions, creating an intense vibe in the classroom.

 

The video continues with Wi Ha Joon introducing his character as a “confident, ambitious young man who boldly walks away from the corporate job to pursue what he wants.” The video then portrays him alongside Jung Ryeo Won as they engage in conversations and collaborate on scenes, as if their characters’ chemistry translates into off-screen chemistry.

 

 

https://www.soompi.com/article/1660558wpp/watch-jung-ryeo-won-and-wi-ha-joon-fully-embody-their-characters-on-set-of-upcoming-drama-the-midnight-romance-in-hagwon

 

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Kim Jung Young confirmed to appear in "The Midnight Romance in Hagwon"

by lo_ve, May 10, 2024

2 0

 

Kim Jung Young is joining the cast of the upcoming K-drama The Midnight Romance in Hagwon. 

On May 10, it was officially confirmed that Kim Jung Young's first K-drama project for 2024 will be the tvN K-drama The Midnight Romance in Hagwon. 

Last year, actress Kim Jung Young appeared in several K-dramas. She was part of the series The Glory Part 2, My Perfect Stranger, and Arthdal Chronicles: The Sword of Aramun. She also made a special appearance in the K-dramas Moon in the Day and Delightfully Deceitful. 

After The Midnight Romance in Hagwon, Kim Jung Young will also star in the upcoming K-drama Bloody Romance. She will work alongside Nam Gyu Ri, Kim Min Seok, Choi Hye Jin, Song Jae Rim, Steve Noh, and Jung Jin Woo. 

Kim Jung Young made her acting debut in 2000. She is known for being part of the hit K-dramas The Glory, Racket Boys, The King: Eternal Monarch, Dr. Romantic, Signal, and more. 

 

Kim Jung Young will join the confirmed cast Jung Ryeo Won, Wi Ha Joon, So Ju Yeon, Kim Song Il, Jang In Sub, and Ahn Hyun Ho. 

The upcoming K-drama will revolve around the romance of a star instructor Seo Hye Jin and her former student Lee Joon Ho who returns to the academy after 10 years to become an instructor. 

It will be helmed by director Ahn Pan Seok ( One Spring Night and Something in the Rain) and writer Park Kyung Hwa (tvN O'PENing: Stock of High School). 

In the series, Kim Jung Young will portray the role of Woo Seung Hee. She is currently the vice president of the academy. Before she became the vice president, she also experienced becoming an English Instructor. 

The Midnight Romance in Hagwon will be part of the Saturday and Sunday K-drama timeslot of tvN. The series will air its first episode on May 11 at 9:20 PM KST. 

 

https://mydramalist.com/article/kim-jung-young-confirmed-to-appear-in-the-midnight-romance-in-hagwon

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Wi Ha Joon Refuses To Back Down From Pursuing Jung Ryeo Won In "The Midnight Romance In Hagwon"

Drama Preview

May 11, 2024

by E Cha

tvN’s upcoming drama “The Midnight Romance in Hagwon” has shared a new glimpse of the chemistry between its two leads!

Helmed by director Ahn Pan Seok of the hit drama “Something in the Rain,” “The Midnight Romance in Hagwon” is set against the backdrop of Daechi, a neighborhood known as the epicenter of private education in Korea due to its high concentration of hagwons (private educational institutions).

Jung Ryeo Won will star as Seo Hye Jin (Jung Ryeo Won), a hagwon instructor who tirelessly assists a cheeky student named Lee Joon Ho (Wi Ha Joon) in gaining admission to a prestigious university. 10 years later, Lee Joon Ho unexpectedly returns to the hagwon as a rookie instructor after resigning from a promising job at a large company. There, he is reunited with his unrequited first love Seo Hye Jin.

In newly released stills from the upcoming drama, Seo Hye Jin is shocked to see an unexpected familiar face at the examination for rookie instructors. Peeking between the window blinds, she is unable to tear her eyes away from Lee Joon Ho, her pupil from 10 years prior.

 

 

In the next set of photos, Seo Hye Jin gets into an unexpected standoff with Lee Joon Ho, who stubbornly refuses to back down from whatever he sets his mind to.

Although Seo Hye Jin does everything she can to change his mind, whether pleading with him or trying to be intimidating by whipping out the former teacher card, Lee Joon Ho wears a relaxed smile and doesn’t budge an inch.

