Netflix’s Upcoming Drama Sparks Backlash Over Portrayal Of Feminism

Netflix’s upcoming drama adaptation of the controversial webtoon Get Schooled is already facing criticism, not just for its violent premise, but for concerns that it could reinforce negative stereotypes about feminism.

According to reports that the series is being adapted into a live-action drama by Netflix, online discussions quickly reignited around one of the webtoon’s most criticized plotlines, an arc involving a self-identified feminist teacher who is portrayed as abusing her authority, ultimately being violently “disciplined” by the male protagonist.

Although the original webtoon framed the character as an extreme and abusive individual, critics argue that the narrative went further by strongly associating her behavior with feminism itself. As a result, many fear that adapting the story into a mainstream drama, especially one with Netflix’s global reach, could cement a harmful image of feminists as radical, abusive, or hypocritical.

Korean netizens have pointed out that feminism in reality encompasses a wide range of beliefs and movements, most of which focus on gender equality and human rights rather than extremism. Critics worry that viewers may equate feminism as a whole with the negative depiction shown in the series.

• 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.
• I thought they folded it after the controversy previously… Seems like they’re really doing it.
• As expected of the incel-nation.
• The actors who agreed to this are so…
• This ain’t it…

The controversy has resurfaced broader debates about responsibility in adaptations. While the webtoon has long been divisive for its endorsement of violence as “education,” critics say a drama version has an even greater obligation to clarify that feminism is not a radical ideology.

For now, Netflix has not commented on how closely the drama will follow the original webtoon. But as anticipation grows, so does scrutiny, with many watching closely to see whether the adaptation will address these concerns—or further fuel an already heated debate.