Netflix has released a new South Korean drama, Teach You A Lesson, which is climbing the UK Top 10 chart alongside titles like The Witness. Viewers are paying special attention to one cast member: the late Song Young-kyu, who died before the show aired.
Plot and Cast
The series, adapted from the Naver webtoon Get Schooled, centers on a school plagued by violence and staff breakdown. An inspector from the Educational Rights Protection Bureau uses physical intervention and unorthodox methods to discipline unruly students. Song Young-kyu plays Ryu Gwang-pil, a National Assembly member and father of student Ryu Jun-hyeong, portrayed by Lee Seung-kyu.
Song Young-kyu's Career
Song Young-kyu, also known as Song Young-gyu, was a 55-year-old South Korean actor celebrated for his theatre work. He made his film debut in 2002's Turn It Up and gained international recognition for roles in Netflix's Narco-Saints and Disney+'s Big Bet, both released in 2022. He appeared in over 40 TV dramas and numerous films across three decades. His portrayal of Chief Choi in the 2019 film Extreme Job, one of South Korea's highest-grossing films, brought him widespread acclaim.
Death and Posthumous Role
In August 2025, Song was found dead inside a parked vehicle in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. Authorities confirmed no signs of foul play. Teach You a Lesson is his final production, and his posthumous appearance has captured global attention. The opening episode focuses on school violence, following Education Authority Protection Bureau supervisor Na Hwa-jin (Kim Moo-yeol) as he investigates the death of student Park Dae-seok (Jung Soo-hyun). The orchestrator of the violence, Ryu Jun-hyeong, exploits his father's powerful position, showing contempt for students and staff. Na Hwa-jin confronts Ryu Gwang-pil, who obstructs the investigation and attempts to shut down the bureau.
Tributes
Fans have paid tribute to Song on social media. One wrote on X: "I was so focused on the plot of Teach You a Lesson that I didn't even realize the actor playing the bully's father was Song Young-gyu. It's a strange feeling when you recognize an actor after the fact and remember they're no longer here." Song is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Teach You A Lesson is now streaming on Netflix.
