Crash Course in Romance (Korean: 일타 스캔들) is a 2023 South Korean television series directed by Yoo Je-won, and starring Jeon Do-yeon and Jung Kyung-ho. It aired on tvN from January 14 to March 5, 2023, every Saturday and Sunday at 21:10 (KST) for 16 episodes. It is also available for streaming on Netflix in selected regions.
Contents
Synopsis
The series follows the bittersweet relationship between a banchan shop owner whose daughter enters the war of Korea's college entrance exams, and a top hagwon instructor.
Cast
Main
Jeon Do-yeon as Nam Haeng-seon
Lee Yeon as young Haeng-seon
A former national handball player who now runs a banchan shop. After her mother's death, she gave up her sports career to take care of her young niece and disabled younger brother.
Jung Kyung-ho as Choi Chi-yeol
Kim Min-chul as young Chi-yeol
A celebrity math instructor at The Pride Academy and popular private education institute who suffered an eating disorder. He regularly visits Haeng-seon's shop.
Supporting
Roh Yoon-seo as Nam Hae-yi
Choi So-yool as young Hae-yi
Haeng-seon's adopted daughter and niece who was abandoned by her mother, as well as her sister when she was a child. Hae-yi was raised by Haeng-seon afterwards. She is the class president of Class 2-1 of Woorim High School.
Oh Eui-shik as Nam Jae-woo
Haeng-seon's younger brother who has Asperger syndrome.
Lee Bong-ryun as Kim Young-joo
Haeng-seon's friend who works at her shop.
Kim Mi-kyung as Jung Young-soon
Haeng-seon's mother.
Shin Jae-ha as Ji Dong-hee / Jeong Seong-hyeon
Chi-yeol's manager.
Kim Da-huin as Jeon Jong-ryeol
Chi-yeol's friend who is a teacher at Woorim High School.
Jang Young-nam as Jang Seo-jin
Seon-jae's mother who is an attorney.
Lee Chae-min as Lee Seon-jae
Hae-yi's best friend who is a student in Class 2-1 and has a crush on her.
Kim Tae-jung as Lee Hee-jae
Seon-jae's older brother who gave up higher studies and stays at home.
Extended
Yoo Jun as Lee Young-min
A student in the intensive class at The Pride Academy who falls from the roof and dies.
Choi Hee-jin as Young-min's mother
Lee Do-hye as Jeong Su-hyeon
Chi-yeol's student who dies by suicide.
Jung Han-seol as Detective Bae
A detective who handles the case of Young-min's death.
Kim Joon-won as Lee Seung-won
Seon-jae and Hee-jae's father.
Special appearances
Yoon Seok-hyun as Song Jun-ho
Bae Yoon-kyung as Hong Hye-yeon
Lee Sang-yi as YouTuber "Mr. Popular"
Bae Hae-sun as Nam Haeng-ja
Hae-yi's biological mother
Episodes
Directed by Yoo Je-won, Crash Course in Romance consists of 16 episodes. Each episode title refers to a mathematical concept.
Production
The series marked the third collaboration between director Yoo Je-won and screenwriter Yang Hee-seung after High School King of Savvy (2014) and Oh My Ghost (2015). It was reported that filming began in the summer of 2022, and ended on February 5, 2023.
Media
Tie-in publishing
The series' original script was published in two books, each covering eight episodes.
Reception
Ranking
During its airing, Crash Course in Romance generated significant buzz in the data world. According to Good Data Corporation, it ranked first with a Topicality share of 23.8% in the Top 10 TV Topicality Ranking in the drama division for four consecutive weeks. In the performer category, the casts were in Top 10. Specifically, in the 1st week of January, Jung Kyung-ho was 1st and Jeon Do-yeon 2nd; the next week they stayed 1st and 2nd, with Roh at 10th. By the 3rd week, Roh Yeon-soo rose to 7th. In the 4th week, Jeon dropped to 3rd, Roh was 8th, and Shin Jae-ha debuted at 14th. The 5th and 6th weeks saw Jung 1st, Jeon 2nd, Roh between 6th and 8th, and Shin moving up to 5th. In the 7th week, Jung fell to 2nd, Jeon to 3rd, Roh 5th, and Shin 6th. By the 8th week, Roh topped the chart, followed by Jung 2nd, Jeon 3rd, and Shin 4th.
In the OTT media service drama rankings, Crash Course in Romance secured the top spot for three consecutive weeks. According to the weekly integrated content ranking chart of Kinolights (February 4–10, 2023), a content viewing and analysis service, the series which first aired on January 14, took the lead among dramas. In the first week of March, the drama rank second, still took lead among dramas.
Cultural impact
The series influenced Korean fashion. Gmarket and SSG.com announced on March 13, 2023, that the flower-patterned blouse of Nam Haeng-seon (played by Jeon Do-yeon) in the drama was gaining popularity. It was named "Southbound fashion". According to Gmarket sales data, the sales growth rate of retro fashion such as lace/ruffle blouses (67%), chiffon blouses (62%), and printed blouses (92%) was high during the airing of the drama. Pattern/print blouses (20%), jeans (15%), and lace/ruffle blouses (10%) also sold well on SSG.com.