Itaewon Class (이태원 클라쓰; Itaewon Keullasseu) is a 2020 South Korean television series starring Park Seo Joon, Kim Da Mi, Yoo Jae Myung and Nara. Based on the webtoon of the same name, it is the first series to be produced by the film distribution company Showbox. It premiered on JTBC on January 31, 2020.
Story[]
In 2006, high schooler Park Sae-Ro-Yi (Park Seo-Joon) dreamed about becoming a policeman and transferred to a new high school in his senior year. His life and destiny would be forever changed after meeting Oh Soo-A (Kwon Na-Ra) and Jang Geun-Won (Ahn Bo-Hyun). Soo-A is an orphan that was being sponsored by Saeroyi's father, Park Sung-Yeol (Son Hyun-Joo), for her education. Geun-Won is the son of Jang Dae-Hee (Yoo Jae-Myung) and heir to the Jangga Group (Korea’s largest food corporation). Because of the Jang's influential power, Geun-Won leads a spoiled life and is able to bully people with impunity. Saeroyi's father, worked for Jangga and uses his money to help Soo-A and the orphanage. Saeroyi's entire life would be ruined due to the misdeeds of the Jangs.
Upon Saeroyi's first day in class, he sees Geun-Won bullying a classmate. Despite Soo-A's warnings, Saeroyi stepped in to stop him. When Geun-Won egotistically believed he's the law of the school, Saeroyi punched Geun-Won for his egotistical behavior, shocking the class and faculty. Both Dae-Hee and Sung-Yeol went to the principal's office for a meeting. Dae-Hee was willing to forgive the incident so long as Saeroyi kneeled before Geun-Won and apologize for his misdeeds. While Saeroyi agreed that one should atone for their misdeeds, he believes he has nothing wrong and doesn't feel sorry for it. Sung-Yeol expressed pride and backed Saeroyi's decision. As a consequence, Saeroyi was expelled from school and Sung-Yeol resigned from the company.
Although expelled, Saeroyi would spend time with Soo-A and told her he has feelings for her. Sung-Yeol took this as an opportunity to restart their lives by starting a bar restaurant. One night, Geun-Won accidentally crashed and killed Sung-Yeol, but Dae-Hee had someone else take the fall. Grief stricken and enraged that the Geun-Won slipped away from justice, Saeroyi went to the hospital and tried to beat Geun-Won to death for his father but Soo-A stopped him. He was arrested and tried guilty for attempted murder and assault; Saeroyi was sentenced to 2 years in jail. Dae-Hee always offered mercy if Saeroyi kneeled, but he refused out of principle. Motivated to get revenge, Saeroyi survived his sentence and vowed for vengeance.
By 2009, Saeroyi was released from jail. He used that time by studying Dae-Hee’s autobiography to understand his success and make plans for his future. During Halloween, Saeroyi came to Itaewon and had a fun night hanging with Soo-A. As they talked about the future, Saeroyi said he likes Itaewon and wants to open his own restaurant here. To her shock, Saeroyi intends to carry out this plan 7 years into the future while heading to work for a fishing vessel in the meantime. Soo-A is being financially supported by Dae-Hee; she carries a sense of guilt for her career path to Jangga. However, Saeroyi never blamed her and wished for her success. Afterwards, they bid each other farewell and haven’t seen each other since.
Seven years later (2016), Saeroyi managed to open his restaurant-bar DanBam (pun on Sweet Night or Sweet Chestnut). Supporting and working under Saeroyi is Choi Seung-Kwon (Ryoo Kyung-Soo), Ma Hyun-Yi (Lee Joo-Young), Jo Yi-Seo (Kim Da-Mi), Jang Geun-Soo (Kim Dong-Hee), and Tony Kim (Chris Lyon). With Yi-Seo as the manager, she used her social media influence and management skills to help DanBam become a successful business. When it was revealed that Saeroyi secretly owns a large amount of Jangga’s stocks, Dae-Hee forced Saeroyi to sell all of it. Dae-Hee bought the building of Danbam and would’ve bought every future lease to hinder him; Saeroyi liquified his stocks to buy his own building to avoid the problem. Geun-Soo is the 2nd heir to Jangga and romantically interested in Yi-seo. However, Yi-Seo only loved Saeroyi and that angered Geun-Soo to quit DanBam and join Jangga to destroy Saeroyi.
