Netflix’s New Drama Ignites Controversy Over Feminism Depiction

Netflix’s new drama adaptation of the controversial webtoon Get Schooled is already facing backlash.

The controversy began over a key storyline showing a self-proclaimed feminist teacher abusing her power. The male lead ends up violently “disciplining” her. This sparked big worries online about reinforcing negative stereotypes tied to feminism.

The original webtoon painted the teacher as an extreme, abusive figure. But critics point out the story links her bad behavior directly to feminism itself. That has many worried the Netflix drama will spread a harmful view of feminists as radical and hypocritical, especially with Netflix’s global audience.

Korean netizens argued feminism is much broader and mostly about equality and human rights—not extremism.

Some reactions online summed it up:

“At first I was like, ‘are they crazy,’ but now I don’t think it’s all bad to let foreigners know at once what Korea’s level is like LOL.”
— netizen on theqoo

“I thought they folded it after the controversy previously… Seems like they’re really doing it.”
— another user on theqoo

“As expected of the incel-nation.”
— comment from theqoo

“The actors who agreed to this are so…”
— theqoo user

“This ain’t it…”
— public reaction

The debate sparked a wider discussion on responsibility in adaptations. The webtoon’s promotion of violence as “education” was already divisive. But critics say a Netflix drama must be clearer that feminism isn’t a radical ideology.

Netflix has not said how closely the drama will follow the original webtoon yet. Fans and critics alike will be watching closely to see if the show handles these issues or fans the flames of controversy even more.