The Midnight Romance in Hagwon (Korean: 졸업) is a South Korean drama TV series starring Jung Ryeo-won and Wi Ha-joon. The show is written by Park Kyung-hwa and directed by Ahn Pan-seok. It premiered on tvN on May 11, 2024, and airs every Saturday and Sunday at 9:20 PM (KST). It can also be streamed on TVING in South Korea, and on Viki and Viu in select regions.
Plot
The show tells the story of Seo Hye-jin, a seasoned cram school teacher, and Lee Joon-ho, a former student who returns after ten years and rekindles her feelings. The romance unfolds secretly at Daechi-dong Academy, along with the lives of other academy staff.
Main Cast
- Jung Ryeo-won as Seo Hye-jin: A top tutor with 14 years of experience who never gives up.
- Wi Ha-joon as Lee Joon-ho: A new lecturer who returns after a decade and disrupts Hye-jin's routine.
Supporting Cast
- So Joo-yeon as Nam Cheong-mi: A bold new instructor in the Korean Language Department.
- Kim Jong-tae as Kim Hyun-tak: Director of Daechi Chase Academy.
- Kim Jung-young as Woo Seung-hee: Deputy Director of Daechi Chase Academy.
- Gil Hae-yeon as Kim Hyo-im: Counseling Manager at Daechi Chase Academy.
- Jang In-sub as Yoon Ji-seok: Popular leader of the English Department 1 team.
- Lee Si-hoon as Lee Myung-jun: Korean Language Department 2 team leader.
- Yang Jo-a as Min Hee-joo: Social Studies team leader.
- Ahn Hyun-ho as Kim Chae-yoon: Korean Language Instructor.
- Yuk Hyun-suk as Jang Il-do: English Department 2 team leader.
- Lim Jin-hyo as Shin Dae-bak: New instructor in the English Department.
- Jang So-yeon as Choi Ji-eun: Head of the Administrative and Support Department.
Other Characters
- Seo Jeong-yeon as Choi Hyung-sun: Director and Instructor at Daechi Choisun Academy.
- Lee Kyu-sung as Park Ki-seong: Hyung-sun's mysterious assistant.
- Shin Joo-hyup as Choi Seung-gyu: Jun-ho's best friend and cynical graduate student.
- Yoon Bok-in as Oh Jeong-hwa: Jun-ho's mother.
- Oh Man-seok as Lee Taek-yeol: Jun-ho's father and a company executive.
- Hwang Eun-hoo as Cha Seo-young: Hye-jin's best friend and a lawyer.
- Jeon Suk-chan as Geum Chun-il: Owner of Night Flight bar.
Production
The series was developed under the working title "Graduation" by director Ahn Pan-seok, known for "Something in the Rain" and "One Spring Night." Park Kyung-hwa wrote the script, and Studio Dragon and JS Pictures produced the series.
Casting
Jung Ryeo-won and Wi Ha-joon were cast as the lead roles, with offers made in July and October 2023, respectively. They were officially confirmed later that year.
Filming
Filming began in October 2023.
Release
The series airs on tvN and is available for streaming on TVING, Viki, and Viu. The show started on May 11, 2024, and runs every Saturday and Sunday.