Who Was Song Young Kyu? A Look at His Final Role in Netflix's Teach You A Lesson
Netflix's latest South Korean drama, Teach You A Lesson, has quickly climbed the UK Top 10 chart, captivating audiences alongside shows like The Witness. The series features the late actor Song Young Kyu in his final performance before his untimely death in 2025.
The Plot of Teach You A Lesson
The series is set in a school notorious for violence and the decline of faculty authority. An inspector from the Educational Rights Protection Bureau uses physical intervention and unconventional methods to discipline delinquent students, turning the institution around. Based on the Naver webtoon Get Schooled, the show stars Song Young-gyu as Ryu Gwang-pil, a member of the National Assembly and the father of student Ryu Jun-hyeong, played by Lee Seung-gyu.
Song Young Kyu's Career and Legacy
Song Young-kyu, also known as Song Young-gyu, was a 55-year-old South Korean actor renowned for his theatre work. He made his film debut in the 2002 movie Turn It Up and gained international recognition for his roles in Netflix's Narco-Saints and Disney+'s Big Bet, both released in 2022. In August 2025, the actor was found dead inside a parked car in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, with no signs of foul play. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Teach You A Lesson: A Posthumous Tribute
This drama was the last project Song Young Kyu completed before his passing. His posthumous appearance has drawn worldwide attention. The first episode revolves around school violence, with Education Authority Protection Bureau supervisor Na Hwa-jin (Kim Moo-yeol) investigating the death of student Park Dae-seok at Daehan High School. The ringleader, Ryu Jun-hyeong, relies on his father's political power to commit atrocities, but Na Hwa-jin confronts Ryu Kwang-pil directly. Instead of correcting his son, Ryu Kwang-pil tries to block the investigation and even attempts to dismantle the bureau.
Song Young Kyu appeared in over 40 TV dramas and numerous films across three decades. His role as Chief Choi in the 2019 film Extreme Job, one of South Korea's highest-grossing films, brought him international acclaim.
Fan Tributes
One fan on X (formerly Twitter) paid tribute after watching Teach You A Lesson: "I was so focused on the plot that I didn't even realise the actor playing the bully's father was Song Young-gyu. The crazy thing is, I've seen him in so many dramas over the years, but while watching this one, all my attention was on the story. It wasn't until now that it clicked. It's a strange feeling when you recognise an actor after the fact and remember they're no longer here. Supporting actors rarely get the same attention as lead stars, but they're often the ones who make these dramas feel real. Continue to Rest in Peace, Song Young-gyu."
Teach You A Lesson is available to stream on Netflix now.
