Lee Chan-yong Talks Netflix Hit 'Teach You a Lesson' and Working a Cafe Job

Rookie South Korean actor Lee Chan-yong is chasing his cinematic dreams the way many passionate young performers do—patiently balancing his craft between demanding shifts at a local part-time job.

Lee recently sat down for his first-ever official media interview at the Ten Asia office in the Jungnim-dong neighborhood of Seoul to discuss his poignant breakout role as Kim Kyung-min in the smash-hit Netflix original series "Teach You a Lesson."

Stepping in front of entertainment reporters for the very first time in his life, the promising newcomer candidly admitted that he could not hide his overwhelming nerves or his deep excitement.

In the gripping premiere episode of "Teach You a Lesson," Lee portrays Kim Kyung-min, a vulnerable high school student suffering from severe, systemic school violence. He attends Daehan High School, the pivotal first institution where a newly formed, rogue teacher protection agency aggressively steps in to protect helpless victims.

After enduring years of merciless bullying, Kyung-min is forced to watch those same brutal attackers turn their hostile attention to his classmate Park Dae-seok (played by Jung Su-hyun). Caught in a heartbreaking emotional crossfire between immense personal relief and paralyzing survival guilt, Lee beautifully carries a deep psychological wound through the scenes.

Although he appears in just a single episode, Lee’s haunting performance successfully set the dark, grounded tone for the early arc of the show and left a lasting, powerful impression on international viewers.

"This is honestly the first project I have ever booked from a formal audition process," Lee shared with a proud smile. "I had auditioned about four or five times for various projects before this one came along."

Despite the sudden spotlight, Lee revealed that he is still clocking in hours at his day job while pursuing his acting career. "I still work at a bakery cafe near Gangbyeon Station. But ever since this show officially came out on Netflix, people in the store have actually started to recognize me," he added, still appearing pleasantly shocked by the newfound attention.

The young actor also fondly recalled the exact, life-changing moment he discovered he had landed the coveted Netflix role. "I was sharing a casual meal with a close friend right after finishing my cafe shift when I received the official acceptance call," Lee said. "Honestly, my friend was even more moved and emotional than I was. We have been through absolutely everything together since our grueling college days, and he told me that all the immense effort and sacrifices I had put in over the years flashed before his eyes. He was just so genuinely happy for me."

Since its worldwide release, "Teach You a Lesson" has spectacularly skyrocketed to the absolute top of Netflix’s internal viewing charts in 44 countries, including South Korea, Brazil, France, Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia. For a first-time auditioner who was just recently balancing early morning cafe shifts with exhausting acting classes, the monumental global reach of his official debut project marks an extraordinarily striking and rare entry point into the international entertainment industry.

"Teach You a Lesson" is currently available for worldwide streaming exclusively on Netflix.