This review may contain spoilers
Because night time is the right time, to be with the one you love, with the one you love
Korean language teacher Seo Hye Jin (a fantastic and stunning Jung Ryeo Won) is the spearhead of the Daechi-chase Academy, a private after-school institute (Hagwon, in fact) in the Gangnam district of Seoul, dedicated to strengthening and improving the academic development of students of various age levels;Entirely dedicated to her work, Hye Jin sees her life take a sensational twist when Lee Joon-ho (Wi Ha Joon, outstanding), her former best pupil, reappears. After giving up his career in a major company, he decides to become a teacher at the same school, with unpredicted consequences...
‘Midnight Romance In Hagwon’ is a beautifully delicate rom-com, capable of treating such a complex and burning theme as the articulated Korean school system, undoubtedly competitive and varied in its labirynthic set of rules, dogmas, social conventions and fierce struggles, all aimed at reaching the top of society itself. The drama, at the same time, is capable of touching us thanks to a captivating love story that escapes the banalities of the most predictable and sugar-coated romance, offering us an adult and decidedly structured relationship, also hindered by social conventions, work principles and even methodological differences.
The Daechi-chase Academy represents a kind of working microcosm where, along with the planned teaching structure, there is also a kind of subterranean ‘internal’ infighting within the Hagwon itself, where ‘there are no friends, everyone is in competition’ (summarised, in one of the clever dialogues, by the metaphor of hyenas and the ‘meal’) and where co-workers are ready to take advantage of any weaknesses of their own in order to advance their careers; certain founding principles of Confucianism are always emphasised, both for the role of teachers and for that of students.
Respect for hierarchy and seniority, the importance of teamwork rather than the individual's path, is portrayed, but almost as an antithesis to this, perfecting education and trying to improve oneself is given a central role, apparently individualistic concept, but accepted, as competition with others, for the best grades and for a job, which is also a better one, is a kind of ‘social lift’ necessary to reach the top of the hierarchical ranks of Korean society itself.
So intense is the competition between the different Hagwons (there are so many of them considering the extent of Seoul and its urban areas) that spy-story techniques to snatch secrets and steal each other's best students often reserve more than a few cheap shots to belittle and discredit the competitors.
In this kind of no-holds-barred law of the jungle, where profit and personal enrichment rule, a kind of feud evolves between the Daechi-chase Academy and the Choiseon Academy, led by the infamous Choi Hyung-sun, known as the White-haired Witch.
In this ill-concealed hypocritical society, closed and dominated by exasperated rhythms and widespread frustrations, both on the teachers‘ and pupils’ side, the figure of Seo Hye Jin -stunningly portrayed by Jung Ryeo Won- ends up being overwhelmed by the uncontainable vitality of Joon-ho (Wi Ha-joon, absolutely perfect in a part one couldn't imagine for anyone else);
The teacher Seo leads a methodical (and boring, it has to be said!) life, consisting of 16 hours of work a day, six days a week, with no traces of private life and no personal relationships, except for a couple of friends -he runs a pub, she is a lawyer-, with practically no relations with family members (there is a hint here and there in conversations with colleagues, but nothing more) and, above all, no sex life;
In the first episodes, we find ourselves following this robotic routine of meetings, scheduling, lectures, insights and sad lonely re-entries into an anonymous house that is almost a ‘non-place’ where Hye-jin seems to return just to sleep, which is a bit of a paradigm shift compared to so many beloved dramas where the house is often the focus of events or narrative plot twists.
It will be Joon-Hoo's unbridled and in some ways brazen audacity that will progressively undermine Hye-jin's convictions; not only the certainties of feelings, and here the noona-romance, as mentioned above, avoids the classic loopholes of the typical rom-com, also giving us a moment of extraordinary and very reserved emotional authenticity, but also -above all!?- the preponderant work vicissitudes, dealt with in some of the drama's topical moments, which offer a confrontation-clash of the highest level, where the dilemma over teaching methodologies instils the seed of doubt in the own Teacher Seo:
Whereas Hye Jin applies an almost mnemonic system where the pupil is directed to learn ‘by memory’ certain mechanisms of comprehension and learning, Joon-ho's style is more ‘ thoughtful’ where there is also a quest to convey passion for the literary subject.