After gaining public notoriety from Hyun-Yi becoming the first transgendered female chef champion in the Best Pub TV show, they got the attention of a major investor to franchise their business. Becoming incorporated, they named their company as I.C. (Itaewon Class) Co. Their corporation nearly fell apart before it started when it was discovered the investor was an agent for Dae-Hee and pulled their massive investment out, causing other investors to abandon them. To salvage the situation, Tony’s grandmother used her fortune to help them become a successful global franchise. In between events, Yi-Seo helped expose Geun-Won's crime of killing Saeroyi's dad and got him jailed for it. Dae-Hee publicly denounced Geun-Won to save his chairmanship and groomed Geun-Soo to replace his failed heir to Jangga.
By 2020, the IC Company is now the 2nd largest competitor to Jangga. Geun-Soo has risen to director of Jangga and proven a better heir than Geun-Won; he still hates Saeroyi. Things would change with the return of Geun-Won and Dae-Hee’s cancer. Geun-Won has been released early from jail and on a quest for vengeance against Saeroyi. Dae-Hee has been diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer and has only 6 months to live. While many saw this as karmic punishment, Saeroyi called Dae-hee to tell him he can’t die before he gets his vengeance. Amused that the only person that wants him to live is his enemy, Dae-hee enjoys this final conflict with Saeroyi.
At IC, Saeroyi is starting to have feelings for Yi-Seo. Because of the awkward position between Soo-A and Saeroyi (Jangga Vs IC Corp), the two only had an emotional relationship; it's apparent to Soo-A that his feelings are changing. After Yi-Seo collapses from over-working for Saeroyi’s sake, he realizes he’s in love with Yi-Seo. Before he could confess his love for Yi-Seo, she was kidnapped by Geun-Won and former inmates as henchmen. Saeroyi tried to rescue Yi-Seo but was critically injured when one of the henchmen tried to run Geun-Soo over but was saved by Saeroyi. Yi-Seo eventually escaped capture with Geun-Soo.
After recovering from his near-death experience, Saeroyi goes to see Dae-hee. He knows Dae-hee is aware of Geun-Won’s whereabouts. Dae-hee wouldn’t talk unless Saeroyi kneels and after resisting him for almost 15 years, he submitted to kneeling to save Yi-Seo. Saeroyi eventually makes it to rescue Yi-Seo and confesses his feelings for her. Geun-Won had a showdown with Saeroyi and lost, the cops made it and arrested Geun-Won.
In the aftermath, Jangga was ruined because Soo-A whistle blew 10 years worth of illegal activities, forcing the company to close. Dae-Hee tried to use all his influence to save his company but everyone severed ties. As a last ditch effort, he went to see Saeroyi and kneeled before him, pleading with him in tears to save his company. However, Saeroyi intends a corporate takeover by absorbing Jangga into IC. Geun-Soo made peace with the DanBam crew to also start fresh. Soo-A ruined her own career to repay her debt to Saeroyi's dad with money and destroying Jangga; she would restart fresh by opening her own restaurant and found love with the new chef. With his revenge completed and dating Yi-Seo, Saeroyi found peace and happiness from all his struggles.
Cast[]
- Park Seo Joon as Park Sae Ro Yi
- Proprietor of DanBam, a bar-restaurant in Itaewon. In his youth, Sae-royi gets expelled for punching CEO Jang's son Geun-won, who was bullying a classmate, and becomes bereaved when his father is killed in an accident caused by Geun-won's reckless driving. Angered by the loss, he attacks Geun-won, leading to his three-year imprisonment. Following his father's steps, Sae-roy opens his bar-restaurant DanBam in Itaewon seven years after he is released from jail, with the aim of expanding it into a franchise and defeating CEO Jang's food company Jangga Group.
- Kim Da Mi as Jo Yi Seo
- Choi Myung Bin as Young Jo Yi Seo (Ep.3)
- Manager of Sae-roy's bar-restaurant DanBam. Though diagnosed with sociopathic tendencies, Yi-seo is a multi-talented and intelligent girl with an IQ of 162. She moved from New York to continue her studies in South Korea. She is also famous on social media as a power blogger and social media influencer. Having a crush on Sae-roy, she offers herself to Sae-roy as DanBam's manager.