 

https://www.soompi.com/article/1660605wpp/wi-ha-joon-refuses-to-back-down-from-pursuing-jung-ryeo-won-in-the-midnight-romance-in-hagwon

 

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News bites: May 9, 2024

by tccolb

With the countdown ticking close to The Midnight Romance in Hagwon’s arrival, tvN released an extended teaser of highlights and it’s nice to finally see some of the supporting cast who star alongside Jung Ryeo-won (May It Please the Court) and Wie Ha-joon (Gyeongseong Creature). The series will be premiering this weekend on May 11. [JTBC]

 

https://photo.jtbc.co.kr/news/jam_photo/202404/05/8dafc001-795b-404e-8848-7f7f8b6d1bc9.jpg

 

 

https://www.dramabeans.com/2024/05/news-bites-may-9-2024/

[backstreetboysfan]

Here are the ratings for Episode 1! .

 

"The Midnight Romance In Hagwon" Premieres To No. 1 Ratings

tvN’s new drama “The Midnight Romance in Hagwon” is off to a promising start!

 

On May 11, the new romance drama starring Wi Ha Joon and Jung Ryeo Won premiered to strong viewership ratings. According to Nielsen Korea, the first episode of “The Midnight Romance in Hagwon” took first place in its time slot across all cable channels with an average nationwide rating of 5.2 percent.

 

https://www.soompi.com/article/1660743wpp/the-midnight-romance-in-hagwon-premieres-to-no-1-ratings

[minglanfan2]

Any idea on when the OST will be released?

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Wi Ha Joon Leaves Jung Ryeo Won Shaken And Speechless In "The Midnight Romance In Hagwon"

Drama Preview

May 12, 2024

by E Cha

tvN’s “The Midnight Romance in Hagwon” has shared an intriguing sneak peek of its second episode!

Helmed by director Ahn Pan Seok of the hit drama “Something in the Rain,” “The Midnight Romance in Hagwon” is a new romance set against the backdrop of Daechi, a neighborhood known as the epicenter of private education in Korea due to its high concentration of hagwons (private educational institutions).

Spoilers

On the first episode of the drama, star hagwon instructor Seo Hye Jin (played by Jung Ryeo Won) was shocked when her former pupil Lee Joon Ho (Wi Ha Joon) suddenly re-entered her life after 10 years. After unexpectedly deciding to resign from a promising job at a prestigious company, Lee Joon Ho returned to the hagwon in order to become a rookie instructor.

In newly released stills from the drama’s next episode, Seo Hye Jin and Lee Joon Ho reunite at Namsan Public Library, a place where they often spent time together when they were still teacher and student. Seo Hye Jin desperately tries to change Lee Joon Ho’s mind about throwing his career away in order to pursue a new path, but she remains unable to persuade him.

Instead, Lee Joon Ho catches Seo Hye Jin off guard by saying something so piercingly perceptive and accurate that it leaves her shaken. What Lee Joon Ho has to say leaves Seo Hye Jin asking herself a major question, and she is visibly unsettled as she anxiously grips the steering wheel of her car after their encounter.

 

 

https://www.soompi.com/article/1660768wpp/wi-ha-joon-leaves-jung-ryeo-won-shaken-and-speechless-in-the-midnight-romance-in-hagwon

 

 

[larus]

Premiere Watch: The Midnight Romance in Hagwon

by missvictrix

 

Time slot: Saturday-Sunday
Broadcaster: tvN
Genre: Romance, human
Episode count: 16
Global streamer: Viki

Reasons to watch: They had me at PD Ahn Pan-seok’s latest romance — but then they had to go and toss Jung Ryeo-won and Wie Ha-joon in there, and I was a total goner. Love them or leave them, there is something unforgettable about each of Ahn PD’s dramas — and I’m not just talking about his penchant for laying the same song over nearly every scene. He captures something so real and intimate in his dramas that sometimes I feel like I’m not watching a piece of fiction. He also loves stories about complicated people falling in love in complicated situations (see: One Spring Night, Pretty Noona Who Buys Me Food), and we are set for more of the same here. Jung Ryeo-won plays a star teacher at her hagwon, and Wie Ha-joon is her once-student and now-coworker. Let the romance commence!

