'Teachers 2' has completed its teaching staff by incorporating Yoon Hye-jung, a star instructor in the public education sector.
On the afternoon of the 13th, Channel A's entertainment program 'Please Help with Grades Teachers 2' (hereafter 'Teachers 2') Kim Seung-hoon CP and Yoon Hye-ji PD met with Maeil Business Star Today to discuss the program.
'Teachers 2' is a program that provides customized solutions from Korea's top instructors to students and families struggling with grades.
'Teachers' concluded its first season of 30 episodes on October 30 last year and started a new season on the 4th of last month. The most notable aspect of this season is the addition of Yoon Hye-jung for the Korean subject.
Yoon Hye-jung is a current teacher at Hanil High School and a top instructor in the EBS Korean subject. This contrasts with Jo Jung-sik (Mega Study) and Jeong Seung-je (Etoos), who are representative instructors in the private education sector.
PD Yoon explained, "The goal was to have a complete composition of Korean, English, and Math, which was the program's uniqueness." CP Kim added, "Korean is the most important subject in college entrance exams. It directly relates to literacy and the decision to retake the exam. It is also a subject where it is difficult to raise grades in a short period. Yoon Hye-jung is regarded as a groundbreaking figure who created a systematic Korean learning method. We wanted to invite her since the beginning of last season, but she was too busy. We finally managed to have her on board."
There is curiosity about why Yoon Hye-jung decided to participate in 'Teachers 2' despite her busy schedule. PD Yoon said, "Since she is involved in public education, she is always busy. When we approached her last season, she declined because she was also a homeroom teacher. This time, she was going to decline again, but after talking with the production team, she felt our sincerity. That's how she decided to join us."
She continued, "Yoon Hye-jung resembles Girls' Generation's Yuri in appearance. However, her personality is very commanding. When Yoon Hye-jung joined, it seemed like the existing cast members Jeong Seung-je, Jo Jung-sik, and Mimi Mino shrank back; her presence and aura were extraordinary."
What about the other instructors? PD Yoon described math instructor Jeong Seung-je as "very charming. He has a captivating aura. When you see him, you understand why he is so popular and has maintained his position as a top instructor for a long time. He is loved by students and captivates the production team as well." She added, "He is very honest with his emotions and has no pretenses, which makes him very attractive."
CP Kim mentioned, "I started planning this program while watching my children on 'My Precious Child.' My eldest child is now in the second year of middle school. While contemplating which academy to send them to, I came up with this program. I had the opportunity to have a meal with Jeong Seung-je, and when I mentioned this plan, he agreed to participate, which led to the birth of the program." He highlighted Jeong Seung-je's contribution to the program. He added, "He is very meticulous and takes good care of people. He also cooks well."
What about Jo Jung-sik? PD Yoon said, "He may seem prickly, but he has a deep affection. He pretends not to care but looks after others behind the scenes. We had 30 episodes in Season 1. He continued to support the students from last season and even sent them study materials. He would contact them separately to ask, 'Did you do well on the exam?' This is something only the production team knows, but I got the impression that he is a very warm person behind the scenes."
'Teachers 2' focuses not only on study methods but also on providing information about college entrance exams and career paths. CP Kim stated, "Even with the same score, the schools students can attend vary depending on strategy. The college entrance exam system keeps changing, making it difficult for parents. We aim to inform them about major subjects, how to read report cards, and strategies for elective subjects."
As they closely interact with students, the production team's satisfaction also depends on the students' achievements. PD Yoon mentioned a challenging student from last season, saying, "I felt a sense of pride."
“The teenage years are when one's identity is formed and have a significant impact on life. Experiencing small successes during this time and seeing life change brings great fulfillment. There was a friend last season who dreamed of becoming a professional Go player and started studying. Although he wasn't doing well at first, he realized the joy of studying while receiving solutions and became 5th in his entire school within a year. He told me, 'I'm going to Seoul National University!' Thanks to that, I feel a sense of pride in doing meaningful work.”
'Teachers 2' is currently in its early stages, having aired 5 episodes. Regarding the program's performance, the production team stated, "Although it's still early in the broadcast, the ratings are steadily increasing. The main target is women in their 40s, especially parents," adding, "As with the previous season, we expect steady growth."
There has been little change in the viewing patterns of the main target audience, women in their 40s, while some teenage viewers are also tuning in. In this regard, PD Yoon explained, "Except for unique cases in Korea, most people experience exam life. Many viewers reflect on their school days through the program and sometimes gain new motivation," adding, "Many viewers find motivation from seeing students working hard or scenes of teachers guiding them."
What is the long-term goal of 'Teachers'? PD Yoon stated, "Right now, we are focused on wrapping up this week's and next week's broadcasts. Currently, we are so busy editing that I can barely go home once a week. All the production team is so dedicated that I think it's a luxury to look too far into the future right now."
CP Kim mentioned, "The reason for the seasonal format is that the exam period is fixed. The biggest downside of the seasonal format is that it doesn't connect until the new season starts after the end. We are considering spin-offs to fill that gap."
Ultimately, 'Teachers' is a program aimed at helping students preparing for college entrance exams. Therefore, the production team is constantly thinking about the 'college entrance exam system.' What does the production team think about the entrance exam system? CP Kim stated, "The entrance exam system cannot encompass all students," while emphasizing the efforts of parents.
“The speed of change in the entrance exam system is so fast that it is difficult for parents to keep up. The environmental changes are also rapid. I think explanations related to learning are needed in public education, in addition to academy entrance briefings. Just like parents attending observation classes, basic information provision is more necessary. I can't speak carelessly about the entrance exam system, but parents need to take a little more interest in the academic schedule and subject composition and have the perspective and concern to understand their children.” (Continued in Interview ②)
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
