Review - Teach You a Lesson: Turning a school crisis into an action series

Teach You a Lesson is a new series based on the webtoon Get Schooled by Chae Yong-taek and Han Ga-ram. The production presents a reality where school violence and the loss of teacher authority have reached such alarming levels that the government decides to create a special agency to intervene directly in educational institutions.

Synopsis and Direction

The plot follows Na Hwa-jin, an inspector for the Educational Rights Protection Agency and a former Intelligence Agency member, who is dispatched to schools overrun by bullying, student gangs, administrative corruption, and abuse of power. Using strict and highly unconventional methods, his mission is to restore order and confront an educational system that seems to have spun out of control.

Furthermore, Hwa-jin has very personal reasons for wanting to bring order back to these schools, and the plot does not take long to reveal his valid motivations.

The main role is played by Kim Mu-yeol, and the cast also brings together Lee Sung-min, who plays Choi Gang-seok, the Minister of Education and founder of the special agency; Jin Ki-joo, in the role of former military officer and investigator Im Han-rim; and Pyo Ji-hoon, who plays Bong Geun-dae.

The direction is spearheaded by Hong Jong-chan, with a script handled by seven writers responsible for adapting the original material for streaming.

Critical Reception

The series garnered significant attention, with international outlets highlighting its approach to themes related to the educational system and the rising violence among students. At the same time, the production sparked controversy for depicting physical and psychological intervention tactics as a "pedagogical" approach.

On the other hand, audience reception has been highly positive, with the series achieving a score of 8.6 out of 10 on IMDb.

Despite the strong reception from critics and audiences, the webtoon that inspired the series faced several controversies, leading many to disapprove of its streaming adaptation when it was first announced.

This backlash occurred because the Get Schooled comic drew heavy criticism for addressing themes like "reverse racism," containing racial slurs, and presenting characters that some described as racial stereotypes. There were also questions regarding its social commentary, including its depiction of feminism.

Following the negative backlash, the English version of the webtoon was removed from the Webtoon platform, and its publication resumed some time later on Naver Webtoon.

Furthermore, educational institutions and labor organizations in the country even called for the cancellation of the series, arguing that the premise glorifies corporal punishment, an act absolutely forbidden in the nation's schools.

In response, Bae Jong-byung, a senior director at Netflix, acknowledged the criticisms and the specific sensitive themes of the webtoon, stating that the adaptation would be handled with a deep sense of responsibility. He also assured that the script and production would be approached with a more thoughtful perspective to ensure the story maintained the appropriate sensitivity.

Despite this initial controversy surrounding the adaptation, the show ranks among Netflix's most popular recent productions and has pleased many viewers, as previously mentioned.

The reason can be explained by the perceived decline of the educational system, not only in South Korea but in many parts of the world.

Although it is a work of fiction set in South Korea, Teach You a Lesson addresses issues that cross borders by touching on problems such as school violence, bullying, teacher burnout, and the feeling that educational institutions cannot always protect students and educators.

In South Korea, school violence, known as hakpok, has become a national issue. Cases of bullying, physical assaults, social exclusion, and cyberbullying frequently dominate the press and social media. In recent years, several celebrities, athletes, and public figures have been accused of committing school violence, reigniting the debate over the consequences of bullying and the difficulty of finding justice for the victims.

The relationship between families and teachers has also become a cause for concern. In 2023, around 50,000 educators participated in protests in Seoul following the death of an elementary school teacher who faced intense pressure from students' parents. The incident triggered a national discussion about the emotional toll on teachers and the need for more effective protection mechanisms for educational professionals.

However, these issues are not unique to South Korea. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), bullying remains a problem in many countries and is linked to higher rates of anxiety, depression, social isolation, and lower academic performance.

Meanwhile, UNESCO estimates that millions of children and adolescents worldwide are affected by various forms of school violence.

Another phenomenon shared across different educational systems is the growing workload placed on teachers. Reports highlight rising levels of stress, burnout, and career abandonment, which are frequently related to administrative pressure, accumulating responsibilities, and the difficulty of managing conflicts within schools.

This environment is precisely where Teach You a Lesson finds its strength. The show creates an extreme response to problems that exist in multiple countries. While its methods are deliberately exaggerated and controversial, the question it raises is highly important: what happens when students and teachers feel that protective mechanisms are no longer effective?

In this way, the K-drama uses fiction to reflect on a social concern of global scale: how can we create educational environments that are safe, welcoming, and capable of resolving increasingly complex challenges?

After all, if an organization like the Educational Rights Protection Agency actually existed, would students and teachers feel safer?

I already know my answer, but I will let you think about yours after watching the series.

Of course it is!

The narrative does not romanticize violence; instead, it uses it as an extreme method to handle another extreme. It is also important to note that the agents never abuse their power over students, teachers, or parents, with the latter being portrayed here as a major part of the problem. Just like real life, right?

Another strong point is that the protagonist's personal motivation for treating this agency as a mission truly enriches the narrative. Yet, even without that detail, it would be entirely believable that he acts out of necessity, as it is impossible to remain indifferent to the abuses happening inside the schools.

On top of all that, despite dealing with highly sensitive topics, the series never feels overly heavy. It certainly has moments of distress, but there are plenty of humorous scenes that soften the drama without making it feel ridiculous.

Therefore, you can watch it without hesitation, because the series will make you think and entertain you at the same time.

And, who knows, it might even make you wonder if an agency like this could actually exist in the real world.

Rating: 4.2 out of 5.