'Taming The Bad Boy' (일진조련기) does not seek to portray a homosexual romance, nor does it seek to portray the friendship between five South Korean gay teenagers, students at a high school.
Lim Hyungkyu, its director, aims much higher. Scripted by Yoo Guijong, the short series produced in 2024 by Flying Penguin, denounces the situation of harassment and discrimination suffered by South Korean LGBT+ students in the classrooms, by other students, but which in reality can also be by managers, school officials and teachers, including their parents and other family members.
In a highly conservative, patriarchal and heteronormative society, through the relationship between Park Jin U, a role played by newcomer Lee Ui Seop, a student transferring to a new school, and Ko Tae Seop (Holland - 'Ocean Like Me'), who approaches the newcomer out of curiosity, only to soon discover that she has developed feelings for him, 'Taming The Bad Boy' reflects the situation of isolation and mistreatment that members of the South Korean LGBT+ community suffer from their peers. classroom.
The series is not suitable for all audiences, not even for many BL lovers who expect tender and warm romantic scenes between two boys, since the plot crudely exposes the intimidation, harassment and discrimination due to gender identity experienced by children. students of said South Korean human group, as well as the lack of safe and inclusive environments in schools.
Through the relationship of the protagonists and that of the two of them with Jungbeom (Joo Jongbeom), Seongyu (Ki Myeongje) and Changmin (Son Changseong), three classmates who are also homosexual, and among them five and several homophobes and harassers, among them These Mynhyuk (Byeon Jeong Hyeon), known for playing Park Jae Han in the BL film 'Hold', from 2022, the dramatized denounces the lack of protections against discrimination by the government due to the lack of a comprehensive law that protects LGBT+ people in educational and other environments, including work, as well as the lack of interest of the government and educational authorities in ensuring that LGBT+ youth have support resources to safeguard their education and their physical and mental health.
Through the figure of the teacher, a role played by the popular actor Hong Seok Cheon, known for starring in the film 'Perfect Love' (2003), the series makes visible how the South Korean sexual education curriculum does not include any content about LGBT+ issues. In this case, the educator seems to be a member of this community, so when homophobic students make negative comments about gays, the teacher defends the members of said community, even at the risk of being fired and being exposed to harassment as well and discrimination.
Often a product, television or film, emerges that attempts to raise awareness about complex issues. This is the case of 'Taming The Bad Boy', a plot that may have been reviewed too many times before, but should not be detracted for this reason by being produced in a homophobic country, which persecutes and harasses gays, lesbians, transsexuals, bisexuals…
In just over an hour, the short series becomes a contemporary vision of gay men who struggle to define what is real: for themselves, their romantic relationships and their high school studies in a school whose students despise and humiliate them just for being different.
I won't say much because I don't want to spoil it, but the fact that there are scenes of harassment, loaded with violence, in my opinion, reflects the director's audacity in addressing the issue head-on.
Of course, there are the occasional furtive kiss, glances and knowing smiles between two secret lovers. There are also boys who express their identity through dance and equally confidential conversations in intimate spaces. Kisses between two boys and dialogues about dreams and desires in a series about gay teenagers in Seoul, what would be wrong with that?
The supporting cast is good in their realistic performances.
If you are interested in a drama with a very real approach to the complex topic proposed, you will enjoy 'Taming The Bad Boy'.