Get Schooled Webtoon Under Review for Racist Content
A chapter of Get Schooled is currently under review for its problematic handling of racism.
Content Warning: The following article discusses topics of bullying and racism.
The latest chapter of the Get Schooled webtoon is currently under review for its depiction of racism.
Chapter 125 for Get Schooled was recently released in Korea where it dealt with topics of racism–in particular, the webtoon’s concept of reverse racism. Many fans were horrified at how the chapter handled the topic. In the chapter, Hwang Hojun recalled his past where he was the only full 100% Korean in a middle school while the rest of the students were mixed. Hojun was bullied by a Black student named Lee Mukhyeon. Racial slurs were thrown around, before culminating in the new teacher, who looks visibly white and has light green eyes, calling Mukhyeon the n-word as “revenge.”
The chapter framed foreigners and those who were multiracial as “taking over” and “replacing pure-blooded” Koreans; a sentiment that is perpetuated by white supremacists in the US. Mixed race kids, like Lee Mukhyeon, were not considered “Korean.” The chapter chose to portray Lee Mukhyeon, a visibly dark-skinned man, as the villain who bullied other racial minorities. Lee Mukhyeon was also illustrated with a close-cropped orange-dyed haircut which many readers have noted it resembled an orangutan. Students who had a lighter complexion danced around in front of Lee Mukhyeon like monkeys. Ultimately, the chapter seemed to imply the answer on how to deal with racism was to respond with more racism.
Although the official English chapters for Get Schooled are only up to Chapter 120 as of this article’s publishing, WEBTOON responded to the recent chapters. In WEBTOON’s statement, the platform said, “The racist content has been removed from our platform and the episode is currently in review. It should not have been published and we apologize to anyone who encountered it or harm it caused to the incredible WEBTOON community. The content depicted in this episode does not align with WEBTOON’s values and is absolutely not something we stand for. Racism or racist content have no place on WEBTOON.”
Get Schooled, written by Yongtaek Chae and illustrated by Garam Han, began serialization on NAVER in November 2020. Produced by YLAB, Get Schooled is part of a larger YLAB universe known as the Blue String Universe. The series follows Hwajin Na who works in the Ministry of Education and has a violent way of teaching bullies a lesson.
Update: Sept. 19, 2023 at 5:28 PM PST
The creators of Get Schooled posted an apology, via their Instagram story, on Sept. 14. The relevant post will not be viewable anymore after 24 hours.
In a joint message, Chae and Han apologized “for the pain we’ve caused with the portrayal in Episode 125.” The creators explained that they created this episode in the hopes that readers would “pause and reflect on [the] societal challenges.” These societal challenges include the “unique dynamics facing multicultural and immigrant families, which is sadly fostering discrimination against these groups.”
They continued, explaining that they “overlooked the larger, universal facets and scope of discrimination” and how “certain expressions are racist, even if employed for dramatic impact, causing enormous pain to our readers and the wider WEBTOON community.” At the same time, the creators explained the structure of Get Schooled often begins with hatred before ending in a way that will condemn hatred acts. They admitted their lack of knowledge in the area concerning issues of racial discrimination and resolved to “learn more about past and present racial discrimination, and the history of racist representation.”
WEBTOON has announced Get Schooled will be discontinued beginning on Sept. 16 on the North American platform. The racist episode in question will be deleted on the Korean platform with the webcomic going on an extended hiatus.
Source: X, formerly known as Twitter
