Why I Think ‘Itaewon Class’ Is Park Seo Joon’s Best Drama So Far!

Park Seo-joon’s been in a bunch of really good K-dramas. But Itaewon Class remains his best work so far! Or at least, that’s what I think. 

The show is about this guy whose life gets trashed by people who are richer and more powerful than him. In a nutshell, the drama basically shows how Sae-ro-yi (Seo-joon’s character) gets back on his feet after losing it all. 

When Itaewon Class hit the screen, people connected with it right away. And honestly, it’s still a fan favorite. It’s one of those Korean dramas that just lifts you up. 

Park Sae-ro-yi faces setback after setback, but he pushes through, leaning on his friends and sheer determination to chase his dreams. 

And what I loved the most about this drama is the fact that it’s not only about the main lead’s struggle. It shows the struggle of each and every character.  

Watching these characters fight to figure out where they belong feels so real. Plus, between the found family vibe and the love story, Itaewon Class takes you on an emotional rollercoaster right up until the very end. 

Having been in this rabbit hole of Korean entertainment for more than a decade, I am here to tell you why you need to watch this drama if you haven’t already. So, if you are ready to give me the chance to convince you, keep reading till the end… 

Itaewon Class Overview 

In its overview section on Netflix, the streaming platform defines Itaewon Class in this way: 

“In a colorful Seoul neighborhood, an ex-con and his friends fight a mighty foe to make their ambitious dreams for their street bar a reality.” 

 That pretty much sums up the entire deal. But does it? 

Well, if I have to make a tagline for this popular 2020 K-drama, it would be something like this: 

“In the vibrant and lively neighborhood of Itaewon, an ex-con and his found family decide to fight for their dreams and identity and build an empire!” 

Or at least that’s how I would look at it. 

Itaewon Class is a classic underdog and coming-of-age revenge story that follows Park Sae-ro-yi on a 15-year mission to topple a powerful food conglomerate. 

Itaewon Class Cast 

Cast	Character
Park Seo-jun	Park Sae-ro-yi
Kim Da-mi	Jo Yi-seo
Yoo Jae-myung	Jang Dae-hee
Kwon Na-ra	Oh Soo-ah
Kim Dong-hee	Jang Geun-soo
Ahn Bo-hyun	Jang Geun-won
Kim Hye-eun	Kang Min-jung
Ryu Kyung-soo	Choi Seung-kwon
Lee Joo-young	Ma Hyun-yi
Chris Lyon	Kim To-ni

1. Park Seo-joon As Park Sae-ro-yi 

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Park Sae-ro-yi drives Itaewon Class. His dad raised him with a strong sense of right and wrong, and honestly, Sae-ro-yi just can’t stand to see anyone treated unfairly. 

He sticks to his morals, no matter what. That stubborn integrity, however, becomes both his strength and his downfall. 

Back in high school, he wanted to be a cop. He worked hard, kept his head down, and didn’t make waves. Then, one day, he throws a punch to defend a kid getting bullied. 

That split-second decision flips his whole world upside down. From then on, his life turns into this long, painful lesson in patience and grit. 

Park Seo-joon nails the role. He doesn’t rely on charm or showy moments. Instead, he lets the pain and determination show through in the quietest ways. 

You watch him, and you feel every bit of his struggle and growth. It’s easily the most grown-up performance he’s ever given. 

2. Kim Da-mi As Jo Yi-seo 

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Jo Yi-seo stands out among modern K-drama heroines. She’s sharp, clever, and says exactly what she thinks, even if it stings. 

Some people call her a sociopath. She just shrugs and lets them think what they want. But look closer—there’s a surprising loyalty and gutsiness under that tough exterior. 

She throws away a safe, bright future just to back Sae-ro-yi. Not because it’s easy, but because it feels right to her. 

Watching her open up, become more vulnerable, yet never lose her edge—that’s honestly one of the best parts of her story. 

She actually reminds me a lot of Jang Man-wol from Hotel Del Luna. Both are complicated, far from perfect. However, totally unforgettable. 

Fun fact: This was actually the first K-drama with Da-mi that I watched! 

3. Kwon Nara As Oh Soo Ah 

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Oh Soo-ah gets a bad rap, but honestly, she’s just misunderstood. She grew up an orphan, with Jangga Group holding her safety net. 

So yeah, she clings to security instead of chasing dreams. She can’t stand injustice, but the thought of losing what little she’s managed to hold onto scares her more. 

Sometimes, watching her make decisions is rough. You want to shake her. Still, her choices make sense—they feel real. And when she finally decides to fight back, she does it quietly, on her own terms. It hits hard, even if she barely says a word. 

4. Yoo Jae-myung As Jang Dae Hee 

As Jangga Co.’s CEO, Jang Dae-hee has built everything from scratch. He started out running a tiny pub, hustled for years, and now he’s at the top—cold, tough, and all business. 

He doesn’t bother with the people below him; as long as the money keeps rolling in, he’s satisfied. The guy’s ruthless about winning. He’ll do whatever it takes. 

He’s got two sons, Jang Geun Won and Jang Geun Soo. Honestly, Dae Hee’s story is proof that what goes around comes around. 

