How a disgraced ex-convict built a business empire to dismantle a corporate dynasty
In short: Itaewon Class follows Park Sae-ro-yi, a man whose life is shattered by a powerful conglomerate. After a three-year prison sentence, he opens a bar in Seoul to challenge the very company that destroyed his family. It is a story of long-term vengeance, unlikely alliances, and the pursuit of justice.
The narrative begins with a tragic accident that kills Park Sae-ro-yi's father, an event orchestrated by the reckless driving of Jang Geun-won, son of the Jangga Group founder, Jang Dae-hee. Sae-ro-yi's subsequent assault on Geun-won leads to his imprisonment. Upon his release, he opens a bar-restaurant named DanBam in the Itaewon district. His goal is to expand his business into a franchise that can eventually dismantle Jangga Group, a company built on power and authority.
Sae-ro-yi is joined by Jo Yi-seo, a brilliant social media celebrity with an IQ of 162. Despite her reputation for lacking empathy, she becomes the manager of DanBam and later the CFO of Sae-ro-yi's company, IC Group. The series explores complex interpersonal dynamics, including Sae-ro-yi's complicated history with his first love, Oh Soo-ah, who works for Jangga Group but eventually turns whistleblower to expose the company's past crimes.
The show gained significant acclaim for its realistic portrayal of social issues, including prejudice against ex-convicts, foreigners, and the LGBT community, as well as the systemic misbehaviors of chaebols. By 2020, Sae-ro-yi successfully absorbs Jangga Group after CEO Jang's illegal activities are exposed. The series, which aired on JTBC from January 31 to March 21, 2020, achieved a 16.548% nationwide audience share for its finale, cementing its status as a landmark in South Korean cable television history.
Its influence extends far beyond its original run. Recognized by publications like Time and Forbes, the series sparked a wave of international adaptations, including the Japanese version Roppongi Class and the Taiwanese series Fired Up!. With further adaptations in development across countries like the UK, France, and India, the story of Sae-ro-yi's struggle against corporate corruption has become a global cultural phenomenon.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Itaewon Class
- Also: Wikidata — Itaewon Class · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — Itaewon Class · CC0
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