Itaewon Class

Edit

What would you like to edit?

SynopsisBackgroundAlternative TitlesPictureChapters/VolumesPublishing DatesRelationsTypeExternal Links  

Firstly, without any spoilers I'll say the kdrama follows the manhwa.

The story revolves around Park Saeroyi, an honest young man with an unshakable will and high values.
It's an example of what a person with a quality value system can do with foundation and consistency in the long run.
There will always be some setbacks but what matters the most is how you react to them. Of course luck and unpredictable events happens and they can go each way, for good or for bad.
A little more then two decades are covered by the story. During this period you can follow the journey from main character's teen years ... to his late 30s. Seeing how his normal life turns upside down for the worst and what hardships he have to go through to achieve happiness is something admirable.
The kdrama presents the story more detailed compared to the manhwa. Minor differences can be spotted in the story but they are not relevant. There are some plot twists and psychological play which are better presented in the kdrama.
Reading the manhwa only will give you the full experience.
Story score: 10/10

Most of the time the art is on average level with the other manhwas. Of course there are some exceptions which you can easily notice the author put more work in to them and tried to give the reader a better experience and make the moment precious.
Art score: 8/10

As I said above, a very long period of time is covered in the story. All of the main characters are well developed and relatable. Every one of them has it's flaws and perks. The human nature is well presented. A human being has to make sacrifices to achieve his goals and how different every character applies this principle is not something every author can do the way Kwang Jin did.
You can also take a lot of life lessons from all the characters.
Characters score: 8/10

I watched the drama 1 year ago and laughed and cried during the series. The same thing happened with the manhwa 1 year after that. I enjoyed both of them and in my opinion this series is one of the best in the genre. The kdrama definitely has a slight edge because of the soundtracks especially "Ha Hyun Woo - Diamond" and "Gaho - Start Over". The scene of Ma Hyun Yi entering the 3rd stage of the cooking competition was just jaw-dropping. It's a blessing the series get adapted and the fans could have a better feeling to the scenes. This difference is due to the format. I can't take any points for that so it's still excellent.
Enjoyment score: 10/10

Overall: Just the fact I went through the story twice and still felt the same enjoyment speaks a lot. I almost never do it. And both times I pulled an all-nighter. That's just how worth it is. A solid 10/10.