 

TL;DR: Ahn Pan-seok’s latest romance drama + Wie Ha-joon’s first romantic leading role

 

https://www.dramabeans.com/2024/05/premiere-watch-the-midnight-romance-in-hagwon/

 

https://biz.chosun.com/entertainment/enter_general/2024/05/09/4PLDF7RUQP42HDDMALE2PWOAGI/

 

 

 

Spoiler

https://www.hankyung.com/article/202405097821H

 

 

 

[agenth]

Watched episode 1

 

i liked the interaction between the leads, and the siwtch from somber to cheerful. that teacher though has a lot of negative vibes, he looks like is mentally imbalanced, as he erupts into anger easily. 

 

instead of looking like an apology, it's a war declaration 

[larus]

The Midnight Romance in Hagwon early reviews: Did Wi Ha Joon, Jung Ryeo Won's new tvN romance win viewers' hearts?

ByAshima Grover

 

Wi Ha Joon finally steps into the male lead shoes with Jung Ryeo Won by his side in tvN's The Midnight Romance in Hagwon on May 11.

 

 

After tussling with the Front Man in Squid Game (2021), leading a drug cartel in The Worst of Evil (2023), and whatnot, the diverse yet underrated talents of Wi Ha Joon have finally the top spot as the male lead of a romance drama. Opening its chapters of melodrama on Saturday, May 11, The Midnight Romance in Hagwon premiered on tvN, the South Korean network home to recent hit releases, including Queen of Tears and Lovely Runner.

 

The latest weekend drama is directed by Ahn Pan Seok, widely celebrated for his previous works such as Something in the Rain and award-winning shows Secret Affair and Behind the White Tower. Jung Ryeo Won (Wok of Love) shares the screen with Wi Ha Joon in this tvN romance melodrama as their lives get entangled upon reuniting after a decade-long gap.

 

Joining them, Soo Jo Yeon, Kim Jong Tae, Kim Jung Young, Seo Jeong Yeon, Shin Joo Hyup, Yoon Bok In, Oh Man Seok, and others take on pivotal supporting roles.

 

Years later, a veteran cram school instructor, Seo Hye Jin's stable life takes a jarring turn upon the return of her former student. Although a decade ago, she helped trouble-maker Lee Jun Ho gain admission at a prestigious university, he silently admired her from afar. Ultimately giving up his big-shot job, he also decides to become a teacher, which earns him a chance to get closer to Hye Jin again.

 

more https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/web-series/the-midnight-romance-in-hagwon-early-reviews-did-wi-ha-joon-jung-ryeo-wons-new-tvn-romance-win-viewers-hearts-101715452848270.html

 

 

 

Drama 'Graduation' character relationships, 9 people, 9 colors, Daechi-dong people... How many episodes?

 

 

 

https://www.polinews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=647289

 

 

 

[larus]

Hyun-ho Ahn becomes a Korean language instructor..joins tvN’s ‘Graduation’ [Official]

 

 

Actor Ahn Hyun-ho appears in tvN's new Saturday-Sunday drama 'Graduation' (directed by Ahn Pan-seok, written by Park Kyung-hwa, produced by Studio Dragon and JS Pictures).

 

tvN’s ‘Graduation’ depicts the exciting and sweet midnight romance between star instructor Seo Hye-jin (played by Jeong Ryeo-won) and Lee Jun-ho (wi Ha-jun), a cheeky student who appears as a new instructor. In the future, we plan to show the fierce and dynamic Daechi-dong academy district scene in a realistic way.

 

In the play, Ahn Hyun-ho plays the role of ‘Kim Chae-yoon’, a sharp but clear and cheerful Korean language instructor. Kim Chae-yoon is a member of Seo Hye-jin's team, and she is a talented person who graduated from a top university and grows through various situations. She has only been in the company for three years and plans to elicit sympathy from those who are new to her career.

 

Previously, Ahn Hyun-ho appeared in MBC's '100 Butlers per Day', Disney+'s 'Third Person Revenge', and tvN's drama Project Opening (O'PENing) 'XX+XY', receiving rave reviews for his attractive mask and acting skills. Through this ‘graduation’, I challenge myself to transform my image into a new role that is different from my previous role.

