▲ Actress Jung Ryeo-won (L) and actor Wi Ha-joon, starring in tvN's upcoming romantic series "The Midnight Romance in Hagwon," pose for photos at the show's media conference held in Seoul on May 9, 2024. Photo courtesy of tvN. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- "I agreed to appear in the film without even reading the script because it was directed by Director Ahn Pan-seok. It felt destined." (Jung Ryeo-won)

 

The new film "The Midnight Romance in Hagwon" directed by the master of melodrama, Director Ahn Pan-seok, will be unveiled on the 11th.

 

Lead actress Jung Ryeo-won revealed at the production presentation for tvN's new weekend drama "The Midnight Romance in Hagwon," held at a hotel in Sindorim-dong, Guro-gu, Seoul, on the 9th, that she had decided to regard this drama as her "life's work" on the last day of filming.

 

The drama unfolds an "adult romance" among academy instructors set in Daechi-dong. Jung Ryeo-won (43) and Wi Ha-joon (33) showcase a melodramatic chemistry transcending a 10-year age difference.

 

▲ A still photo of romantic series "The Midnight Romance in Hagwon," starring actors Jung Ryeo-won (R) and Wi Ha-joon. Photo courtesy of tvN. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

Directed by Ahn, who has produced popular melodramas such as "Pretty Noona Who Buys Me Food," "Spring Night," and "Secret Affair" with its lyrical direction, Jung emphasized that the drama completely shattered the preconceived notions of "This is when you should do this in a melodrama," or typical clichés.

 

Jung takes on the role of Seo Hye-jin, a veteran Korean language instructor who achieves a "Daechi-dong miracle" in the drama. She is a quiet strategist with unwavering determination, contemplating her life after stepping down from the podium. In the midst of this, her former student Lee Joon-ho (played by Wi Ha-joon) reappears after ten years, reigniting the excitement she had long forgotten amidst harsh reality.

 

Jung explained, "Seo Hye-jin initially finds Lee Joon-ho irritating as he disrupts her neatly planned life inside a convenient, predetermined box. However, she gradually becomes concerned about him, and eventually, he greatly unsettles her," hinting at the increasing emotional intensity akin to getting soaked in a sudden downpour.

 

"In typical melodramas, there's a certain formula. 'The Midnight Romance in Hagwon' doesn't follow that formula, so viewers will feel like there can be love stories like this," Jung confidently stated.

 

▲ Director Ahn Pan-seok (L), actress Jung Ryeo-won (C) and actor Wi Ha-joon, starring in tvN's upcoming romantic series "The Midnight Romance in Hagwon," pose for photos at the show's media conference held in Seoul on May 9, 2024. Photo courtesy of tvN. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

Wi Ha-joon, portraying the candid and bold Lee Joon-ho, described his character as a "straightforward man with a broken brake and flat tires, like a 'straight-line guy'." He added, "Although he seems capable and knowledgeable about love and relationships due to his blunt nature, he's surprisingly awkward. From that aspect, viewers can feel his pure and adorable charm."

 

Director Ahn commented, "This was a challenging project," and praised the script by Park Kyung-hwa, saying, "Even the supporting characters were fully alive. It was a script where both the leads and supporting roles shined."

 

He added, "Usually, characters in dramas speak and act differently from real people, but 'The Midnight Romance in Hagwon' was created while considering how people would actually behave."

 

▲ Scenes from the main trailer of tvN's upcoming romantic series "The Midnight Romance in Hagwon," provided by the broadcaster. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

 

 

 

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