"if society were like this school..."
So says one of the characters in Study Group. Is Korean society in some ways like that school?
The biggest hindrance to upward mobility - the ability of a person born into poor circumstances to improve their financial situation - is corruption. As the baddie in drama says, "I can give them anything they want, money or connections." Using this ability he controls all the students at school, as well as the administration who run the school, as well as the police who try to investigate his crimes. He can do this, because he is the son of a chaebol, who also controls all the resources.
In books I have read coming out of Korea at the moment, there is a growing sense of despair among young people about their future. They work so hard to get an education, and then they struggle to get a job. The job market is competitive, and the system favors networks and connections, so for an outsider there is little chance of breaking in. Once in, they face long hours and bullying bosses. There is a sense that there is no hope for young people to achieve anything of value in their lives.
This is the backdrop to this drama. However, the drama tries to instill hope. If you work hard, you can make progress. Corrupt people can be called to account. Getting good grades is not everything, but helping your friends, supporting each other, you can have a worthwhile life. This is the message of hope this drama would like to spread.
For this reason, it is uplifting, as well as funny and a very entertaining watch.
The biggest hindrance to upward mobility - the ability of a person born into poor circumstances to improve their financial situation - is corruption. As the baddie in drama says, "I can give them anything they want, money or connections." Using this ability he controls all the students at school, as well as the administration who run the school, as well as the police who try to investigate his crimes. He can do this, because he is the son of a chaebol, who also controls all the resources.
In books I have read coming out of Korea at the moment, there is a growing sense of despair among young people about their future. They work so hard to get an education, and then they struggle to get a job. The job market is competitive, and the system favors networks and connections, so for an outsider there is little chance of breaking in. Once in, they face long hours and bullying bosses. There is a sense that there is no hope for young people to achieve anything of value in their lives.
This is the backdrop to this drama. However, the drama tries to instill hope. If you work hard, you can make progress. Corrupt people can be called to account. Getting good grades is not everything, but helping your friends, supporting each other, you can have a worthwhile life. This is the message of hope this drama would like to spread.
For this reason, it is uplifting, as well as funny and a very entertaining watch.
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