Beautifully directed in Ahn Pan Seok's signature style, but unfortunately the writing isn't on par with the production. While APS often chooses dramas with a strong thematic narrative over detailed characters or complex plots, MRIH didn't developed any of those elemnts. Newbie KDrama writers usually work for years as uncredited assistants before they shop their own scripts and this one probably should have stayed an assistant a while longer.

Something in the Rain and One Spring Night (APS's previous works) are middle-class societal issues slice of life with melodrama romances. They primarily tackle how parental abuse primes women to accept abuse in the workplace and their romantic relationships, which creates a cycle. The FL is saved by the love of the ML, but he's an unsuitable partner and they have to conquer trials, tribulations and villains to be together.

Classic melodrama, close curtain.

MRIH doesn't deviate much from that formula - embattled hagwon tutor FL trapped in a career-life crisis until first student (and of course, first love) ML shows up to free her - but puts more focus on issues in lieu of romance. Which is perfectly fine, if the writer does a good job at meaningfully addressing those issues.

So what critique does MRIH offer?

That education should focus on students... without any realistic means to do that.
That authority in education is the enemy... without any exploration of how or why.
That teachers should be good teachers... which just circles on back to the first point.

It leaves a lot to be desired in depth and subtlety, especially compared to similar dramas that tackle education issues. The plot that attempts to reinforce those themes is equally lacking - it's mostly petty office politics blown exponentially out of proportion with some makjang circumstances and farcical villains to match.

The lack of a strong narrative would be understandable if the relationships and personal struggles of the cast took a central role instead, but every side character speaks with one expository voice - the writer's. And the writer is only concerned with one thing - hammering their message home over and over and over.

There's really nothing else to distinguish MRIH except the romance, which isn't particularly compelling unless you're into the student/teacher taboo. ML is a manic pixie dream boy - impulsive, devoted and with minimal development outside of facilitating FL's journey to personal fulfillment. FL suffers from Mature Female Lead Syndrome - so well rounded there's no edge to her personality. Together, they're unmemorable except for the florid bodice ripper romantic interludes that occur with regrettable regularity.

UPDATE: Having now finished the drama, I stand by all the assesments in this review.