Why Ban Hee-jin’s Wild Campus Love Life Is the Drama Education We All Need
Welcome to the campus where logic takes a leave of absence and delusions earn extra credit. “Crushology 101,” a rom-com K-drama that throws away the textbooks and rewrites the rules of love, has officially opened its doors. And in this wild, blushing world of daydreams, missteps, and sculpted cheekbones, one girl stands at the epicenter of romantic chaos: Ban Hee-jin.
Let’s be real — Hee-jin is not here to study literature, physics, or even life skills. No, our girl is majoring in handsome men, minoring in heartbreak, and auditing the fine art of bouncing back with style. And let’s not forget, there are four (yes, four!) potential love interests, each bringing a mix of charm, confusion, and utter chaos. Here’s what went down in the first two episodes of this dangerously addictive series.
TL;DR
- K-drama “Crushology 101” is a romantic comedy set on a university campus.
- The main character, Ban Hee-jin, is obsessed with handsome men and navigating romantic chaos.
- The story involves a love square with four distinct male love interests.
- Hee-jin experiences public humiliation and vows to prioritize her feelings.
- Humorous and absurd situations arise from the characters’ interactions and romantic pursuits.
- The reviewer finds the drama entertaining despite its tropes and character flaws.
- The show is recommended for its humor, romance, and engagingly chaotic plot.
Meet Hee-jin: Sculptor of Delusions, Queen of Campus Crushes
Ban Hee-jin, played with delightful charm by Noh Jung-eui, is the kind of girl who’d major in sculpture just to immortalize beautiful men in marble. She’s openly obsessed with good-looking guys, and honestly, she’s thriving in it. Her radar for eye candy is unmatched. Her weakness? Believing that being adored is enough — until it’s painfully not.
In the very first scene, Hee-jin’s seemingly sweet boyfriend accidentally confesses (on a live mic, no less) that he’s only with her for… physical reasons. Yeah. The entire university hears it. Classy, right? Cue the mic drop — and by mic, I mean Hee-jin’s fist into his smug little face. Public humiliation? Check. Cathartic breakup punch? Double check.
But here’s where Hee-jin surprises us — not by crying over the mess, but by crafting a comeback strategy. First, she vows to never date a guy beneath her visual standards again. Second, she decides her feelings are going to take the lead next time. Seems reasonable, right?
Plot Twist: Pretty Boys Start Falling from the Sky
Just as she’s about to quit school (again — she’s done this before over a guy, no judgment), in walks CHA JI-WON (Jo Joon-young), Handsome Guy #1. A fellow sculptor, Ji-won is the type of guy whose face makes you question reality. One look at him and Hee-jin forgets all about her leave of absence. She rips up her form and re-enrolls — because this semester suddenly looks a lot more promising.
But wait, there’s more! As she walks away from Ji-won, fate (or the drama gods) throws in HWANG JAE-YEOL (Lee Chae-min), a pretty boy from the Visual Design department. He’s actually been around since the beginning, but Hee-jin never noticed — probably because her head was stuck in heartbreak fog. Now, with her eyes wide open, Jae-yeol gets the full Hee-jin treatment: blushes, giggles, and probably an imaginary wedding registry.
When Chemistry Meets Chaos: Accidents, Debt, and a Broken Tablet
Things take a literal tumble when Jae-yeol trips down the stairs, and Hee-jin rushes to save him in true K-drama fashion. But instead of a soft romantic landing, she ends up wrecking his expensive tablet. Hello, $2,000 debt. Their love story now has a budget line — and it’s all in the red.
To be fair, Jae-yeol was already intrigued by Hee-jin after witnessing her epic breakup takedown. But now? He’s roped her into paying him back… with labor. From dragging her to lectures to making her take notes like his personal secretary, he’s petty, proud, and practically begging to be left on read.
Meanwhile, Ji-won remains the prince charming alternative. Polite, helpful, and with no shady hidden agendas, he’s a breath of fresh air. Compared to Jae-yeol, Ji-won feels like a golden retriever while Jae-yeol gives off cat-with-an-attitude energy. And Hee-jin? She’s caught between them like a sculpture spinning on a lazy Susan.
