Netflix's 'Teach You A Lesson' Sparks Backlash as Korean Schoolgirls Face Online Harassment

Netflix's hit series "Teach You A Lesson" has become one of the platform's top-performing shows worldwide, but its success has been overshadowed by growing backlash over alleged online harassment targeting Korean schoolgirls and heated debates about misogyny in certain scenes.

The drama, released in full on June 5, quickly rose to No. 1 on Netflix's South Korea Top 10 list and also ranked highly on global charts. It follows a fictional Educational Authority Protection Bureau tasked with restoring order in schools facing student violence, parental interference, and collapsing authority.

While the show gained attention for its intense, revenge-driven storyline, it also triggered controversy almost immediately after its release.

Reports and online discussions have raised concern that some international viewers have been targeting real Korean teenage girls on social media, allegedly using references from the series to leave hostile comments, Koreaboo reported.

Critics say this behavior shows a dangerous misunderstanding of fiction, as ordinary students unrelated to the show have become targets of online abuse.

Netflix's 'Teach You a Lesson' Faces Backlash

At the same time, the series has sparked debate over how it portrays women. One of the most discussed moments comes from Episode 3, where character Im Han-rim, played by Jin Ki-joo, faces mockery from students at an all-girls school.

According to The Chosun, during her introduction, she responds to insults about plastic surgery by saying, "I did get plastic surgery—a breast reduction. But I don't see any students in this class who need reduction," while addressing the classroom.

This scene, adapted from the original webtoon, has been widely discussed online as part of a larger "Teach You a Lesson" misogyny debate. Some viewers argue that the tone and dialogue reinforce negative stereotypes and fuel uncomfortable interpretations, especially when combined with the show's revenge-focused storytelling.

Veteran actress Lee Mi Suk's recent comments about past film sets have also resurfaced in discussions surrounding the drama. In a separate YouTube video, she described how unclear scripts and changing directions in erotic films once led to confusion and conflict on set.

"We fought countless times over that on set," she said, highlighting how vague communication created difficult working conditions for actors.

While unrelated to the Netflix series, her remarks have been cited in broader conversations about how women are represented and treated in entertainment.