Are the students, almost like machines, to learn and that's all, by memorising passages from books, practising calculating the probability of the questions in the tests, evidently ‘forgetting’ everything immediately after the exams, or are they to become passionate about the subject, perhaps with the opportunity (as in the case of Joon-Ho himself) to become the teachers of tomorrow?
It should not be forgotten that the Hagwons are extremely expensive schools, with families prepared to make considerable sacrifices in order to see a bright future for their children; parents demand the best from teachers and the discourse of ‘experimentation’ cannot prevail over the certainty of academic achievements.
The moment the boiling pot of the ‘clandestine’ relationship is discovered, and professional ethics in the workplace are called into question, the stigmatisation of the two teachers begins, victims not only of the oppressive work rules, but also of those previously mentioned founding principles that foment jealousy, hypocrisy and false respectability, where artfully fuelled slander can disrupt anyone's life...
I have already mentioned Jung Ryeo Won's superlative performance; her characterisation of Teacher Seo is so articulate, she has so many aspects, contradictions, weaknesses, but also resilience against adversity, that it is impossible not to be moved by the portrait of a 34-year-old woman who, confronted with the evidence of changes in her life and work, she finds herself rethinking all her principles and values pursued up to that point; that this sort of emotional switch is triggered by the vitality of the young (6 years younger) Joon-Ho is evidence of great narrative script.
There is, in my opinion, a certain affinity with the same emotional mechanisms of the beautiful ‘Encounter’, where youthful fervour, cheekiness and, let's face it, the right amount of arrogance deriving from one's enthusiastic confidence, prevails over a heavy, boring and, I would emphasise, grey ‘comfort zone’ of frozen maturity...
A great Wi Ha Joon, who is also perfectly mature in a very complex role, able to avoid the risk of falling into easy clichés and boring mannerisms, portrays a splendid character who is not afraid to shout his feelings to the world, not only making a breach in his beloved's heart, but, as a novel knight, defending her with his sword in the hardest moments, especially in the last episodes...
Their private, personal moments are beautiful, underlined by sincerely romantic and moving dialogues, almost ‘literary’ but never pedantic, capable of involving and melting even the least predisposed hearts thanks, it is important to specify, to a nocturnal scenario that often finds the two main characters almost ‘isolated’ from the rest of the world and that, at least for me, recalls certain classics of the past…
It has to be said that among the top-notch cast, I personally did not find the character of Choi Hyung-Sun, the so-called ‘witch’ played by Seo Jung-Yeon so interesting; she seemed a bit too caricatural, almost cartoonesque, a bit like Cruella De Vil, a bit like Miranda Priestly, far too mannered in characterisation...
Much better is Kim Jung-Young in the role of Assistant Director Woo, who is able to make her character grow exponentially with the dramatic progression of the story; she is a decidedly interesting character, fuelled by a resentment that has poisoned her life and who, when confronted with the main characters of the tale, reveals all her mediocrity.
I mention the excellent Kim Song-Il in the role of Professor Pyo Sang-Seob; these are those difficult characters, perhaps considered ‘marginal’ in the economy of the story, but which reveal unexpected qualities even with very few lines; his professional ethics, seemingly old-fashioned and mistreated, more for his attitude or his character disposition than for anything else (once again, appearances are mistaken for certainties), is instead surprisingly re-evaluated in the light of the extraordinary free lesson that the teacher offers his pupils; a truly outstanding piece of acting talent!
Personal curiosity: Between the office and the home of director Kim Hyun-Tak (Kim Jong-Tae), a film lover, one notices the framed posters of various films such as ‘Christmas In August’ and my much-loved ‘The Contact’ (with the goddess Jeon Do Yeon).
Of course, the drama is not completely perfect, in my opinion it gets a little lost in some conclusions that are not quite focused, between a catfight that is perhaps liberating (there is a lot of pent-up anger throughout the drama) but quite exaggerated, a second younger couple of low interest that has more of a function of lightening the narrative tension, and even the role of some students, at the beginning quite highlighted, is a little sidelined;
there is also an invasive use of the music, at the umpteenth ‘Open to page sixty four (don't forget about me)’, a bit like Carla Bruni's obsessive cover of Tammy Wynette in ‘Something In The Rain’, your blood pressure goes up a bit, but whatever, the soundtrack as a whole is pleasant and well structured.
