Img kpopmap. Itaewon Class Live Action VS Webtoon.
Img hitc.com. Six members of the Itaewon Class strut in badass style.
[ ALERT: MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW, DO NOT READ FURTHER IF YOU HAVEN’T WATCHED ITAEWON CLASS.* ]
*This article contains severe spoilers that will ruin your Itaewon drama viewing experience so do consider the back button if you’re not ready.
After finishing K-Drama Itaewon Class (oh nooooo there isn’t episode 17!), you may be left suffering from withdrawal symptoms because the series has finally, formally ended it’s run and life can’t seem to move on yet. Unless, you decided to check out the original Korean webtoon (English subs are a few chapters only) by author Gwangjin which inspired the live action scenes (there are various differences in script). Post-drama-math, you sit down at your living or study room and reached an epiphany that the Itaewon Class (IC) imagined world would indeed be the ideal society, perfect world you wish to live in. Chin-cha, really, the zenith of modern millennials’ brave new dawn (although a little too impossible to materialise in today’s compounded hard-to-please capitalism). Lifebly has dissected the entire Itaewon Class planet for you to present 10 spectacular resounding themes in this highly-rated Netflix JTBC serial proving the point. Many of which honestly, is like literally seeing a unicorn fantasy in real life. Itaewon Class might have sent waves of unicorns galloping far and beyond the Korean peninsula into the interstellar galaxy. So, let the unicorns begin.
Why K-Drama Itaewon Class is the Unicorn Dream Reality
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Unicorn Dream #1. Incredible Diversity
In Itaewon Class, there’s a transgender, a Guinean searching lost family, a scarface gangster ex-convict, an entrepreneurial middle school ex-convict, a psychopath social media Influencer (genius praiseworthy), and a dilemma chaebol heir. Held by a too beautiful to be true, common vision of love in diversity, all six of them responsible for their roles in the pub hustle bonded together like a match made in heaven, eventually embracing and helping each other to find themselves. All this while grounding their values as steady as an anchor for better or worse. Viewers can only gawk at the rare gem of a harmonious clique they are, looking at how close they are into getting in trouble and at their perspicaciousness in resolving disputes, contraries with such exquisitely tearjerking make peace finales. Expanding outwards to community excellence, we folks will never get enough of the DamBam crew’s colourful and vibrant freedom, affirmation, acceptance and belonging. Whoever wants to stay, is welcomed to stay in Itaewon’s DamBam, egged on by the reserves of their hearts or guts. Sadly, the golden six became a five after Mr. Chaebol left for Jangga. Still, the quintet’s amazing.
Img mydramalist. The cast of Itaewon featuring the six of them.
Unicorn Dream #2. Having Superb Second Chances To Right Wrongs
Almost every character in Itaewon Class seems to have a smooth-sailing second chance to shine in second charm and make things all right again. Park Saeroyi manages to score a perfect second chance, changing his fate from ex-convict to winning Fortune 500 F&B CEO after losing his dad and the police dream, flipping the tide and competing head-on hurricane with Jangga Corp. How did it all happen so well, flawlessly stirred up in such serendipitous series of events from ex-con pub owner to multinational tycoon? Don’t some arrogant patrons shun and lambast eateries run by ex-cons? In competitive capital climate even second chances are hard to come by, and many business ventures get consumed without resurrection. Not DamBam. Also Seung Kwon, his loyal mate and fellow ex-con had the all too timely opportunity to join Saeroyi in his early pub foundations, requesting to be recruited like it didn’t take much at all, because all you need to do is ask? Importantly, how often do you see young spirited, talented people like Jo Yi Seo enrolling in a startup pub instead of going to college, lining up all the cards to be the driving force of a major corporation later?
Unicorn Dream #3. Shocking Girl Power
Jo Yi Seo, the young, bedazzling multi-talented MENSA genius with everything to offer possessed almost-infinite girl power in handling all sorts of matters from kicking real bitches ass to operating as A-list social media influencer, elite pub manager, and one of Forbes’ recognised CFO big time in IC Inc. Sometimes we wonder if such girls truly exist, but they brazenly do in Itaewon Class. Mainly, Yi Seo’s strangely direct, strategic spunk and independent composure strikes a keen chord with female empowerment solely taking on the stage tackling attacks and even solving real man’s problems as in the financial ones of IC inc. with only one worry or two. NOW. Who the hell is she?! A modern genius basket-case goddess?? Her youthful sensible power as foundational pillar to Saeroyi’s every economic and social concern is unprecedented and to die for. Then there’s her love rival Soo Ah, another female force stealthily disarming Jangga Corp. on account of her individual strength, working her way up first then whistleblowing the corp’s demise. Wow.
Jo Yi Seo, the atypical sassy female lead in Itaewon Class.
Unicorn Dream #4. Long Sweet Revenge
Sweet Vengeance took more than 15 over years to accomplish in Itaewon Class, from Saeroyi’s high school dropout to jail time to deep sea fishing/factory labor to pub establishment to franchising to building a multinational company in a symbolic tower building. Seriously, revenge isn’t a thing to bear at all if you have to sleep in darkness for more than a decade picturing how your dad had been murdered by someone you knew and the perpetrator moved on scot-free. But that was how Saeroyi’s life had been, for too many years you could see him plotting the grids step by step on a huge company he aims to cripple and overthrow. His committed determination towards forging a successful business (and nothing else, not even a love relationship) with his dad’s passing shows remarkable perseverance and persistence. Clearly, his grit over the decade for vengeance is arguably more impressive and miraculous than the actual sweet revenge exacted on Jangga’s boss itself. Hard to believe one would go through with V for Vendetta all the way for so….. damn long.