 

tvN’s new Saturday-Sunday drama ‘Graduation’ will premiere tomorrow (11th) at 9:20 PM.

 

https://biz.chosun.com/entertainment/enter_general/2024/05/10/VJDUPLQF6WKOAQOXBBYBOWQ35M/

[backstreetboysfan]

Here are the ratings for Episode 2! .

 

"The Atypical Family" And "Beauty And Mr. Romantic" Soar To Their Highest Ratings Yet

Meanwhile, tvN’s new drama “The Midnight Romance in Hagwon” held steady for its second episode, maintaining its average nationwide rating of 5.2 percent from its premiere and remaining first place in its time slot across all cable channels.

 

https://www.soompi.com/article/1660904wpp/the-atypical-family-and-beauty-and-mr-romantic-soar-to-their-highest-ratings-yet

 

[backstreetboysfan]

Watch: Jung Ryeo Won And Wi Ha Joon Show Pride For "The Midnight Romance In Hagwon" In Making-Of Video

DRAMA

tvN’s “The Midnight Romance in Hagwon” released its first behind-the-scenes clip!

 

Helmed by director Ahn Pan Seok of the hit drama “Something in the Rain,” “The Midnight Romance in Hagwon” is set against the backdrop of Daechi, a neighborhood known as the epicenter of private education in Korea due to its high concentration of hagwons (private educational institutions).

 

Jung Ryeo Won introduces her character Seo Hye Jin as a cold, down-to-earth, and workaholic person who worked as a Korean instructor in Daechi for 14 years, advancing her career as an ace instructor in Daechi Chase Academy.

 

In the making-of video, she proudly remarks that it is difficult to get such a good working atmosphere, good people, and a good project all at once and that she is happy and proud to be working with a director that she admires. She continues, “I’m not sure if it’s because all of the actors get along well with the director already, but the atmosphere was so comfortable that I felt like I knew them for a long time.”

 

Wi Ha Joon portrays Lee Joon Ho, whom he introduces as a very confident man who grew up in Daechi. He is confident enough to resign his promising job from a large company only to be with Hye Jin, his former teacher, and they start working together. They will not only elicit good chemistry in the drama as a couple who will continue to develop their relationship by learning from each other as Wi Ha Joon explains, but the two actors can’t stop bursting into laughter behind the scenes every time they see each other.

 

Wi Ha Joon and Jung Ryeo Won promise the viewers a realistic and beautiful story that has a moral behind it. The actors’ performances are so realistic that the director even forgets that he is filming. At the same time, the actors remark that the drama gets even more entertaining as it progresses, asking for lots of love and support.

 

Watch the behind-the-scenes video below!

 

 

https://www.soompi.com/article/1660899wpp/watch-jung-ryeo-won-and-wi-ha-joon-show-pride-for-the-midnight-romance-in-hagwon-in-making-of-video

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Wi Ha Joon and Jung Ryeo Won's "The Midnight Romance in Hagwon" Starts Strong

by Lily Alice, May 12, 2024

4 0

 

The Midnight Romance in Hagwon premiered scoring ratings of 5.16% (nationwide) and 6.32% (metropolitan), a strong start for the tvN weekend drama. 

The Midnight Romance in Hagwon tells the story of star lecturer Seo Hye Jin (Jung Ryeo Won) and her cheeky student Lee Jun Ho (Wi Ha Joon), whom she helped get into a prestigious university ten years earlier. Jun Ho quits his job at a prominent company to work as a hagwon teacher. 

The K-drama is set against the backdrop of Daechi, a neighborhood known as the heart of hagwons (private educational institutions) in South Korea.

 

 

When and where to watch the K-drama The Midnight Romance in Hagwon?

Episode 2 of The Midnight Romance in Hagwon will air on May 12 (Sunday). The K-drama is available to stream on Viki.

 

https://mydramalist.com/article/wi-ha-joon-and-jung-ryeo-won-s-the-midnight-romance-in-hagwon-starts-strong

[larus]

After premiering with ratings of 5.16% (nationwide) and 6.32% (metropolitan), tvN's The Midnight Romance in Hagwon dropped to 5.15% (nationwide) and 5.49% (metropolitan) for episode 2. However, it remained in first place in its time slot.

 

When and where to watch the K-drama The Midnight Romance in Hagwon?

