Itaewon Class

BEST KDRAMA EVER

I had no idea what to expect before coming into this kdrama, but I was blown away. By far the most entertaining show I have watched this year. I loved the revenge plot, romance subplot, tremendous acting, ost, etc. Surpassed all my expectations, such a different and refreshing show. Just amazing, deserves this high review from me. I especially liked the main two actors, Park Seo Joon and Kim Dami. Park seo joon is usually the rom com king, but I really liked his performance in Itaewon class, he had lots of emotion in his acting. Now Kim Dami was equally amazing. I had never heard of her before this show, but I am excited to watch her future works based on her performance in this work.

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I really recommend watching this series for many reasons:

All the actors and actresses are great and they fit the characters so well. They all made me cheer, cry, hate and love them.
Even if the main lead, Saeroyi, was annoying at times, the actor, Park Seo-Joon, is amazing in the role. My favorite character, one of the main female lead; Jo Yi-So, who is played by Kim Da-Mi is a perfect fit too.

The music is one of the best in any kdrama I've ever watched, so many good ones, and it worked with the story as well and never felt like an odd choice.

When it comes to the story, I loved to watch the story of how cruel life can be, and how we never should give up fighting for what we believe. I love how our main character learns what's important in life. The only thing that makes me not give the story a higher score is because of all the love triangles I realized I didn't really care about. It made me annoyed many times how characters kept loving people that clearly wasn't good for them. When watching, I felt like a lot of the love didn't make sense. Why does she/he loves this person? It felt like they just loved for the sake of it, to cause drama. But other than that, this series is a roller coaster, and I loved every episode.

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POW!!

Park Seo Joon (PSJ), like I hadn’t seen him before. From “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim” to OMG Park Sae Ro Yi! I loved every second he was on the screen in this story. However, here’s what worked and what didn’t work for me:

What worked for me was the story of a young man coming out of the dark, sticking with his principles, and standing in his truth. I loved how his character accepted responsibility for any and all of actions. Lots of great learning themes like, “emotions, love, and expectations are not give and take.” All of the bad guys did an amazing job! I sincerely have come to appreciate the outstanding level of acting Asian actors bring when portraying the ultra-bad guy. As an American, many times I am actually screaming at the screen about the depth of evil doing portrayed in these stories. For me, if at the end all I want is the bad guys to pay in the worst way for their nefariousness, I give all that credit to the actors (Yoo Jae Myung, Ann Bo Hyun, and Won Hyun Joon). I will certainly be on the lookout to see them again.

Park Seo Joon (PSJ) is perfect (period) in his ability to portray the tortured, disappointed, hurt, and angry young man. Part of the intrigue for me was just watching PSJ tell this story. Toward the end though, I found myself growing weary of the revenge aspect in this character’s end game. All that hate and pain only lives as we continue to feed it. Was Sae Ro Yi ever going to grow and realize that he drank the poison and is still waiting for the bad guys to die. While one can exact a revenge plan of action, the emotional toll is heavy on losses and expensive. Overall, the interest to stay the course to end of this drama was PSJ. I will continue discovering his storytelling as a new fan of his work.

The IC team all grew accordingly in most instances in this story. I loved the diversity, however awkward at times it felt. The awkwardness felt authentic, appropriate, and timely with regard to being new to the medium of storytelling in this instance for the culture. I loved the loyalty, and again, the consistent message to be sure to follow your own path. Live the life that serves your dreams. No one owes us anything and we don’t owe anyone, especially some misguided “fielty” that might include deferring our dream in honor of expectations. This message made the story worth watching until the end as each of the characters would have to step into their own understanding of it.

Here’s what didn’t work for me. The love interests, period. I did not love Yi-Seo as a character and especially as any love interest. The one salient point she made was in some later episode where she tells Oh Soo Ah, and I paraphrase, “while you’re just waiting on homeboy to come riding in to save you from your own delusions, Imma stick right here by his side become what he needs, and watch his heart melt for me. And so, we saw that happen. However, I just couldn’t get into who she was as a character. Both of these ladies were equally annoying and insensitive, I was not rooting for either of them to win his heart. Again, chalk that up to the actors, Kim Da Mi and Kwon Na Ra. Bravo!! I didn’t really miss the usual sexual tension in this drama. I was more interested in Sae Ro Yi. I couldn’t see him winding up with either one of them. Loved seeing the actress, Kim Yeo Jin (since Vincenzo in a better light) as Yi Seo’s mother, however, that character was just as annoying and shallow.

