Extracurricular goes the “extra mile” in breaking from the generic high-school K-drama mold. If you’re a big Boys Over Flowers, The Heirs, etc. fan, prepare to be surprised, shocked and to even do some soul-searching after. This is because this original Netflix series takes an unflinching and unfiltered look at juvenile crime, bad company and choices, as well as the dark side of young love — and the hard lessons and cruel consequences of it all.
The series is now streaming on Netflix. Ahead of the April 29 world-premiere, The STAR had an e-mail interview with its breakout cast led by Kim Dong-hee who played supporting roles in Sky Castle and Itaewon Class before getting the lead as Jisoo, the shy, straight-A student but who is actually the brains of a criminal activity in Extracurricular.
He said of his character: “My character Jisoo commits a serious crime to make money, but at school, he is a model student who is quiet and unsociable. In a way, he is a very alone and lonely person, but he goes on to commit an unthinkable crime beyond any of his peers’ imagination. This, I believe, is at the core of understanding Jisoo.”
Other cast members are Jung Da-bin, who started out as a popular child actress in Korea, as the “mean girl” Minhee; newbie Park Ju-hyun as Jisoo’s accomplice Gyuri; and Nam Yoon Su, who previously starred in web dramas, as Kitae, Minhee’s boyfriend and resident school bully.
Jung Da-bin on Minhee: “She wants to continue to draw attention from her friends, so she goes out to make money and is led down the wrong path. She is at the center of criminal activities, and she ends up paying the price for her deeds along with Jisoo.”
Park Ju-hyun on Gyuri: “She is super smart, upbeat and born rich. She seems to have everything, but she really wants to break away from the pressure and suppression from her parents. She finds out about Jisoo’s criminal activities, in which she gets engaged solely to rebel against her parents, and ends up scaling them up.”
Nam Yoon Su on Kitae: “(I play) a character who cannot bear to see anything being taken from him… Being at the top of the food chain, he is unafraid and laid-back with no signs of fear. He will make sure he gets whatever he wants, and he certainly knows how to bully others. When Jisoo, who was almost invisible at school, seems to get close to his girlfriend Minhee, he starts to bully Jisoo.”
Extracurricular is directed by Kim Jin-min with screenplay by Jin Han-sae.
Here’s the rest of the e-mail interview with the show’s young and rising stars:
Why did you decide to join the project?
Kim Dong-hee: “When I first read about Jisoo in the script, I did doubt whether I could do this, but first and foremost, I wanted to try expressing such intense feelings. I didn’t have much chance to express my feelings to such extremes, so I wanted to give it a try in this show. I found the emotions that burst out of the reserved character when pushed into a corner very fascinating.”
Jung Da-bin: “I decided to take on the role because I thought this is the kind of story that needs to be told, and the fact that I am part of telling this story made me feel a sense of responsibility and joy. I hope this story will lead people to be more interested in social issues and the darker side of adolescence.”
Park Ju-hyun: “I decided to play Gyuri because I wanted to portray the true reality of society through this character. I hoped that I could do a good job in depicting such reality so that many people can see the message of this show.”
Nam Yoon Su: “Kitae is the kind of role that I have never tried before, so I wanted to take on the challenge. I decided to join the project because I thought this could happen to real teenagers and wanted everyone to share the concern over or interest in potential issues.”
What was it like on set? Do you have any memorable filming moments?
Kim Dong-hee: “The set felt like a huge wall to me. Even from a day before the shoot, I got buried deep in my thoughts, and I went to the set that way. Seriously, every little detail — be it one lighting fixture or one piece of camera equipment — gave me a learning experience; I would constantly go ‘wow, they use this type of cameras here, and that kind of lighting there!’
“Also, director Kim is really intelligent, so I was able to see myself in comparison to him. Once he asked me how I felt about a certain documentary that was mentioned in a conversation, and that question suddenly made me realize how much time I was spending without thinking about anything. Ever since, I have made efforts to open my eyes to more diverse areas besides acting. I think I learned many things throughout the journey, not just as an actor, but as a person.”
Jung Da-bin: “The atmosphere on set was well-balanced, with just enough seriousness and fun. The most memorable moment was when director Kim and I courteously bowed to each other after the wrap. It is hard to pick one unforgettable moment on set. I knew what message Extracurricular wanted to deliver, so I poured all my energy and focus into every cut, which was a bit emotionally overwhelming at times, but I also felt proud of myself on my way home.”
Park Ju-hyun: “The theme and the subject matter were not light, but director Kim did a splendid job balancing things out, which made it easier for me to concentrate. It must have been a difficult job to balance between not too cheery and not too low-spirited all the time, and I thank director Kim for his mastery.”
Nam Yoon Su: “I always liked the set. I saw different sides of the actors on board, and director Kim set the right mood on site. One of the memorable moments is when I got nervous because Kim Yeo-jin, who played a police officer, actually felt like one. She gave me so much advice in-between scenes, and I am deeply thankful. When I shoot with a younger actor in the future, I hope I can help make the set as comfortable and enjoyable as such established actors did this time around.”
What statement do you think Extracurricular is making about youth at risk, and what impact do you hope it will have on viewers?
Kim Dong-hee: “I thought, from the moment I read the script for the first time, that these characters would not feel tied to their student status. When I look back on my student days, for example, I considered myself as a grown-up. I think that would apply the same to the main characters, and even more so for Jisoo. But when I became an adult, I was able to feel that I have a lot of responsibilities in life. And teenagers are those who still need protection and more attention from adults. So, if they have issues, adults should give them more attention. Juvenile crime is a really serious issue, so this may be a sensitive thing to say, but I think teens need more attention from adults and need to be protected more because they still lack judgment.”
Jung Da-bin: “I hope this Netflix series Extracurricular will remind viewers once again of the youth at risk in our society, and serve as a medium to resolve many of the issues.”
Park Ju-hyun: “Extracurricular is a story about choice and responsibility. You make many choices in life, and some of them may turn out to be mistakes. You cannot always make the right choice. If this were a story about adults in their right minds, then it should be about them taking responsibility for their action, taking full responsibility for their choice. But this is a story about immature teens who cannot take full responsibility for their action yet. In that sense, I hope this show provides an opportunity for us to think about what we, adults, can do for them, and how we should lead them to a certain direction.”
Nam Yoon Su: “I hope the series gives a rude awakening of the juvenile crime. I hope everyone who watches Extracurricular can think back to their past misdeeds from teenage years.”