On the morning of February 20, tvN held an online press conference for its new variety program 'Curtain Up, Class ('After School Teacher Taeri')'. Attendees included Kim Tae Ri, Choi Hyun Wook, Kangnam, Code Kunst, producer Park Ji Ye, and producer Hwang Seul Woo.
'Curtain Up, Class' is a reality program that follows the only after-school theater class of its kind at a small village elementary school. The show captures Kim Tae Ri’s journey as a novice teacher navigating the ups and downs of leading a theater class.
Kim Tae Ri shared, “I worked incredibly hard on this. Even when I combine all the dramas and films I’ve done, I don’t think I’ve ever felt this exhausted. That’s how sincere I was about it.”
Explaining why she was cast, producer Park Ji Ye said, “While planning the program, I kept seeing articles about the era of regional extinction and the closure of small schools. Though this is a variety show, we thought it might offer some meaningful help in its own way. The most important thing was finding someone who would approach the project with genuine sincerity. As we considered who could do that, Kim Tae Ri came to mind. We’d heard that she pours passion and honesty into everything she does, so we carefully made the offer, and thankfully, she gladly accepted.”
Kim Tae Ri recalled, “When I first saw the proposal, it wasn’t called ‘After School Teacher Taeri.’ It was simply ‘After-School Theater Club.’ The themes of theater, elementary students, and a small rural school really resonated with me. I felt a small sense of excitement and curiosity about what I might see and experience there, which led me to join.”
She added with a laugh, “While we were working hard, I heard they were changing the title to ‘After School Teacher Taeri.’ I was trembling and said, ‘Anything but that.’ It was personally burdensome, and I couldn’t have endured without the other teachers. They were such a great source of strength. Being called ‘Teacher Taeri’ came with immense pressure, tension, and responsibility.”
Producer Hwang Seul Woo commented on the cast’s chemistry: “The four of them lived together - sleeping, eating, and sharing a house - which created unexpected chemistry. There were moments of crisis, like when Hyun Wook was scolded by the kids during class. From a viewer’s perspective, the diverse dynamics and charms were very entertaining.” Choi Hyun Wook added with a laugh, “The kids were so smart. A teacher should set an example first, right? I thought I did my best, but one of the kids came over and seriously scolded me.”
As for the show’s goals, producer Hwang Seul Woo said, “With the unfortunate reality of regional extinction, we wondered if there was something a variety program could do. At the same time, we didn’t want to burden viewers with a sense of obligation. We hope audiences simply enjoy the time, space, and stories we present and take an interest in them.”
In closing, Kim Tae Ri said, “You might think this will be healing, but it’s not. The key viewing point, in my opinion, is my anxious eyes and wavering heart, the teachers watching over that, and the children’s bright smiles. We worked hard on it, and I hope everyone can enjoy it together.”
tvN’s 'Curtain Up, Class' premieres on February 22 at 7:40 PM.
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