While the message to take responsibility for one’s own outcomes in life based on those experiences that build character, it was sad that Sae Ro Yi and bad guy, Jang Geun Won, were kind stuck in the past emotionally.

I would rewatch only to watch PSJ’s lovely face, fabulous acting range and to admire his talent. Otherwise, no because the female leads are just too annoying and uninteresting.

The production, story and soundtrack are very good. That’s my fifty cents worth! Enjoy!

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was it worth it? yes

I wasn’t interested in this drama for a long time. the graphics of the cast for the title picture said to me ‘this one isn’t my cup of tea’. BUT one day Itaewon Class OST #6 came up on my Apple Music feed and I fell in love with that song. I don’t speak Korean but without knowing the words, that song grabbed me like few other songs have. I sensed it wasn’t love song but couldn’t find the words anywhere because I don’t know the actual song’s title. this is what made me watch it, to find out if it was a love song or not.
I liked the first 2 episodes but the vibe didn’t grab me - just as I had suspected. I stopped watching around episode 11. A couple months later I decided to finish it and am glad I did.
PSJ as PSY was great.
I know this sounds silly, but the ML and FL hairstyles were a turnoff for me. I was okay with PSJ’s hair cut as a youth and early years out of prison, but I think it would have been more realistic if his character’s aging arc to 2020 included a change of hair style. I’ll just leave it at that.
I was touched throughout the drama by PSY’s sensitive but determined spirit. the chemistry between PSY and JYS was realistic to their characters. PSY had zero romantic skills and PSJ played that well.
the music was excellent, especially #6 which I found out is entitled Someday Boy / with great lyrics - and no, it is not a love song. the ‘boy’ is yearning for something better for his life. it seems he is pleading for time and hope. Kim Feel sings this song so beautifully, he is one my favorite Korean singers.
I probably will watch select scenes again but not the entire drama again.

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He’s not just a mediocre man, I will turn him into something amazing - Jo Yi Seo

নতুন স্কুলে বদলি হওয়ার প্রথম দিনই দূর্বল এক স্টুডেন্ট এর উপর অন্য আরেক স্টুডেন্ট এর অত্যাচার মেনে নিতে না পেরে তাকে আঘাত করে বসে কঠোর নীতিবান ছেলে Park Sae Ro Yi. সেই আঘাত এর প্রতিশোধ নিতে হাজির হয় সেই ছেলের বাবা Jang Dae Hee, যে কিনা কোরিয়ার সবচেয়ে বড় ফুড কর্পোরেশন Jangga এর মালিক। চেয়ারম্যান Jang Dae Hee, সে-রোয়ি কে হাঁটু গেড়ে বসে ক্ষমা চাইতে বলে তার কাছে, না হলে তাকে স্কুল থেকে বহিষ্কার করা হবে। নীতির সাথে কখনো আপোষ না করা ছেলেটা কোনো ভাবেই রাজি হয় না বিনা কারণে ক্ষমা চাইতে। যার দরুন চাকরি হারাতে হয় তার বাবাকে এবং স্কুল থেকে বহিষ্কার হয় সে।
কোনোরকম আশাহত না হয়ে বাবা ছেলে সিদ্ধান্ত নেয় ছোট্ট একটি রেস্টুরেন্ট খোলার। সবকিছু ওলোট পালোট হয়ে যায় যখন সে-রোয়ির বাবা হুট করে একটা এক্সিডেন্ট এ মারা যায়। এবং জানা যায় এরজন্য সেই চেয়ারম্যান Jang dae Hee এর ছেলে দায়ী।রাগে, দুঃখে, হতাশায় সেই ছেলে কে মারতে গেলে পুলিশ তাকে Attempt To murder এর কেসে জড়িয়ে ফেলে এবং ৩ বছরের জন্য শাস্তি হয় তার।
এপিজে আব্দুল কালাম এর একটা কথা আছে "স্বপ্ন সেটা নয় যেটা তুমি ঘুমিয়ে দেখো,স্বপ্ন সেটাই যেটা তোমাকে ঘুমাতে দেয় না।" এই ড্রামার জন্য,বিশেষ করে সে-রোয়ির কাছে স্বপ্ন তাই ছিলো যা তাকে ঘুমাতে দেয় নি। মানুষ চাইলে কি না পারে! দরকার শুধু ইচ্ছাশক্তির। ইচ্ছা আর স্বপ্ন থাকলে কোনো কিছুই যে অসম্ভব না তার জ্বলন্ত প্রমাণ Park Sae Ro Yi এর চরিত্র। যতই বাঁধা আসুক সামনে, সব কিছু উপেক্ষা করে এগিয়ে যেতে এটাই এই ড্রামার মূল বক্তব্য।

