Kim Hyang-gi X Cha Hak-yeon X Kim Jae-hyun X Son Jeong-hyeok X Kim Dong-gyu ‘Absolute Value of Romance’ Production Press Event Held in High Spirits!

With the series from Coupang Play scheduled to be released on Friday, April 17, 〈Absolute Value of Romance〉 wrapped up its production press event in great success at the The Saint Hotel in Sindorim on Tuesday, April 14. 〈Absolute Value of Romance〉 is a teen series that makes the protagonists of the story—high schoolers—come to life as a BL novelist imagines handsome teacher figures, only to find herself colliding with unexpected moments in reality, becoming the main character of a roller-coaster school life.

The production press event was styled around a “Mu-rim High School Open Class” concept, faithfully bringing over the work’s bold and playful atmosphere to captivate everyone’s attention. At the event, Kim Hyang-gi, Cha Hak-yeon, Kim Jae-hyun, Son Jeong-hyeok, Kim Dong-gyu, and director Lee Tae-gon were in attendance, sharing a variety of stories—from the preparation process to vivid behind-the-scenes details.

〈Absolute Value of Romance〉 will put a spotlight on a dual structure that moves back and forth between reality and imagination, and is set to write new rules for the teen genre. Director Lee Tae-gon said, “I absolutely love the youth and fun the work brings. Although the work operates within the BL genre while concealing its identity, I wanted to capture the essential message of ‘human growth,’ moving forward by using my experiences from school days as a stepping stone,” adding a preview of the unique charm and depth that differentiate it from existing teen-genre works.

# A normal high school girl by day, a BL writer by night? Kim Hyang-gi’s audacious transformation with the “Handsome Teacher Squad”

A special teacher-and-student chemistry is also drawing attention, as Kim Hyang-gi’s bold fantasies of writing BL novels with teachers as the protagonists come to life every night. Kim Hyang-gi, who plays “Yeo-ui-ju,” said, “Ui-ju is a character with a cartoon-like, three-dimensional quality. To bring that out, I personally set her up with a hairstyle that reminds me of what I looked like when I was younger,” raising the teen mood to the fullest.

Cha Hak-yeon who plays “Ga-woo-su,” a math teacher with an IQ of 156, shared, “I studied sharp, pointed speech patterns to bring out the clumsy side hidden beneath the coldness.” Kim Jae-hyun , who plays the multilingual talent “No-da-ju,” added, “He’s a character with a lively charm, like a bouncy rugby ball,” hinting that he will inject energy into the work. Son Jeong-hyeok , who plays “Jeong-gi-jeon,” the PE teacher, said, “I observed my father and prepared the most grown-up character,” revealing a solid presence. Then Kim Dong-gyu , who plays the Korean teacher “Yun Dong-ju,” teased, “A teacher who pays close attention to students and talks with them in a friendly way,” completing the colorful harmony of four people in four distinct styles.

# The moment imagination becomes reality! The comedic counterattack of our friends—titled in the novel 〈We Were Friends〉

The best part of this production is the variations on the characters in the novel 〈We Were Friends〉 that “Ui-ju” writes. The episodes that unfold as real-life teachers are reborn inside the novel with bold, comedic relationships will surely send viewers’ dopamine soaring. Cha Hak-yeon said, “I wanted to show a version that isn’t stuck in a mold and has no idea where she might end up.” Son Jeong-hyeok added, “I tried to sincerely love the character ‘Choi Yoon’ in the novel and find the beautiful qualities that are uniquely his,” sparking curiosity about his two-roles-level performance that moves between reality and imagination.  

# “A series as loud and lively as break time!” On-site chemistry that never runs out

Just like the cheerful tone of the work, the actors’ chemistry also shone on set. Cha Hak-yeon said, “Thanks to the lively reactions, I had a great time shooting. Since the director was laughing without fail too, I could act even more confidently,” sharing the warm, fun atmosphere. Kim Hyang-gi said, “Not only is there a cute charm in the scenes that are honest about emotions, but if you follow the process of how the characters grow together, you’ll discover even more fun.” Son Jeong-hyeok said, “It’s a work with a charm that’s as lively as school break time,”  Kim Dong-gyu added, “A story with a fresh theme you won’t find anywhere else,” leaving audiences eager for the birth of a new teen series that breaks the old mold.

Gathering attention with a unique setup that moves between reality and imagination, and with the fantastic chemistry of the actors, 〈Absolute Value of Romance〉 will be released on Coupang Play at 8:00 PM on Friday, April 17.