As usual, there seems to be a need to make all the pieces fit together for an ideal closure, but nothing changes the magic of the story, which may not appear immediately engaging (the dialogues are definitely articulated and must be followed with a lot of attention) but which knows how to conquer, thanks to the wonderful work of the two main performers; let yourself be carried away by the emotions and you will be adequately rewarded, this drama will win you over!
8 ½
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Little gem
The depth, relatability and maturity of this drama caught me by surprise.I was expecting a slow pace and insignificant story, maybe with some bullied student achiving some goal. But my bad!
This is a beautiful and really entarteining piece about vocation and service to others in a quite competitive field. The conflicts are so relatable that your emotions are carried by the story without any effort.
The characters have depth and the acting is superb!
And you can see the ML smile a lot, since that would be enough reason for me to watch it. :)
Thats all, just in case you are in need of a good and round drama, this is it.
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A mature, non-cliché drama of the year.
This is the best 2024 Korean drama for me. I love how mature it is, the balance between romance and life/work is meticulously done. It is definitely catered towards a mature audience and I love that about it. There was not a single episode wasted, every last one was packed to keep you intrigued and interested throughout.Was this review helpful to you?
If You Like Slow Burn!
I absolutely loved "The Midnight Romance in Hagwon". As a die-hard fan of Ahn Pan Seok’s directing, this drama hit all the right notes for me. The melodramatic feel paired with stunning cinematography showcases Ahn Pan Seok’s signature style perfectly. The OSTs were also top-notch, enhancing every emotional moment.As a noona romance enthusiast, I was thrilled with the solid, slow-burn romance between Lee Joon Ho and Seo Hye Jin. Although the romance wasn’t front and center all the time, the moments we got were deeply satisfying and well-executed.
The portrayal of academy life and the conflicts between teaching styles in schools and private academies were brilliantly done. The drama beautifully highlights the challenges faced by academy teachers, especially through the character of Seo Hye Jin as she navigates the complexities of teaching ideals.
Overall, "The Midnight Romance in Hagwon" is a gem. It offers a unique blend of romance, drama, and insightful commentary on the education system. Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates nuanced storytelling and well-developed characters.
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A Deep Dive into the Complex World of Korean After-School Academies
"The Midnight Romance in Hagwon" is a captivating drama that portrays the intense pressure students face in South Korea's after-school study centers, along with the fierce competition and high expectations these kids endure daily. It also delves into the complex relationships and power struggles among the teachers.Seo Hye Jin and Lee Jun Ho's relationship, which evolves from a teacher-student dynamic into something deeper, is central to the story. Their realistic love story, marked by ups and downs, helps us understand them better as individuals. You can really feel the connection between them, which makes them interesting to watch.
Other characters also shine, like Choi Hyung Sun, the formidable "White-Haired Witch," and Woo Sung Hee, whose scheming adds tension to the story. The well-developed characters and their motivations keep the story exciting and full of surprises.
The drama doesn't shy away from showing the harsh realities of the Korean education system and the sacrifices students make for academic success. Yet, it balances this with some funny and sweet moments between the characters.
The cinematography and soundtrack beautifully complement the story.
I really enjoyed "The Midnight Romance in Hagwon," but the ending felt incomplete. Still, it's a compelling watch with strong character development, offering a realistic look at the challenges within Korea's education sector. If you appreciate such stories, this drama is worth your time.
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This review may contain spoilers
so boring so far
The aesthetic is beautiful, but the plot is boring. I mean, I don't find it interesting to watch teachers fighting over exam questions.I'd rather see things progress, like going to therapy, building relationships with students, or something more exciting. Fighting so intensely over something so trivial doesn't make much sense to me.
I don't feel engaged on any level, but I do appreciate the pleasant aesthetic — the wardrobe and lighting are quite nice, to be honest.
