ReviewK-drama review: Itaewon Class – Netflix’s underdog revenge epic sees Park Seo-joon make amazing climb up social ladder
- This tale of revenge, love and chasing your dream is set in the corporate world of South Korea’s food and drinks industry
- An ex-prisoner seeks revenge on the corrupt family responsible for the death of his father, and his two-year sentence
This review contains major spoilers of early episodes.
3.5/5 stars
Vibrant in tone and rich in character details, Itaewon Class is an engaging revenge epic set in the milieu of South Korea’s competitive food and beverage industry. Produced by the pre-eminent film company Showbox and based on a webtoon of the same name, the 16-episode series is one of the most watched Korean dramas that Netflix has released in early 2020 – and for good reason.
A sprawling underdog story in which a young ex-convict relies on his mad resolve and incredible people skills to rise to the pinnacle of the corporate world – and avenge his father – in just 15 years’ time, the show serves up a mix of flawed but likeable characters, inspirational speeches on chasing your dreams, and a love triangle that for much of the series looks genuinely like it could go either way.
After making an impression with his comically awkward protagonist in the 2018 romantic comedy series What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim, Park Seo-joon – also recently seen in a small role early in the Oscar best picture Parasite – again delves into his repertoire of socially inept performances for the leading part of Itaewon Class. And he does so with a memorable buzz cut.