Crash Course in Romance

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.

The series was a commercial hit and became one of the highest-rated dramas in Korean cable television history.

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, a popular private education institute, who has an eating disorder, and who regularly visits Haeng-seon's shop.

Supporting

People around Haeng-seon

Roh Yoon-seo as Nam Hae-yi

Haeng-seon's adopted daughter and niece who was abandoned by her mother—Haeng-seon's sister — when she was a child, and was raised by Haeng-seon thereafter. 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.

People around Chi-yeol

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.

People in the apartment

Jang Young-nam as Jang Seo-jin

Seon-jae's mother who is an attorney.

Lee Chae-min as Lee Seon-jae

A student at class 2-1, Hae-yi's best friend who 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.

Kim Sun-young as Jo Su-hee

Su-ah's mother who is obsessed with her studies.

Kang Na-eon as Bang Su-ah

A student at class 2-1 who has a rivalry with Hae-yi.

Hwang Bo-ra as Lee Mi-ok

Dan-ji's mother.

Ryu Da-in as Jang Dan-ji

A student at class 2-1, close friend of Hae-yi and Seon-jae.

Lee Min-jae as Seo Geon-hu

A student in class 2-1 who is an ice hockey athlete. Later, he is diagnosed with a serious shoulder injury and has to stop playing.

People in the hagwon

Heo Jeong-do as Kang Joon-sang

The director of The Pride Academy.

Ji Il-joo as Jin Yi-sang

An instructor at The Pride Academy.

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

Original soundtrack

Part 1

Released on January 15, 2023
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Gypsophila" (안개꽃)	Oh Dong-jun	Oh Dong-jun	Lee Ju-hyuk	3:32
2.	"Gypsophila" (안개꽃; Inst.)		Oh Dong-jun		3:32
Total length:					7:04

Part 2

Released on January 22, 2023
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"It's Sunny Today" (오늘은 맑음)	Jung Gu-hyun Aseul	Jung Gu-hyun	Grass	3:06
2.	"It's Sunny Today" (오늘은 맑음; Inst.)		Jung Gu-hyun		3:06
Total length:					6:12

Part 3

Released on January 29, 2023
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"The Opposite Side" (반대편)	Hong Ye-jin	Hong Ye-jin	Lee Juck	4:10
2.	"The Opposite Side" (반대편; Inst.)		Hong Ye-jin		4:10
Total length:					8:20

Part 4

Released on February 5, 2023
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"At Night" (간밤에)	Dailog	Dailog Hen	Giriboy	2:52
2.	"At Night" (간밤에; Inst.)		Dailog Hen		2:52
Total length:					5:44

Part 5

Released on February 12, 2023
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Alright"	Jin Dong-wook	Jin Dong-wook	Ha Hyun-sang	3:22
2.	"Alright" (Inst.)		Jin Dong-wook		3:22
Total length:					6:44

Part 6

Released on February 26, 2023
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Love Code [1+1=1]"	MaO Naiv	Naiv	Vincent Blue	3:37
2.	"Love Code [1+1=1]" (Inst.)		Naiv		3:37
Total length:					7:14

Tie-in publishing

The series' original script was published into two books; each covers eight episodes.

Reception

Viewership

Crash Course in Romance : South Korea viewers per episode (millions)

Source: Audience measurement performed nationwide by Nielsen Korea.

Ranking

During its airing, Crash Course in Romance generated big data buzz. According to Good Data Corporation, it ranked first with a topical share of 23.8% in Top 10 of TV Topicality Ranking in drama division category in four weeks in a row. Jung Kyung-ho ranked first in the performer category for five consecutive weeks, while Jeon Do-yeon, Shin Jae-ha, Roh Yoon-seo, and Lee Chae-min ranked 3rd, 6th, 10th, and 14th respectively.

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 as "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.