Unicorn Dream #5. The Exceptional Boss Who Believes In People Over Profits
Amazing as it is, the Itaewon Class company is the stunning hands-up gold standard employer in any sector or industry. Chiefly because of an exceptionally trusting boss (Saeroyi, the rare unicorn) who places a high premium of faith in his people he deals directly with such as Yi Seo, Hyun Yi, Seung Kwon, Toni and others; believing in their character and abilities. Saeroyi is confident of his employees’ confidence, not money. He steps up as an idealistic people-oriented boss taking the helm, knowing that everyone in his village will do the best they can whatever it takes. These days, employees in numerous organisations are hoping for a corporate culture where bosses put their workers first to foster and maintain good working relationships instead of the focus emphasis on revenue climbs. Topping the icing which we can never forget, Saeroyi constantly shows respect to people’s rights and reasons for their doings, never precipitating hate in whichever that comes at him. What can I say? This IS the unicorn boss, so rare you have to dig deep to find.
Img meaww from JTBC. The exceptional boss of Itaewon Class, Park Saeroyi.
Unicorn Dream #6. Jobseekers Without Experience Can Apply
No experience? Go ahead to apply at DamBam if you really want the job (must show your teary eyes to Saeroyi with your life’s gamble at it). As Hyun Yi formerly worked in a manual factory (with Saeroyi), she had no relevant fundamental industry experience as a cook. Gremlins would object, but she got the job as cook anyway at DamBam. Despite the presence of probable better cooks available in the market who could average out more hits than misses in spice and starch proportions, her title as DamBam’s cook never got replaced. Saeroyi was perfectly fine with that, since he enjoyed the amateur lunch she once made for him. Now, we are looking at a transgendered woman without formative professional training and track record as chef in proper culinary settings serving the public, a feat she must pull up every inch of her socks to deliver the chops. Oh yes, I would like to apply as jobseeker in a company like this accepting individuals for their attitude if experience wasn’t a factor, but motivation is.
Unicorn Dream #7. Suck At Work? No Problem.
Adding to point #6, one can be a really bad incompetent worker in Saeroyi’s DamBam tavern and still be paid twice the salary to improve on your mark. In short, your shortcomings aren’t an excuse if you have the drive to work harder. Hyun Yi, executive chef to DamBam had zero cook experience. She was a prior factory laborer who didn’t know how to season dishes like a normal one would. Saeroyi, like the unicorn man he is, handed Hyun a bag of cash twice her pay seeking cooperation in that she double her efforts at the kitchen. After attempting and repeating to sort out issues of each dish everyday until perfection, she bagged the Korean national television culinary awards like the true boss of culinarians. Since Rome wasn’t built in a day, Rome had to address many stumbling blocks before it could be erected. In Itaewon’s DamBam, it’s no problem if you haven’t gotten it all sorted out yet at work.
Img Forbes. Soo Ah, Saeroyi and Yi Seo running away from a thug on the streets of Itaewon.
Unicorn Dream #8. You Can Unbelievably Luck Out In Love and Success
Staggeringly, you can get super lucky to be rich and famous overnight with the help of a celebrity social media star influencer riding you over the rainbows. If your entrepreneurship is heading down the pits, all you need is one Jo Yi Seo, the social queen who is the Merlin, the Rayleigh and the Zhugeliang to restore order from chaos, effectively weathering the storm and advising future best methods. In Itaewon Class, your untampered four leaf clover also means you can score a home run at love, by finding your one true love to live for as long as possible while commanding the billionaire empire at your fingertips. Your dream guy will finally realise your feelings after all this time working for him (Jo Yi Seo), and there is some kind of remedy for not finding out any sooner to which a mutually-agreed hug and kiss will culminate at the end. Overtime, being the next Jack Ma only gets better because you are on a winning streak and everything totally lucked out in your life. Even mother nature is in your favour, the unicorn diamond. Seriously?
Unicorn Dream #9. (Almost) Everyone In Itaewon Class Seems To Be Rebound Resilient
I have never seen such nimble characters in any youth-oriented dramas get back on their feet so magically and extraordinarily up to speed than the associates in Itaewon Class. Failure seems to be frankly, only very temporary and before anyone can anticipate a burying hole somewhere for losers, the IC brothers and sisters are already striving to recover from their losses and sorrows. With very little inertia hampering in their way. It’s like they already know a few more chess moves will bring forth a fortuitous climactic change to reverse the course of history and reset the clock. So IC members as though in a good type of trance - stop for nothing, never get distracted on the goal at large. I don’t think Park Saeroyi has truly been in a darker fog than the grim reaper - he saw light instead.
Unicorn Dream #10. Chaebols Bridging The Class Inequality Divide
In essence, the drama seems to draw a strong noticeable hint that although Korean Chaebols may plunder and destroy the average fabric of ordinary citizens, they can resolve a host of society’s problems at the heart of Korea. Chaebols here save people from poverty by bridging the class gap with normally inaccessible to laymen resources. They offer opportunities for scholarships through their foundations, plethora of job openings, debt rescue lines and charitable aids. Sometimes, like a kind fairy godmother, they set the record straight for anyone needing a little push from behind, if the victim is found so needy worthy. If angels don’t set foot onto earth often, chaebols likely would not either. You find a unicorn chaebol getting into good shoes here. I’m impressed.
gimme the unicorn dream reality in itaewon class!
Img @icebreakers