'True Education,' After Kim Nam-gil's Public Refusal... Kim Mu-yeol: "I Will Tell the Story Through the Work" [Star Scene]

*This content was translated by AI.

'True Education,' which had been under scrutiny even before its release due to various controversies surrounding the original webtoon, has now stated its position regarding the concerns.

A press conference for the Netflix series 'True Education' was held on the 5th at the Ambassador Seoul Fullman Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. Director Hong Jong-chan, along with actors Kim Mu-yeol, Lee Sung-min, Jin Ki-ju, and Pyo Ji-hoon, attended the event and shared various insights.

'True Education' is a work depicting the bold activities of the School Authority Protection Bureau, which stands on the side of victims to correct schools.

'True Education' is a drama adapted from a webtoon of the same name. The webtoon faced controversy from the production stage for glorifying corporal punishment and violence within schools and using racist and hateful expressions.

Director Hong Jong-chan expressed empathy for the concerns regarding the original work but stated, "The production team made efforts to create a good story with a refined perspective."

He continued, "We have also encountered frustrating stories in the news that occur in reality. The fantasy setting of the School Authority Protection Bureau was appealing. I believe the charm of the original work lies in the fact that the School Authority Protection Bureau fearlessly resolves the frustrations of reality and meets the victims' eyes from their perspective."

Notably, during the production process, news broke that Kim Nam-gil was cast. At the time, he publicly stated his decision to decline the role, saying, "'True Education' was just one of the offers I received, and it is a work I had once refused before. I am not unaware of the controversies or issues. I believe that if many people feel uncomfortable, it is right not to take on such a work."

In response, 'True Education' assembled a new cast, and Kim Mu-yeol was selected as the protagonist, Na Hwa-jin. He cautiously remarked, "Casting changes are things that happen with every project. Originally, this was something we knew among ourselves, but the fact that many people found out is a separate issue."

He added, "I focused on thinking about the work. I hope viewers judge my acting based on what they see. I believe actors tell stories through their works, and I hope they come to know my sincerity through the work."

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*This content was translated by AI.