[Interview] "Teach You a Lesson" Jin Ki-joo, "I Focused on the Script Rather Than the Original"

Actress Jin Ki-joo said she focused on the drama script rather than the controversy surrounding the original webtoon while filming "Teach You a Lesson".

Advertisement

Jin Ki-joo, who played Im Han-rim, a supervisor at the Teacher Rights Protection Bureau in the Netflix series "Teach You a Lesson" (written by Lee Nam-gyoo, directed by Hong Jong-chan), spoke about the drama during an interview held at a café in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on June 16th.

"Teach You a Lesson" tells the story of the Teacher Rights Protection Bureau, an organization established to protect teachers' rights and restore order in South Korea's educational system, which has been undermined by unruly students, teachers, and parents. Since its release on June 5th, the series has enj

oyed explosive popularity, reaching No. 1 on Netflix's Global Top 10 Non-English TV Shows chart.

Before the drama's production, the original webtoon faced criticism over scenes that were accused of containing racial and gender discrimination. Jin Ki-joo said, "I read the script before I became aware of the controversy surrounding the original work. When I read the script, I didn't feel there was anything problematic".

She continued, "I could feel the warmth that the writer wanted to convey through the script. There are lines like "I"ll protect you' that offer reassurance. Victims deserve protection, but there are situations where they don't receive it. At least within the drama, they are safe".

Jin Ki-joo also recalled an emotionally difficult scene depicting Han-rim's past. Even during the interview, she became emotional while remembering it. "After getting the makeup for the injury on my face, I couldn't control my emotions. I remember crying while getting the makeup done. I kept thinking about how much it must have hurt and how painful it would have been. I cried in the makeup trailer", she said.

Regarding corporal punishment, which is portrayed in the series as a form of 'teaching a lesson', Jin Ki-joo commented, "Personally, I think corporal punishment is an act that carries too many risks". Asked about criticism of the drama's depiction of such scenes, she replied, "Any work of art is bound to generate a variety of opinions. I think those opinions are valuable".

In one scene, Han-rim silences a group of female students who mock her appearance by bluntly stating that she underwent breast reduction surgery. Explaining the scene, Jin Ki-joo said, "My simple interpretation was that the students saw Han-rim as an easy target and were trying to make fun of a trainee teacher. Han-rim's response and behavior were very much in character, she wanted to stop any further comments immediately".

She added, "That scene appears only a few minutes after Han-rim's introduction. I saw it as a device to quickly establish that Han-rim is the kind of character who says and does such things without hesitation".

Although "Teach You a Lesson" presented a series of new challenges, Jin Ki-joo said the atmosphere on set helped ease her burden. "Before filming began, I felt a lot of pressure. But once we started shooting, the atmosphere was wonderful. The director and cast members were amazing. I felt blessed to be part of such a set. We trusted one another and encouraged each other, which helped me let go of the anxiety I had before filming".

She also expressed deep affection and respect for her fellow actors. Speaking about Kim Mu-yeol, she said, "He was so outstanding that I wanted to follow in his footsteps, even if only a little. There are so many actors in this series, and he had to work with new cast members in almost every episode. I imagine it must have been incredibly difficult and that he carried an even greater sense of responsibility".

Before becoming an actress, Jin Ki-joo worked at a major corporation and later became a broadcast journalist. Looking back, she said, "I think I lived well and worked hard, and I take pride in that. At the same time, as Jin Ki-joo the actress, it still feels a little embarrassing to say".

She added that she has now grown accustomed to life as an actress. "The process of acting together with others and sharing warmth on set makes me realize how much I love this job".

___________

"Teach You a Lesson" is directed by Hong Jong-chan, written by Kim Da-hee-II, Lee Nam-gyoo, Moon Jong-ho-I, and features Kim Mu-yeol, Lee Sung-min, Jin Ki-joo, Pyo Ji-hoon, Kim Jong-soo, Jin Hui-gyu. Broadcasting information in Korea: 2026/06/05, Fri on Netflix.