Many fell in love with actor Wi Ha Joon after he starred as the sexy police officer Hwang Jun Ho in Netflix‘s hit thriller Squid Game.
After his debut in the 2015 film Coin Locker Girl, Wi Ha Joon has appeared in many K-Dramas. Some were introduced to him in Something in the Rain, Romance Is a Bonus Book, and 18 Again.
Yet, his most famous roles remain to be from thriller K-Dramas, such as Bad and Crazy, Little Women, and The Worst of Evil. Consequently, his characters are seldom happy.
So, fans were hopeful when they heard he was cast as the male lead in the new romantic K-Drama The Midnight Romance in Hagwon (also known as Graduation). He plays Lee Joon Ho (also romanized Lee Jun Ho) opposite Jung Ryeo Won‘s Seo Hye Jin, his former academy teacher.
After resigning from a big company, Lee Joon Ho returns to the academy where he’d studied, this times as an instructor. He’s motivated by his lingering fixation on his first love, academy teacher Seo Hye Jin.
Seo Hye Jin has been a Korean language instructor for the past fourteen years. She became a star after the legendary incident labelled ‘Miracle of Daechi.’ Just when her life begins to feel settled, former pupil and troublemaker Lee Joon Ho, who she’d helped get into a prestigious university ten years previously, shows up and stirs up chaos.
— MyDramaList
Joon Ho who was a student, returns after 10 years as a man
Now, the first previews have been released for it, and fans couldn’t be more excited!
TvN dropped character trailers, showcasing the actors in their new roles. We briefly get a glimpse at their chemistry.
#TheMidnightRomanceInHagwon releases #JungRyeoWon character teaser as Seo Hyejin
“How can you not like Junho?”
Set to broadcast on May 11#JungRyeoWon #WiHaJoon
pic.twitter.com/cOSDTdGVm1
— daisy han (@kdramadaisy) April 4, 2024
[ENG SUB] The Midnight Romance in Hagwon’s Character Teaser: Lee Junho#줄업 #TheMidnightRomanceInHagwon #WiHaJoon #JungRyeoWon pic.twitter.com/p4twusS0BU
— may (@gongjicheoIs) April 4, 2024
The previously released behind-the-scenes footage from the table read also showed their dynamic. That alone was enough to excite fans.
okay chemistry check 💯#JungRyeoWon #WiHaJoon#TheMidnightRomanceInHagwon pic.twitter.com/ASoh0x8vfe
— dran (@daheeverse) March 29, 2024
‘can i call you noona?’#jungryeowon #wihajoon#themidnightromanceinhagwon pic.twitter.com/kX1L3yhQE0
— dran (@daheeverse) March 29, 2024
So, the new previews have only raised fans’ anticipation. They’re looking forward to seeing Wi Ha Joon in a happy and romantic role after so many years.
wi hajoon male lead era where he’ll be happy for 16 eps straight EVERYONE CHEERED #TheMidnightRomanceInHagwon pic.twitter.com/mvgrH5EuhV
— 💍 (@D0HYUNSOO) April 4, 2024
never thought i’d live to see the day wihajoon plays a character who is not miserable, not dying painfully & no longer b*tchless#TheMidnightRomanceInHagwon pic.twitter.com/ZIjS3mQdGF
— ᴊ ᴏ ᴏ ɴ (@jooonyiie) April 5, 2024
Hajoon finally taking a normal and decently happy character after a series of miserable ones…this is a blessing pic.twitter.com/RZ98CIELZy
— stressed simp (@filmkdrama) April 5, 2024
Wi Ha Joon is proving to be a truly diverse and skilled actor. He’s no longer typecasted!
the difference between both junho’s played by hajoon is crazy pic.twitter.com/blK6qSYwad
— sway☂️ (@hajoonist_) April 5, 2024
The Midnight Romance in Hagwon premieres May 11.
Source: MyDramaList
