K-DRAMA FIRST LOOK: โ€œThe Midnight Romance in Hagwonโ€ Marks Slow-Burn Story About Life, Career and Love

Having achieved the impressive feat of getting a troublemaking student accepted at a prestigious college, our heroineโ€™s career took off, deeming that student her pride. But it doesnโ€™t seem that our leading lady has foreseen their reunion a decade later, not as a student and his proud teacher but as colleagues.

An encounter that will surely turn our heroineโ€™s steady life upside down, given how our male lead wonโ€™t settle for being her colleague, but will try to get much closer than that.

Bunny S watches The Midnight Romance in Hagwon on Viu

Opening Week Rating:


The Midnight Romance in Hagwon Opening Week Story

โ€œShe got rid of the fearsome three in three minutes.โ€

In the cutthroat world of academies, where it is tough to survive, let alone stand out, our star instructor heroine, Seo Hye-jin (Jung Ryeo Won), managed to make a name for herself, getting students lining up to attend her classes. Her path to success wasnโ€™t filled with roses, though. And it took Hye-jin much hard work to get where she is now.

Being able to handle smoothly a tiger mothersโ€™ group nicknamed The Fearsome Three, everyone around her holds Hye-jin in awe. But instead of just praises and empty words, it might be better to cut down on her heavy workload and give Hye-jin time to recharge. But alas, they practically force Hye-jin into allotting more time to her already packed schedule, so that the academy can accept more students.

โ€œYou people are parasites.โ€

Though she practically does nothing but work, Hye-jin remains cheerful and greets her students with a smile even after facing a humiliating day. It is obvious how Hye-jin genuinely cares for her students andย doesnโ€™tย regard them as mere sources of her paycheck.

When some of her students get unfair grades because of an obstinate teacher who wonโ€™t admit to his mistake, Hye-jin meets him in person, risking everything she has achieved till now. Things get heated, though, and the teacher humiliates Hye-jin. Yet she remains resolute and doesnโ€™t budge.

As a recharge after this tough day, Hye-jin thinks back on one troublesome student she met ten years ago, deeming the time he got into a prestigious college the best moment in her life. But running into that student again as an applicant for the new instructor position at her academy might not be something Hye-jin saw coming.

โ€œI wanted to earn a ton of more money than I would have at my previous job.โ€

Sick of corporate life, Hye-jinโ€™s former student, Lee Joon-ho (Wi Ha-joon), resigns from his job and signs up for the instructorโ€™s job. Joon-hoโ€™s motive for joining the private academies world, a.k.a the vein of gold that never dries up, canโ€™t be any simpler, earning as much money as possible. Yet, perhaps along the way, Joon-ho will discover a different motive to keep going in that direction other than a hefty paycheck and owning a Gangnam apartment.

Though Hye-jin tries her best to dissuade Joon-ho from that risky move by mentioning how difficult anย instructorโ€™sย life is, Joon-ho sticks by his decision. He is confident that he will get the job. And even if Hye-jin gets in the way of him joining her academy, Joon-ho willย justย apply somewhere else.

โ€œI didnโ€™t ask how meaningful this job was. I told you I wanted to help the kids bring up their grades and get paid accordingly.โ€

Getting in Joon-hoโ€™s way is what exactly Hye-jin does. Though he passed the written test with flying colors and impressed everyone at the test lecture with his refreshing approach, Hye-jin kept nitpicking and raising issues about Joon-ho quitting his previous job in less than three years instead of treating Joon-ho fairly as an applicant.

Satisfyingly enough, Joon-ho calls Hye-jin out on taking that matter personally instead of fairly evaluating his skill set. Why does Hye-jin keep telling Joon-ho things he never asked for to talk him out of becoming an instructor? Is Hye-jin okay with the academy getting wind that she met an applicant privately to convince him to drop out? Hye-jin can argue about doing this for Joon-hoโ€™s sake all she wants. But that is clearly crossing the line and not respecting Joon-hoโ€™s decision.

Thinking back on everything, Hye-jin rewatches a video of Joon-hoโ€™s test lecture with unbiased eyes and gives him a fair evaluation. We end this week with Joon-hoโ€™s first day at work after getting accepted by Hye-jin as her new junior. But instead of pep talk or words of congratulations, Hye-jin gives Joon-ho a list of the difficulties he will face as an instructor. At least he got addressed by her as a teacher. So, it isnโ€™t all lost.


The Midnight Romance in Hagwon Opening Week Musings

I thought the reason Joon-hoโ€™s sudden career change would be his crush on Hye-jin or an idealistic vision of paying it forward by helping struggling students achieve better results. Yet I like this realistic approach more. Joon-ho might hold Hye-jin in high regard and think of her as more than just a teacher, but Joon-ho has yet to develop real romantic feelings for her.

Having oneโ€™s former student suddenly become a potential colleague sounds confusing indeed. But instead of being totally against it, I would have loved it if Hye-jin listened carefully to Joon-hoโ€™s perspective and accepted his decision. Luckily, she came around before it was too late.

Lest we forget about the dramaโ€™s educational backdrop, we get some hints at tension arising because of the problematic teacher from before. Public school teachers vs private sector instructors is a never-ending battle. And while I am curious as to how the drama will handle this theme, letโ€™s hope we wonโ€™t dive deeply into it. Secondary plotlines are always welcome, but I wish the showโ€™s focus wouldnโ€™t drift away from the heart-melting romance between a teacher and her former student it promised us.

Slow-burn romances are fascinating but I wish the drama could pick up its pace now that we have the setup out of the way. Using their backstory as a teacher and students to promote the academy sounds good, but more than attracting new students, I am excited to see how it brings our leads together now that they are in a closer vicinity.

The Midnight Romance in Hagwon streams on Viu!


Photos and Videos: tvN Drama

ย 

ย 

error: Content is protected !!