- Nara as Oh Soo Ah
- Ok Ye Rin as Child Oh Soo Ah
- Kim Ji Young as Young Oh Soo Ah
- Head of the strategic planning team in Jangga Group; Sae-roy's former classmate and first love. Abandoned by her mother, Soo-ah grew up in an orphanage and became close with Sae-roy's father Sung-yeol. She becomes acquainted with Sae-roy, who has a crush on her, and falls in love with him later on. After the car accident, she receives a scholarship offer from Jangga Group and she soon becomes an employee in the company. Though passionate about her work, she is torn between her allegiance to Jangga and her love for Sae-roy.
- Yoo Jae Myung as Jang Dae Hee
- CEO of food company Jangga Group. CEO Jang is a self-made man who, despite the odds, succeeds in turning his once small bar into a large franchise company. In his years of experience leading Jangga, he develops a strong belief in power and authority as means to achieve his goals. He becomes involved with Sae-roy when the latter has a fight with his son Geun-won in high school.
- Ahn Bo Hyun as Jang Geun Won
- CEO Jang's first son and heir to Jangga Group. Geun-won was Sae-roy and Soo-ah's classmate in high school who frequently bullies their classmate Ho-jin. He caused the vehicular accident that killed Sae-roy's father Sung-yeol.
- Kim Dong Hee as Jang Geun Soo
- Kim Tae Yul as Young Jang Geun Soo (Ep.2)
- CEO Jang's second and illegitimate son; Yi-seo's classmate and staff member at DanBam. Geun-soo has been bullied by his older brother Geun-won and he never felt loved by his mother and CEO Jang. Upon turning 17, he left the Jang family and lived by himself from then on. After inconveniencing DanBam in an incident, he decides to work for Sae-roy, whom he considers to be a "real adult." He has a crush on Yi-seo.
- Kim Hye Eun as Kang Min Jung, Jangga Group's executive director
- Ryu Kyung Soo as Choi Seung Kwon
- Staff member at DanBam. Seung-kwon was Sae-roy's cellmate in prison. He thought that he cannot better his life outside of jail and, upon his release, he became a gangster under a gang leader who also shared the same cell with him and Sae-roy. Seven years later, he meets Sae-roy who, to his surprise, had already opened a bar in Itaewon. Deeply respecting Sae-roy and his way to live a better life, he gives up being a gangster and starts working at DanBam.
- Lee Joo Young as Ma Hyun Yi
- DanBam's chief cook. Hyun-yi first met Sae-roy in a factory where the two formerly worked, years before the start of DanBam. She was hired as DanBam's cook when Sae-roy liked the food she once cooked for him back then. Physically male, Hyun-yi is a transgender woman and has been saving money for her sex reassignment surgery.
- Chris Lyon as Kim To Ni
- DamBam's Guinean-Korean part-timer. Even though he cannot speak and understand English, To-ni is fluent in speaking Korean, owing to his Korean father and his one-year residence in South Korea, and French, the language he speaks in Guinea.
- Lee David as Lee Ho Jin
- Sae-roy's investment manager. Ho-jin was Sae-roy, Soo-ah and Geun-won's classmate in high school. After years of bearing the constant bullying from Geun-won, he gets into a prestigious college and takes up business administration. He partners up with Sae-roy in taking revenge against Geun-won and CEO Jang.
- Yoon Gyung Ho as Oh Byung Hun
- Detective in charge of Geun-won's hit-and-run case which he was pressured to cover up.
- Kim Mi Kyung as Kim Soon Rye
- Won Hyun Joon as Kim Hee Hoon, a prisoner
- Hong Seo Joon as Mr. Kim, Dae Hee's assistant
- Noh Eun Ha as Oh Soo Ah's mother (Ep.6)
- Sae-roy's father and former employee in Jangga Group. He taught Sae-roy to stick to his beliefs and to fight for what is right. He resigns from Jangga in defense of Sae-roy's deed of stopping Geun-won's bullying. He dies in an accident caused by Geun-won.
- Ahn Sol Bin as Sae Roy's classmate who has a crush on him (Ep.1)
- A student who has a crush on Sae-roy and eventually confesses her love but is rejected.
