The Midnight Romance in Hagwon* sounded like it had everything to be a great drama. It started with a fun idea: Seo Hye-jin, a dedicated hagwon instructor, and Lee Joon-ho, her former student who comes back into her life after ten years, leading to a secret romance. I was excited to dive into this love story and explore the world of Korean cram schools.

At first, the drama was really engaging. The chemistry between the leads was great, and I enjoyed learning about the hagwon system. The acting was top-notch, and the romance seemed promising. It was everything I hoped for in a romance drama.

But, as the episodes went on, things started to slow down. After about ten episodes, the show lost its charm. The pacing became uneven, and just when the story started to get interesting again towards the end, it wrapped up too quickly. It felt like the drama was building up for something big, only to end abruptly.

The show had a strong start with its themes of idealism and a touching romance, but it quickly turned preachy. Instead of delving deeper into the characters and their struggles, it became more about criticizing the education system in a repetitive way. The drama’s message felt more like a lecture than a part of the story.

As for the romance, it didn’t really shine. Lee Joon-ho, the charming student, had potential but didn’t develop much beyond being a catalyst for Seo Hye-jin’s growth. Seo Hye-jin started off as an interesting character but became a bit bland over time. The side characters were not very developed either, and their roles felt flat and one-dimensional.

The drama also leaned heavily into melodrama, with exaggerated conflicts and villains that seemed over-the-top. This overshadowed the real issues and made the show feel less genuine.

In the end, *The Midnight Romance in Hagwon* started strong but didn’t live up to its potential. If you enjoy dramas with a mix of romance and slice-of-life elements, you might find it worth a watch. But if you’re looking for a story that keeps its promise and delivers a satisfying ending, you might be left disappointed.

Overall, it’s a drama with a great premise but missed the mark in execution. It’s like a movie that starts off exciting but doesn’t quite hit the right notes by the end.