[Interview②] 'Human Class' Director Kim Jin-min: "Is the Older Generation a Responsible Being?"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] Director Kim Jin-min spoke about his concerns as the director of ‘Human Class’ and the production process.

In a recent video interview, Director Kim shared various stories about the Netflix original series 'Human Class.'

'Human Class' is a controversial work depicting high school students who choose the path of crime without guilt to make money and pay an irreparable and harsh price for it. Rising actors Kim Dong-hee, Park Joo-hyun, Jung Da-bin, and Nam Yoon-su lead the drama, while Choi Min-soo, Park Hyuk-kwon, Kim Yeo-jin, and Kim Kwang-kyu provide strong support.

Director Kim Jin-min, known for directing ‘Lawless Lawyer’ and ‘Time Between Dog and Wolf,’ took the helm, with newcomer writer Jin Han-sae penning the script. It was recently released on Netflix in over 190 countries. Director Kim started his career with the weekend drama ‘Love to Death’ in 2003 and directed dramas at MBC until 2016. ‘Human Class’ is his first new work in three years.

After its release, some criticism arose regarding the depiction of youth daily life, noting that the level of profanity and smoking scenes was somewhat higher compared to terrestrial TV dramas. Director Kim Jin-min said, “I did not intentionally want to include provocative elements. We actually toned down the level of profanity during filming. However, I agree that there may be parts that viewers find excessively uncomfortable.”

So, what is the ultimate message the director wants to convey? Director Kim Jin-min stated, “Both the writer and production team agreed that the interpretation can vary. There is a theme, but I’m not sure if it will be conveyed as is. It’s difficult to give a precise answer as it intertwines with social phenomena. However, from the start of the drama, we set the intention not to justify bad people or use them for entertainment.”

Photo still from 'Ingan Sueop'

The depiction of the youth prostitution scenes clearly shows careful consideration. The director avoided provocative elements and was cautious about portraying scenes that would make both women and men uncomfortable. When asked about this, Director Kim Jin-min said, “I was worried about lacking gender sensitivity. Since I am a male director, consciously or unconsciously, it might be reflected, so I was especially cautious. I hoped there would be no direct scenes. Especially in a work featuring students, I questioned whether showing such scenes would effectively highlight the theme or raise awareness. I thought it would not. I wanted viewers not to feel uncomfortable.”

Another point of interest in ‘Human Class’ is the portrayal of the older generation. From the first episode, there is a strong undercurrent of resentment toward the older generation, and the consistent depiction of their faces offers a calm, observant view of society. While it is presented from the perspective of high school students criticizing the absurdity of adults, it ultimately reflects our ordinary society rather than just teenagers, leaving a bitter impression.

“Each older generation character is precisely positioned in the work. The writer assigned specific roles and limitations to them. I believe it connects with social reality. However, it was not intended to only focus on adults’ responsibilities, their fleeting rebelliousness, or their helpless perspectives as if they were just passing trends. There are two types of police and adults like Wang Cheol (Choi Min-soo) and the teacher (Park Hyuk-kwon) who seem good but are involved, approaching the children but facing barriers. The protagonist’s father (Park Ho-san) is depicted as an adult who neglects his child. But it’s not meant to feel cynical. I think there is an underlying question about whether adults can truly be responsible for children in this society.”