[Sportschosun Interview] "I Wasn't the First Choice for Casting... Then I Got a Shoutout from John Cena!" Kim Mu-yeol on the Variable Called 'Teach You a Lesson' (Full Story)

[Sportschosun Reporter Jo Ji-young] Actor Kim Mu-yeol, 44, faced a new variable with 'Teach You a Lesson' and erased controversy and concern with a sincere performance, completing what may be the best character of his career.

On the afternoon of the 11th, Kim Mu-yeol, who played Na Hwa-jin, an inspector at the Office for the Protection of Teachers' Rights in the Netflix series 'Teach You a Lesson' (written by Lee Nam-gyu, Kim Da-hee, and Moon Jong-ho; directed by Hong Jong-chan), met with Sportschosun in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, and spoke about the production process of the now-finished series, as well as the passion and affection he poured into the project.

Adapted from the webtoon of the same name by Chae Yong-taek and Han Ga-ram, 'Teach You a Lesson' follows the satisfying and refreshing discipline carried out by the Office for the Protection of Teachers' Rights, an agency created to defend South Korea's education system from overstepping students, teachers, and parents. With its exhilarating catharsis, fast-paced storytelling, and playful chemistry among its appealing characters, the series became a hit after its release on the 5th. It recorded 6.4 million views in just three days, taking first place among Netflix's Global Top 10 Non-English Shows. It also ranked No. 1 in 10 countries, including South Korea, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, and entered the Top 10 in 48 countries in total.

In particular, praise has continued to pour in for Kim Mu-yeol, who played the series' main character, Na Hwa-jin. A former special forces soldier, Na Hwa-jin is the kind of man who delivers a decisive blow at the scene of a problem. He appears blunt and intimidating, but he always stands on the victim's side, listens carefully, and genuinely comforts them. As the driving force behind the series, he leads 'Teach You a Lesson' from start to finish. Reuniting with director Hong Jong-chan for the second time after 'Juvenile Justice,' Kim Mu-yeol fully transformed into Na Hwa-jin, an inspector who is dispatched anywhere to set the education system back on track. His performance won over viewers with thrilling action, cathartic moments, and warm comfort.

That day, Kim Mu-yeol said, "What I liked about 'Teach You a Lesson' was that it handled a difficult subject without making it feel difficult. I had a lot of trust in director Hong Jong-chan. While working on 'Juvenile Justice,' I had already become somewhat interested in this kind of story, and it became an opportunity to look closely and think deeply about things I had previously only viewed from a distance. I felt that working with Director Hong would help me handle a difficult story, and that together we could pull it off. As we dealt with 10 episodes, we also had the ambition and passion to explore the material more deeply and in a different tone than before. There were times when we got tired or started to doubt ourselves, but every time that happened, I followed the unchanging energy around us and had fun along the way."

He added, "While doing 'Teach You a Lesson,' I found myself thinking about many different perspectives. I'm also a rookie parent who has only just started worrying about my child's education. There is still so much I need to learn and so much I need to think about. There will be plenty of trial and error, and I think I'll be able to look at many different issues." He continued, "My wife, Yoon Seung-ah, also said it was fun. She's usually very strict with me. She doesn't hold back when talking about my work, but this was the first time she told me it was 'fun.' She even said it would do well, and I was surprised because that kind of reaction was new to me."

Above all, global fans who watched 'Teach You a Lesson' praised Kim Mu-yeol's looks and powerful action, comparing him to former professional wrestler-turned-actor John Cena and calling him 'Korean John Cena.' The meme eventually reached John Cena himself, creating yet another sensation. Cena posted a photo of Kim Mu-yeol on his personal account, and Kim responded with a witty comment that played on Cena's famous line, "You Can't See Me," writing, "Now You Can See Me."

Kim Mu-yeol joked, "I keep checking my personal account every day to see the number of followers going up. First of all, I'm just so happy and grateful." He went on, "At the same time, I'm thinking about it seriously. I'm reflecting once again on the story we wanted to tell. There are a lot of comments from international fans. One memorable reaction came from a teacher in Malaysia, who said she related to the content of 'Teach You a Lesson' and was moved and comforted by it. She thanked us and said she hoped there would be a second season. Of course, the results after the release were better than we expected, but it felt even better to receive such reactions right after it came out. Before the release, we worked carefully and hard, hoping many people would enjoy it, but I never expected it to resonate across borders. That was surprising and comforting."