- Jwa Chae Won as Choi Ga Young, a student in Sae Roy's old school (Ep.1)
- Uhm Hye Soo as Lee Jin Hee, a student in Sae Roy's old school (Ep.1)
- Hwang In Joon as Sae Roy's teacher (Ep.1)
- Kim So Young as a radio program DJ (Ep.1)
- Baek Seung Hyun as Sae Roy's teacher (Ep.1)
- Kim Ik Tae as the principal of Gwangjin High School (Ep.1)
- Bae Gi Beom as Jo Man Gi, a police chief (Ep.2)
- Jang Nam Boo as a prisoner (Ep.2+4)
- Hong Seok Cheon as Himself (Ep.2+4)
- Soo-ah's acquaintance. He works at a bar that Sae-roy visits twice (years before and after opening DanBam).
- Eom Ji Man as a shipyard manager (Ep.2)
- Cha Chung Hwa as the bureau chief's wife (Ep.3)
- Mother of a bully student, Bok-hee, whose behavior was exposed online by Yi-seo.
- Kim Yeo Jin as Jo Jung Min, Yi Seo's mother (Ep.3)
- Yoon Park as Kim Sung Hyun (Ep.3)
- Geun-soo's elder friend who goes to DanBam with Geun-soo and Yi-seo where the two get caught for underage drinking.
- Yoo Da Mi as Kim Sun Ae, Dae Hee's secretary (Ep.4)
- Park Yong as a Jangga Co. executive (Ep.4)
- Lee Young Jin as a Jangga Co. executive (Ep.4)
- Moon Yoo Kang as a violent man (Ep.4)
- Seo Eun Soo as a part-time job applicant (Ep.6)
- Sae-roy's acquaintance. She applied for the job that was eventually offered to Kim To-ni. Yi-seo decided not to hire her because she was jealous of her close relationship with Sae-roy.
- Jung Yoo Min as Seo Jeong In (Ep.6)
- The daughter of the CEO of a pharmaceutical company. The blind date was arranged by Geun-won's father.
- NC.A as a bully (Ep.3+5)
- She tried to assault Yi-seo with Bok-hee and her other friend when they met months after graduating high school.
- Kang Dong Yup as an employee
- Choi Yoo Ri as Oh Hye Won
- Lee Tae Kyung as Jo Yi Seo's teacher (Ep. 3)
- Bae Bo Ram as Oh Soo Ah's teacher (Ep.6)
- Lee Ho Jung as a customer
- Ri Min as a job applicant
- Kim Yong Jin as a staff member
- Sung Chan Ho as a landlord
- Ahn Lu Ah as Choi Kyung Hee, Oh Soo Ah's classmate (Ep.6)
- Im Ye Eun as Lee Ga Bin (Ep.3)
- Han Ye Ji as Bok Hui (Ep.3+5)
- Yoon Hee Jung as Bok Hui's friend (Ep.3+5)
Soundtrack[]
Episodes[]
In this table, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.
Episode | Aired | Title | Average audience share (AGB Nielsen) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nationwide | Seoul | ||||||
Episode 01 | January 31, 2020 | "I Will Become Stronger" | 4.983% | 5.283% | |||
On his first day at a new high school, Park Sae Ro Yi stands by his principles in front of powerful bullies. Oh Soo Ah works on getting into college. | |||||||
Episode 02 | February 1, 2020 | "Revenge & You Don't Want to Ruin Your Life" | 5.330% | 5.634% | |||
While serving his time, Sae Ro Yi develops a bold game plan for his future. Soo Ah can't ignore a generous offer from Jang Dae Hee. | |||||||
Episode 03 | February 7, 2020 | "My Plan is 15 Years, So Look Forward to It" | 8.013% | 8.253% | |||
Sae Ro Yi crosses paths with Jo Yi Seo, who seems to have a knack for bringing him trouble. Meanwhile, DanBam struggles to attract customers. | |||||||
Episode 04 | February 8, 2020 | "Did You Report It?" | 9.382% | 10.692% | |||
Choi Seung Kwon regrets reverting back to his old ways. When Yi Seo's night out takes an ugly turn, SaeRo Yi is there to help. | |||||||
Episode 05 | February 14, 2020 | "You're Always Overly Shiny" | 10.716% | 11.986% | |||
Before its reopening, DanBam gets a few upgrades. Yi Seo, Seung Kwon and Jang Geun Soo have a surprise encounter at a nightclub. | |||||||
Episode 06 | February 15, 2020 | "I Like the Boss, So... You Have to be Ruined" | 11.608% | 12.636% | |||
Dae Hee keeps tabs on DanBam's progress. Sae Ro Yi runs into Jang Geun Won at the TV station. Yi Seo faces her mother's disappointment. | |||||||
