Itaewon Class – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Itaewon Class

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show2020

71%

WISE Score

8.1

IMDb

Revenge meets ramen in this stylish K-drama about an ex-con building a bar empire while taking down the corporate family that destroyed his life.

8.1/10

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Itaewon Class

show

TV-MA, 2020

71%

WISE Score

8.1

IMDb

Revenge meets ramen in this stylish K-drama about an ex-con building a bar empire while taking down the corporate family that destroyed his life.

8.1

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Screenwise Verdict

Itaewon Class is a crowd-pleasing K-drama that earned its popularity with a charismatic lead, underdog story, and surprising inclusivity. It's not perfect—the middle episodes drag, some plot twists strain believability, and the revenge obsession might leave you wondering if therapy would've been cheaper than 15 years of planning.

But it works. The business strategy is genuinely interesting, the found-family dynamics hit hard, and it tackles discrimination and economic inequality without feeling like a lecture. Park Seo-joon's performance is magnetic enough to carry you through the weaker moments.

For families with older teens, this could spark great conversations about entrepreneurship, justice vs. revenge, and standing up to power. Just know it's an adult show in a bar setting with drinking, profanity, and dark themes throughout. Not a family movie night pick for anyone under 16, but a solid watch for older teens and parents together.

Age Fit

This is solidly for older teens (16+) and adults. The revenge plot, bar setting, profanity, and mature themes around corporate corruption and discrimination make it inappropriate for middle schoolers, even though some 13-year-olds might be interested. Parents of younger teens should watch first.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Models perseverance, loyalty, and standing up for what's right, but centers on revenge and includes moderate profanity, alcohol use (it's set in a bar), and some morally gray choices. The relationships are generally healthy and the found-family dynamics are strong, but the revenge plot and darker adult themes keep this from being emotionally clean.

Imaginative

Solid Korean drama that takes the underdog-entrepreneur story and adds compelling twists with diverse characters (including a trans character handled respectfully) and creative business strategies. The Itaewon setting itself is vibrant and culturally rich. Not groundbreaking in structure, but the character development and plotting are engaging enough to keep viewers invested across 16 episodes.

Safe

IMDb parent guide shows moderate profanity, moderate alcohol/drug content (expected given the bar setting), mild violence including physical fights and the father's death, and dark themes around revenge, corporate corruption, and discrimination. No sexual content or nudity. The revenge plot and adult themes make this unsuitable for younger teens, though the violence isn't graphic. Quora parents suggest it's not appropriate for 12-13 year olds due to mature themes.

Enriching

Strong themes of entrepreneurship, resilience in face of systemic injustice, found family, and standing up to corporate bullies. Tackles discrimination, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and socioeconomic inequality with nuance. The business strategy elements are genuinely interesting and could spark conversations about ethics, loyalty, and whether revenge is worth pursuing. The trans character representation was notable for Korean TV in 2020. High IMDb rating (8.1) suggests it resonates emotionally.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Genuinely compelling underdog story with smart business strategy that makes entrepreneurship look exciting
Strong found-family dynamics and diverse cast, including respectful trans representation rare in Korean TV
Tackles real issues like corporate corruption, discrimination, and economic inequality without being preachy
Park Seo-joon's charismatic performance carries the show even when the script gets uneven
The Itaewon neighborhood itself becomes a character—vibrant, multicultural, and full of possibility

⚠

What to Watch For

The entire plot is driven by revenge, which may not align with every family's values about forgiveness and moving on
It's set in a bar, so there's constant drinking throughout—not glorified but definitely present
Moderate profanity and some physical violence (fights, the father's death scene)
At 16 episodes of Korean drama length, it drags in the middle and some plotlines feel contrived
Not appropriate for middle schoolers despite the young protagonist—themes are distinctly adult

Conversation Starters

"The main character spends 15 years planning revenge. Do you think that kind of long-term anger is worth it, or does it just eat you up inside?"
"How would you handle it if someone powerful tried to destroy your family's business or reputation?"
"The show deals with a trans character and various forms of discrimination. What did you think about how the characters responded?"
"Is it okay to bend the rules or make morally gray choices when you're fighting against a corrupt system?"
"What would your 15-year plan be if you were starting a business from scratch?"

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