Kim Mu-yeol, lead of the Netflix series‘True Education’. Courtesy of Netflix

Actor Kim Mu-yeol has found a career-defining character. It is ‘Na Hwa-jin’, an inspector at the Office for the Protection of Teaching Authority, in the Netflix series ‘True Education’ (directed by Hong Jong-chan). Though he stepped in for Kim Nam-gil, he embodies the character so snugly that one could say ‘True Education’ needed Kim Mu-yeol.

In ‘True Education’, released on the 5th, Kim Mu-yeol, as inspector ‘Na Hwa-jin’, compellingly drives all 10 episodes.

Not only does he deliver comedy, he also freely navigates emotionsfrom the grief of losing his fiance to compassion for victimized students and teachersand even pulls off action scenes that burst with catharsis, earning love as ‘Na Hwa-jin’ himself.

From the earliest stages, ‘True Education’ faced major turmoil over accusations that the original webtoon glorified violence, was misogynistic, and racist. During this, Kim Nam-gil, who had been offered Na Hwa-jin, declined out of concern over the controversy, bringing another crisis. Then Kim Mu-yeol appeared like a hero, allowing the project to become what it is now.

For Kim Mu-yeol, the tag of being a ‘replacement for Kim Nam-gil’ was also a burden. At a prior production presentation, he maintained composure, saying, “Actor replacements happen all the time in production. It only seems notable because it became known externally; in fact, it is common.” Nevertheless, he could not be entirely free of the prejudice directed at him.

Kim Mu-yeol met that burden head-on with acting prowess. Above all, his comic timing shone. Because ‘True Education’ tackles heavy subjects such as school violence and the collapse of teacher authority, his comic performance was a key variable for delivering cathartic payoffs.

With Kim Mu-yeol fulfilling that role, the show broadened its resonance and heightened the immersion that keeps viewers binging through all 10 episodes. Credit goes to Kim Mu-yeol for holding the center firm.

Kim Mu-yeol and director Hong Jong-chan (right).

On top of that, the crisp, bursting action doubles the soda-pop flavor of ‘True Education’. In particular, in the finale, the sequence where he repeatedly slaps the ultimate villain Jo Gyu-cheol (Lee Bong-jun) with an enormous palm lands with such impact that even viewers feel their chests clear. Beyond that, the flamboyant action set pieces that sweep away school-violence perpetrators and power-abusers offer another spectacle apart from the pleasures of the narrative.

Kim Mu-yeol delivered a fine performance that also boosted his name recognition. According to Good Data Corporation on the 9th, Kim Mu-yeol ranked No. 1 in buzz among TV-OTT drama cast members for the first week of June. He outpaced Im Ji-yeon (No. 2) and Heo Nam-jun (No. 3), who are being loved on SBS ‘Brave New World’, thus proving the high level of interest.

Having finally met a career-defining character and spread his wings, attention is turning to how Kim Mu-yeol will move forward.