Episode 07 | February 21, 2020 | "In a Fight, the First Hit is Important, and It’s From Behind!" | 12.289% | 13.215% | |||
DanBam gets an unwelcome visitor. Sae Ro Yi approaches Kang Min Jung with a weighty proposition, and shares his entire story with Yi Seo. | |||||||
Episode 08 | February 22, 2020 | "You Never Took Anything From Me" | 12.562% | 13.990% | |||
Bad news strikes DanBam, but Saeroyi isn't one to bow under pressure. Geun Soo learns a horrible truth. Kim Toni deals with discrimination. | |||||||
Episode 09 | February 28, 2020 | "I'm Jealous of It..." | 13.965% | 14.903% | |||
The bar's move to a quieter street poses fresh problems for the crew. Dae Hee takes an interest in Sae Ro Yi's people. | |||||||
Episode 10 | February 29, 2020 | "I Make The Same Promise With Everything" | 14.760% | 16.160% | |||
Jangga finds itself in hot water with the public. With the future of the company hanging in the balance, Dae Hee must make his choice. | |||||||
Episode 11 | March 6, 2020 | "Boss, I Love You..." | 13.798% | 15.496% | |||
After Ma Hyun Yi makes a buzzy TV appearance, a big opportunity comes knocking for DanBam. Geun Soo goes after what he wants. | |||||||
Episode 12 | March 7, 2020 | "A Thousand Dollars Boil" | 13.398% | 14.817% | |||
While navigating their latest crisis, Sae Ro Yi and Yi Seo come across a potential investor. Hyun Yi preps for the competition's final round. | |||||||
Episode 13 | March 13, 2020 | "Are You Afraid? Maybe The Boss Will Like Me ..." | 13.101% | 14.344% | |||
Geun Soo moves closer to his goal. With their sights set high, Sae Ro Yi and his team take the business to the next level. | |||||||
Episode 14 | March 14, 2020 | "I Think I Feel Like A Woman" | 14.197% | 15.568% | |||
Yi Seo overworks herself as she steps into a critical role for the team's new strategy against Jangga, worrying Sae Ro Yi. | |||||||
Episode 15 | March 20, 2020 | "Jo Yi Seo and Geun Soo, I'm Holding It" | 14.661% | 16.012% | |||
Searching for Yi Seo, Seung Kwon pays his old boss a visit. Dae Hee receives a warning from Soo Ah, and a disturbing call from Geun Won. | |||||||
Episode 16 | March 21, 2020 | "On My Knees" | 16.548% | 18.328% | |||
Yi Seo runs from Geun Won, who's out to put an end to everything. Desperate to salvage his crumbling legacy, Dae Hee heads to DanBam. | |||||||
Average | 11.832% | 12.957% |
[1] [2] This drama airs on a cable channel/pay TV which normally has a relatively smaller audience compared to free-to-air TV/public broadcasters (KBS, SBS, MBC and EBS).
Production[]
The first script reading took place in August 2019 at JTBC Building in Sangam-dong, Seoul, South Korea.
Awards and nominations[]
Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | 56th | Best Director (TV) | Kim Sung-yoon | Nominated |
Best Actor (TV) | Park Seo Joon | |||
Best Supporting Actor (TV) | Yoo Jae Myung | |||
Best Supporting Actress (TV) | Nara | |||
Best New Actor (TV) | Ahn Bo Hyun | |||
Best New Actress (TV) | Kim Da Mi | Won | ||
Technical Award | Itaewon Class | Nominated | ||
15th Seoul International Drama Awards | Best Mini-Series | Pending |
Trivia[]
- This drama took over the timeslot previously occupied by "Chocolate" and will followed by "The World of the Married" on March 27, 2020.[3]
- The drama was based on webcomic "Itaewon Class" by Jo Gwang-Jin (published from December 27, 2016 to July 3, 2018 via Daum Webtoon).[3]
Gallery[]
Video Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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- ↑ https://trakt.tv/shows/itaewon-class/seasons/1 (title)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://asianwiki.com/Itaewon_Class