Netflix’s new series Teach You a Lesson, starring Kim Mu Yeol and Lee Sung Min, officially premiered on June 5.
Based on the webtoon of the same name, Teach You a Lesson follows the fictional Educational Rights Protection Bureau under South Korea’s Ministry of Education as it intervenes in serious incidents unfolding inside schools. Told across 10 episodes, the drama explores various cases occurring in educational settings, with each episode focusing on a different conflict.
As its title suggests, the series leans heavily into cathartic and justice-driven storytelling. Former special forces officer Na Hwa Jin (Kim Mu Yeol) and inspector Im Han Rim (Jin Ki Joo) are dispatched to troubled schools to confront perpetrators head-on, while Education Minister Choi Gang Seok (Lee Sung Min) provides full institutional support to the bureau. Bureau officer Bong Geun Dae (Pyo Ji Hoon, also known as P.O) serves as comic relief and investigative support, balancing intelligence with a somewhat clumsy and gentle personality.
Victim-Centered Storyline Resonates With Viewers
The Educational Rights Protection Bureau begins operating as a full team in Episode 2, which tackles a brutal school violence case at a vocational boys’ high school. In an environment where students engage in gang fights to impress organized crime groups and openly bully weaker classmates during lessons, teachers appear powerless to intervene.
Kim Hyung Joo (Jeon Bong Seok), a student who faithfully attends school to study auto repair despite ongoing abuse, finds himself with no real protection. While undercover as a transfer student, Bong Geun Dae investigates the situation and hears Hyung Joo say, “It’s too late for me to transfer schools. I need to learn auto repair and start making money as soon as possible. You should leave before it’s too late.”
On his first day at the school, Na Hwa Jin explains the bureau’s mission inside the teachers’ office, saying that schools must remain places where students who desperately depend on education can learn safely without becoming victims.
Soon after, he gathers the entire student body into the gymnasium and begins what the drama calls “true education.” The show’s signature “refreshing justice” moments follow, as Na Hwa Jin physically confronts violent students who refuse guidance and even takes on gang members tied to the school. Eventually, the bullies kneel before Hyung Joo, apologizing and begging for forgiveness.
Although Hyung Joo repeatedly insists he is fine, he breaks down in tears when Na Hwa Jin gently asks, “Hyung Joo, are you really okay?”
Corporal Punishment Message Sparks Debate
Despite controversies surrounding its source material, Teach You a Lesson attempts to build empathy through victim-centered narratives. The fantasy of former military-style inspectors fearlessly protecting victims while aggressively confronting abusers has resonated with some viewers, particularly amid growing concerns over declining classroom authority. The series also portrays a wide range of perpetrators, including students, parents, and even teachers.
However, the drama’s apparent endorsement of harsh disciplinary methods remains controversial. Within the show’s fictional world, the Educational Rights Protection Bureau exists because a revised education law permits inspectors to intervene without restrictions on their methods. This premise stems from the original webtoon’s argument that South Korea’s 2011 ban on corporal punishment contributed to the collapse of school discipline.
At the show’s press conference on June 5, director Hong Jong Chan explained why he chose to adapt the series, saying he was drawn to the idea of a fantasy institution that could boldly resolve frustrating real-life problems from the victim’s perspective.
He also acknowledged criticism surrounding the original webtoon, stating that the production team approached the adaptation carefully and worked to present the story through a more refined lens.
Originally launched in 2020, the Teach You a Lesson webtoon gained popularity for its powerful, revenge-driven storytelling and strong authority figures. However, it also faced backlash for allegedly discriminatory depictions of women and people of color, as well as its use of violence as punishment within educational settings. Several controversial episodes were removed in Korea, and the series temporarily went on hiatus for three months. On North American platforms, the entire webtoon service was eventually suspended.
The backlash reportedly affected casting discussions as well. Actor Kim Nam Gil, who had initially been considered for the lead role of Na Hwa Jin during the planning stages, ultimately declined the offer following criticism from fans.
Sources: Joongang
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