A Story Within a Story: What Sets Absolute Value of Romance Apart

Get ready for a fresh dose of heart, humor, and high school chaos. The cast and crew of Absolute Value of Romance lit up Seoul at a recent press conference, offering a first look at a coming-of-age series that’s as witty as it is heartfelt.

Led by director Lee Tae-gon and starring Kim Hyang Gi, Cha Hak-yeon, Kim Jae-hyun, Son Jeong-hyuk, and Kim Dong-gyu, the series blends awkward teen moments, playful imagination, and emotional growth into one irresistible story.

The series follows Yeo Eui-ju (Kim Hyang Gi), an ordinary high school student who secretly leads a double life as an aspiring web novelist dreaming of success. Her world is turned upside down when four charming new teachers — Ga Woo-su (Cha Hak-yeon), Noh Da-ju (Kim Jae-hyun), Jung Gi-jeon (Son Jeong-hyuk), and Yoon Dong-ju (Kim Dong-gyu) — arrive at her school and unexpectedly become the inspiration behind her writing. Set against the backdrop of high school life, Absolute Value of Romance explores youth, friendship, and growth through the eyes of a young writer navigating both reality and imagination.

Premiering April 17 on Prime Video in over 240 countries and territories, with new episodes dropping weekly, here’s why Absolute Value of Romance deserves a spot on your watchlist:

1. Kim Hyang Gi Reinvents Herself in a Bold, Comedic Turn

Kim Hyang Gi takes on the role of Yeo Eui-ju, an ordinary high school student who enjoys writing during the day while secretly leading a double life at night as an aspiring web novelist. Reflecting on her first impression of the script, she shared, “When I first read it, I was drawn to how comic-book-like yet multidimensional the characters felt. The more I read, the more curious I became about what would happen next.” Taking on her first comedy role, she said, “I’ve always had great respect for comedians, so I really wanted to do justice to the humor in the script and bring the character to life.” She added with a laugh, “I really wanted to be funny.” Speaking about shaping the character, she continued, “I paid a lot of attention to Eui-ju’s overall look to help define her personality.” Kim Hyang Gi showcases a fresh transformation in the series, bringing a playful and engaging energy to her portrayal of a high school student.

2. Four Teachers, Four Personalities—and Endless Chemistry

The four teachers bring distinct personalities and striking charm to the series, bringing a lively and engaging dynamic to the story. Speaking about his character Ga Woo-su, Cha Hak-yeon shared, “On the surface, he appears cold and structured, but if you look closer, he has a slightly clumsy charm, which makes him fun to watch.” Kim Jae-hyun, who plays Noh Da-ju, described his role as the group’s mood-maker, saying, “He’s the one who brings everyone together and keeps things lively with his unpredictable charm.” Kim Dong-gyu, who plays Yoon Dong-ju, also shared, “I wanted to carry on the idea of a ‘boyfriend-material teacher’ and make the character feel warm and relatable.” Son Jeong-hyuk plays Jung Gi-jeon, a dependable sports teacher who supports those around him, rounding out the group’s dynamic. Bringing together contrasting personalities and unique energy, the four teachers create a lively dynamic that adds to the series’ youthful and engaging appeal.

3. A Director Who Knows How to Capture Youth

The series is helmed by director Lee Tae-gon, known for his work on acclaimed dramas such as Hello My Twenties!, and True to Love. Speaking about what drew him to the project, Lee shared, “The script was incredibly engaging. But above all, I was drawn to the sense of youth and fun that the story brings.” Emphasizing the core theme of the series, he continued, “At its heart, this is a story about growth. High school is a time when that growth is especially significant, and those experiences we go through during that period stay with us and shape who we become. I hope that both the audience and everyone who worked on the series can share in that sense of growth.” Through his direction, Absolute Value of Romance captures the essence of youth and growth with warmth and authenticity.

4. A Cast That Feels Like Your Own School Memories 

Bringing together youthful energy, nostalgia, and relatable experiences, the student ensemble enhances the series’ vibrant and engaging tone. Sharing what makes Absolute Value of Romance stand out, Kim Dong-gyu described the series as “a refreshingly unique concept—something you don’t often see, and incredibly fun.” Son Jeong-hyuk likened its atmosphere to “the lively, bustling energy of a school break time.” Cha Hak-yeon emphasized the strong sense of youth embedded in the story, sharing, “It really made me think of youth—like running to the cafeteria as soon as it’s lunchtime. I believe viewers will be able to feel that same atmosphere, along with the themes of growth.” Kim Hyang Gi added, “I think the series will feel very healing. It brings back memories of school days, and I hope viewers follow the journey and experience both fun and heartfelt moments along the way.” A vibrant group of students at Murim Girls’ High School, including Kim Sohee as Choi Go-ya and Singaporean actress Gladys Bay as Jenny, further enriches the series’ coming-of-age story.

5. A Playful “Story Within a Story” Twist

One of the most distinctive elements of Absolute Value of Romance is its story-within-a-story structure, where the narrative expands beyond the events at school into the world of Yeo Eui-ju’s writing. Within her novel, the teachers transform into entirely different characters, creating a playful contrast and offering a new layer of fun for viewers. Cha Hak-yeon, who takes on a contrasting role as Ju Si-on within the story, shared, “There were no limits to the character. We kept asking, ‘Can we really go this far?’ Because of that, there are many unexpected moments and movements you wouldn’t typically see.” Kim Jae-hyun added, “To portray a different character, I intentionally made my movements bigger and more expressive.” Kim Hyang Gi also spoke about stepping into the story as its creator, saying, “Whenever I appear in those scenes, I found myself acting more like the math teacher—being a bit strict and even telling them, ‘Why are you saying the line like that?’” Blending reality and imagination, the series delivers a playful and unpredictable viewing experience, where characters shift between worlds in surprising and entertaining ways.

With its mix of humor, heart, and creative storytelling, Absolute Value of Romance captures the messy, magical journey of growing up. Whether it’s your first love, your wild imagination, or the friendships that shape you, this is one series that knows exactly how to hit all the right notes.

Streaming exclusively on Prime Video from April 17, with new episodes every Friday.

Disney+ today announced that the recently released romantic comedy Perfect Crown has become the number one most viewed Korean series on Disney+ globally (based on five days of views).

First premiering on April 10, Perfect Crown follows the people’s favorite royal, Grand Prince I-AN, as he becomes embroiled in a power struggle with other members of the royal family. With pressure on the prince to wed, he strikes up a marriage of convenience with Huiju, the heir to a Korean conglomerate, but as the pair work together to advance their own ends, emotions begin to flare and things don’t go quite as smoothly as planned.

Perfect Crown stars IU (When Life Gives You Tangerines, My Mister) as Huiju, the second in line to inherit one of Korea’s biggest conglomerates, and Byeon Wooseok (Lovely Runner, Strong Girl Nam-soon) as Grand Prince I-AN. The series is directed by Park Joonhwa (Alchemy of Souls, What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim) and is written by Yoo Jiwon.

With the first two episodes available to stream today on Disney+, new episodes will be released every Friday and Saturday night at 10:20PM MYT through the show’s series finale on May 16.

Perfect Crown is the latest Korean title set to debut on Disney+. Fans of unmissable Korean storytelling can also look forward to the upcoming release of A Shop For Killers Season 2 and Made In Korea Season 2, as well as Portraits of Delusion (working title) starring Suzy and Kim Seonho, The Remarried Empress starring Shin Mina, Ju Jihoon, Lee Jongsuk, and Lee Seyoung, and a whole host of binge-worthy APAC titles currently streaming on Disney+.

Stream Perfect Crown today on Disney+.