#the midnight romance in hagwon

[ahsung]

You seem happier than the time I got into college. Gosh. I'm not that happy. To me, that was... the best moment of my life. Gosh. That's an honor I didn't see coming.

THE MIDNIGHT ROMANCE IN HAGWON (2024) dir. Ahn Pan-seok

[kdramaxoxo]

THE MIDNIGHT ROMANCE IN HAGWON // EP 8

[uppoompat]

My patience... has gone completely.

THE MIDNIGHT ROMANCE IN HAGWON (2024)

[mostlyfate]

Did something happen? You can tell your teacher anything.

The Midnight Romance in Hagwon (2024) dir. Ahn Pan Seok

[shojojidais]

[wiha-jun]

졸업/THE MIDNIGHT ROMANCE IN HAGWON The Test Lecture

[dramashii]

WI HA JOON as LEE JUN HO in THE MIDNIGHT ROMANCE IN HAGWON (2024)

[rj-anderson]

Four eps in, The Midnight Romance in Hagwon is absolutely fascinating me. It's very understated and restrained compared to almost anything else I've watched lately, the night shots (especially in the office and the leads' houses) are lit realistically which gives it a very intimate mood, and the scenes linger in a way that makes me feel a little uncomfortable, like I'm intruding on these people's real lives and am just on the verge of overstaying my welcome. It's the perfect match for the uncertainty that underlies the plot.

Another thing I love is that so many of the characters' feelings are shown instead of told and yet they're also impossible to miss, the actors' body language and the framing of the shots makes the truth evident even when the characters are trying to deny it. I feel like I'm being invited to draw my own conclusions as an intelligent viewer, while at the same time never feeling left behind by the director and scriptwriter trying to show off their own cleverness at my expense.

I also read a long Reddit comment this week by someone familiar with the politics and cultural tensions involved in the school and hagwon system in Korea, and it was exciting to realize that many of the subtleties she was pointing out were ones I'd already inferred from context, even though that system is unfamiliar to me as a North American viewer. The direction and writing is just that good.

I'm starting to think the title of this drama might be as misleading as Crash Course in Romance was, in that yes there is romance but it's definitely not the main focus of the plot. At least so far, it's been much more of a slice of life drama with romantic undertones (mostly consisting of Wi Ha Joon being an absolutely lethal flirt, bless). But I'm not mad about it. It's reminding me of My Liberation Notes in all the best ways, and if the quality stays consistent throughout it may end up becoming one of my favourite dramas.

[exohoesworld]

THEY ARE INSANE OH MY GOD !!!?!?!?!!

[kdramaxoxo]

It's finally over. We need to run away before anyone suggests celebrating.

[raeiyyn]

so hye jin: for once in a long time, I finally like who i am

lee jun ho: *lights up like the sun unable to contain his love for hye jin*

[mostlyfate]

Ms. Seo. What? Address me the same way. What? Refer to me as an instructor too. I bet it'll feel amazing.

The Midnight Romance in Hagwon (2024) dir. Ahn Pan Seok

[shojojidais]

[wiha-jun]

졸업/THE MIDNIGHT ROMANCE IN HAGWON The Hall of Fame

[yeo-rims]

i'm not ok look at HIM

[namjhyun]

Wi Ha Joon and Jung Ryeo Won for ELLE Korea June 2024 promoting The Midnight Romance in Hagwon.