For the longest time, a lot of us waited for this show to come out, and Netflix made this a dream come true. The plot follows Seo Hye-jin, a veteran Korean-language instructor who has built a career in the demanding hagwon industry. Her life changes when her former student Lee Jun-ho, now also a successful professional, returns to the academy and becomes her colleague. He had always been an admirer of Hye-jin, and soon enough, this turned into mature feelings that he shares for her. Slowly and steadily, we see that even she starts to reciprocate her feelings for Lee Jun-ho. But this is not an easy romance to develop. For these two, career, ambition, and workplace come in the middle of all this.
Now, while the plot might seem a simple one, there is a lot of truth that the makers show us. Instead of romanticizing teaching, The Midnight Romance in Hagwon emphasizes and exposes the commercial pressures that come in private academies. For parents, investing in their child’s education is a significant commitment, and the management is the one reaping the profits from these students. This is a very apt portrayal of today’s education system. Now, in this background, the story of Seo Hye-jin and Lee Jun-ho doesn’t feel abrupt. In fact, the makers have presented it in the most natural way one can expect it to come out.
One of the best things about the drama is its star cast. Jung Ryeo-won as Hye-jin is perfect in the role. She is neither overly cute nor warm, nor is she distant. She is here for survival, which she does perfectly. There is a sort of internal conflict that one can see in her character, which comes out pretty well in the acting by Jung Ryeo-won. Even Wi Ha-joon as Lee Jun-ho comes across as someone who is emotionally intelligent and gentle. Again, that portrayal is pretty good. His character also delivers an important message: education is more than just preparing for exams. This provides a wonderful contrast to Jung Ryeo-won’s Hye-jin, which gives the plot the layers it deserves.
The chemistry between the two is natural, and not once does it feel forced at all. There are deep, meaningful conversations, mutual respect, and slight misunderstandings that form the core of the show. It goes without saying that there is an age gap between the two, which again has been shown maturely, especially since the drama also has a romantic element in it. By far, this was one of the most subtle romantic plots I've seen so far, and I totally liked it.
However, one issue I faced in The Midnight Romance in Hagwon was its slow pacing. Not sure if it was done deliberately, but it can pose a hurdle in certain aspects while watching. Of course, stories like these need to go slowly so that we as the audience can understand what is happening, when it is happening, and why it is happening. But somehow, I felt that this show was a bit too slow. So if you are someone who can ignore this one plot and focus more on the plot at hand, The Midnight Romance in Hagwon is a great watch for those who wish for some maturity and romance.
Final Score - [7/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Ch
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times