Netflix's 'Teach You A Lesson' Just Hit 54.9M Views — Only Squid Game Is Bigger in K-Drama History

Netflix's 'Teach You A Lesson' Just Hit 54.9M Views — Only Squid Game Is Bigger in K-Drama History

If you thought nothing could ever come close to the Squid Game phenomenon, think again. Netflix's latest Korean action-drama Teach You A Lesson (참교육) has racked up a staggering 54.9 million global views in just six weeks since its June 5 release — putting it firmly on track to become the second most-watched Korean series in Netflix history, according to Deadline's exclusive report.

For context: the only Korean show sitting above it on the all-time chart is Squid Game. That's the kind of company this gritty school-reform action series is keeping right now — and honestly, it kinda makes sense once you watch it.

What Is 'Teach You A Lesson' Actually About?

Based on the Naver webtoon Get Schooled by Chae Yong-taek and Han Ga-ram, the 10-episode series takes place in a South Korea where school violence has spiraled completely out of control. The government's response? Establish the Educational Rights Protection Bureau (ERPB) — a special task force with legal authority to use physical force against violent students and corrupt school officials alike.

The show follows Na Hwa-jin (played by Kim Mu-yeol), a former Special Forces captain turned ERPB inspector who walks into chaotic schools and literally beats discipline back into the system. He's joined by Im Han-rim (Jin Ki-joo), a fellow ex-Special Forces sergeant who genuinely seems to enjoy the violence a little too much, and Bong Geun-dae (P.O, aka Pyo Ji-hoon), a KAIST grad who handles the brains side of operations.

Overseeing it all is Choi Gang-seok — played by veteran actor Lee Sung-min (Reborn Rich) — the Minister of Education who founded the ERPB and seems to be playing a much longer game than anyone realizes.

A Controversial Hit That Defied Expectations

It's hard to ignore the context around this show's success. The original Get Schooled webtoon was pulled from some platforms due to controversy over certain depictions, and many critics initially wondered if a series adaptation could survive that baggage. Instead, the show — directed by Hong Jong-chan (Juvenile Justice) and written by Lee Nam-kyu, Kim Da-hee, and Moon Jong-ho — turned out to be one of the most talked-about K-dramas of 2026.

Forbes called it "one of the best feel-good K-dramas this year." The show topped Netflix's global non-English television chart shortly after release, and buzz metrics in South Korea have been off the charts. Not bad for a show about government-sanctioned school brawls.

• Starring: Kim Mu-yeol (The Roundup), Lee Sung-min (Reborn Rich), Jin Ki-joo (Little Women), Pyo Ji-hoon / P.O
• Directed by: Hong Jong-chan (Juvenile Justice, Life on Mars)
• Based on: Naver webtoon Get Schooled
• Episodes: 10
• Released: June 5, 2026 on Netflix

Even more exciting: reports in July 2026 confirmed that Season 2 is already under discussion. While nothing is locked — no filming dates, no confirmed cast yet — the fact that Netflix is already moving on renewal talks says everything about how this series performed.

The bottom line? If you've been sleeping on Teach You A Lesson, you're missing what might be the biggest K-drama event since Squid Game. With 54.9 million views and counting, plus a potential Season 2 on the horizon, this is one title you'll want on your watchlist before everyone starts talking about it — well, even more than they already are.