I Am Sam (Korean: 아이엠샘) is a 2007 South Korean television series starring Yang Dong-geun, Park Min-young, Park Jun-gyu, Son Tae-young, and Choi Seung-hyun in his acting debut. It aired on KBS2 from August 6 to October 2, 2007, on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55 (KST) for 16 episodes. Based on the Japanese manga series Kyōkasho ni Nai! (English: "Not in a Textbook!", or "Very Private Lesson"), Yang plays a geeky, straight-arrow, under-qualified high school teacher who becomes a live-in tutor for the troublemaking daughter of a notorious gangster, in exchange for one billion won.
The title is a word play since sam in Korean roughly translates to "teacher" in slang, thus the international title, I Am Your Teacher.
Contents
Synopsis
Yoo Jae-gon (Park Jun-gyu), head of an infamous gangster organization, becomes troubled by the future prospects of his only daughter, Eun-byul (Park Min-young), who refuses to study. Then coincidence or fate brings together Eun-byul and goofy-looking high school teacher Jang Yi-san (Yang Dong-geun) in a somewhat sticky situation. After finding out that Yi-san can actually inspire his troublesome daughter to focus on her studies, Jae-gon offers a deal to Yi-san: become his daughter's private tutor in exchange for one million won. The catch is Yi-san has to move in with her. And the money? It's given as security for his own life.
Cast
Main
Yang Dong-geun as Jang Yi-san
Park Min-young as Yoo Eun-byul
Son Tae-young as Shin So-yi
Park Jun-gyu as Yoo Jae-gon (Eun-byul's father)
Choi Seung-hyun as Chae Moo-shin
Park Chae-kyung as Min Sa-kang (Eun-byul's best friend)
Supporting
Park Chae-kyung as Min Sa-kang (Eun-byul's friend)
Park Jae-jung as Kim Woo-jin (Mr. Yoo's right-hand man)
Jo Hyang-ki as Hong Dae-ri (Mr. Yoo's assistant)
Kwak Ji-min as Da-bin
Dan Ji as Ye-bin
Ban So-young as Hyo-bin
Lee Min-ho as Heo Mo-se (Principal's son)
Choi Jae-hwan as Han Tae-sung (Moo-shin's friend)
Park Chul-ho as Kim In-seol
Kim Yoo-bin as Kim Hee-chul
Joo Jong-hyuk as Ji Seon-hoo
Kim Hong-shik as Park Nam-kyu
Yoo Tae-woong as Go Dong-sool
Choi Joo-bong as Heo Deok-bae (Principal)
Park Sang-hyun as Park Han-suk
Shin Pyo as Kang Ha
Reception
I Am Sam received average viewership ratings of around 6.5%.
Awards
2007 KBS Drama Awards: Best New Actress - Park Min-young
Source material
Title: Not in the Textbook! (also known as Very Private Lesson) (教科書にないッ!, Kyōkasho ni Nai!) (교과서엔 없어; Gyogwaseoen eopseo)
Original story: Kazuto Okada (岡田和人)
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Age rating: 10+