Episode 3 of The Midnight Romance in Hagwon will air on May 18 (Saturday). The K-drama is available to stream on Viki.

 

https://mydramalist.com/article/jang-ki-yong-and-chun-woo-hee-s-the-atypical-family-achieves-its-highest-ratings

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Jung Ryeo Won, Wi Ha Joon's "The Midnight Romance in Hagwon" Swept Up in Controversy

by Lily Alice, May 13, 2024

12 38

 

After airing only two episodes, The Midnight Romance in Hagwon, starring Jung Ryeo Won and Wi Ha Joon, finds itself in a controversy over a scene. 

The Midnight Romance in Hagwon tells the story of star lecturer Seo Hye Jin (Jung Ryeo Won) and her cheeky student Lee Jun Ho (Wi Ha Joon), whom she helped get into a prestigious university ten years earlier. Jun Ho quits his job at a prominent company to work as a hagwon teacher.  

The Secondary School Teachers Labor Union of South Korea expressed disappointment regarding a scene from the K-drama. 

 

 

The scene in question is from episode 1, where a "re-examination demand" is made by Seo Hye Jin (Jung Ryeo Won) when one of her students is distressed she chose the wrong option for a complicated question. Initially, Hye Jin advises her students and their guardians to raise objections regarding the question, saying it can have two correct answers. However, the student's school teacher insists that there is only one correct answer and refuses to change his stance. 

Seo Hye Jin then calls the school teacher on his personal phone number given by the student's guardian and goes to the school to demand a re-examination, telling the school teacher that he has asked a type of outdated question that has totally disappeared from the college entrance exam. This leads the school to decide on a re-examination considering the numerous complaints that follow.  

 

 

Spoiler

 

The union expressed disappointment regarding the portrayal and setting of the incident.  

On May 13, the Secondary School Teachers Labor Union (Chairman Won Joo Hyun) issued an official statement. The union expressed "considerable disappointment regarding the content related to the 'high school re-examination demand incident' aired in the first episode of tvN's weekend drama The Midnight Romance in Hagwon on May 11. This is what we express. The excessive portrayal and setting of this content in the drama not only lower the morale of teachers who are on the front line of education and are responsible for teaching the young generation, but also could lead to a distorted view of the Korean public education system among viewers not only in Korea but also worldwide." 

They added, "The homepage of The Midnight Romance in Hagwon introduces the intention of the drama as 'to shed light on the lives and love of academy instructors, who have always been around us and in the blind spots, which have never been deeply explored.' It is questionable whether such an excessive setting [in regards to the scene], which could lead to misunderstandings and dichotomous ideology about public education, was necessary in regards to [the drama's] intention of bringing to light the lives and loves of people belonging to a specific occupational group." 

They also said, "Following the broadcast, provocative edits of the content with titles like 'Taking down a (school) teacher who speaks rudely' and such have already been uploaded on platforms like YouTube." They believe that this undermines the morale of public education professionals, especially at a time just before Teacher's Day, celebrated on May 15 in South Korea.

They say that the scenes "fail to reflect the efforts and struggles of secondary school teachers who strive to uphold the essence of the public education curriculum." 

They also expressed concern with "the portrayal of characters, where the male character, who tries to stick to his point of view, but ends up being driven by the circumstances and calls the female protagonist [and the likes of her] 'parasite,' and uses physical force on the protagonist to inflict harm, is depicted as a high school teacher. While the female character who steps up to protect the distressed student, but is unilaterally harmed by the male teacher's use of physical force, is an academy instructor. The depiction of the confrontation between the two provides a dichotomous perspective not only to Korean viewers but also to viewers around the world."

They concluded by expressing hope "that the remaining episodes of the drama The Midnight Romance in Hagwon will provide empathy, comfort, and catharsis to the teachers of public education, and maintain its status as content with a positive and beneficial influence not only in Korea but also to people around the world." 

Meanwhile, tvN is yet to release an official statement on this issue. 

 

https://mydramalist.com/article/jung-ryeo-won-wi-ha-joon-s-the-midnight-romance-in-hagwon-swept-up-in-controversy

 

 

Teacher's Day is just around the corner... Secondary school teachers’ union: “The tvN drama ‘Graduation’ is lowering teacher morale”

Concerns were raised that TV dramas aired ahead of Teacher's Day could distort the reality of public education and lower teacher morale through excessive descriptions and settings. In the first episode of tvN's Saturday/Sunday drama 'Graduation', which aired on the 11th, content related to the 'high school re-examination incident' was aired.

