"You can overcome any of life's difficulties, as long as you are alive"... My favorite quote from this beautiful drama about our human condition.

There are a lot of negative reviews about this drama and based on those negative reviews I was hesitant to watch this drama. Plus the title of the drama "Itaewon class" sounded like a high school drama.

After watching this drama, I gave it a perfect 10, simply because of the message this drama carries and that is to strive for that special way of being that speaks truth, integrity and honor. When one is being this "higher" self, the race , gender, sexuality, and greed don't really matter and is subject to interpretation. This drama addressed all these issues in a nice little story line (somewhat predictable), but very much needed in today's divided world. I applaud the Korean writers and the directors to address this touchy subject and bring forth light into the sometimes a dark world created by us human beings.

SaeRoYi was almost like Ghandi and a line mentioned in one of the episodes. Some other reviewers of this drama have critiqued that there was very little transformation with SaeRoYi . I beg to differ. There was a huge transformation and that was shown through his love life. He was living so much in anger that he was not in touch with his own feelings. From my point of view, it was very fitting that SaeRoYi was attracted to SooAh who had nothing much to offer. Her way of being was shallow and SaeRoYi was way out of her league. The only problem was SaeRoYi had not discovered his self-worth yet... His motivation was "revenge". Because of SaeRoYi darkness, he could not see the true love that was beside him all the time.. our glorious Jo Yi Seo. At one point Jo Yi Seo tells SooAh that "I love him so much that I can put my life on line for him". In other words, we tend to be attracted to that person who matches our own inner vibration.

SaeRoYi transformation began when he saw that he had been following the path Jang Dae Hee had been walking and SaeRoYi 's mind and heart were not aligned. And once his heart came alive there was nothing stopping SaeRoYi. He had realized his self-worth. What I loved about this drama that the realization of self-worth is nothing unless shared with his friends..... This is where I start to cry..... Imagine a world where we honor, love and respect each other without biases and judgement.!!! I also applaud the directors the producers for choosing Kim Da Mi to play the role of Jo Yi Seo. As compared to SooAh, she is not an attractive gal but given her stand and her ability to find a diamond in the rough, makes her an amazing, beautiful woman. Again, a point made by the writers of this drama when SaeRoYi comes into his own, it is a "no wonder" he chose Jo Yi Seo. Here, some other reviewers have critiqued that SaeRoYi realization about Jo Yi Seo was very quick and did not feel real. I personally believe that the whole drama was laying the foundation of their relationship and all was needed a little spark to set the bomb of love to explode for SaeRoYi . So I think it was just right amount of time spent for SaeRoYi to realize his love.. but his love as for himself as well as his friends.

Writers: May be it was not intentional on your part, but to me your message love and beauty to transform a person's heart was very poignant.

In Summary.. If you like self discovery, that idealistic way of being that transforms the society, I highly recommend this drama.

Thank you all those who helped to produce this drama.