Extracurricular (TV series)


Extracurricular is a 2020 South Korean television series directed by Kim Jin-min, starring Kim Dong-hee, Park Ju-hyun, Jung Da-bin, Nam Yoon-su, Choi Min-soo, Park Hyuk-kwon, and Kim Yeo-jin. It was released on Netflix on April 29, 2020.

Cast

Main

Recurring

Production

Development

On April 22, 2019, Netflix announced through a press release that it would distribute a new Korean original series entitled Extracurricular and produced by Studio 329, confirming at the same time that the main cast would consist of Kim Dong-hee, Jung Da-bin, Park Ju-hyun, Nam Yoon-soo, Choi Min-soo, Park Hyuk-kwon and Kim Yeo-jin. The series is written by Song Ji-na's son Jin Han-sae and directed by Kim Jin-min, whose wife Kim Yeo-jin is starring in the series.

Filming

Filming, which ended on August 6, 2019, mostly took place in Seoul.

Promotion

On April 28, 2020, the press conference was held online due to the coronavirus pandemic, in presence of actors Kim Dong-hee, Jung Da-bin, Park Ju-hyun and Nam Yoon-soo, executive producer Yoon Shin-ae, and director Kim Jin-min. The series being released a few months after the Nth room case opened, director Kim said that "the incident was so shocking that felt frightened. Extracurricular could become an opportunity to discuss this uncomfortable reality. As a creator, felt had to deal with the issues of our society with more depth and responsibility."
On April 29, some of the cast and crew attended a special one-day class by Professors Kwon Il-yong, Park Mi-rang and Seo Min-soo, which was broadcast live on Netflix Korea's YouTube and V Live channels. They discussed the reality of youth crime in society.

Release

On March 19, 2020, Netflix Korea announced through Twitter that the series would be released on April 29. On April 16, the official trailer was released.

Reception

Audience viewership

Extracurricular was the ninth most-watched South Korean series on Netflix in 2020.

Critical response

John Serba of Decider said that "Extracurricular is good, funny stuff. The debut episode's near-miss ending isn't entirely satisfying, but that's not likely to stop you from binging the crap out of this show."
The series has also "gained rave reviews for its clear depiction of the struggles of teenage students."