The Korean drama "Teach you a lesson" (Vietnamese title: Bài học đáng đời) is causing a fever, continuously rising in the list of the most popular TV dramas on Netflix globally, currently ranked 3rd as of June 9.
Teach you a lesson" tells the story of the Education Protection Bureau (ERPB), an agency established to rectify the degrading education environment by standing from the perspective of victims.
Kim Moo Yeol made a strong impression when playing Na Hwa Jin, an inspector of ERPB. In the story revolving around the problems of the school environment, he becomes the main axis of the film thanks to his flexible performance between humor, drama and action.
Kim Moo Yeol's acting focuses on portraying the diverse aspects of Na Hwa Jin's personality.
He can juggle "uncle"-style jokes with his teammates, bringing laughter with a humorous attitude.
But every time he faces the truth behind the incidents, he reveals seriousness and sharpness, completely changing the atmosphere of the film.
When standing in front of the pain of the victims, the actor pushes emotions high, expressing deep empathy. This contrast helps regulate the pace of each episode, balancing tension and relaxation.
On the other hand, the hidden injuries behind Na Hwa Jin's bright appearance also make viewers feel sorry and contribute to increasing the persuasiveness of the character.
Just with his eyes when remembering his late fiancée Choi Ga Yoon, the actor immediately turns the character into a lustful man. Thereby conveying the pain and regret that has been buried for a long time, helping the audience better understand the wounds in the character's heart.
These details also explain why Na Hwa Jin always puts a lot of emphasis on his work at the Department for Protection of Educational Rights, and why he empathizes with those who are being hurt.
Besides the emotional line, the most prominent highlight of the film is the powerful real-action scenes under the Kim Moo Yeol brand.
In the role of a representative for disadvantaged students and teachers, he performs refreshing bare-handed action scenes, as if breaking all the feelings of frustration that the audience accumulates.
In particular, the ability to switch from a state of restraint to explosion in just a split second through high-speed action scenes has highlighted Na Hwa Jin's wild and edgy appearance, and at the same time, as if replacing victims of bullying to relieve long-suppressed emotions.
Previously, because the original webtoon (Korean internet comic) of "Teach you a lesson" caused controversy about the content, even Kim Nam Gil refused twice, so many fans worried that Kim Moo Yeol would be criticized when taking on this role.
However, in the end, the 44-year-old actor conquered the audience with his acting. Kim Moo Yeol did not choose to mechanically copy the original, but interpreted Na Hwa Jin in his own style.
He rebuilds the character to suit the context of a civil servant in real life, both maintaining the edginess of the original and increasing authenticity.
After the movie aired, there were even many opinions that the television version was more convincing than webtoon.
Kim Moo Yeol has perfected a multi-dimensional character, making the image of a mischievous, humorous Na Hwa Jin and a deep, introverted Na Hwa Jin coexist in one person.
Experts say that Kim Moo Yeol has found the role of a lifetime in his career with "Teach you a lesson".
