Jung's character must decide how to respond when her former pupil wants to get closer.
Actress Jung Ryeo-won said it never once felt like she was going to work while filming the drama Midnight Romance in Hagwon.
“The directors, crew, and actors I worked with all had such great chemistry that it felt like we were just having fun together rather than working,” said Jung. “I'm grateful for such an uncommon experience.”
Jung’s character Seo Hye-jin is a star instructor at an after-school study (cram) academy. Her careful plans for a successful career have not left much time for a personal life.
“The character Seo Hye-jin is a pragmatic individual who is neither inherently good nor evil,” said Jung. “She leads a comfortable life through careful planning, quick calculations, adaptability to variables and adept interpersonal skills. She’s quite different from me. Haha, I prefer spending time flexibly, I'm a bit slow in calculations, and I tend to notice changes at a slower pace.”
Wi Ha-joon plays Joon-ho, the former student that Hye-jin is most proud of. A few years ago she helped him turn his grades around, get into a good college and land a desirable job. So, she’s surprised when he shows up, wanting to become an instructor at her academy. It’s not the most practical choice—career wise. She’s even more surprised when she finds out why he wants to be there. He likes her and slowly tries to woo her.
One reason Jung elected to play a part in this drama was the reputation of the director Ahn Pan-seok, who is known for producing popular slice-of-life romances. He directed Something In The Rain, One Spring Night and Secret Affair.
Wi Ha-joon plays Jung's former student in 'Midnight Romance in Hagwon.'
“Even though I truly believe that the core of every piece lies in the story,” said Jung. “I made the decision, without reading the script, all thanks to director Ahn Pan-seok. I've always found his work intriguing, and hearing feedback from other actors who have collaborated with him, I've been eager to meet him and work together someday.”
It’s also not the first time that Ahn has directed an older-woman-younger-man romantic drama. In Something In The Rain, Jung Hae-in falls for his best friend’s older sister, played by Son Ye-in. In Secret Love Affair a piano prodigy, played by Yoo Ah-in, falls for a respected conductor played by Kim Hee-ae. Such stories remain a popular k-drama romance subgenre. The age gap is yet another obstacle love must overcome.
“In romance dramas there needs to be an element of fantasy to make it more enjoyable,” said Jung. “Of course, in this drama, there's a realistic age gap since I used to be his tutor in the past, but I believe if love can blossom, there should be some fantasy elements to make it more intriguing to watch.”
Jung previously appeared in the dramas My Name Is Kim Sam Soon, Wok of Love, May It Please The Court, Diary of a Prosecutor, as well as the film Castaway on the Moon. Midnight Romance in Hagwon is produced by Studio Dragon, the production studio behind previous hits such as The Glory, Queen of Tears, Gyeongseong Creature, Celebrity, Crash Course in Romance, Under the Queen’s Umbrella, Little Women, Alchemy of Souls, Crash Landing on You and It's Okay to Not Be Okay.
The drama airs in the U.S. on Viki.com.
