One of the biggest reasons Netflix’s Teach You a Lesson has resonated with viewers isn’t just its heroes — it’s the villains.
The series has built much of its buzz on the cathartic takedowns delivered by Kim Moo Yul’s Na Hwa Jin and the Educational Rights Protection Bureau. But those moments only land because of the show’s gallery of infuriating antagonists, brought to life by a cast of scene-stealing performers.
Among the most memorable is Lee Seung Gyu’s Ryu Jun Hyung, the entitled son of a powerful politician who rules his classroom through fear and influence in Episode 1. Even after pushing a classmate towards a tragic fate, he shows no remorse, making him one of the drama’s most chilling early villains.
Late actor Song Young Gue also drew attention with his appearance in the first episode, where he plays Ryu Gwang Pil, a lawmaker and presidential candidate. Ryu Gwang Pil is a powerful political figure who protects his son, Ryu Jun Hyung. However, the true nature of both father and son is eventually exposed through the efforts of the Teacher Rights Protection Bureau.
Meanwhile, Song Young Gue was found dead inside a vehicle in Gyeonggi Province on August 4th, just ten days after being referred to prosecutors on charges of drunk driving. As Teach You a Lesson completed filming before his death, the drama became his final work.
Episode 6 introduced another standout in Min Ji Woong, played by Jang Yo Hoon. A teenage drug dealer and violent bully, the character taunts authorities, saying, “I won’t be punished since I’m underage.” Viewers were especially surprised to learn that the actor portraying the 14-year-old delinquent is actually in his mid-30s.
The series also delivers its share of more traditional schoolyard troublemakers. In Episode 2, Ok Jin Wook and Yoo Tae Joo bring explosive energy to the roles of Jo In Beom and Park Sung Hwan, two students whose reckless violence and swagger make them instantly unforgettable.
Episode 3 shifts its focus to cyberbullying through influencer Han Ye Ri, played by Park Seo Yoon. Using her popularity as a weapon, the character manipulates classmates and fuels a campaign that pushes a teacher toward tragedy. Park balances an innocent exterior with a far darker side, creating one of the show’s most unsettling villains.
Kim Jae Seon’s Lee Chi Ho, introduced later in the series, represents a more calculating threat. A skilled manipulator who treats his classmates like pieces on a chessboard, the character ultimately becomes a victim of an even larger criminal scheme.
Still, many viewers have singled out Park Ji Yeon as the drama’s most unforgettable villain.
Her portrayal of Woo Jin’s mother in Episode 5 quickly became a talking point online. Convinced she is protecting her son at all costs, the character wages a relentless campaign against his teacher, spreading false claims, filing complaints and escalating every conflict. Park’s performance transforms an overprotective parent into one of the series’ most terrifying antagonists.
Her eventual reckoning — when she is forced to confront the consequences of her actions and hear the painful truth from her own son — remains one of the most powerful moments in the series.
For many viewers, it also cemented Park Ji Yeon’s place as Teach You a Lesson‘s villain to beat.
>> Netflix’s ‘Teach You a Lesson’ Debuts at No. 1 Globally, Reaches Top 10 in 48 Countries
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