The Midnight Romance in Hagwon

The conversations are so real and the storyline and character development make sense and the acting is so convincing and natural. It is very refreshing to come across an intelligent and fairly realistic drama like this in K-drama land. It is still a drama of course with plenty of conflict and tension and feelings, but it is free of flashy materialism, immature characters and antics, and unrealistic plot events. I really enjoyed watching this one.

If I could have made two requests of the director and production team, they would be:

(1) I wish they could have varied the music. I get that this is this director's style, to use the same songs over and over again. He did the same thing in SITR, another drama I really enjoyed. But the repetitive music was annoying there as it was here.

(2) I wish they had kept the original drama name of "Graduation" in the English marketing of this drama. "Graduation" is a much more poetic name for this drama than "Midnight Romance in Hagwon," which sounds like a paperback romance or Hallmark movie and this drama is far from those. Maybe the production team thought the drama would get even fewer views with the original name, but I think this drama will get the attention it deserves in time.

I hope more people discover this one and enjoy it as much as I did. Dramas like this one are why I keep watching K-dramas, even if worthwhile ones like this one are few and far between.

The plot, the story itself and its brilliant twists and turns are so captivating. The drama was directed in a perfect match to the story, adding the exact accurate light and setting, costumes and objects surrounding the characters. The casting was so perfect as well. The actors succeeded, in the most professional and talented way, to support their original and sooo important drama idea. Everything combined, it provided the viewer with a fascinating glimpse at the Korean world of education- a realistic portrait of both people and environment. As a teacher and a woman I would like to share my sheer admiration to all the wonderful people behind this amazing drama. May you all continue making such inspiring TV.

A romance between the Senior Golden Girl, long-time academy instructor, Seo Hye-jin, and her former student Lee Joon-ho, who returns after 10 years to teach at the same academy where he was previously the #1 student.

This romance is fundamentally of the older woman and young man genre. (But as there are ONLY 6 years between the ML & FL don't see it as anything to even be concerned about!)

The story is in the setting of after school cramming Academies. The rivalry amongst the teaching staff within, the incessant competition for students, and the disturbing unsettling power of the parents.

This is utterly baffling to those viewers from countries where the concept of cramming Academies and the competitive nature amongst them is non-existent, so the setting of this story is completely bewildering and it may as well be set on Mars in another future timezone!

Long lengthy explanations are plentiful and meaningless for a viewer from the UK. But did grasp (1) that the object of Academys is to teach the student to pass the Exams, not necessarily to understand what you are learning in education! And do not for one nanosecond deviate from this method and whatsoever! And (2) that it is first and foremost a BUSINESS!

Sadly these well-known fine actors (Jung Ryeo-won and Wi Ha-Joon) are totally and incredibly wasted, as the Director asks for clichéd performances. However the performance of Seo Jeong-yeon as the powerful Director of the rival academy was noteworthy. She acted out her nickname of "white-witch" with an appropriate amount of venom that one felt she didn't need the Director's suggestions!

Only one scene raises a smile - when the ML falls out the bed as he attempts to seduce the FL (fully clothed, of course, pleeeeze stop this at least a button-down shirt that can be unbuttoned I mean who gets into bed for obvious s*x with so many clothes on in 2024). The couple never seem to have fun together, quite unlike the other popular older woman/younger man genre "Something in the Rain", equally full of family angst and trauma, but where you could see that couple fall in love while having FUN, joyfully discovering each other together in the kitchen, the bedroom, or just walking!

At times it seemed as if this series was bordering on becoming a documentary about Korean Cramming Academies!

Just cannot recommend it.

Korean audio + English subtitles.

I know what screenwrites wanted to make nice, light tendible drama.

Unfortunatelly the miscasted main male lead ruined everything.

Don't get m wrong, the dude just doesn't fit the drama. You simply can't believe that he - wooden, out of touch, annoying bodybuilder can learn and teach anything, to be good couple with main lead female, who has emotions, softness, tendible, tiresome and was perfect for the role.

Whole 7 episodes I watched I was sorry for the show and was sorry for the female lead that they were given such unsuitable male lead.

Also it was quite hard to see her spending so much time with new teacher, helping him knowing that all teachers competes between themselves. And if you add that bodybuilder rude no manner wooden dude. You just can't believe it. And feel sorry every minute they are on screen.

Such a pity...

This show is brilliant in every sense. It gave a good insight on the education system. The script and plot was through provoking and so realistic. Every scene felt natural. The casting was superb. Jung Ryeo-won and Wi Ha Joon's acting brilliantly showed the nuances of their characters. The romance between them was so beautiful to watch as it built up in every episode because their chemistry was in a whole other level. Seo Jung-Yeon who was Gray witch did pretty well and gave me Meryl Streep vibes in Devil wears prada. This is up there with One Spring Night and Something in the rain. I'll surely be this rewatching again.