Kdrama Review : Blackdog - Being A Teacher

Hi readers! time for Kdrama review. 

 

A good drama titled Blackdog : Being A Teacher. Previously available in Netflix, but now no more, already taken out.

Genre: Drama, School, Slice of Life
Episodes: 16
Aired: December 2019 – February 2020
Starring: Seo Hyun-jin, Ra Mi-ran, Ha Joon

Black Dog follows Go Ha-neul (Seo Hyun-jin), a temporary teacher at a private high school. Newly hired, she quickly learns that teaching is only part of the job. From navigating school politics to supporting students chasing university dreams, she must find her voice and purpose in an often indifferent system. Alongside the experienced and idealistic Park Sung-soon (Ra Mi-ran), Ha-neul grows both professionally and personally. 

💥What Makes "Black Dog" Stand Out

✅ Realistic Portrayal of the Education System

This is not your typical high school K-drama filled with romance and rebellion. Instead, Black Dog presents a grounded, almost documentary-like look at South Korea’s hyper-competitive academic world—especially the invisible struggles of teachers. You’ll see exam pressures, contract employment, staff politics, and moral dilemmas faced by educators.

✅ Character-Driven, Subtle Storytelling

The drama excels in its quiet intensity. There is little melodrama. Conflicts build slowly and resolve realistically. It focuses on small wins, daily choices and ethical challenges that feel deeply human. Ha-neul’s growth arc is subtle yet powerful—highlighting personal integrity in a system designed to wear people down.

✅ Standout Performances

• Seo Hyun-jin delivers a deeply nuanced performance, portraying vulnerability, perseverance, and strength with quiet grace.

• Ra Mi-ran, as the passionate and tough-as-nails mentor, brings warmth and bite. Her character, Park Sung-soon, is a standout—equal parts realist and idealist.

✅ Thoughtful Direction & Writing

The writing is intelligent and emotionally restrained. It avoids sensationalism in favor of empathy and realism. The directing complements this with muted tones, reflective pacing, and emphasis on workplace dynamics over dramatics.

 

💗Interesting plots in the drama 

Top students VS under-performing students

Black Dog explores this issue with surprising depth and subtlety.  In Black Dog, the favoritism isn’t always overt, but it’s systemic and nuanced, and that’s what makes it so believable. Teachers often gravitate toward students who are academically strong or well-behaved, especially in a school obsessed with college entrance rates.

How the Drama Portrays It

1. Top Students Get More Attention

   • The school has a laser focus on getting students into top universities, so teachers naturally prioritize the high-achievers. These students receive better guidance, more resources, and even emotional support.

   • There’s a scene where lower-performing students are essentially written off—not maliciously, but because the system doesn’t have the time or incentive to invest in them.

2. Teachers Struggle With Ethics

   • Characters like Go Ha-neul and Park Sung-soon are clearly aware of this imbalance. They often wrestle with whether to "play the game" to survive or push back and advocate for fairness.

   • Ha-neul, in particular, tries to give underperforming students a chance, even when the system subtly discourages it.

3. Unspoken Hierarchies

   • Students internalize these dynamics. “Good” students feel validated, while others feel disposable. The drama doesn’t scream this—it just shows it through hallway conversations, subtle glances, and quiet frustration.

✅ Final Take

Black Dog doesn’t villainize teachers for favoring top students—it shows how the system almost forces it. But through characters like Ha-neul and Park Sung-soon, it also argues that small acts of fairness matter, even in a flawed system.

The drama’s power lies in that tension: between what teachers want to do, and what they’re allowed to do.

 

Teachers' generation gap 

Another interesting issue in this drama is the quiet but constant tension between veteran teachers and the new generation. It's portrayed with nuance, showing both sides as flawed and human, not simply right or wrong.

The veteran teachers are not villains. Many are simply burned out or institutionalized. They’ve seen reforms fail. They want survival, not ideals. 

The young teachers believe in the purpose of teaching, not just its process. They enter the system with hope but are quickly confronted by its flaws. 

This dynamic is one of Black Dog's most powerful themes. It shows how change doesn't happen through rebellion alone but through persistence, subtle influence, and small acts of integrity. 

🎯 Verdict

"Black Dog" is a quiet powerhouse of a drama. It’s honest, humane, and refreshingly mature. For anyone who values realistic workplace dramas, strong female leads, and social commentary—this is a must-watch. It's less about thrills and more about truth.

 

❌ What Might Not Work for Everyone

• Pacing can feel slow for viewers expecting major plot twists or romance.

• The school setting is administrative-heavy—more about meetings, curriculum planning and office politics than classroom antics or youthful romance.

• Requires patience to appreciate character development, as it’s very gradual.

 

 Highly recommended for watching!!