The Glory

"The Glory" tells the harrowing story of Moon Dong-eun, a woman whose soul was shattered by horrific school violence. Forced to drop out of high school due to brutal and relentless bullying by a group of wealthy classmates led by Park Yeon-jin, Dong-eun spends the next two decades meticulously planning her revenge. Her dream of becoming an architect is replaced by a singular, all-consuming goal: to make her tormentors pay for their crimes.

As an adult, Dong-eun becomes the homeroom teacher for the daughter of her chief tormentor, Yeon-jin, marking the beginning of her intricate and chilling plan. She slowly unravels the seemingly perfect lives of her five bullies, exposing their secrets, sins, and vulnerabilities. Along the way, she finds unlikely allies in Joo Yeo-jeong, a cheerful plastic surgeon with his own deep-seated trauma, and Kang Hyeon-nam, a domestic abuse victim who becomes Dong-eun's loyal assistant. The series is a slow-burn thriller that explores the depths of trauma, the moral complexities of vengeance, and the possibility of finding solidarity and a new purpose in the darkest of times.

"The Glory" is a profound exploration of the aftermath of trauma and the agonizing pursuit of justice when societal systems fail. The series posits that for some victims, revenge is not merely a destructive act but a necessary path to reclaiming one's honor, dignity, and will to live. It was inspired by a question from writer Kim Eun-sook's daughter: would it be more heartbreaking if she bullied someone to death or was bullied to death herself? This question forms the series' core, examining the immense resources—financial and emotional—required to fight back against powerful perpetrators. The drama argues that true "glory" for a victim like Dong-eun is not about forgiveness, but about seeing her abusers face absolute ruin, thus allowing her to finally move forward from the hellish ruins of her past and begin anew.

While the ending is largely seen as a triumphant, albeit dark, conclusion, some interpretations question the nature of Dong-eun's "healing." One perspective is that she never truly escapes her trauma but simply finds a new obsession to channel her meticulous planning and rage into: Yeo-jeong's revenge. In this reading, her new purpose isn't a sign of recovery but a continuation of her life defined by vengeance. Instead of moving on to a peaceful life, she enters another dark vortex, suggesting that such profound trauma can never be fully overcome, only redirected.

Another interpretation focuses on the series as a critique of the justice system itself. The fact that Dong-eun and Yeo-jeong must resort to elaborate, extra-legal means to punish criminals who the law either failed to or could not adequately punish is a cynical statement. The ending, where they become a vigilante duo operating within a prison, can be read not as a happy ending, but as an indictment of a broken system where true justice can only be found outside of it.

"The Glory" had a profound and immediate cultural impact, both domestically in South Korea and internationally. Upon its release, the series dominated Netflix's global charts, but its influence extended far beyond viewership numbers.

The show's realistic and brutal depiction of school violence, based on a true story, reignited a national conversation in South Korea about bullying. It prompted widespread public outcry and calls for stricter laws and better support systems for victims. The series' popularity led to what became known as the "The Glory effect," where numerous celebrities and public figures in South Korea faced accusations of past school bullying, with some issuing public apologies and suffering career setbacks. This phenomenon also spread to other countries, notably Thailand, where a social media campaign with the hashtag #TheGloryThai encouraged victims to share their stories and led to apologies from several Thai celebrities.

Critically, the series was lauded for its tight plotting, superb acting—especially by Song Hye-kyo and Lim Ji-yeon—and its unflinching look at dark subject matter. It demonstrated the global appetite for stories that tackle difficult social issues with nuance and intensity. The series' legacy is its role as a powerful catalyst for social change, using a fictional narrative to force a real-world reckoning with the long-lasting trauma of school violence and the systemic failures that allow it to persist.

"The Glory" was met with overwhelmingly positive reception from audiences worldwide. Viewers praised the series for its compelling and intricate plot, calling it a masterclass in the revenge thriller genre. The meticulous, slow-burn nature of Dong-eun's plan was a frequent point of acclaim, with many finding the eventual downfall of the bullies deeply cathartic and satisfying. The performances of the cast were universally lauded, especially Song Hye-kyo's transformative portrayal of the cold and broken Dong-eun, a stark departure from her previous roles, and Lim Ji-yeon's chilling performance as the remorseless villain Park Yeon-jin.

The main points of criticism, or rather triggers for some viewers, were the graphic and disturbing depictions of bullying in the early episodes. While many understood these scenes were necessary to establish the stakes, some found them difficult to watch. The split of the series into two parts was also a point of discussion; while some felt it built anticipation effectively, others were frustrated by the wait. Overall, the audience verdict was that "The Glory" is a powerful, well-crafted, and unforgettable drama that excels in its genre and raises important social questions.