Kdrama and Bangtan Crossover: Crash Course on Romance and BTS' N.O.

I am watching Crash Course Romance (CCR) a new Kdrama available on popular streaming channels. It’s funny and tender. The main characters have all been introduced fairly from the get go. In episode 1, the flaws and foils are already set up. Making me simmer in anticipation for the next episodes to drop.

CCR is about a Math teacher who has classes via a popular tele-online show. Parents enroll their kids to his class for review, enrichment and achievement of high scores in class and in college entrance exams. The atmosphere is very competitive to the extreme that learning becomes mechanical, constricting and stereotyped. The Math teacher is good looking and admirable (played by Jung Kyung Ho, Hospital Playlist, Prison Playbook) but he is stressed and malnourished. Needless to say, his health is faltering despite his success and degree of competence.

In the teaching profession, it is believed that what teachers exude, their teaching philosophy and how they behave are factors affecting the learning and disposition of their students. Include a system that adheres to the manufacturing line mentality and the result can be disastrous for many learners, be it student or teacher.

That being said, BTS’ N.O comes to mind. The lead single of the extended play O? RUL8, 2! (released 9.11.13) it has lyrics that question the boxes and limitations that young people are contained in by an educational system that is supposed to liberate and develop their unique skills and capabilities. It does not help when parents push and pressure their children into their own dreams and life goals.

RM’s refrain is subservient yet demanding.

“A good house, a good car, will these things bring happiness?

In Seoul to the SKY, would your parents be happy?”

SKY stands for Seoul University; Korea University and Yonsei University. These are the top three prestigious universities in SoKor. Parents compete with one another for their children to earn a spot in any of the SKY. Another Kdrama comes to mind - SKY Castle.

This competitive nature becomes unhealthy as children are lured to become prey and victims of bullying, anxiety and in worst cases, suicide. The process of pursuing one's goals, especially in a field of expertise that the child desires to be achieve becomes a trap rather than an experience of growth and development.

Suga’s verse brings to the open the reality of control by an authority figure over another. More so, it questions the ethics of ambition and the manner of reaching for one’s dreams.

“Who is the one who made us into study machines? 

It's either number one or a failure 

They trap us in borders, the adults 

There’s no choice but to consent 

Even if we think simply, it’s the survival of the fittest 

Who do you think is the one who makes us step on even our close friends to climb up? What?”

 

N.O was produced nine years ago but its themes of subversion over a society that does not allow freedom of choice and discernment remains relevant to this day. The song even connects to art and entertainment produced a decade after.

This is BTS. This is the power of 7.

Sources:

For the song's lyrics -> https://genius.com/Genius-english-translations-bts-no...

For the MV -> https://youtu.be/_VoSHt8zFNI

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