চরিত্র বিশ্লেষণ:
Park Sae Ro Yi: বাঁটিছাট চুলের অসম্ভব নীতিবান ছেলেটা এমনিতে খুব চুপচাপ ইন্ট্রোভার্ট হলেও স্বপ্ন দেখায় বিশ্বাসী সে।দূরদৃষ্টি, বিচক্ষণতা, পরোপকারীতা তার চরিত্রের অন্যতম ভালো গুণ।
আমার কাছে সম্ভবত পার্ক সে জুনের সবচেয়ে ভালো একটা ড্রামা এখন পর্যন্ত। তেমন কোনো গ্ল্যামারাস লুকে না এসেও কিভাবে শুধু এক্সপ্রেশন আর অভিনয় দিয়ে তাক লাগিয়ে দেয়া যায় তার সবচেয়ে বড় উদাহরণ হয়ত এইড্রামা টা!
Jo Yi Seo: এই চরিত্র টা একদম ই অন্য রকম। কম বয়সী, তুখোড় বুদ্ধিমতী, সোশ্যাল মিডিয়া স্টার আর একি সাথে রুড, স্যাভেজ। প্রথম দেখায় বয়সে এত বড় একজন কে পছন্দ করে ফেলা আর তারপর তার সাথেই থাকার সিদ্ধান্ত নেয়া আপাতদৃষ্টিতে হাসির বিষয় হলেও সে কিন্তু সফল হয়ে দেখিয়েছে।

এই ড্রামায় আমার সবচেয়ে পছন্দের একটা ডায়লগ হচ্ছে Yi seo যখন বলে- I Have To Be Someone Who He Needs. মানে সত্যিই তো! আমরা কেনো সবসময়ই ভাবি যে আমার জন্য সে-ই সব কিছু করবে। সে-ই আমার স্বপ্ন পূরণ করবে। অথচ এমন স্বার্থপরের মতো চিন্তা না করে এমন টা হয় না যে আমি সেরকম একজন হবো যখন তার প্রয়োজনে সে আমাকে পাবে, দুজনে মিলে দুজনের স্বপ্ন পূরণ করবো, তার স্বপ্ন আমারও স্বপ্ন হবে। আমার কাছে মনে হয়, যখন একটা সম্পর্কে এই মনোভাব থাকে সেই সম্পর্ক পরিণতি পেতে বাধ্য!
এই ড্রামার বেশির ভাগ OST সুন্দর। Gaho এর Start Over টা শুনলেই মনে হতো- হ্যাঁ হয়তো আসলেই সব নতুন করে আবার শুরু করা যায়। পুরোনো সব ভুলে নতুন ভাবে একটা দিন সাজানো যায়।

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The ratings were high and first few episodes were awesome. I had great expectations after i started but highly disappointed afterwards.

Story:
The story was very good during the first half which is where most of the positive points come from. The friendships, trust, protecting people, learning from each other, growth - things were perfect in the beginning. The characters, cast, momentum - everything was going great but it went completely downhill from there. The show had a lot of potential but lost its way in the middle. My favorite character used to be Geun Soo. His character had so much potential to grow and contribute. I didn't understand why writers forced him to turn bad. His character wasn't like that. He was originally sweet, caring, compassionate and forgiving. Unfortunately, in the middle, writers took the track in a totally different direction. I didn't like how Saroyi and Yeo So totally ignored his feelings when taking revenge or even in the end towards the finale. Yeo So became very annoying. I loved her character but there weren't real learnings for her. She did good things just for her boss and never was shown actually learning her lessons. Remained inconsiderate till the end especially to Geun Soo. Geun Soo deserved much more. Didn't like the 7 year and 4 year leaps too. The growth of the company was much easier than expected. Expected more challenges there. Ending was horrible. Saroyi and Yeun So had no chemistry. I would have preferred Saroyi with none of the woman. Janggak Co was number 1. Could the chef really beat them so easily in the competition! Many things like that put me off.

Acting/Cast:
Cast did a good job in terms of acting. Yeun So gave a powerful performance as well.

Music:
Music was good.

Rewatch value:
I don't think I would rewatch it because by the end of it, I got really frustrated and wanted it to just end. First few episodes are wonderful.