Enter Love Interest #3: Jo Ah-rang, Mysterious and Mature
In her quest to repay her “romantic debt,” Hee-jin picks up a part-time job at an art exhibition. There she meets JO AH-RANG (Kim Hyun-jin), a charming stranger who sees her appreciation for sculpture and is instantly intrigued. They talk art, coffee, and probably share telepathic daydreams about matching couple rings.
This encounter doesn’t just add another gorgeous contender to the roster — it shows us a different side of Hee-jin. One that’s thoughtful, interested in deeper connections, and capable of carrying conversations not centered on abs.
And just as you think things are settling, the chaos level spikes again. She fakes a wrist injury to skip out on note duty for Jae-yeol, who surprisingly shows a sliver of kindness by offering to do the work. Guilt eats away at her, and like clockwork, karma returns when she’s caught faking it. Back to being his unpaid academic assistant. Womp womp.
The Strength Showdown: When Muscles Save the Day
In a twist only a K-drama could pull off, a women’s strength contest offers a brand new tablet as first prize. Hee-jin, whose strength is hilariously unmatched, bulldozes the competition. She finally wins her freedom — and with grand flair, hands Jae-yeol the tablet, along with a firm “goodbye and good luck” speech. It’s savage, satisfying, and so well-deserved.
Ji-won, ever the supportive golden retriever, is right by her side as she walks away, glowing with triumph. Jae-yeol, now sulking in emotional defeat, finally realizes what he’s lost. Too little, too late, my guy.
When Characters Stop Evolving: Jae-yeol’s Regression
Here’s the tea: Jae-yeol could have grown up. He even starts to reflect on his actions. But instead of leveling up, he rewinds back to 2009 and activates Full Toxic Second Lead Mode™. He manhandles her into helping him again and tries to guilt-trip her for winning the tablet with her own strength.
What’s worse? He’s still obsessed. Bro, move on. Or at least send a text with a basic apology. Instead, he channels his jealousy and reappears like a ghost at the worst moment possible — just as Hee-jin reconnects with Ah-rang, who turns out to be the legendary sculptor she’s admired for years. Not awkward at all.
Episode 2 Cliffhanger: A Love Square on Fire
And that’s when the boys converge like moths to a flame. Ji-won watches. Ah-rang gently plucks a cherry blossom from Hee-jin’s hair. And Jae-yeol storms in, shouting her name like he’s got first dibs. Spoiler: he doesn’t.
With three love interests locked in her orbit, Hee-jin stands in the middle, radiating the magnetic confusion of every K-drama heroine before her. It’s chaotic. It’s adorable. It’s crushology, baby.
Let’s Talk Real Talk: My Take on the Madness
Now, here’s my personal commentary — because I can’t just stay quiet through all this eye-rolling drama gold.
First off, Hee-jin is both a mess and a marvel. She’s delusional, yes, but she’s also self-aware and surprisingly grounded. Her decisions may be impulsive, but she has heart — and an impressive right hook.
Jae-yeol, on the other hand, is giving me major “entitled first-born son” energy. He’s clinging to his pride like it’s a vintage Louis Vuitton. He needs therapy, a nap, and a crash course on respecting boundaries. Fast.
Ji-won? Too good to be true — which means he’s probably hiding something. He’s the human equivalent of a cozy cardigan: warm, comfy, and potentially harboring a tragic backstory.
Ah-rang? Mysterious, mature, and suspiciously perfect. If he doesn’t end up having a dark twist, I’ll eat my notes.
But all things considered, this drama gets an A+ in entertainment. It delivers absurdity, drama, romance, and just enough emotional depth to keep us hooked.
Final Verdict: Should You Enroll in Crushology 101?
Absolutely. Come for the eye candy, stay for the hilariously awkward situations, petty rivalries, and a heroine who punches first and questions later. This show doesn’t try to reinvent the genre. Instead, it dives face-first into every trope and swims in it like a glorious fish in a sea of blush.
With four love interests, unpredictable twists, and enough emotional drama to power an entire season of therapy sessions, Crushology 101 is shaping up to be the chaotic college drama you never knew you needed.
