Overview of Itaewon Class
‘Itaewon Class’ is a South Korean television series released on 31 January – 21 March 2020, written by Gwang Jin and directed by Kim Seong-yoon featuring Park Seo-joon, and Kim Da-mi as main characters. Based on an eponymous webtoon of the same name, it is the first Korean series produced by Showbox, the film distribution company. An ideal fit for K-Drama lovers searching for a feel-good Korean drama that’s not too hefty on the romance side.
An entertaining ensemble cast, attractive visuals, heart-wrenching dialogues, and a tragicomic storyline make ‘Itaewon Class’ a touching yet fun Korean drama.
Profile
- Drama: Itaewon Class
- Director: Kim Seong-yoon
- Writer: Gwang Jin
- Network: JTBC (Joongang Tongyang Broadcasting Company)
- Episodes: 16
- Release Date: January 31 – March 21, 2020
- Language: Korean
- Country: South Korea
Cast
Main
- Park Seo-joon as Park Sae-ro-yi
- Kim Da-mi as Jo Yi-seo
- Choi Myung-bin as young Jo Yi-seo
- Yoo Jae-myung as Jang Dae-hee
- Kwon Nara as Oh Soo-ah
- Ok Ye-rin as young Oh Soo-ah
Supporting
- Ahn Bo-hyun as Jang Geun-won
- Lee Joo-young as Ma Hyun-yi
- Kim Hye-eun as Kang Min-jung
- Ryu Kyung-soo as Choi Seung-kwon
- Kim Dong-hee as Jang Geun-soo
- Chris Lyon as Kim To-ni
- Lee David as Lee Ho-jin
- Yoon Kyung-ho as Oh Byeong-heon
- Hong Seo-joon as Mr. Kim
- Yoo Da-mi as Kim Sun-ae
- Yoon Park as Kim Sung-hyun
- Son Hyun-joo as Park Sung-yeol
Synopsis
Park Sae-ro-yi (Park Seo-joon), is an aloof, soft-hearted boy raised by his single dad Mr. Park (Son Hyun-joo). Park was not socially outspoken and nor does he wish to have a social life. His dad was the only friend he had until, he meets Soo-ah (Kwon Nara), his classmate who eventually becomes his long-term crush. Park had the strongest desire to become a police officer. Everything is going well until things start escalating relentlessly.
One day, the protagonist Park Sae-ro-yi lands himself in a fight with Jang Guen-won (Ahn Bo-hyun), the son of Jang Dae-hee (Yoo Jae-myung), an unimagined villain in the drama. The fight leads to Park’s dad’s demise and Park was prisoned for two years for the violent assault with Jang Geun-won thus killing his dream of becoming a police officer.
Park swears revenge on Jang Dae-hee’s large food corporation called Jangga spanning over the next 15 years as part of his father’s dream of starting a business. After imprisonment, Park starts a pub called DanBam in Itaewon, a multicultural commercial arena located in Seoul, South Korea.
The entire crew of the pub were a particular group of people who faced discrimination by society due to sexuality, social status, or appearance. The pub DanBam was home to all these social outcasts, like Park Sae-ro-yi who are cast aside by the so-called society. Jo Yi-seo (Kim Da-mi), a social media enthusiast, joins Park Sae-ro-yi’s pub as a manager and later she got a special feeling for Park Sae-ro-yi.
Later, Park Sae-ro-yi bought 1.9 million shares of the Jangga company as per his prior plan withstanding all the possible attacks from Jang Dae-hee to destroy Park and his pub. Once, DanBam won the best pub competition twice, Park got a huge investment from a big shot but later realized that it was a trap by Jang Dae-hee. However, an old lady, a billionaire, agrees to invest in Park’s business and Park’s company achieves a second position in the food industry.
Park Sae-ro-yi falls in love with Jo Yi-seo who had been with him throughout his journey. Despite going through rough roads along the way, Sae-ro-yi was victorious in the end. All of Jang Dae-hee’s misdeeds were unveiled and he ended up kneeling in front of Park Sae-ro-yi. DanBam Pub and Itaewon Class Co. (IC Co.) strive towards success and already owned a mass percentage of Jangga Company.
Theme
The drama has a societal significance, thus it showcases social issues that are very relevant at present. The drama tells us that there’s no shortcut towards success, well-timed tiny steps are necessary to achieve our dreams. Park Sae-ro-yi is a competitor with huge ambitions and few resources in order to accomplish them.
Being an ordinary man with extraordinary determination and optimism, Park Sae-ro-yi’s vigorous wish and determination to stand by his own principles in a bitter world is the backbone of the story. Chemistry between the entire DanBam crew members is a visual treat for the K-drama audience.
Anyone longing to watch a good friendship-oriented drama will surely find ‘Itaewon Class’ enticing. While the central narrative of the drama revolves around a sprawling revenge plan, the show is more than that, it’s a story of second chances, a group of hearty friends, and an exceptional love triangle.
Awards
- 56th Baeksang Arts Awards (2020)
Best New Actress TV (Kim Da-mi) - 4th Soribada Best K-Music Awards (2020)
Best Hallyu OST, Gaho (‘Start Over’) - 15th Seoul International Drama Awards (2020)
Best Mini-Series – Silver Bird Prize (‘Itaewon Class’) - 2020 Mnet Asian Music Awards (2020)
Best OST, Gaho (Start Over) - 25th Asian Television Awards (2021)
Best Drama Series (‘Itaewon Class’) - 7th APAN Star Awards (2021)
Drama of the Year (‘Itaewon Class’)
Best OST, Kim Tae-hyung (professional name V), (‘Sweet Night’) - Korea Communications Commission Broadcasting Awards (2021)
Excellence Award, drama (‘Itaewon Class’)
Interesting Facts About Itaewon Class
- An infectiously mirthful inter-Korean love story with excellent visuals sprinkled on a good soundtrack.
- Modified from the webtoon ‘Itaewon Class’ by Jo Gwang-jin.
- The drama Roppongi Class released in 2022 is a Japanese drama adaptation of ‘Itaewon Class’.
- ‘Itaewon Class’ took over the JTBC’s Friday & Saturday 23:00 time slot previously occupied by the Kdrama Chocolate.
FAQs
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Who is the director of ‘Itaewon Class’?
The drama is directed by Kim Seong-yoon.
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What is the genre of ‘Itaewon Class’?
The genre of the drama is Drama.
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Who are the main characters of the Korean drama ‘Itaewon Class’?
The lead characters are Park Sae-ro-yi (Park Seo-joon) and Jo Yi-seo (Kim Da-mi) - What is the Instagram ID’s of the lead actors?
