On June 5, Netflix held a production presentation for I’ll teach you a lesson at the Grand Ballroom of the Ambassador Seoul Pullman Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. Director Hong Jong Chan attended the event along with cast members Kim Mu Yeol, Lee Sung Min, Jin Ki Joo and PO (Pyo Ji Hoon).
Based on the hit webtoon of the same name, I’ll teach you a lesson follows the activities of the Educational Rights Protection Bureau, an organization created to restore order to South Korea’s collapsing education system caused by students, teachers and parents who cross the line. Director Hong Jong Chan, known for works such as Juvenile justice AND Dear my friendsdirected the project, while writer Lee Nam Gyu, who wrote Daily dose of sun AND The light in your eyeshandled the script.
However, even before its release, I’ll teach you a lesson was embroiled in controversy due to criticism of the original webtoon for alleged racial and gender discrimination. While immensely popular, the webtoon was also criticized for scenes involving corporal punishment, racial stereotypes against people of color, and depictions that appeared to mock feminist education by depicting a teacher being slapped as a form of “satisfy justice”. Some critics argued that the work equated feminism with ideological indoctrination, sparking accusations of sexism. As a result, concerns arose as soon as plans for a live-action adaptation were announced. International online communities amplified the criticism, and Naver Webtoon eventually suspended the title on its North American platform.
Before Kim Mu Yeol took on the lead role of Na Hwa Jin, actor Kim Nam Gil was reportedly offered the project twice, but turned it down both times. Although casting changes are common during the manufacturing process, I’ll teach you a lesson attracted unusual attention due to the controversy surrounding the source material and Kim Nam Gil’s unusually public comments regarding his decision.
In November 2024, reports surfaced that Kim Nam Gil had received a casting offer for I’ll teach you a lesson. At the time, his agency said the actor was “reviewing the offer” sparking reaction from fans, who issued statements urging him to acknowledge the problems associated with the original webtoon and expressing strong disappointment.
Kim Nam Gil later addressed the issue on his personal social media account, writing: “At a time when I am preparing to reunite with viewers as Father Kim Hae Il The fiery priestI heard that many fans are worried because of the news about another project. He clarified that although his agency had indeed received the offer, he hadn’t even had time to properly review it due to his busy filming schedule The fiery priest.
The actor elaborated further on the matter during the press conference of The fiery priest 2. When asked why he addressed the issue publicly, Kim explained: “I didn’t want another negative issue to affect the release of The fiery priest 2.” He also revealed that he had already turned it down I’ll teach you a lesson once in the past and was fully aware of the controversies surrounding the original work.
However, Kim admitted that he reconsidered the offer after director Hong Jong Chan joined the project, partly due to his personal interest in educational issues. “School violence and student crime aren’t just children’s problems. Adults have responsibilities too. I’ve often thought about what it means to be a good adult, so I was considering other school-related drama when the proposal came up,” he shared.
However, Kim Nam Gil ultimately drew a firm line. “We constantly revise the scripts The fiery priest 2filming almost as if it were live television,” he explained, before adding, “I honestly don’t even have time to discuss the controversies surrounding the original work. But if viewers feel uncomfortable, I think it’s okay not to make projects that make them uncomfortable.”
Following Kim Nam Gil’s decision to step away, the production team turned to Kim Mu Yeol to direct the series. Addressing the issue during the press conference, Kim Mu Yeol candidly acknowledged the public discussion about the casting process.
“Things happen during casting for every project,” Kim said. “The difference here is that more people became aware of what usually goes on behind the scenes. Instead of focusing on the controversy itself, I focused on asking what kind of project it really was.”
He continued, “I hope viewers will judge whether I was able to elevate the role through my performance. Ultimately the actors speak through their work and I hope people can watch the series and evaluate my acting rather than the surrounding noise.”
While the Netflix adaptation removed some of the more controversial elements of the original webtoon, it maintains the central concept of the Office for the Protection of Educational Rights providing cathartic justice in a frustrating educational reality. AS I’ll teach you a lesson reaches audiences in more than 190 countries, many are watching closely to see how global viewers will respond to a project that has already sparked heated debate long before its release.
Sources: Daum
