Korean drama about school problems rises to the top

Netflix’s new Korean drama Teach You a Lesson reached the top of the platform’s global non-English rankings within a week of its release. The 10-episode series is adapted from the webtoon Get Schooled, which came out in 2020. It follows a government-backed vigilante unit that tries to fix serious wrongs in schools. The unit is led by Na Hwa-jin, a former Special Forces captain who works as an inspector and is also the minister’s son-in-law. He works with Im Han-rim and Bong Geun-dae. Each episode focuses on a different case, such as bullying, corruption, cheating, juvenile crime, gambling, drug trafficking, or exploitation. The show also deals with school violence, weak teacher authority, and pressure from parents and competition. Some of its stories are linked to real events. While many viewers enjoy its dramatic justice, some Korean educators have criticized it for making violence look good. At the center of the show is a simple question: what is education for?