Itaewon Class (Korean: 이태원 클라쓰) is a 2020 South Korean television series starring Park Seo-joon, Kim Da-mi, Yoo Jae-myung, and Kwon Nara. Based on the webtoon of the same name, it is the first series to be produced by the film distribution company Showbox. It aired on JTBC in Korea from January 31 to March 21, 2020, and is streaming worldwide on Netflix. The series won Best Drama Series at the 25th Asian Television Awards.
Contents
Synopsis
Due to an accident which killed his father, Park Sae-ro-yi (Park Seo-joon) attempted to kill Jang Geun-won (Ahn Bo-hyun), the son of Jangga Group's founder, Jang Dae-hee (Yoo Jae-myung). He was jailed and the woman he loved, Oh Soo-ah (Kwon Na-ra), was offered a university scholarship by Jang Dae-hee and later became the Strategic Planning Head of Jangga Group.
After his release from prison, Park Sae-ro-yi opens DanBam in Itaewon. He wants to be successful and seeks revenge towards Jangga Group. However, he is not too smart at managing his business. He then meets Jo Yi-seo (Kim Da-mi).
Cast
Main
Park Seo-joon as Park Sae-ro-yi
Proprietor of DanBam, a bar-restaurant in Itaewon. In his youth, Sae-ro-yi gets expelled from high school for punching CEO Jang's son Geun-won, who was bullying a classmate, and becomes bereaved when his father is killed by Geun-won's reckless driving. Angered by the loss, he attacks Geun-won, leading to his three-year imprisonment. Following his father's steps, Sae-ro-yi opens his bar-restaurant DanBam in Itaewon seven years after he is released from jail, with the aim of expanding it into a franchise and defeating CEO Jang's food company Jangga Group. In 2020, he becomes the CEO of his company IC Group.
Kim Da-mi as Jo Yi-seo
Choi Myung-bin as young Yi-seo
Manager of Sae-ro-yi's bar-restaurant DanBam. Yi-seo is a multi-talented and intelligent girl with an IQ of 162. She moved from New York to continue her studies in South Korea. She is also famous on social media as a power blogger and social media internet celebrity. Having a crush on Sae-ro-yi, she offers to become the manager of DanBam. Her lack of empathy and callous behavior has many people believe she is a sociopath, but she does end up caring for her DanBam coworkers. She especially has a breakthrough with Hyeon-yi after initially criticizing her cooking and believing her transgender identity would impede DanBam's business. Despite being declined by Sae-ro-yi, Yi-seo remains by his side as DanBam's manager. In 2020, Yi-seo becomes the CFO of Sae-ro-yi's company IC Group. Eventually, Sae-ro-yi realizes his feelings for Yi-seo and he confesses his love for her.
Yoo Jae-myung as Jang Dae-hee
Choi Min-young as young Dae-hee
CEO of food company Jangga Group. CEO Jang is a self-made man who, despite the odds, succeeds in turning his once small bar into a large franchise company. In his years of experience leading Jangga, he develops a strong belief in power and authority as a means to achieve his goals. He meets Sae-ro-yi when the latter has a fight with his son Geun-won in high school and expects him to kneel as a submission of his power. However, Sae-ro-yi always resisted kneeling and made his life harder for it. In 2020, he is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and doesn't have much long to live. Unfortunately, his illegal activities under Jangga was exposed and ruined his company. Despite kneeling before Sae-ro-yi for help, Sae-ro-yi absorbed Jangga into his company, leaving Dae-hee with nothing.
Production
The first script reading took place in August 2019 at JTBC Building in Sangam-dong, Seoul, South Korea.
Park Seo-joon and Yoo Jae-myung had previously worked together in the KBS2 drama's Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth.
Original soundtrack
Itaewon Class: Original Soundtrack
The drama's soundtrack is compiled in a four-part album released on March 20, 2020. CDs 1 and 2 contain the drama's theme songs and their instrumental versions, while CDs 3 and 4 contain the drama's musical score. The following lists are the track listings for the online streaming version of the album.
Reception
Itaewon Class' final episode recorded a 16.548% nationwide audience share, making it the fifth-highest viewership rating in JTBC, and the 14th highest-rated drama in Korean cable television history, just slightly under Love (ft. Marriage and Divorce). The drama was also praised for its realistic portrayal of subjects such as prejudice and discrimination against foreigners, ex-convicts and LGBT people, as well as the portrayal of misbehaviours by chaebols.
Time Magazine included Itaewon Class on its list of "The 10 Best Korean Dramas to Watch on Netflix". Forbes included the series on its list of "The 13 Best Korean Dramas Of 2020". The Guardian mentioned the drama in an article recommending Korean dramas to watch after finishing Squid Game. Google Trends revealed that the series was the #1 most-searched drama/entertainment program of 2020, and the fourth most searched domestic search term of 2020 in South Korea.
International adaptations
A Japanese drama adaptation, titled Roppongi Class, was aired on July 7, 2022 via TV Asahi. The Main cast was Yurina Hirate, Yuko Araki, Ryoma Takeuchi and Teruyuki Kagawa.
A Taiwanese drama adaptation titled Fired Up! was released via HBO Max on July 31, 2026. The adaptation stars Eric Chou in his drama debut, alongside Angela Yuen, Ivy Shao and Wang Shih-hsien.
British, Chinese, French, German, Indian, Turkish and Philippine adaptations are in development.