In the recently released fourth episode of The Midnight Romance in Hagwon, main lead Jung Ryeo Won's character Seo Hye Jin was seen having a drink with her fellow academy instructor Nam Cheong Mi, played by So Ju Yeon. Afterward, she was seen returning to the academy and had a joint practice lecture with Lee Jun Ho played by Wi Ha Joon. She then drove the car with Lee Jun Ho.
Right after the broadcast, viewers criticized the controversial scene. The K-drama portrayed Seo Hye Jin was under the influence of alcohol and still drove her car only a few hours after drinking.
On May 21, CJ ENM shared their official statement, "We recognize the problem of the scene right after the broadcast. We already deleted this scene in the VOD service and for the rerun of the K-drama. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused by the inconsiderate scene. We will pay more attention to creating quality content in the future."
This is not the first time that the K-drama has been under controversy. In the first week of the airing of the series, The National Secondary School Teachers' Union stated that the series gave viewers a distorted view of Korean public education in one of the scenes.
The Midnight Romance in Hagwon revolves around the romance of a star instructor Seo Hye Jin and her former student Lee Joon Ho who returns to the academy after 10 years to become an instructor.
The K-drama is the collaboration work of director Ahn Pan Seok ( One Spring Night and Something in the Rain) and writer Park Kyung Hwa (tvN O'PENing: Stock of High School).
It is being led by Jung Ryeo Won, Wi Ha Joon, So Ju Yeon, Kim Jong Tae, Kim Jung Young, Kil Hae Yeon, and more.
The Midnight Romance in Hagwon airs every Saturday and Sunday on tvN. The series will air its fifth episode on May 25 at 9:20 PM KST.
cr: mydramalist