12 episodes should have been good enough.

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First part is good but is rushed the second part

We watched the series to prove that he does not need to kneel down to those disgusting people. If he would do that just for a girl he magically love why can't he do it for his father which means EVERYTHING TO HIM. For the story? Well that makes the story shit. The pub was supposed to be used to achieve his goals and in that goal he has Oh Soo Ah in it (did not happen because of sudden changed of heart which is kind of a bad decision because he loved and treated Yi Seo as a little sister), To Destroy the Jangga Co. (somehow managed to achieve by destroying its core but decided to buy it), To destroy and make Chairman Jang and His Son apologize. (Make an old sick man on a cancer kneel before him which makes the whole awaited moment became the most pitiful moment, which is hard to swallow even if you know what that old sick man did at the momment). We also watched and I certainly enjoyed how the pub goes bigger and bigger by a single step but suddenly the time skip, also turns out that they stopped clashing with the Jangga Co. which makes no sense at all. Starting something and suddenly stop for a break and let the little pub grow bigger without us interfering. THAT IS THE WHOLE STORY ABOUT being bullied by the powerful just because they hated your guts, but then after sometime well actually no let's let them do their thing even he put my beloved planned successor in bars and after being humiliated by being 2nd on a tv series that hurts our pride because we are and we SHOULD be always at the peak, let us not be bothered. I mean WTH its the perfect time to take your move because he actually did something for you to get on your nerves then decides to do nothing. Now there is Soo Ah where was the first love the one who waited 15 years, the who knows it all and been there all the time but don't have feelings but actually do for Sae Ro Yi enjoying their rivalry but did not like both of them to win (LOL) being in the enemies side while being a dog of the enemies boss but was actually a helping hand. She is one of the reason why Sae Ro Yi wants to destroy the Jangga Co. because of what they did to both of them which is forgotten by the time. Did not get chosen, but here is the thing she also waited for the 15 years did not dated anyone, and is safe to say did not have a single relationship, INSTANTLY falling to a chef from the palace (LOL).

The pub arc was good the only reason why I finished the last two episode because the building the pub from the very beginning while trusting your co workers to achieve things step by step was the best. I was thinking on how he can manage to defeat the No. 1 in the industry (which came out that its not a good way). First I was shocked that Seung Kwon beat the ass out of Sae Ro Yi when he is such a fighter (shows in the school days and should gain more punch when he's done all those job) but turns out to be an elite fighter him self that fills out the hole, and all the club moments were the best you can see them as a true co workers and it is God damn satisfying. Hyun Yi was the best! she resembles the looks of Jeongyeon of TWICE and acts boyish and I actually thought that she was a girl acting as a he but I AM DEFINITELY WRONG! I am a new fan of hers actually immediately search her to see if she is not a real thing but thankfully she a real SHE, going on her acting is so good and the being bad at first although cliché comes up good and the actually winning the contest is just satisfying. Toni is a needed additional he made the pub story more interesting the only thing is that his father was an idiot for not noticing they are RICH, or is just lying to Toni for no reason at all. Yi Seo on the building the pub is a good character which did care if her feelings is not returned and was clearly rejected the "it's not a business" thing but in the end swallowed and does not make sense at all, moving on she is really good at her role as a psychotic manager who will do anything to make the pub the No. 1 in the industry. Thought Geun Soo have invested in the "IC" and will use that as a card for later issue like how Sae Ro Yi did but turns out that was never an option and him being the instant villain is not that good choice because it was for naught. Geun Soo was suppose to be searching for someone to lean on and forgot all the things they've been through and the I belong to DanBam not in the Jangga Co. just for NOTHING. Soo Ah is also good at her role, being around at the pub while being boycotted is good (for me atleast) and actually being nosy on the pub makes the rivalry enjoyable.

Overall
It was a ok KDrama, if they just don't rushed it and expanded the grow the little pub little by little and get another season for better story it will be one of the best but the time skip really messed up.
Actors/Actresses is the best and did what they are supposed to do.
Music is great it can really hype the situation up.
But I don't really think I would rewatch it if not for the pub arc.
It was a roller coaster ride if it not ended like that would be much more fun.

