Extracurricular (TV series) explained

Native Name:
Hangul:인간수업
Hanja:人間授業
Rr:Ingansueop
Lk:Human Class
Director:Kim Jin-min
Country:South Korea
Language:Korean
Num Episodes:10
List Episodes:Extracurricular#Episodes
Executive Producer:Yoon Shin-ae
Producer:Greg Lee
Camera:Single camera
Runtime:44–72 minutes
Company:Studio 329
Network:Netflix

Extracurricular is a 2020 South Korean television series directed by Kim Jin-min, starring Kim Dong-hee, Park Ju-hyun, Jung Da-bin, Nam Yoon-su, Choi Min-soo, Park Hyuk-kwon, and Kim Yeo-jin. It was released on Netflix on April 29, 2020.[1] [2]

Cast

Main

Recurring

Production

Development

On April 22, 2019, Netflix announced through a press release that it would distribute a new Korean original series entitled Extracurricular and produced by Studio 329, confirming at the same time that the main cast would consist of Kim Dong-hee, Jung Da-bin, Park Ju-hyun, Nam Yoon-soo, Choi Min-soo, Park Hyuk-kwon and Kim Yeo-jin.[3] [4] The series is written by Song Ji-na's son Jin Han-sae and directed by Kim Jin-min, whose wife Kim Yeo-jin is starring in the series.[5]

Filming

Filming, which ended on August 6, 2019, mostly took place in Seoul.[6] [7]

Promotion

On April 28, 2020, the press conference was held online due to the coronavirus pandemic, in presence of actors Kim Dong-hee, Jung Da-bin, Park Ju-hyun and Nam Yoon-soo, executive producer (and Studio 329's CEO) Yoon Shin-ae, and director Kim Jin-min.[8] The series being released a few months after the Nth room case opened, director Kim said that "the incident was so shocking that [he] felt frightened. Extracurricular could become an opportunity to discuss this uncomfortable reality. As a creator, [he] felt [he] had to deal with the issues of our society with more depth and responsibility."[9]

On April 29, some of the cast and crew attended a special one-day class by Professors Kwon Il-yong (South Korea's first profiler), Park Mi-rang (a criminologist) and Seo Min-soo (from the Police Human Resources Development Institute), which was broadcast live on Netflix Korea's YouTube and V Live channels. They discussed the reality of youth crime in society.[10]

Release

On March 19, 2020, Netflix Korea announced through Twitter that the series would be released on April 29.[11] On April 16, the official trailer was released.[12] [13]

Reception

Audience viewership

Extracurricular was the ninth most-watched South Korean series on Netflix in 2020.[14]

Critical response

John Serba of Decider said that "Extracurricular is good, funny stuff. The debut episode's near-miss ending isn't entirely satisfying, but that's not likely to stop you from binging the crap out of this show."[15]

The series has also "gained rave reviews for its clear depiction of the struggles of teenage students."[16]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryRecipientResultRef.
202157th Baeksang Arts AwardsBest DramaExtracurricular[17]
Best New Actor (TV)Nam Yoon-su
Best New Actress (TV)Park Ju-hyun

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lee. Jae-lim. 'Extracurricular' explores a dark side of youth. April 28, 2020. Korea JoongAng Daily. April 30, 2020.
  2. Web site: MacDonald. Joan. Darkly Themed 'Extracurricular' Is Not Your Typical High School K-Drama. May 1, 2020. Forbes. May 2, 2020.
  3. Web site: Minji . Kang. NETFLIX ANNOUNCES TEENAGE CRIME DRAMA EXTRACURRICULAR. April 22, 2019. April 23, 2019. Netflix Media.
  4. Web site: Lee. Jae-lim. Korean Netflix show cast revealed. April 23, 2019. Korea JoongAng Daily. April 23, 2019.
  5. Web site: No. Gyu-min. 넷플릭스 '인간수업' 제작 돌입...김동희X정다빈X박주현 주연 확정. April 22, 2019. The Korea Economic Daily. ko. April 23, 2019.
  6. Web site: Park. So-hee. 김동희, '인간수업' 촬영 끝 "함께 해준 스텝들 감사해요". August 7, 2019. Newsen. ko. August 26, 2019.
  7. Web site: Shuvrajit. Das Biswas. Extracurricular Filming Locations. April 29, 2020. The Cinemaholic. April 30, 2020.
  8. Web site: Kim. Young-jae. 넷플릭스라 가능한 '인간수업'…10대라도 선택에는 책임이 (종합). April 28, 2020. The Korea Economic Daily. ko. May 1, 2020. April 28, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200428210856/https://www.hankyung.com/life/article/202004280240k. dead.
  9. Web site: Ji-won. Choi. 'Extracurricular' raises questions about teenage crimes. April 29, 2020. The Korea Herald. May 1, 2020.
  10. Web site: Kim. Hyun-shik. 범죄 전문가들과 만난 '인간수업' 배우들. April 30, 2020. Edaily. ko. May 2, 2020.
  11. ko. 엘리트들보다 대담한 10대들의 이야기가 온다. <인간수업>, 4월 29일 대공개. NetflixKR. 1240443681200472064. March 19, 2020.
  12. Web site: Lee. Mi-ji. '인간수업', 나쁜 현실에 냉혹한 질문…메인예고편 공개. April 16, 2020. Herald Pop. Naver. ko. April 30, 2020.
  13. Web site: Haddad. Hanan. Your First Look At Netflix's Upcoming Korean Drama Thriller, Extracurricular. April 21, 2020. Elle. April 30, 2020.
  14. Web site: Sun-hwa. Dong. Netflix to produce new Korean original series 'Glitch'. December 30, 2020. The Korea Times. December 31, 2020.
  15. Web site: Serba. John. Stream It Or Skip It: 'Extracurricular' on Netflix, a Darkly Funny South Korean Series About a Teenager Living a Double Life. April 30, 2020. Decider. May 2, 2020.
  16. Web site: R-rated series gain popularity on small screen in S. Korea. April 30, 2020. Yonhap News Agency. May 12, 2020.
  17. Web site: https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/112/0003420731. ko:제57회 백상예술대상, TV·영화·연극 부문 최종 후보 발표..13일 생방송[공식]. The 57th Baeksang Arts Awards, finalists announced in the TV·Film·Drama category.. Live broadcast on the 13th. ko. Kim. Ji-hye. Herald Pop. Naver.