Content & Trigger Warnings for Itaewon Class (2020)
15 content warnings identified across 1 season for this show.
Quick Summary
Yes, Itaewon Class (2020) contains 15 content warnings : Hate crimes (depicted), Racial slurs / racism (depicted), Stalking / harassment, Death of a parent, Grief / bereavement (major focus), Suicide (discussed or ideation), Gaslighting / emotional manipulation, Wrongful imprisonment, Sexual coercion / non-consensual situations, Alcohol abuse (depicted), Child abuse / harm to children, Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse, Gore / graphic violence, Gun violence, Self-harm / suicide (depicted).
The most severe warnings are for Racial slurs / racism (depicted) (severity 4/5), Death of a parent (severity 4/5), Grief / bereavement (major focus) (severity 4/5), Self-harm / suicide (depicted) (severity 4/5).
Check the full breakdown below before you watch.
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Does It Get Worse?
6 series-wide warnings apply across all seasons.
| Warning | Season | Severity | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identity & Discrimination | ||||
| Hate crimes (depicted) | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | A character faces racially motivated violence and institutional discrimination as a central plot element |
| Racial slurs / racism (depicted) | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Significant racism directed at a Black Korean character; racial discrimination is a major theme with slurs and systemic prejudice depicted |
| Racial slurs / racism (depicted) | All | 4/5 | Depicted | Racial discrimination against the protagonist's Black-Korean heritage is a major recurring theme |
| Stalking / harassment | S1 | 2/5 | Depicted | The antagonist's associates surveil and intimidate the protagonist and his business partners |
| Mental Health & Emotional | ||||
| Death of a parent | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | The protagonist's father is murdered; this traumatic event drives the entire plot and is depicted in flashback |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | The protagonist's grief over his father's murder fuels his quest for justice and revenge throughout the series |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | All | 4/5 | Depicted | The protagonist's grief over his father's death permeates the series |
| Suicide (discussed or ideation) | All | 3/5 | Depicted | A character experiences suicidal thoughts driven by relentless bullying and abuse |
| Other | ||||
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | The main antagonist engages in systematic emotional manipulation, corporate sabotage, and psychological cruelty |
| Wrongful imprisonment | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | The protagonist serves prison time for a crime connected to his father's murder; prison conditions are depicted |
| Sexual Content | ||||
| Sexual coercion / non-consensual situations | S1 | 2/5 | Referenced | A transgender character faces predatory behavior and unwanted sexual attention; discussed rather than explicitly shown |
| Substance Use | ||||
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | S1 | 2/5 | Depicted | Bar and restaurant settings feature regular drinking; some characters drink heavily during emotional scenes |
| Violence & Physical Harm | ||||
| Child abuse / harm to children | All | 3/5 | Depicted | The main antagonist was abused by his father during childhood with lasting psychological effects |
| Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse | S1 | 2/5 | Depicted | The antagonist is physically and emotionally abusive toward family members and subordinates |
| Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse | All | 3/5 | Depicted | The antagonist's father is physically abusive toward his son and others |
| Gore / graphic violence | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Multiple fight scenes with visible bloody injuries; a character's face is severely scarred from a violent attack |
| Gun violence | S1 | 2/5 | Depicted | Threats with weapons occur during confrontations with the antagonist's gang and corrupt business associates |
| Self-harm / suicide (depicted) | All | 4/5 | Depicted | A character attempts suicide and the aftermath is depicted with significant emotional weight |
Identity & Discrimination
A character faces racially motivated violence and institutional discrimination as a central plot element
Significant racism directed at a Black Korean character; racial discrimination is a major theme with slurs and systemic prejudice depicted
Racial discrimination against the protagonist's Black-Korean heritage is a major recurring theme
The antagonist's associates surveil and intimidate the protagonist and his business partners
Mental Health & Emotional
The protagonist's father is murdered; this traumatic event drives the entire plot and is depicted in flashback
The protagonist's grief over his father's murder fuels his quest for justice and revenge throughout the series
The protagonist's grief over his father's death permeates the series
A character experiences suicidal thoughts driven by relentless bullying and abuse
Other
The main antagonist engages in systematic emotional manipulation, corporate sabotage, and psychological cruelty
The protagonist serves prison time for a crime connected to his father's murder; prison conditions are depicted
Sexual Content
A transgender character faces predatory behavior and unwanted sexual attention; discussed rather than explicitly shown
Substance Use
Bar and restaurant settings feature regular drinking; some characters drink heavily during emotional scenes
Violence & Physical Harm
The main antagonist was abused by his father during childhood with lasting psychological effects
The antagonist is physically and emotionally abusive toward family members and subordinates
The antagonist's father is physically abusive toward his son and others
Multiple fight scenes with visible bloody injuries; a character's face is severely scarred from a violent attack
Threats with weapons occur during confrontations with the antagonist's gang and corrupt business associates
A character attempts suicide and the aftermath is depicted with significant emotional weight