I'll keep watching for now, but I'm constantly thinking about dropping it
edit: after 8 episodes I drop it, the drama never gets good or interesting to me
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This review may contain spoilers
main lead look so creepy together,
i watched both of them in there dramas and i liked both of them, but seeing them together here , don't look that good at allML left his job and says its to earn more money as a teacher but i truth we know he left his job and become a teacher with other motive of seducing his old teacher
while they were teacher and student, they don't look that age gap
FL look much younger with her looks and figure she has mentioned
ML WI Ha Joon was amazing in Little woman and Squid Games,
and i wanted to see him as male lead for sure
the way ML and Fl talk with each other, ML look obsess with Fl in not so positive way but Creepy
he left his job and change career to seduce her, but what if she still just see him as her student... he would become a abusive stalker,, if things do not go as his plan,, ( director would help and thing will go nicely and she will suddenly start seeing him as a boyfriend material
she acted as she is his mother in first 2 ep worrying about him like his job is going to effect her living expenses
then ep3 and she started to act like a 17 year texting her crush
its boring
no chemistry between leads as couple, they look Nice has Co-worker or friends
dark lighting like its Grim
they way this so called Teacher talk about other teacher senior to them, white haired witch
they are not teachers
they are not educated students but training them to get high grades just like how we train our Pets
a new recruit who hasn't even give a single class is on poster with his Crush teacher because he know how to give blow job to Low life director
Leads and director look nasty evil group
director of Dachi chase eat like pig, everyone was talking seriously paying attention to each other, this guy was busy stuffing his mouth with everything he get on his plate like, he hasn't eaten fir whole day... then got ill
drama doesn't have colors
I rated it 5 but the more i watched ep3 more i reduce my rating
ML is moral less obsessive self centered person,
Fl only focus on grades not education itself,
The more the release episodes the more it becomes meaningless
Biased, favouritism
Evil Director showed as some kind gentleman
ML story try to make his parents look wrong for even conceiving him.
come defend your leads in comments if you wish to, I don't give a fish about it...1.5/10
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COMFORT DRAMA
If you're looking for a drama that doesn't have over complicated, difficult plot or any other shenanigans going on, and you want to relax with a slow burning romance, I DEFINITELY DEFINITELY DEFINITELY recommend this drama...We all know, HOW AMAZZZZING our main leads are, but what I wanna talk about is the OST....😭😭❤❤❤❤That legit is one of the best OSTs of 2024...Besides this, the overall cast is fantastic, I KNOW I KNOW, many of them still need character development, but that's why we're here, to see them become the BEST versions of themselves....
Sooooooo, If you're into such dramas, this drama will surely feel like, "HOME" to you...♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
byeeeeee♡♡♡♡♡♡ (I'll update this after I finish this drama...xoxo)
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Holy yawn fest
I initially tuned into this show for Wi Ha Joon, but I have to say, I was really let down. The acting was subpar, and the chemistry between the two main characters felt nonexistent. Honestly, there was nothing redeeming about the show. I struggled to make it through the first episode; it was just a repetitive cycle of eating and talking. The teacher x student relationship was kinda creepy and the fact that he called her teacher while they were about to get freaky is even more creepy. Most boring show I’ve ever watched DO NOT RECOMMEND.Was this review helpful to you?
Eye-opening but shot too dark to see
Is a teacher's purpose only for helping students pass exams? Not knowing what a hagwon is when I started this drama, I had homework to do. Why are school kids learning in an office building? isn't that setting usually for adult night classes? It took a few episodes just to get a sense of the role of hagwons, or private prep schools, within the public educational system. Teachers compete against each other for students while pandering to the parents, measuring success by how many get accepted to prestigious universities. It's a complex world of ultra-privilege & free market dynamics, intertwined with regular schooling like a cancer, choking out academic freedom & feuling incredible pressures for all involved.Speaking of night classes, this drama made me claustrophobic. Most of the scenes are visually dark: offices & rooms appear windowless, what windows were visible had their blinds drawn during the day, many outdoor scenes were nighttime, & classrooms & offices are so small all the occupants looked like they were virtually shoulder to shoulder. It made for a very oppressive setting. In fact, the overall look was so dark I actually had to adjust the brightness of my tv just to see what was going on (it's a cheap tv).
In spite of the show being uncomfortable to look at, the story itself was fascinating as it introduced an aspect of S Korean society I hadn't seen before, nor have I experienced anything close to that where I live. The story follows Seo Hye Jin (played by Jung Ryeo Won) a top performing teacher at a Daechi-dong academy. Her life is turned upside down when her former star student, Lee Jun Ho (played by Wi Ha Joon) quits a comfortable, nepotically achieved corporate job & is hired as a new teacher into her own team.
