[Sportschosun Jo Ji-young] Lee Seung-gyu, a rookie actor who left a strong impression as the first villain in Netflix's series "Teach You a Lesson" (written by Lee Nam-gyu, Kim Da-hee and Moon Jong-ho, directed by Hong Jong-chan), which received praise from viewers around the world, has drawn attention for joining a donation campaign for students affected by school violence.
Released on the 5th, "Teach You a Lesson" rose to No. 1 among Netflix's global non-English series and held the top spot for two consecutive weeks, continuing its worldwide success. In particular, it ranked No. 1 in 46 countries and entered the Top 10 in 91 countries, establishing itself as a global hit.
In the first episode, which opens the series, Lee played Ryu Jun-hyung, the son of lawmaker Ryu Gwang-pil, a presidential hopeful, and a power-driven school bully who rules the school through violence. His cold yet highly realistic performance as a villain heightened the show's immersion and left a deep impression on viewers both in Korea and overseas. Among viewers, he became a hot topic to the point of earning the nickname "good-looking trash," and his social media following surged after the series was released, drawing attention as a rising actor of the next generation.
Lee recently made a donation to the BTF Blue Tree Foundation, which supports students affected by school violence, lending his support to school violence prevention and victim assistance efforts.
BTF is a leading nonprofit public interest corporation in Korea dedicated to preventing school violence. It was founded by Chairman Kim Jong-gi, who lost his child to school violence, and has consistently carried out education programs for prevention as well as support for victims and their families. Chairman Kim's story was featured on the television program "You Quiz on the Block" and resonated with many viewers.
A representative from his agency said, "After hearing the actor's intention, we thought it was a meaningful decision," adding, "We decided to help spread the word so that this positive influence could reach more people."
Meanwhile, Lee Seung-gyu is a rising actor who continues to grow by showing a distinct presence in every project. After demonstrating his potential with nuanced emotional acting in "Our Dating Simulation," he took on the role of Ryu Jun-hyung, the key villain in the first episode of "Teach You a Lesson," and earned praise from viewers at home and abroad for his realistic portrayal of a villain. Off-screen, he is also quietly extending his positive influence by taking part in donations for students affected by school violence.
Jo Ji-young, soulhn1220@sportschosun.com