 

In the broadcast, the main character, an instructor at an academy, encourages students and their guardians to raise objections to exam questions, calls the teacher's personal phone number, goes to the school, tells the teacher that he has asked for an old question that has disappeared from the college entrance exam, and demands a retest. . Taking this as an opportunity, the school deals with numerous complaints and decides to retest.

 

https://www.edpl.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=12762

 

[larus]

The Midnight Romance in Hagwon: Episodes 1-2

by Dramaddictally

 

Slow paced with a dose of realism, tvN’s latest romance is setting us up for complicated emotions as a star teacher at a hagwon collides with her former student. He’s all grown up and looking to follow in her inspirational footsteps — and from the looks of it, also to put the moves on her.

 

 
EPISODES 1-2

 

The Midnight Romance in Hagwon is finally here and the first two episodes are a lot of setup. Along with being introduced to our leads, we’re also taken into the world of high school education, where there’s rivalry between the teachers at the public high schools and those at the private after-school institutes (the hagwon of our drama’s title) that help students prepare for exams. This battle will be the backdrop to our romance story, where tension is rising as teachers compete for the students’ attention (and money).

The main action takes place at Daechi Chase, a hagwon in the affluent Daechi-dong area of Seoul. Even though they have legendary teacher SEO HYE-JIN (Jung Ryeo-won) working for them, they still need to fight to stay relevant as new hagwon pop up on every corner. It’s a high pressure job given that all the instructors are in competition with each other, but more so for Hye-jin because she’s so sought after. With students and parents trusting her so much, she winds up getting involved personally in the students’ lives.

And we see this might be a perpetual thing for her when she runs into her former student, LEE JUN-HO (Wie Ha-joon). He was the first student at the hagwon to win a university scholarship (accounted for on the scholarship wall of fame) and Hye-jin’s career was also boosted for being his teacher at the time.

When Jun-ho stops by Daechi Chase after hours and runs into Hye-jin tipping back a few beers, she’s excited to see him and says that when he got into college, it was the best moment of her life. He’s even saved in her phone as “My Pride.” Already, I’m thinking she has a problem with boundaries.

 

It’s been ten years since they were teacher and student and Jun-ho is now thirty, still living at home, and working at an office job that offers prestige. But, he’s not making the kind of money he wants. So, when Hye-jin — whose face is on the ads for Daechi Chase — starts bragging about how much she earns, Jun-ho takes it to heart. When the hagwon gives a test to recruit new teachers, Jun-ho is there, ready to change career paths and make more money, even if society (and his parents) don’t see it as high status as the job he has.

 

Hye-jin responds by taking Jun-ho to dinner to discuss why he’s pursuing teaching — especially at her school of all places — and inform him that she thinks he’s nut for quitting his company. He’s cheeky the whole time, pressing forward with his decision as she tries to talk him out of it. No matter how serious she seems, he smiles and treats it all as a joke.

 

There is something about their rapport that isn’t sitting right with me just yet. We know that Jun-ho comes around once a year on Teachers’ Day to say hi, so it’s not like they haven’t seen each other at all in the past ten years. But, at the same time, they seem too close already for people who were just teacher and student. There’s a definite “old friends” vibe about them that doesn’t initially smack of tension, but isn’t really comfortable either.

Jun-ho is clearly teasing her in a way that says he likes her — but it’s also little kiddish and seems more like an innocent crush. The way she responds, trying to ensure that he doesn’t get a job at her hagwon, says to me that she might have deeper feelings than he does, or that she’s willing to admit (even to herself). Whatever is happening, it’s making me very uneasy — and I think that’s entirely the point.

 

more https://www.dramabeans.com/2024/05/the-midnight-romance-in-hagwon-episodes-1-2/

[larus]

Song Hyun-chan, Kim Tae-poong, Cha Se-yeon join 'Graduation'

 

 

Song Hyun-chan, Kim Tae-poong, and Cha Se-yeon appear side by side in the tvN Saturday-Sunday drama ‘Graduation’, which first aired on the 11th.