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A Perfectly Told Story, what TV Should Aspire to Be

I was absolutely blown away by this drama. It's the first full length show I've given a 10. With an incredibly unique story and satisfying romance, with interesting and diverse characters with multiple and changing dimensions, with setups and pay offs executed perfectly and just the right amount of unpredictability, I was drawn in from the beginning and gripped until the end. I fell in love with every character, loving the enemies while also hating them, and rooting those who were trying to change or overcome hardship. Every emotion, I was along for the ride. When the characters cried, I cried. When they cheered, I cheered. When they loved, I loved. It's perfectly done, and I wish every show I watched from this moment forward were just like it.

It's not something to be taken lightly when I say I liked all the characters. In almost every other show I've watched, even the good ones, I tend to find a single character I care about above all others, and so my enjoyment of the show hinges on their experience and actions and plots. This time around, I cared about everyone. Not only did every person feel real and developed, they each were reaching towards their goals, all of them pushing past their own hardships. Instead of feeling for the characters through their attachment with the protagonist, I felt each one of them as a person, through what I knew about them and what I knew they valued. Because of this strong empathy, I was able to experience strong vicarious emotions in every situation. No moment felt unjustified or unearned. This one element is, in my opinion, the most important aspect of any show, and what makes or breaks whether you even decided to watch it, and whether it is memorable and exciting. These detailed and empathetic characters are exploited to their full extent, producing moments that lift you into the sky or crush you into the ground or set you on fire with rage, all while maintaining a balance of conflict and resolution that isn't too taxing on the viewer. Even better is that each character changes throughout the show, completing arcs which are believable and well-earned. I could easily name each internal flaw they all faced, although this is a spoiler free review and so I cannot (you can bet if there were spoilers the whole review would just be me ranting about every specific detailed that I loved). Long story short, the characters are perfect, and that's what's really important.

Let me quickly mention the diversity, which was extremely welcome amidst the generally homogenous production of Asian dramas. Perhaps there still isn't as much as we're used to in the west, but you have to admit they're making great strides. Obviously I'm referencing the Afro-Asian character Toni (although this could have been handled a tad bit better in certain areas), but what I'm really impressed by is the transgender character, Hyun Yi. She, after helping the other protagonists overcome their own preconceived judgements, manages to overcome her own flaws and learn to be confident about her identity, and the show fully accepts this identity in a mature way. Especially considering the often biased views of many other kdrama regarding even homosexuality, transgender representation is just great to see.

I loved the plot. Holy cow. I won't say it's the most genius plot, I've definitely seen shows that are smarter, but this plot embodies all that a drama should strive for. A clear set of values, a core message or two, and a thorough and interesting exploration of all these things wrapped into an intense and exciting main storyline. Where other shows might drop the ball while trying to subvert expectations, and others still might crank out something mind-numbingly predictable, Itaewon Class toes the line between the two effortlessly, leaving you without a clue as to where it'll end up but still being satisfying, justified, and most importantly gripping. This is one of the few long-form shows which have managed to keep me interested enough to binge it in a few sittings.

I hope I've said enough to convince that this is well-worth a watch. Don't judge it by it's premise like I almost did and just give it a chance to snag you and pull you along. I one hundred percent love this drama and implore you to watch it, as soon as possible.

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"Life is just one shot I won't hesitate; I have to live my own life"

Seeing the range of ratings and comments on characters doesn't surprise me. This was an interesting show. I often think about personal ratings objectively and subjectively. I might think a show is really top notch but makes little emotional impact and vice versa. If I think about rating Itaewon Class (IC) in terms of 'film craft' or 'intellectual analysis'- in other words, the more objective criteria - the rating would be much lower. For the 9.5 I'm rating it at, it's based on emotional satisfaction, re-watch potential, and how much it impacts my life.

The story is the weakest part of the show, yet good enough. Many plot lines felt outrageous, unbelievable, even unnecessary. The vengeance plot was overkill. However, there are cues for letting go of realism and flowing with the outrageous. That the intensity of Janga vs. Danbam battles is set in a 'my sauce is better than your sauce' setting, helps us realize the set/story is intrinsically silly. In most shows, the feeling I get is that the characters are advancing the story. With IC, it feels the reverse. It's about the story advancing character. Their distinctiveness and authenticity, itself, is the most enjoyable aspect of the show. Who cares who wins the restaurant business battle? We know from the start how that is going to end. Character presentation, alone, intrigues me and elicits reflection on self and society.

