Manhwa/Webtoon, Get Schooled, which began publishing on October 29, 2020, has been canceled for featuring racist remarks in its recent chapter.
Get Schooled story is penned by Chae Yongtaek, while the art is crafted by Han Garam. The manhwa was serialized on Naver Webtoon and generated a significant following over the years.
While responding to an instagram comment asking about the Get Schooled manga, the Webtoon Official account responded that “The racist content has been removed. The series has been canceled and will not be returning in the US”.
Talking about if the series will still be releasing in Korea, the officials responded, “(the webtoon) has also been suspended indefinitely from our Korean platform while we conduct an internal review”.
The response further continues, “It should never have been published, and we deeply apologize to anyone who has encountered it. Racism or racist content has no place on Webtoon”.
What Caused The Series To Get Cancelled?
“Get Schooled” revolves around Hwa Jin Na, an employee of the Ministry of Education, renowned for addressing school bullies using unconventional methods that are forbidden in their world.
Chapter 125 unfolds in a Korean countryside town predominantly inhabited by non-Koreans. The narrative introduces a character who claims to be the sole “pure” Korean in his class, hinting at racial superiority.
This chapter attempts to portray the character as a victim of “reverse racism” due to his minority status among foreigners. Such a portrayal is contentious as it appears to downplay the real-world implications of racism.
The story introduces Lee Muk Hyun, a bully characterized as a Korean-Ethiopian mix with a notable physique. The narrative then shifts to a new teacher, Daniel Hyun, of mixed Korean-American heritage.
When Lee Muk Hyun taunts Daniel with the derogatory term “yellow m*nkey,” historically used against Asians, Daniel retorts by revealing he has used racial slurs against Black individuals in retaliation to racism he faced.
The chapter is rife with scenes employing racial slurs. For instance, Lee Muk Hyun is addressed with the Korean equivalent of the N-word, highlighting the series’ problematic approach to racial themes.
For anyone wondering 💀💀💀 pic.twitter.com/6Gkw7P81WE
— Blank Thrice(Matilda arc) (@NemsNemesis) September 16, 2023
The creators of “Get Schooled,” Yongtaek Chae and Garam Han, have issued an apology for the portrayal in Episode 125 on the Korean platform.
According to the statement, the episode intended to highlight the discrimination faced by multicultural and immigrant families in South Korea. However, they acknowledged that they unintentionally used racist expressions for dramatic purposes, causing distress to readers and the WEBTOON community.
update, apparently this was the response to the backlash pic.twitter.com/stbLKg7iej
— Blank Thrice(Matilda arc) (@NemsNemesis) September 16, 2023
Get Schooled plot revolves around Hwajin Na, who is an employee of the Ministry of Education. Despite working in such a prestigious department, Hwajin Na’s teaching techniques are notably violent. He is particularly known for dealing with school bullies in ways that have been outlawed in their world.
When traditional punishments fail to reform the worst of school bullies, Hwajin Na is the man called upon to handle the situation. His unique approach to education and discipline sets him apart, making him a central figure in the story.