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True Education: A Refreshing Retribution for a Collapsed Classroom

Students, teachers, and parents crossing the line. While no one took responsibility, the classroom collapsed. The drama True Education is an academic social satire where a fictional government organization called the 'Teacher's Rights Protection Bureau,' created to restore the ruined educational environment, carries out refreshing 'true education.' Based on the popular Naver webtoon of the same name, it tackles the heavy real-world issue of the collapse of teacher's authority with a fast-paced plot and the cathartic pleasure of 'cider-like' retribution.

Series Overview

This is a 10-episode Netflix original series based on the Naver webtoon "True Education" by Chae Yong-taek and Han Ga-ram. It was released worldwide simultaneously on June 5, 2026. Hong Jong-chan, director of 'Juvenile Justice,' directed it, and Lee Nam-gyu, writer of 'Daily Dose of Sunshine,' wrote the screenplay. The collaboration between a director who has gazed into the hidden sides of social systems and a writer who has warmly embraced wounded individuals garnered great anticipation even before its release.

Plot and Worldview

In schools where teacher's authority has collapsed, teachers can no longer teach students nor protect themselves. Amidst malicious complaints, violence, and protection backed by power, classrooms are neglected. To counter this reality, the government establishes a special organization called the 'Teacher's Rights Protection Bureau,' directly deploying agents to the field to punish perpetrators, malicious parents, and corrupt adults. Behind the cathartic pleasure of 'cider-like' retribution lies the question, "What is education, and who truly ruins children?" Beyond simple poetic justice, it squarely targets the responsibility of adults.

Characters and Cast

Original Webtoon and Adaptation

The original webtoon "True Education" gained great popularity for its fast-paced plot, clear poetic justice, and subject matter that directly addresses the real-world issue of teacher's authority. While the drama adopts this 'cider-like' framework, it realistically elevates the themes of real-world educational problems and adult responsibility, rather than simply transferring provocative settings. The core challenge of the adaptation was maintaining the balance of retaining satisfaction without losing the message, and how to temper exaggerated depictions.

Direction — Hong Jong-chan

Director Hong Jong-chan calmly yet sharply depicted the loopholes in the juvenile law system and the people struggling within it in the Netflix series 'Juvenile Justice.' Having directed various human dramas and socially conscious works such as 'Dear My Friends' and 'Life,' he also focuses on illuminating the structure of the problem in "True Education," rather than sensationally consuming provocative subject matter.

Screenplay — Lee Nam-gyu

Writer Lee Nam-gyu, originally a comedy writer, has thrown out warm yet thought-provoking topics through 'The Light in Your Eyes' and 'Daily Dose of Sunshine.' His role is to add warmth and introspection towards humanity to a subject matter that could easily flow solely with the pleasure of retribution.

Buzz and Controversy

Immediately after its release, it climbed to the top ranks on Netflix, generating significant buzz. At the same time, controversies regarding racial and gender discrimination surrounding some depictions, and opinions on the level and direction of the original adaptation, also followed. The dopamine provided by the refreshing retribution narrative and the debate over whether the justice it points to is true justice are also other questions posed by the work.

The Late Song Young-gyu's Final Work

Actor Song Young-gyu, who played the role of presidential hopeful Ryu Gwang-pil in the drama, passed away after this work, making "True Education" his final legacy. Following his powerful final performance depicting a complex character who attempts to cover up his son's school violence using power, viewers' tributes continued after the release.

See Also

Other works by the cast and production team can be found on the pages of Kim Mu-yeol, Lee Sung-min, Jin Ki-joo, Lee Nam-gyu, and Hong Jong-chan. More works can be found under Drama.