The controversial webtoon "Get Schooled," criticized for episodes promoting racism, misogyny and corporal punishment in classrooms, is being adapted into a drama, with actor Kim Moo-yul taking on the lead role. Courtesy of Naver Webtoon

The controversial webtoon, “Get Schooled,” criticized for episodes promoting racism, misogyny and corporal punishment in classrooms, is officially getting its drama adaptation. Kim Moo-yul, known for his roles in “Sweet Home 2” and “The Roundup: Punishment,” is set to star as the lead.

The drama will be directed by Hong Jong-chan, who helmed the Netflix courtroom hit, “Juvenile Justice,” with a script penned by Lee Nam-kyu, the writer behind the medical comedy-drama, “Daily Dose of Sunshine.” Filming is slated to begin in the first half of next year, according to production companies YLAB Plex and GTist.

Originally serialized as a webcomic in 2020, “Get Schooled” delves into the state of Korean schools following a ban on corporal punishment, highlighting how teachers' ability to maintain discipline in classrooms has weakened. This breakdown leads to the creation of a fictional government bureau, the Teachers' Rights Protection Agency, whose officers are sent to troubled schools to restore discipline and order, often resorting to violence.

The series quickly rose to prominence in Korea and has since been published in seven countries, including the U.S., France, Japan and China. However, it has drawn sharp criticism for its villification of racial minorities and women in several episodes.

Episode 42 of the webtoon features a government agent physically assaulting a female teacher for introducing feminist ideas to her students, while in Episode 125, a biracial white teacher hurls an explicit racial slur at a biracial Black delinquent.

The controversy came to a head in September last year, prompting Naver Webtoon to remove the series from its North American platform.

The production team vowed to address these issues in the drama adaptation.

“We are aware of the criticism and concerns surrounding certain episodes of the original work,” Hong said. “We will strive to create a drama with a sense of responsibility and a refined perspective.”

Kim, the actor, shared his reasons for joining the project, stating, “I felt this story could spark conversations about the current state of education (in Korea) and the discrimination and injustice within it. I also have great trust in director Hong's ability to approach challenging topics with conviction, as seen in ‘Juvenile Justice.'”

Last month, “The Fiery Priest” star Kim Nam-gil was rumored to be in talks for the lead role. However, the webcomic's discriminatory content sparked swift backlash from his fans.

At “The Fiery Priest 2” press conference on Nov. 8, the actor effectively confirmed his decision to pass on the role.

“If a project makes many people uncomfortable, then I believe it's best not to partake in it,” he said.