On the afternoon of February 22, 2026, viewers tuning into tvN witnessed a unique blend of nerves, nostalgia, and heartfelt reflection as acclaimed actor Kim Tae-ri stepped into an entirely new role—that of an after-school theater teacher for elementary school students. The premiere of the variety show '방과후 태리쌤' ('After School Teacher Tae-ri') offered a behind-the-scenes look at Kim’s journey, alongside fellow celebrities Choi Hyun-wook, Kangnam, and Code Kunst, as they led drama classes at a rural elementary school on the brink of closure.
The stakes were high from the start. For Kim Tae-ri, whose acting career has been marked by both critical acclaim and popular success, the switch from being in front of the camera to standing at the blackboard was anything but simple. According to OSEN, Kim confessed, “Being a teacher is so difficult,” openly admitting to the heavy burden she felt as she prepared for her first day. Despite her reputation for poise and versatility, Kim was candid about her anxieties—an honesty that quickly endeared her to viewers and students alike.
Preparation became Kim’s anchor in the face of uncertainty. EDaily reported that she sought advice from respected seniors in the acting world, including Moon So-ri, Yeom Hye-ran, and Jin Sun-gyu. She recounted, “Sister Hye-ran told me that acting is the foundation of everything,” and even reached out to Jin Sun-gyu for a late-night exchange, eager to glean insights from his own teaching experiences. To further bolster her confidence, Kim met with a choreographer from the drama 'The Age of Shadows' ('정년이'), learning warm-up dance routines to help break the ice with her young students. Her determination was clear: “Still, since I’m a teacher, I want to prepare without embarrassment.”
But even the most meticulous preparation couldn’t shield Kim from the whirlwind of emotions that followed her first class. As the episode unfolded, the audience saw her pour tremendous energy into the lesson—so much so that, once the students left, she sat alone in the empty classroom, sighing deeply. “I really have a bitter taste in my mouth. Really,” she admitted, her exhaustion palpable. According to OSEN, Kim reflected on the complex feelings that surfaced after the class ended: “It was complicated. The class went just as I planned, and I covered everything in my lesson plan. The students said goodbye and left happily, but I felt so empty.”
Despite the outward success of the lesson, Kim was left unsettled. “I was so dissatisfied and uncomfortable. I kept feeling like, ‘What is this? It shouldn’t go like this,’” she confessed in an interview segment. Perhaps most striking was her blunt admission: “I told myself to enjoy it, but I wasn’t happy.” Her words revealed not just vulnerability, but also a profound sense of responsibility—a teacher’s worry that simply following the plan isn’t enough if the heart isn’t in it.
This tension between expectation and reality was underscored by Kim’s own history with theater—a relationship that has shaped her life and career. As reported by Newsen, Kim prepared a self-introduction for her students in which she shared, “I first tried theater in college. The feeling of joy was so strong that I decided to become an actor.” The magic of the stage, she explained, left an indelible mark: “Theater has always had a special feeling for me. I can never forget the feeling of standing on stage and receiving applause.”
Kim Tae-ri’s journey to stardom has been nothing short of remarkable. Born in 1990, now 35 years old, she graduated from Kyung Hee University with a degree in Media and Communication. Her breakout role came in 2016 with Park Chan-wook’s film 'The Handmaiden' ('아가씨'), which catapulted her into the limelight. She has since become a familiar face in both film and television, starring in acclaimed productions such as 'Mr. Sunshine', 'Twenty-Five Twenty-One', 'The Guest', 'The Age of Shadows', 'Little Forest', 'Space Sweepers', and the 'Alien' series. Each project has showcased her range, but it’s her candidness and authenticity that have resonated most deeply with fans.
Yet for all her achievements, Kim’s first day as a teacher proved that new beginnings come with their own set of challenges. The show’s premise—a group of celebrities teaching drama to children at a school facing closure—added another layer of meaning to the experience. Not only was Kim confronting her own uncertainties, but she was also stepping into a space where the arts could offer hope and inspiration to young people in a precarious environment.
Throughout the episode, Kim’s interactions with her students were marked by both humility and humor. At one point, her attempts to master a warm-up dance led to a flurry of mismatched arm and leg movements, prompting laughter from the children and a sheepish smile from Kim herself. It was a reminder that even seasoned performers can find themselves out of their element—and that vulnerability can be a powerful teaching tool.
Kim’s reflections on the day’s events struck a chord with many educators and viewers. Her admission of dissatisfaction, despite everything going according to plan, echoed the experiences of countless teachers who pour themselves into their work only to be left questioning whether they’ve truly made a difference. The gap between intention and outcome, between planning and feeling, is a universal one—made all the more poignant by Kim’s willingness to share it so openly.
As the credits rolled on the first episode of 'After School Teacher Tae-ri', it was clear that Kim’s journey as a teacher was just beginning. Her story is a testament to the courage it takes to try something new, to seek guidance from mentors, and to confront one’s own limitations with honesty and grace. In stepping into the classroom, Kim Tae-ri offered not just a lesson in theater, but a lesson in humility, resilience, and the ongoing search for meaning in both art and life.
Sometimes, the most memorable performances happen when the curtain falls and the stage is empty—when the applause fades and all that’s left is the quiet echo of effort, hope, and the promise of another day.