Kim Mu Yeol revealed that his wife Yoon Seung Ah, who is usually very honest and strict about his projects, gave a rare positive review of “Teach You a Lesson”.
On June 12, Kim Mu Yeol sat down for an interview in Seoul to talk about his Netflix series “Teach You a Lesson”. The drama is based on the popular webtoon of the same name and follows the Teachers’ Rights Protection Bureau, an organization created to protect schools from students, teachers, and parents who cross the line.
Kim Mu Yeol plays Na Hwa Jin, a former special forces soldier who becomes an inspector and handles school issues in his own direct way.
The series gained attention even before its release after Kim Nam Gil reportedly turned down the role twice. However, Kim Mu Yeol’s performance has since received strong attention, with many viewers calling the role one of his best characters.
His social media following also reportedly jumped from the 200,000 range to around 640,000, while some of his posts passed 1 million likes.
The drama also became a global hit on Netflix. In just three days after release, “Teach You a Lesson” recorded 6.4 million views and ranked No. 1 on Netflix’s Global Top 10 Non English Shows chart. It also ranked No. 1 in 10 countries, including South Korea, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, and entered the Top 10 list in 48 countries.
Kim Mu Yeol also became a hot topic overseas after John Cena posted his photo on social media without explanation. Fans had been calling Kim Mu Yeol the “Korean John Cena” because of their similar image. Kim Mu Yeol later commented, “Now you can see me,” while Netflix’s official account joined in by writing, “Hey twin.”
During the interview, Kim Mu Yeol said Yoon Seung Ah usually gives cold and objective feedback about his work. However, her reaction to “Teach You a Lesson” was different.
He shared, “After watching this, she told me, ‘It’s fun’ and ‘I think it will do well.’”
He added, “My wife’s evaluation of me is usually strict. Actually, I want that too. I want her to tell me honestly without holding back. But this time, she only praised me. This was the first time she told me she thought my project would do well, and that project was ‘Teach You a Lesson.’”
Yoon Seung Ah has also shown support on social media. When Kim Mu Yeol uploaded behind the scenes photos and videos from the drama, she left heart emojis in the comments, drawing warm reactions from fans.
Meanwhile, “Teach You a Lesson” has also sparked debate over some scenes involving strong physical discipline toward students. Kim Mu Yeol said the team was aware of those concerns from the start and tried to handle the topic carefully.
He explained, “Even before we started, we fully knew there were concerns about that part. We tried to handle it carefully with a refined perspective.” He added that the scenes should be viewed as a storytelling device, saying he hopes viewers also think about what happens afterward.
Kim Mu Yeol also addressed mixed reactions to the drama, saying he accepts both praise and criticism. He said, “I am always aware of my shortcomings as actor Kim Mu Yeol. I am thankful for the love and attention, but I listen to reviews and reactions and think again about the project.”
He continued, “Actors are not the ones who complete the final product. I feel it is completed when viewers watch it and share their thoughts. If people point out what is lacking, I should accept it gratefully.”
