The 'proper education' controversy blew up and was finally unleashed… Kim Moo-yeol’s perfect role and global No. 3 [Official]

[OSEN=Ha Su-jeong Reporter] Netflix's new series 'Right Education' has surged to No. 3 globally, drawing enormous attention right from the start of its release.

According to FlixPatrol, an OTT content ranking tracking site, 'Right Education' ranked No. 3 (674 points) in Netflix's global TV show TOP 10 as of the 8th. It was No. 5 on its first day of release, the 6th, and climbed two spots to No. 3. It is maintaining a top-tier ranking behind No. 1 'Young Witness' and No. 2 'The Michael Jackson Trial: The Verdict'.

The number of countries where it reached No. 1 has also increased. It hit No. 1 in a total of 27 countries, including South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, Peru, Indonesia, Bolivia, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, India, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, and Pakistan. Compared with being No. 1 in just two countries on the first day, that is more than a tenfold increase.

Based on the webtoon of the same name, 'Right Education' depicts the refreshing and satisfying discipline of the Teachers' Rights Protection Office, which was established to protect the Korean education system, which has been damaged by overstepping students, teachers, and parents. Director Hong Jong-chan, who has presented stories of characters facing various phases of life through the Netflix series 'Juvenile Justice' and the drama 'Dear My Friends,' directed the series, while writer Lee Nam-gyu, who has presented warm yet thought-provoking themes through the Netflix series 'Daily Dose of Sunshine' and the drama 'One Spring Night,' wrote the screenplay.

Kim Mu-yeol plays Na Hwa-jin, an inspector at the Teachers' Rights Protection Office who coolly resolves various problems that arise at school in his own way; Lee Sung-min plays Education Minister Choi Kang-seok, who founded the Teachers' Rights Protection Office; Jin Ki-joo plays Im Han-rim, an inspector at the office and a former Special Forces member; and Pyo Ji-hoon delivers a strong performance as Bong Geun-dae, the office's genius administrative officer.

However, ahead of its release, the original webtoon drew controversy over racism and sexism issues. Although the original webtoon enjoyed great popularity, it also stirred criticism for depicting inspectors administering corporal punishment and severe violence against students, using racist expressions toward people of color, portraying the slapping of a feminism education teacher as a "feel-good" moment, and equating feminism education with anti-communist brainwashing, which led to accusations that it was a sexist work. As a result, fans had voiced concerns ever since news broke that it would be adapted into a series. Related issues were first highlighted and criticized in overseas communities, and eventually Naver Webtoon suspended the service for the work on its North American platform.

Because the production team and the actors of 'Right Education' were also well aware of this controversy, they did not transfer problematic elements into the series while making it, and instead adapted it as realistically as possible by bringing in the theme of the 'Teachers' Rights Protection Office' and episodes suited to Korean sensibilities. Netizens are now flooding the comments with reactions such as, "It urgently needs to be introduced in every school in South Korea," "I hope a Teachers' Rights Protection Office really gets created," "It is refreshing to see in a drama what the law is too weak to do in real life," and "I hope our country's Education Minister watches this."

[Photo] Netflix