Itaewon Class

Synopsis

Park Saeroyi is an upright and stubborn high school student whose father, a former employee of the Jangga food group, is killed in a hit-and-run by the chairman's son, Jang Geun-won. When the justice system protects the culprit thanks to the influence of his father Jang Dae-hee, the CEO of Jangga, Saeroyi assaults his father's killer and is sentenced to prison. During his years of incarceration, he methodically plans his revenge: to destroy the Jangga group by beating them at their own game — the restaurant business.

Upon his release, Saeroyi opens 'DanBam,' a small bar-restaurant in the cosmopolitan Itaewon neighborhood. He recruits an atypical team: Jo Yi-seo, a gifted sociopath and influencer who becomes his manager; Ma Hyeon-yi, a talented transgender chef; Choi Seung-kwon, a reformed delinquent turned loyal friend; and Kim Tony, a Guinean-Korean. Together, they take on the Jangga war machine while building their own gastronomic empire.

Saeroyi's journey is a David-versus-Goliath battle where integrity, loyalty, and innovation stand against established power, corruption, and nepotism. His rivalry with Jang Dae-hee, a complex antagonist who grudgingly respects Saeroyi's determination, forms the dramatic backbone of the series.

Themes and Influence

Itaewon Class is a manifesto for diversity and inclusion in a still highly hierarchical Korean society. The choice of Itaewon, Seoul's most multicultural neighborhood, as the setting is symbolic. The drama addresses discrimination (transgender identity, racism, classism), meritocracy versus nepotism, and the courage to defy power structures. The character of Ma Hyeon-yi, the first positive representation of a transgender person in a mainstream K-drama, marked a turning point. The series also boosted tourism to Itaewon and popularized Korean pub cuisine.