Korean Teachers Union urges Netflix to cancel GET SCHOOLED adaptation over concerns of violence and misrepresentation

The Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU) is calling on Netflix to cancel its upcoming drama adaptation of the controversial webtoon Get Schooled, citing serious concerns about the series’ portrayal of violence and the undermining of public education.

In a statement released on May 20 titled “Violence Is Not True Education,” the union, also known as JeonGyoJo, condemned the project for promoting harmful narratives about schools, teachers, and students. The union argued that both the original webtoon and its planned adaptation sensationalize school violence and misrepresent the role of educators.

“The issue with adapting Get Schooled into a drama is that it legitimizes violence by portraying a government-backed character who assaults students under the pretext of protecting teachers’ rights,” the union wrote. “This not only weakens trust in democratic conflict resolution within schools but also distorts efforts to build a human rights-friendly education environment and restore public education.”

The union also criticized the webtoon’s depiction of teachers as “incompetent and passive,” claiming it undermines the professional integrity of educators while fueling negative stereotypes. Although the group acknowledged the importance of creative expression, it urged Netflix and the production team to take responsibility for the social impact of their content.

Get Schooled, created by writer Yong-taek Chae and artist Ga-ram Han, has been serialized on Naver Webtoon since 2020. The story follows Na Hwa-jin, a Ministry of Education official from the Teacher Protection Bureau, who enforces discipline in schools through increasingly aggressive means after a nationwide ban on corporal punishment. While the series has attracted attention for its dramatic depiction of institutional authority, it has also been criticized for its violent approach to justice and for casting marginalized communities in villainous roles.

The drama adaptation is being helmed by Juvenile Justice director Jong-chan Hong and screenwriter Nam-kyu Lee (Behind Your Touch, The Light in Your Eyes). Director Hong has previously acknowledged the controversy surrounding the webtoon and stated that the live-action version will aim to address these issues with greater sensitivity.

Ablaze Publishing is currently releasing the webtoon in English print. Though WEBTOON Entertainment had previously offered a digital English version, the title has since been removed from its platform.

Netflix has not yet responded publicly to the KTU’s demands.

Source: ANN