The Netflix series "Teach You A Lesson" has caused public outrage and controversy, after viewers spotted similarities between an episode of the show and a real-life suicide case of a young teacher in South Korea.

As per Koreaboo, the drama, which stars actor Kim Mu Yeol as government official Kim Hwa Jin, is based on the webtoon Get Schooled. The storyline follows Hwa Jin as he is assigned to schools to address bullying and other serious issues faced by educators and students.

Episode 5 centers on Choi Ji Seon, a first-grade teacher at Hyeongjung Elementary School, who attempts to take her own life inside a classroom. The episode reveals through flashbacks that she suffered severe harassment from a student's mother, which escalated after a student fight. When she reported the harassment to the school principal, she was told to endure it. Eventually a substitute teacher, Hwa Jin, is brought in and helps to resolve the conflict.

This episode seems to be based on a true story when 24-year-old teacher at Seoi Elementary School took her own life in the storage room of her classroom in July 2023. Her diary, found after her death, described constant harassment from parents. But, in reality, the harassers were not penalized and the teacher was not saved in time.

While some viewers have lauded Teach You A Lesson for highlighting challenges teachers face behind the curtains, others have questioned whether the series is profiting from a real-life incident that is sensitive and not going deep into its aftermath.

The controversy has extended beyond South Korea, prompting Netflix to discontinue the series in the United States amid accusations of racism and sexism embedded within the storyline.

According to Forbes, the show's director Hong Jong-chan worked closely with the screenwriter to soften those elements. At a recent press conference, Hong said he aimed to "approach the story through a more refined lens and create something meaningful," emphasizing support for victims.

Set against the backdrop of rising school violence and eroding administrative authority, the South Korean government creates the Educational Rights Protection Bureau (ERPB) under the Teacher Rights Protection Act. The bureau, led by Ministry of Education official Choi Gang-seok (Lee Sung-min), is charged with protecting victims of violence—students, teachers, and parents alike.

Kim Mu-yeol stars as Na Hwa-jin, a former captain of Special Forces who runs the ERPB team with his investigative skills and strength. He is partnered with Inspector Hanrim (Jin Ki-joo), a fiery and unpredictable person, and District Deputy Manager Geun-dae (Pyo Ji-hoon), who brings the geeky allure to the group. Each episode focuses on a different school with issues of corruption or delinquency that threaten education.

The series also talks about socioeconomic inequality and how the powerful exploit the system and how the vulnerable students suffer. It also talks about the immense parental pressure on the children, which sometimes leads to suicidal thoughts, reflecting on real issues in education around the globe.

One episode centers around a teacher's false allegations, but it deals with the complex issues of sexual assault and harassment in schools. Critics, however, say the show fails to take the opportunity to explore grooming and assault cases.

Kim Mu-yeol's performance as Hwa-jin draws praise for its intensity and emotional depth. His action scenes are reminiscent of the John Wick movies in Hollywood and he could be on his way to becoming an international action star. Lee Sung-min is also solid in his role and their shared depiction of loss gives the series emotional weight.

The supporting cast delivers comedy and hope, especially Jin Ki-joo's character who holds onto the possibility of goodness despite past pain. The show offers a reminder that even as bad actors threaten schools, many teachers, students and parents are working to better their communities.

Fans fret "Teach You A Lesson" may not continue past its current season despite protests and scheduling issues for the cast, a letdown to viewers looking for hope in the face of stories of injustice.

Teach You A Lesson is on Netflix in a few areas. The trailer is available on the internet.