Music. Very effective. Two anthems, "Start Over" by Gaho and "Brand New Way" by Damon, were stand outs, emotionally priming us for the mood of the show. "Start Over" is rhythmically driving, sweet, uplifting; it's a great tune to symbolize 'driving towards a goal'. If I recall correctly, this tune plays as Park Sae Roy is running, thinking about his goals. "Brand New Way" is energetic, over the top, fight-like; symbolizing Jo Yi Seo's brashness and growing confidence of the DanBam Team to battle Janga. If I recall correctly, it often played after something exciting or positive happened for the DanBam team.

Ok, Jo Yi Seo next. I understand the comments about not liking Jo Yi Seo as well as her non-convincing 'chemistry' with Park Sae Roy. But this is perhaps where older life perspective generates a different perception (or simply just my personal taste). I'm older and have grown tired of well-defined human behavior and socially constructed norms. That Jo Yi Seo is off the charts on social norms, and IC as a show is not normed 'averagely', I found that off-beat vibe to be quite refreshing. Novelty alone isn't enjoyable, but when done well (enough), it has the potential to wash the boredom away in a redundant world of similar plot/character types. Jo Yi Seo was unapologetically herself both with other characters and how she presented to us, the viewership. She was not ladylike or friendlike or daughterlike in the normal ways.

Regarding Jo Yi Seo and Park Sae Roy's chemistry, it's under the surface and brewing, slowly. In romance, Park Sae Roy is shy, implicit, and proper. With his rigid principles, a wildcard like Yi Seo is hard to digest quickly. She's brash, explicit, improper. Oh Soo Ah is that classic, proper beauty we're trained to love at first sight. Sae Roy's inner dialogue, inner feeling, may not be well known to him. He's obsessed with moving forward, higher, achieving his goals. Jo Yi Seo is the one that propels him forward, what he's driving at the most, releasing his emotions towards a larger catharsis once he's achieved revenge/success. Her acceptance of him as he is, and what he wants to become, is absolute, even ruthless; she'll hurt others to help him. Oh Soo Ah does have chemistry, but it's mostly attraction at the surface (eye) level and a past connection that she's held onto, which is understandable when considering her relationship to Sae Roy's father and being an orphan. Sae Roy and Yi Seo are climbers; they need to take risks to grow. Soo Ah isn't in climb a mountain mode; she's looking to maintain security.

Jo Yi Seo's impact on the DanBam team is very strong as well. The poem she sends to Ma Hyun Yi during the contest is impactful; I'll post it at the end of this review. As with Sae Roy, Dan Bam members have a slow time digesting this odd, acquired taste that is the brilliant Jo Yi Seo.

It is food for thought for those of us in our own romantic adventures. Eye-level attractiveness is a good start, but where does that really take us in the long run? Personality, values, helping one another achieve life goals and dreams, has an even larger upside than 'physical attraction' in the long run. Admittedly, the younger version of myself was more concerned with attraction. It almost feels irrelevant now at an older age. Therefore, comments about Yi Seo not 'looking' like the right partner for Sae Roy strikes me as a youthful comment. As the characters mature, it's not surprising to me that Yi Seo and Sae Roy grow together the best, and that he did indeed prefer Oh Soo Ah in his earlier years.

Jang Dae Hee was outstanding. The scene in Episode 6 (~1:02:00- 1:03:30) where he learns about a surprise stockholder, laughs outrageously, throws down his clipboard, then says "I thought I was hungry" and then "It's time to eat" is top notch. Watch that carefully and tell me that's not incredible acting.

Contrary to much of the reviews here, I didn't connect all that much with Sae Roy. He didn't disappoint me at all. I just didn't get much emotional impact from his character. It's probably the fact that Yi Seo, the diamond next to him, simply shone too bright.

Fun fact, although I had much Korean food before watching IC, I hadn't had the traditional 'stews'. When I had the chance to order between Kimchi Stew and Soft Tofu Stew for the first time, it was so hard to pick. My taste preference was for Kimchi Stew, but the show's effect was pulling me hard towards the Soft Tofu Stew. I ended up picking Kimchi Stew at the last second, but it's cute that a TV show nearly decided my maiden Korean stew order.

Here's the poem that Yi Seo recites to Hyun Yi:

“I’m a rock.
Go ahead and sear me.
I won’t budge an inch because I’m a rock.
Go ahead and beat me up
I’m a solid rock.
Go ahead and leave me in darkness.
I’m a rock that will shine all alone.
I don’t break, ash, nor decay as I go against nature’s way.
I survive.
I’m a diamond.”

Itaewon Class, Episode 12
Poem by Gwang Jin creator of the original web comic series Itaewon Class.

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