5. Ahn Bo-hyun As Jang Geun Won 

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Jangga’s CEO has an eldest son, and honestly, the guy’s a piece of work. He’s picked up his dad’s habit of looking down on anyone he thinks is beneath him. 

At school, he’s the top bully—no one escapes him, not even the teachers or the principal. They just pretend not to see what he does. 

The thing is, he really believes he makes the rules. “Jang Geun Won is the law”— that’s his motto. If anyone tries to stand up to him, they’re basically asking for trouble. 

He doesn’t get along with his dad or his brother. He hates the way his father does things, but, in the end, he always gives in because he doesn’t see another way out. 

Basically, Geun-won is the perfect embodiment of unchecked privilege. And yes, his character arc is ugly—but necessary 

6. Kim Dong-hee As Jang Geun Soo 

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Geun-soo is Jang Dae Hee’s second (illegitimate) son, and he’s been crushing on Yi-seo for ages. At the beginning, he seems like a sweet, a bit clumsy, real person. But as time goes on, he gets eaten up by jealousy. Also, his insecurity gets the best of him. 

He doesn’t want to do what his dad says and tries to do his own thing. But, when he wants to impress Yi Seo, he messes up big time—it ruins his character and his friendship with her. 

It’s honestly awful watching him change. His story really shows how even the nicest people can get messed up when they’re desperate. 

Itaewon Class Plot: A Story So Obvious Yet Not! 

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It all starts off with a single punch that turns into a 15-year-long battle. Sae-ro-yi is stubborn and rightfully so! He refuses to quit, even after his father (the most important person in his life) dies in a suspicious accident (duh). 

After which, he is sent to jail for three years. Instead of crushing him, jail just fuels his resolve. It makes him even more determined. 

The Big Plan Of 15 years: 

While inside, Sae-ro-yi comes up with a plan to get back at the Jangga Group. He’s going to beat them at their own game: the restaurants and food industry. 

When he gets out after doing hard labor for seven years to save cash, he opens a street bar called DanBam (Honey Night) in the lively and multicultural district of Itaewon. 

Building DanBam: 

DanBam is more than just a bar; it’s a safe place. It’s where people who don’t fit in find meaning, family, and a sense of belonging. Watching it grow feels special because it’s built on trust, not taking advantage of people. 

That’s where Sae-ro-yi puts together a team of misfits to help turn his small bar into a big chain: 

• Jo Yi-seo: She’s a super-smart social media whiz with some issues, but she becomes the manager of DanBam and falls for Sae-ro-yi. 

• Ma Hyun-yi: A transgender chef who is always trying to get better at cooking. 

• Choi Seung-kwon: He’s an ex-gangster and used to be in jail with Sae-ro-yi; he wants a fresh start. 

• Kim To-ni: He’s Guinean-Korean and is trying to find his Korean dad. 

The Big Finish 

As DanBam gets bigger, Chairman Jang keeps trying to destroy it, which leads to a ten-year fight. By 2020, Sae-ro-yi has turned his business into a huge company called IC Group. 

Eventually, Jangga Group falls apart because it’s corrupt, and Oh Soo-ah (Sae-ro-yi’s first love) blows the whistle. 

The Chairman is going broke and has cancer, so he has to beg Sae-ro-yi for help. In the end, Sae-ro-yi picks love over revenge, tells Jo Yi-seo how he feels, and finally finds the happiness he’s been looking for. 

Love In Itaewon Class Is Not Your Ordinary K-Drama Romance! 

In one of the articles that I read on Medium, here’s what the writer had to say: “No one loved anyone back.” 

And that’s really true. 

For instance, from the very beginning, I knew how much Sae-ro-yi loved So-ah. And I was so obviously hoping that they would end up together, even though a lot of people wanted Sae-ro-yi to fall for Yi-seo. I mean, they were childhood lovers. 

But that’s not what happened. However, who am I to complain? After all, So-ah was never really there for him. She never took a stand for him. Rather, she chose to protect her career even when she knew it was morally wrong. 

And what about Yi-seo? What about the love here? 

So we all know that when a 20-something-year-old starts dating a 30-year-old, there’s going to be some awkwardness and immaturity, and this show had it in spades. Some people griped about the lack of spark, but isn’t that the point? 

But they were supposed to be a weird mix. I thought the development of their feelings was portrayed really well. 

Personally, to me, even the one-sided crushes made sense – it wasn’t just that the other person didn’t feel the same way, but the characters’ own choices got in the way. 

So yeah, I feel that, honestly, these were some of the best-explained love stories I’ve seen in a K-drama so far. 

My Favorite Moments In Itaewon Class 

There are literally so many moments from Itaewon Class that it kills me to really list the best ones. But, these, for me, were the defining moments from this K-drama: 

“You’re Worth The Gamble With My Life” 

“Kiss-Blocking“

“…You Are Starting To Have Feelings For Me” 

“Saranghaeyo, Boss!” 

Apart from these, some of the best moments from this drama for me include: 

• Sae-ro-yi’s first day at school and his stand against bullying. 

• The final kneeling of Chairman Jang Dae-hee after his empire collapses. 

• Yi-seo recording Geun-won’s confession of killing Sae-ro-yi’s father. 

What were your favorite moments from the show? Let me know in the comments below!