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Love, lies and spies in the Hagwon world
Who would have thought a rumor in hagwon is more deadly than a rumor in the kpop scene?
Hagwon or private academy is ubiquitous in South Korea, indicating how competitive and intense the education system is there. Can I also just say how crazy this whole cram school thing is? Students attend hagwons on both weekdays and weekends. Don't they get burnout and mentally exhausted from studying 24/7? 😵
In addition, these academies are only for the rich and upper class because they cost a fortune. This is also why hagwon is a lucrative industry but a sink or swim work environment. A good track record and reputation can help you earn enough money to buy an apartment in Gangnam as Jun Ho once aspired in the beginning of the story. The show did an excellent job of conveying all this Hagwon information without making it feel like we are watching a documentary from Discovery Channel or National Geographic.
Naturally, a romance between a hagwon teacher and a former student is a ticking time bomb. After 10 years, well-known Hagwon instructor Seo Hye Jin (Jung Ryeo Won) crosses path with her former student Lee Jun Ho (Wi Ha Joon). They eventually became colleagues and worked together to attract more students in the academy only for the opposite to happen. Unfortunately, no amount of explanation could clear the air about their relationship especially in the cruel industry of hagwon where both your students and colleagues can turn their back on you in the blink of an eye.
Hye Jin is an intense and emotionally complex character. From the very first episode, we are immediately introduced to her brazen attitude while confronting a high school teacher over a question in a Korean exam. This scene was purposely drawn out to catch the viewers off guard and to emphasize Hye Jin's biting personality. The absurdity of this scene is definitely a make or break for viewers if they have enough curiosity to finish the show. Honestly, it's hard to hate her when she does her job so well. She oftentimes goes overboard because she wants to hold onto her job and reputation. Everyone is watching her every move and waiting for her downfall so Hye Jin unconsciously reinforces her power and influence in the academy. This is her way to survive in the highly competitive world of Hagwon.
Meanwhile, Jun Ho's confidence and refreshing candour definitely complements Hye Jin's fierce and intimidating nature—a match made in heaven indeed. There are hardly skinships here but Jun Ho oozes sexiness all throughout the show. He is young but he is a man enough for knowing what he wants and how to take care of his woman. On top of that, he's a man of his words. Can I just say how hot and charming Jun Ho is when he is making a point in arguments? That hella sexy brain of yours Jun Ho is such a turn on 🥵
The conflict does not feel contrived as the characters' actions are driven by desires and greed which makes them relatable. Everyone has a trick up their sleeves so you never know if the character is a friend or foe.
This kdrama is divided into four acts and sure enough the last act is powerful because the emotional buildup finally pays off and the climax was truly gripping and exciting. I totally get it if viewers drop this midway during which Si Woo's character was introduced. Whenever I think of dropping the show, I instantly miss Jun Ho's frankness and sense of responsibility and I keep running back for more of course.
The finale left so many questions unanswered. However, I think this is more realistic because there is no such thing as a clean break. In real life, people don't grovel to ask for your forgiveness once they realize they have wronged you because this bruises their ego. However, I still can't help but feel that the ending feels rushed. It was aiming for an open-ended ending, one that will still keep you wondering what happened to the characters long after you have finished watching.
Overall, the Midnight Romance in Hagwon stands out with its slow-paced but well-written narrative, fleshed out characters and subtle, nuanced acting from the entire cast. It exposes harsh reality of cram schools disguised as romance. This is not a thrilling, forbidden love story instead it centers on flawed, compelling characters standing up for what they believe in just to protect their dreams and build their reputation in the messy world of hagwon.
Hagwon or private academy is ubiquitous in South Korea, indicating how competitive and intense the education system is there. Can I also just say how crazy this whole cram school thing is? Students attend hagwons on both weekdays and weekends. Don't they get burnout and mentally exhausted from studying 24/7? 😵
In addition, these academies are only for the rich and upper class because they cost a fortune. This is also why hagwon is a lucrative industry but a sink or swim work environment. A good track record and reputation can help you earn enough money to buy an apartment in Gangnam as Jun Ho once aspired in the beginning of the story. The show did an excellent job of conveying all this Hagwon information without making it feel like we are watching a documentary from Discovery Channel or National Geographic.
Naturally, a romance between a hagwon teacher and a former student is a ticking time bomb. After 10 years, well-known Hagwon instructor Seo Hye Jin (Jung Ryeo Won) crosses path with her former student Lee Jun Ho (Wi Ha Joon). They eventually became colleagues and worked together to attract more students in the academy only for the opposite to happen. Unfortunately, no amount of explanation could clear the air about their relationship especially in the cruel industry of hagwon where both your students and colleagues can turn their back on you in the blink of an eye.
Hye Jin is an intense and emotionally complex character. From the very first episode, we are immediately introduced to her brazen attitude while confronting a high school teacher over a question in a Korean exam. This scene was purposely drawn out to catch the viewers off guard and to emphasize Hye Jin's biting personality. The absurdity of this scene is definitely a make or break for viewers if they have enough curiosity to finish the show. Honestly, it's hard to hate her when she does her job so well. She oftentimes goes overboard because she wants to hold onto her job and reputation. Everyone is watching her every move and waiting for her downfall so Hye Jin unconsciously reinforces her power and influence in the academy. This is her way to survive in the highly competitive world of Hagwon.
Meanwhile, Jun Ho's confidence and refreshing candour definitely complements Hye Jin's fierce and intimidating nature—a match made in heaven indeed. There are hardly skinships here but Jun Ho oozes sexiness all throughout the show. He is young but he is a man enough for knowing what he wants and how to take care of his woman. On top of that, he's a man of his words. Can I just say how hot and charming Jun Ho is when he is making a point in arguments? That hella sexy brain of yours Jun Ho is such a turn on 🥵
The conflict does not feel contrived as the characters' actions are driven by desires and greed which makes them relatable. Everyone has a trick up their sleeves so you never know if the character is a friend or foe.
This kdrama is divided into four acts and sure enough the last act is powerful because the emotional buildup finally pays off and the climax was truly gripping and exciting. I totally get it if viewers drop this midway during which Si Woo's character was introduced. Whenever I think of dropping the show, I instantly miss Jun Ho's frankness and sense of responsibility and I keep running back for more of course.
The finale left so many questions unanswered. However, I think this is more realistic because there is no such thing as a clean break. In real life, people don't grovel to ask for your forgiveness once they realize they have wronged you because this bruises their ego. However, I still can't help but feel that the ending feels rushed. It was aiming for an open-ended ending, one that will still keep you wondering what happened to the characters long after you have finished watching.
Overall, the Midnight Romance in Hagwon stands out with its slow-paced but well-written narrative, fleshed out characters and subtle, nuanced acting from the entire cast. It exposes harsh reality of cram schools disguised as romance. This is not a thrilling, forbidden love story instead it centers on flawed, compelling characters standing up for what they believe in just to protect their dreams and build their reputation in the messy world of hagwon.
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