A new Korean drama is getting attention from viewers around the world. Absolute Value of Romance started streaming on Prime Video on April 17, 2026. The show is also available on Coupang Play in South Korea. It tells the story of a high school girl who writes romance stories at night. During the day, she faces the real versions of her story characters. The show has 16 episodes in total. Within ten days of its release, the drama earned an 8.5 rating on IMDb. Many people are talking about the fun story and the actors who play the main roles.
The Main Character: A Student With A Secret
Kim Hyang Gi plays Yeo Eui-ju, the lead character in the show. Kim Hyang Gi is known for her roles in movies like Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds and the drama At Eighteen. In this show, she plays an ordinary student who tries to stay out of trouble at school. But at night, she becomes a different person. She writes adult romance novels online under a fake name. Her stories do not get many readers at first. She feels stuck because she has no real experience with love. When four new teachers arrive at her school, she finds new ideas for her writing. She uses them as characters in her stories. The problem starts when her secret gets discovered. Kim Hyang Gi shared that this is her first comedy role. She said, “I really wanted to be funny.”
The Four Teachers Who Change Everything
Ga Woo-su: The Cold Math Genius
Cha Hak-yeon plays Ga Woo-su, the math teacher. Cha Hak-yeon is a member of the K-pop group VIXX. He has also acted in dramas like Bad and Crazy. His character comes from a family of mathematicians. He learned to count before he could speak. He has an IQ of 156 and is a Mensa member. But he almost lost his eyesight because of an accident. This made him give up his dream of studying abroad. He chose to become a teacher instead. Woo-su rarely smiles and looks cold to others. He becomes Eui-ju’s homeroom teacher. He finds out about her secret writing. He tells her that she can keep writing only if she makes him the main character. Cha Hak-yeon said about his role, “On the surface, he appears cold and structured, but if you look closer, he has a slightly clumsy charm.”
Noh Da-ju: The Energetic Language Teacher
Kim Jae-hyun plays Noh Da-ju, the Japanese teacher. Kim Jae-hyun is a member of the rock band N.Flying. He has also appeared in the drama Twenty-Five Twenty-One. His character is a gifted polyglot who speaks many languages. He comes from a rich family. He has been friends with Woo-su since elementary school. But they fight about everything because they are so different. Da-ju is the mood maker of the group. He is playful and sometimes mischievous. He becomes very popular with the students. He pushes Eui-ju to help him with a project. He even threatens to tell her secrets if she does not help. Kim Jae-hyun described his character as the one “who brings everyone together and keeps things lively with his unpredictable charm.”
Jung Gi-jeon: The Former Athlete
Son Jeong-hyuk plays Jung Gi-jeon, the physical education teacher. His character used to be a luge athlete. A serious injury forced him to retire from sports. He became a teacher to stay close to the world of athletics. He looks strong and masculine on the outside. But inside, he is clumsy and warm. The students like him because he is kind and easy to talk to. He sees that Eui-ju has a natural talent for running. He wants to train her to become a sports star. He asks Woo-su to let her focus on sports. But he gives up after he sees her academic scores. Gi-jeon is a humble person who cares deeply about his friends.
Yoon Dong-ju: The Gentle Korean Teacher
Kim Dong-gyu plays Yoon Dong-ju, the Korean language teacher. He is the oldest among the four teacher friends. But he has a baby face, so people often think he is the youngest. He is warm-hearted and innocent. His charm is very different from his friends. He treats his students with respect. He always uses polite language and never loses his temper. The students love him for his calm nature. He shows concern for Eui-ju and asks Woo-su if he is being too hard on her. When Woo-su loses his glasses, Dong-ju tells Eui-ju how important they are to her teacher. She later finds the glasses and returns them. Kim Dong-gyu described his character as someone who “feels warm and relatable.”
The Friends Who Support Eui-ju
Kim Sohee plays Choi Go-ya, Eui-ju’s best friend. She is a stylish student who loves romance. She has been Eui-ju’s closest friend for three years. But she does not know about the novels Eui-ju writes. Go-ya is always there to support her friend. She becomes a safe place for Eui-ju to share her feelings.
Gladys Bay plays Jenny, an exchange student from Singapore. This is her first Korean drama role. Her character brings positive energy wherever she goes. She becomes Eui-ju’s close friend and confidante. Her presence adds a fresh and international feel to the show.
Other Important Characters
The drama also shows the family life of Eui-ju. Her mother puts a lot of pressure on her to do well in school. Her brother is the only person who knows about her secret writing. These family members add more depth to the story.
The Creative Team Behind The Show
The drama is directed by Lee Tae-gon and Kim Jun-hyung. The script is written by Lee Min-ju. The show is a co-production between Coupang Play in South Korea and Mediacorp in Singapore. This is Mediacorp’s first Korean drama co-production. It marks a big step for the company in working with international partners. The series is streaming on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories. New episodes come out every Friday.
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What The Actors Say About The Show
Kim Hyang Gi talked about why she chose this role. She said, “When I first read it, I was drawn to how comic-book-like yet multidimensional the characters felt.” She also spoke about the feeling of the show. She shared, “I think the series will feel very healing. It brings back memories of school days.”
Son Jeong-hyuk compared the show’s atmosphere to “the lively, bustling energy of a school break time.” Cha Hak-yeon said the drama made him think of youth. He mentioned, “like running to the cafeteria as soon as it’s lunchtime. I believe viewers will be able to feel that same atmosphere.”
The show has a special feature. The characters in Eui-ju’s stories become different versions of the teachers. This story-within-a-story setup adds another layer of fun for viewers. The actors had to play two versions of their characters. Cha Hak-yeon said about his story character, “There were no limits. We kept asking, ‘Can we really go this far?’”