He also spoke about the shoutout from John Cena. Kim Mu-yeol said, "I was a fan of the World Wrestling Federation. I had WWF posters hanging at home, subscribed to WWF magazines, and even rented wrestling videos. I became a fan after watching John Cena's career as he transitioned into acting, because there were many moments when I felt he was not just entertaining, but also a thoughtful and broad-minded person. I thought he was an actor I liked because he had no prejudice and no airs, so I was completely shocked when he suddenly posted my photo on his account. Honestly, after looking at John Cena's account, I thought a lot about what I should do. I wondered if I should post his photo too, but after thinking it over, I left a comment. I would really love it if John Cena made a special appearance in season 2 of 'Teach You a Lesson.'"

He also laughed and said, "My younger brother is an even bigger fan of John Cena than I am, and he told me from the beginning that we looked alike. And honestly, I do think we look very similar. There are a few people people say I resemble. In Korea, people say I look like Ong Seong-wu or Sean. Overseas, I've heard Mark Wahlberg and Joseph Gordon-Levitt."

Of course, Kim Mu-yeol's path to 'Teach You a Lesson' was not all smooth sailing. From the casting stage, the series had already become a controversial project because of the intensity of the original work and the message it carried. The adaptation drew concern from the start, as the original webtoon had sparked controversy over racism, the glorification of violence and corporal punishment, and accusations of sexism and biased perspectives. In fact, last year the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU) even staged a protest calling for the production to be halted, openly expressing its opposition to the series.

Addressing the concerns surrounding the series, Kim Mu-yeol said, "From the very beginning, we were fully aware of those worries. We tried to approach it as carefully as possible, with a very restrained perspective. I think the corporal punishment aspect should be seen simply as a narrative device. I hope viewers don't stop at the punishment itself, but think about what comes after it. That's why I feel even more grateful to each episode's lead character. When we portray what people commonly think of as reflection, repentance, or remorse, sometimes we can't fully develop the surrounding story, and sometimes everything has to be poured out in the final moment. I thought 'Teach You a Lesson' did a good job of expressing that through the protagonists in each episode. I hope viewers will pay close attention to the children's state after the punishment and to how they change."

Kim Mu-yeol, who calmly accepted the mixed reactions to the work, said, "Everyone involved in 'Teach You a Lesson' worked very carefully, but personally, I am also very aware of my own shortcomings as actor Kim Mu-yeol. That's always how I approach my work. I tend to reflect and rethink things every time. We don't deliver a finished product. In the end, completion belongs to the audience and the viewers. I think they are the ones who complete the work. If they point out my shortcomings, I accept that gladly and take criticism as well, so I can do better next time. Even criticism, I try to approach by thinking about why it was made. One of Na Hwa-jin's lines, 'It's okay, let's try again,' feels like something said to the human being Kim Mu-yeol, and that line will probably stay with me for a long time. Personally, this is a work and a character that gave me great comfort."

Kim Mu-yeol also spoke candidly about the casting controversy surrounding Na Hwa-jin. Earlier in the production, Kim Nam-gil had been cast in 'Teach You a Lesson,' but opposition from fans continued because of the controversy around the project. He ultimately turned down the role and drew attention by posting directly on social media about the casting. Kim Nam-gil later reinforced that position at the press conference for 'The Fiery Priest' in November 2024, saying, "If fans are uncomfortable with it, then it's right not to do it." After Kim Nam-gil ultimately stepped away from 'Teach You a Lesson,' Kim Mu-yeol filled the vacancy.

In response, Kim Mu-yeol said, "I feel more and more that it may be rude to keep bringing up Kim Nam-gil, so I actually feel cautious and sorry."

He continued, "I've only ever greeted Kim Nam-gil in private, but what I remember from that meeting is his support, encouragement, and respect. In particular, his performance in 'The Shameless' gave me so much inspiration. I was such a fan that whenever I worked on a project, I would think back to that performance and draw inspiration from it. I'm just sorry and uncomfortable that this topic keeps coming up."

He added, "Things like this happen all the time during casting. To be honest, in many of the projects I've done, I was never the first choice. With that in mind, I started this project thinking that the controversy was just one part of the casting process. Beyond that, the director and the entire production team were always aware of the concerns and worries surrounding the project from the very beginning. While working, we kept checking ourselves to make sure we hadn't lost our way, and even after filming ended, they said we continued to work carefully through the editing process."

'Teach You a Lesson' stars Kim Mu-yeol, Lee Sung-min, Jin Ki-joo, and Pyo Ji-hoon. The script was written by Lee Nam-gyu, Kim Da-hee, and Moon Jong-ho, who also wrote 'Daily Dose of Sunshine,' and it was directed by Hong Jong-chan of 'Juvenile Justice' and 'Mr. Plankton.' The series was released on Netflix on the 5th.

Jo Ji-young, soulhn1220@sportschosun.com