Korean Teachers Union Demands Netflix Halt Production of ‘True Education’

The Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTEWU) has issued a formal statement demanding that Netflix stop the production of its upcoming drama True Education, which is based on the popular Naver Webtoon of the same name. In its statement, the union expressed deep concerns about how the drama portrays teachers and school environments.

Netflix recently confirmed the adaptation of the webtoon True Education into a live-action drama, stating that the storyline is “a bold and cathartic reimagining of real-world struggles in the education system, designed to resonate through its raw and direct messaging.” Directed by Hong Jong-chan and written by Lee Nam-kyu, the drama will star Kim Mu-yeol, Lee Sung-min, Jin Ki-joo, and Pyo Ji-hoon.

However, KTEWU strongly opposes the series, stating, “Violence is not true education. We demand an immediate halt to the drama’s production.” The union criticized the webtoon and its adaptation for sensationalizing conflicts between students, parents, and teachers, and for depicting educators as incompetent and passive.

The statement goes on to claim that the webtoon glorifies school violence and fosters a hostile narrative that undermines the professionalism of teachers and the educational mission. Most notably, the union is concerned that the main character—a figure of public authority—carries out acts of violence against students under the guise of protecting teacher rights, further masking these actions as ‘true education.’

“Such a portrayal,” KTEWU asserts, “weakens public belief in the possibility of resolving school issues through democratic means and distorts efforts to create a more human rights-friendly school environment.” The union concluded by calling for socially responsible content creation, saying, “Freedom of expression in media should come with responsibility. We urge Netflix to cancel the production of True Education.”

The controversy raises important discussions about ethics in media, freedom of creative expression, and the social impact of popular content on public perception of sensitive issues like education and youth violence.