 

They appear in the play with their real names. Song Hyun-chan played the role of teaching assistant ‘Hyeon-chan’, Kim Tae-poong played the role of teaching assistant ‘Tae-poong’, and Cha Se-yeon played the role of teaching assistant ‘Se-yeon’. They will act as teaching assistants for ‘Daechi Chase’ and will show the realistic academy life they experience as teaching assistants to star instructors.

 

The three actors said, “I really wanted to work with the director and writer at least once after seeing their work, and I am very honored to have this great opportunity,” adding, “Working together with great actors is also a valuable experience. “This is a place where you can learn more than any other place,” they said in one voice.

 

‘Graduation’ is a thrilling and sweet midnight romance drama between star instructor Seo Hye-jin (played by Jeong Ryeo-won) and Lee Jun-ho (wi Ha-jun), a cheeky student who appears as a new instructor. The viewer rating for the first episode was the highest in the metropolitan area at 8.0%, ranking first in the same time slot including cable and general programming, signaling a good start.

 

Song Hyun-chan, who joined 'Graduation', has shown unique acting in the short films 'Introduction to Photography' and 'Directing Department', as well as in the films 'Vacation on Earth' and the web drama 'Tojeong Romance'.

Kim Tae-poong appeared in the movie 'Delivery Agency', web drama VLIVE 'What the Heart Says', TVING 'Ghost', NETFLIX 'Hounds', and Cha Se-yeon appeared in dramas 'My Dangerous Wife', 'I'll Be Your Night', etc. They made their presence known through wavve's 'Look at Me'.

https://m.etnews.com/20240514000179

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Jung Ryeo Won And Wi Ha Joon Open Up About "The Midnight Romance In Hagwon," Their Thoughts On Love, And More

Style

May 17, 2024

by R Suhaila

Jung Ryeo Won and Wi Ha Joon have joined ELLE Korea for a stunning photo shoot!

On May 17, ELLE Korea unveiled a pictorial starring “The Midnight Romance in Hagwon” stars Jung Ryeo Won and Wi Ha Joon.

“The Midnight Romance in Hagwon” is a romance drama set against the backdrop of Daechi, a neighborhood known as the epicenter of private education in Korea due to its high concentration of hagwons (private educational institutions).

Following the photo shoot, Jung Ryeo Won, who portrays star instructor Seo Hye Jin, shared, “Initially, terms like ‘college entrance exam,’ ‘regular admission,’ and ‘school grades’ were alien to me, and I had little knowledge about the Korean education system. I turned to YouTube lectures by renowned tutors and sought guidance from them. Any hint of clumsiness in my speech would be noticeable, so I quietly observed their classes in person and listened to recordings daily.”

 

Discussing Wi Ha Joon, who portrays Lee Joon Ho, she remarked, “Wi Ha Joon brought out much more charm in the character Joon Ho. Consequently, aspects of my true self were mirrored more in Hye Jin. Ha Joon also said to me, ‘I’m glad that your loveliness is expressed well.’ At that moment, I felt we truly have great chemistry.”

Spoiler

 

When asked about whether the power of love can change the world, Wi Ha Joon reflected, “There is a reason that phrase is so common. We’ve all been deeply affected by love in our lives, and perhaps we yearn for it again because we have memories of how it felt to be truly loved.”

 

Wi Ha Joon, who underwent a major transformation from his tough role in his previous drama “The Worst of Evil,” shared, “To really get into character, I listened to emotional music that isn’t typically my style and delved into romantic references. It’s amusing because the more I embraced Joon Ho, the kinder people seemed to be around me. Even my fashion sense changed, and my friends joked if anything was going on,” he chuckled.

Wi Ha Joon also praised his collaboration with Jung Ryeo Won, describing her as “an angel.” He remarked, “Initially, I expected her to be aloof, but she’s more like an affectionate puppy once you get to know her. She has a charm that invites playful banter. Working with Ryeo Won as Seo Hye Jin made the character much livelier and more appealing.”

 

Spoiler

 

more

 

https://www.soompi.com/article/1662135wpp/jung-ryeo-won-and-wi-ha-joon-open-up-about-the-midnight-romance-in-hagwon-their-thoughts-on-love-and-more