I Am Sam (TV series)

I am Sam (Korean: 아이엠샘; RR: A-i Em Saem) is a 2007 South Korean television series starring Yang Dong-geun, Park Min-young, Park Jun-gyu, Son Tae-young, and T.O.P in his acting debut. It aired on KBS2 from August 6 to October 2, 2007, on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55 (KST) time slot for 16 episodes. Based on the Japanese comic series Kyōkasho ni Nai! (in English, Not in a Textbook! or Very Private Lesson), Yang plays a geeky, straight-arrowed, under-qualified high school teacher who becomes a live-in tutor for the troublemaking daughter of a notorious gangster, in exchange for one million won.[1]

I am Sam
Promotional poster
Also known as	I'm Sam I am Your Teacher
Genre	Romance, Comedy
Based on	Kyōkasho ni Nai! by Kazuto Okada
Written by	Lee Jin-mae
Directed by	Kim Jung-gyu
Starring	Yang Dong-geun Park Min-young Park Jun-gyu Son Tae-young T.O.P
Country of origin	South Korea
No. of episodes	16
Production
Producer(s)	Lee Jae-sang
Running time	60 minutes
Production company(s)	Pan Entertainment
Release
Original network	KBS2
Original release	August 6 (2007-08-06) – October 2, 2007 (2007-10-02)
Chronology
Preceded by	Conspiracy in the Court
Followed by	Evasive Inquiry Agency
External links
Website

The title is a word play since sam in Korean roughly translates to "teacher" in slang, thus the international title, I am Your Teacher.

Synopsis

Yoo Jae-gon (Park Jun-gyu), head of an infamous gangster organization, becomes troubled by the future prospects of his only daughter, Eun-byul (Park Min-young), who refuses to study. Then coincidence or fate brings together Eun-byul and goofy-looking high school teacher Jang Yi-san (Yang Dong-geun) in a somewhat sticky situation. After finding out that Yi-san can actually inspire his troublesome daughter to focus on her studies, Jae-gon offers a deal to Yi-san: become his daughter's private tutor in exchange for one million won. The catch is Yi-san has to move in with her. And the money? It's given as security for his own life.

Cast

Main

• Yang Dong-geun as Jang Yi-san[2]
• Park Min-young as Yoo Eun-byul[3]
• Son Tae-young as Shin So-yi
• Park Jun-gyu as Yoo Jae-gon (Eun-byul's father)
• T.O.P as Chae Moo-shin

Supporting

• Park Chae-kyung as Min Sa-kang (Eun-byul's friend)
• Park Jae-jung as Kim Woo-jin (Mr. Yoo's right-hand man)
• Jo Hyang-ki as Hong Dae-ri (Mr. Yoo's assistant)
• Kwak Ji-min as Da-bin
• Dan Ji as Ye-bin
• Ban So-young as Hyo-bin
• Lee Min-ho as Heo Mo-se (Principal's son)
• Choi Jae-hwan as Han Tae-sung (Moo-shin's friend)
• Park Chul-ho as Kim In-seol
• Kim Yoo-bin as Kim Hee-chul
• Ryan as Ji Seon-hoo
• Kim Hong-shik as Park Nam-kyu
• Yoo Tae-woong as Go Dong-sool
• Choi Joo-bong as Heo Deok-bae (Principal)
• Park Sang-hyun as Park Han-suk
• Shin Pyo as Kang Ha

Reception

I Am Sam received average viewership ratings of around 6.5%.[4]

Awards

• 2007 KBS Drama Awards: Best New Actress - Park Min-young

Source material

• Title: Not in the Textbook! (also known as Very Private Lesson) (教科書にないッ!, Kyōkasho ni Nai!) (Korean: 교과서엔 없어!; RR: Gyo-goa-seo-en Up-Sseo!)
• Original story: Kazuto Okada (岡田和人)
• Genre: Comedy, Romance
• Age rating: 10+

Manga storyline

Oraku is a lucky man... He has a comfortable job teaching at a local high school. He has Satsuki, a fellow teacher whom he hopes to marry someday.

He has Aya, a beautiful student who has fallen in love with him. He has Aya's father, a wealthy man who wants so much for his little girl to be happy that he has sent her to live with Oraku.

Oraku is a very lucky man. Of course Aya loves nothing more than to come on to Oraku by lounging around his apartment half naked. Unfortunately for Oraku, Aya's father happens to be wealthy because he is a major crime boss, and he will have Oraku slowly murdered if Aya doesn't remain absolutely pure.

Now Oraku must not only restrain himself, but also protect Aya from the hordes of men and women at school...

And of course, if Satsuki or any of the other teachers find out that Oraku is living with one of his students, he will be permanently dismissed from the teaching profession.

See also

• List of Korean television shows
• Contemporary culture of South Korea
• Big Bang (South Korean band)

References

1. Choi, April (31 July 2007). "Actor Yang Back in New Drama". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2013-05-01.
2. "Yang Dong-geun Prepares to Release New Album". KBS Global. 4 October 2007. Retrieved 2013-05-01.
3. "Doll-Like Actress Park Min-young Captures Viewers' Hearts". KBS Global. 29 August 2007. Retrieved 2013-05-01.
4. "Popularity rating of dramas in 2007, from top 5 to bottom 5". Hancinema. 7 January 2008. Retrieved 2014-08-20.

External links

• I Am Sam official KBS website (in Korean)
• I Am Sam at HanCinema
• I Am Sam at the Korean Movie Database
• Very Private Lesson (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia