K-drama 'Midnight Romance in Hagwon' claims top spot in ratings
tvN's latest K-drama, The Midnight Romance in Hagwon, made a strong debut on Saturday. According to Nielsen Korea, the series's first episode secured the top spot in its time slot across all cable channels with an average nationwide (South Korea) rating of 5.2%. This marks a successful start for the drama starring Wi Ha-joon and Jung Ryeo-won. Merely a month ago, tvN tasted similar success with Queen of Tears.
'The Midnight Romance in Hagwon' is a milestone for Wi
The Midnight Romance in Hagwon features Wi (Little Women) in his first male lead role, alongside co-star Jung (Wok of Love). The drama is directed by Ahn Pan-seok, renowned for his previous works such as Something in the Rain, and award-winning shows Secret Affair and Behind the White Tower. The plot revolves around a veteran cram school instructor Seo Hye-jin and her former student Lee Joon-ho reuniting after a decade.
Despite good ratings, show received mixed reviews
The premiere episode received mixed reviews from viewers. Some fans appreciated the slow-burn romance and natural conversations between the leads, while others criticized the slow-paced plot progression. One viewer praised the solid and interesting beginning of Junho and Hye-jin's story, while another expressed disappointment over the lack of action 25 minutes into the episode. Despite these criticisms, many viewers commended the chemistry between Wi and Jung.
Anticipation builds for the show's continuation
Despite mixed reviews, anticipation is high for the second episode of The Midnight Romance in Hagwon. Many viewers expressed excitement over Wi's first lead role, with one fan stating it was a "dream come true." The next episode is scheduled to air on Sunday, May 12, at 9:20pm (KST) on tvN and TVING. International viewers can catch the series on the streaming platform Viki/Viu in selected regions.
