Netflix’s hit series “Teach You A Lesson” has become one of the platform’s top-performing shows worldwide, but its success has been overshadowed by growing backlash over alleged online harassment of female Korean students and heated debates over misogyny in some scenes.
The drama, released in full on June 5, quickly rose to No. 1 on Netflix’s South Korean top 10 and also ranked high on global charts. It follows a fictional Education Authority Protection Bureau tasked with restoring order to schools facing student violence, parental interference and collapsing authority.
While the show gained attention for its intense, revenge-driven plot, it also sparked controversy almost immediately upon its release.
Reports and online discussions have raised concerns that some international viewers have been targeting real Korean teenagers on social media, allegedly using references to the series to leave hostile comments, Koreaboo reported.
Critics say this behavior shows a dangerous misunderstanding of fiction, as ordinary students unfamiliar with the show have become targets of online abuse.
Netflix’s ‘Teach You a Lesson’ Sparks Backlash
At the same time, the series has sparked debate about how it portrays women. One of the most talked about moments comes from episode 3, where the character Im Han-rim, played by Jin Ki-joo, faces ridicule from students at an all-girls school.
According to The Chosun, during her introduction, she responds to insults about plastic surgery by saying, “I’ve had plastic surgery: a breast reduction. But I don’t see any student in this class who needs a reduction,” as she addresses the class.
This scene, adapted from the original webtoon, has been widely discussed online as part of a larger debate about “Teach You a Lesson” misogyny. Some viewers argue that the tone and dialogue reinforce negative stereotypes and fuel uncomfortable interpretations, especially when combined with the show’s revenge-focused narrative.
Veteran actress Lee Mi Suk’s recent comments about past movie sets have also resurfaced in discussions about the drama. In a separate YouTube video, he described how unclear scripts and changes of direction in erotic films once led to confusion and conflict on set.
“We argued countless times about this on set,” he said, noting how vague communication created difficult working conditions for actors.
While unrelated to the Netflix series, her remarks were cited in larger conversations about how women are represented and treated in entertainment.