When you've been teaching for while, you discover it takes a student to challenge you to your roots. HyeJin unknowingly instilled in JunHo genuine wonder & curiosity in literature which was the spark to the improvement in his grades. But having been in the business for so long, HyeJin seems to have forgotten that focus, locked into her memorization techniques & dependency on her ability to predict exam questions that brought her to the top of her game. In stark contrast is JunHo's approach in encouraging exploration & appreciation. Catalyzing their explosive clash is a brilliant 10th grade student Lee Si Wu, who is in the top tier of smart: i.e. he actually knows what he doesn't know. Si Wu fully understands his perfect scores are like walking blindfolded on a tightrope, totally dependent on knowing which questions to study for, rather than being able to handle any question that could come his way. He knows how to memorize, but doesn't know how to read. JunHo wants to teach students to read, a skill for a lifetime, which would bring a seismic shift to the role of the academy as an economic machine, catering only to parents' wishes.
The influence of hagwons is so deep they affect real estate, & this is reflected in Jun Ho's pursuit of becoming successful enough to buy his own home. In spite of growing up privileged in Gangnam, he's determined to achieve his own living & stay in Gangnam. Stronger than his own economic ambition, however, is his pursuit of the true purpose of education & his own role as a teacher.
At the center of it all is JunHo & HyeJin's noona relationship, one in which HyeJin has a very hard time overcoming the teacher/student mindset. And, given her own hesitancy & inexperience, she's paradoxically mature & immature at the same time. JunHo challenges her on different levels &, in this respect, I felt this was one of the more realistically presented age gap romances I've seen. Things get ugly when ambitious executives at the school seek to use this relationship to destroy HyeJin's career. This somehow made me lose interest in the show in it's final episodes as it plunged downward into viscious office politicking.
The subject of hagwons has been eye-opening & for that reason I enjoyed the story which is the show's greatest strength, along with good performances from the cast. Unfortunately, the show was also visually suffocating with all the poorly lit interior & night time settings, & with a lower res tv I sometimes couldn't even see the actors' faces clearly. If you can get beyond that, this drama was well worth the watch for an honest examination of the purpose of education itself.
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Outstanding drama and actors, beautiful romantic situations
If someone would have told me I could become engrossed in a drama concerning Korean learning academies, I would have laughed off my fool head. Not only was I engrossed; I didn't want it to end. The LF and LM were a 100 on a scale of 10. The main support actors were a 95 on a scale of 10. My favorite episode (#8) was when the LF and her best friend were drinking and talking together privately in the Victorious Room at the academy where the FL taught. I will rewatch that episode numerous times because the course of the conversation was so naturally and well acted I forgot I was watching a drama. Episode 8 was pivotal to fully understand and identify with the FL.I became fascinated with the issues involving Korean learning academies and am now determined to delve into the why's, who's, and how's introduced in this drama.
I loved every moment of this drama!
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ROMANCE with proper STORY
Briefing :As for the current time most of romance drama are failing to deliver a proper story to back up the whole drama. Rom Com drama now a days instead of focusing on the strong story they are just going on with famous actors and intense scenes to catch the eye of audience. Which lets audience leave their seats or mind in middle of the drama. But this one right here has the capacity to hold someone by the belt and binge the whole drama in one go.
Spoilers Ahead :
This is a fantastic Romance drama focused on the story of two people and the rest are the supporting environment to provide a proper feel of the situation. Starting romance as a proper adult as it should be with having the old time memories as their support. On top of that a selecting suitable actors and actress who performs beyond the imagination builds a unbreakable story. The side roles or support role plays a vital role in making bridge between the main leads to audience without any intervention.
Pros :
1. This is sweet and suspenseful Romance drama with backing story.
2. Strong Bond and understanding between the main leads.
3. Instead of relationship the complications and hardship lies on profession.
Cons :
1. Loose Ends. ( There are a lot of loose ends for example no updates of family members of female lead and imaginative family no show of even parents.)
2. As i said in the starting this revolves are only two people without connecting with family as much. To be exact there is no involvement of family problems which tends to be the main climax of this type of dramas.
3. Speeding the drama after intervals, This drama with this story can easily take 4 more episodes to end the situation properly.
4. Happy but not a joyful ending. The satisfaction lacks in tail end of the story.
Summary:
This is great drama for me i enjoyed it to the fullest and yes i did hoped the if could have one or two more episodes to end the imagination properly. It kept me hooked to my seat during the entire show. A being working and getting tired all day in the night time it kept me smiling and happy for the entire journey.
Thank you 👍
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