Soonkki, Cover Art, After School Lessons For Unripe Apples, Webtoon.
After School Lessons for Unripe Apples – Information
Author of Story: Soonkki
Chapter Count: 150+
Status: Ongoing
Content Warnings
These content warnings do not reflect the contents of the review below; only the literary work itself.
- Bullying
- Violence
Spoiler Disclaimer
This recommendation post may contain small plot spoilers for review purposes. Any major spoilers are hidden by default and are able to be revealed via click or tap.
Plot Summary
After School Lessons for Unripe Apples is one of my favorite Webtoon reads so far (also called 90’s Cram School for Unripe Apples in Korean)! It has an adorable story, hilarious characters, and a plot that will either make you laugh hysterically or squeal in excitement at any moment!
In this story, you follow the two main characters Mi-Ae Hwang and Cheol Kim (both age 16 in Korea, or 15 in America). These two knew each other when they were children, and meet once again in middle school* when Cheol moves to her neighborhood.
*This post is tagged as a high-school romance, but in Korea they are actually still in middle school at age 16. Grade levels work a bit differently in Korea than they do in America, but it’s close enough for the tag to serve its purpose.
These two slowly grow a friendship thanks to the persistent Mi-Ae! We get to see their day-to-day experiences in a sort of slice-of-life style story that is anything but laid-back. In After School Lessons for Unripe Apples, there is always something going on, whether it be hilarious or romantic!
Why I Enjoyed After School Lessons for Unripe Apples
The number one reason I love this Webtoon so much is because of the characters. Mi-Ae and Cheol are so expressive and totally unique. Their dynamic is super fun, wild, and incredibly funny.
Mi-Ae, for example, is very energetic and childish. She often puts off studying (even though her mother is strict in this aspect), and instead enjoys counting airplanes or discussing her favorite boy group with friends. Her face is an open book, which is one of the funniest aspects of her personality.
Oftentimes, Mi-Ae’s mouth will drop open in response to someone or something, which makes me crack up every time. Mi-Ae has pure intentions of making friends and is interested in trying new things, but also has a quick temper and can even be confrontational (love that for her).
She’s totally a social butterfly, although she isn’t necessarily popular or anything. A normal middle school girl!
Cheol, on the other hand, is more reserved; his main focus is staying out of trouble, since he unfortunately has an unfair reputation and is even referred to as “Lucifer.” He gained this nickname due to his facial scar and impressive height, which are aspects that make other students fear Cheol.
He is opposed to becoming friends with Mi-Ae (which doesn’t stop her at all) even though they once knew each other, since he is afraid his reputation will get her into a bad situation.
These two stand out quite a lot together 1. because of their huge height difference and 2. because their names, Cheol and Mi-Ae, are the same as a popular pop duo in Korea. These two aspects come into play pretty often throughout After School Lessons for Unripe Apples.
This causes friction between the two main characters in the beginning (after all, being teased is no fun), but is also a source of comedy as they get embarrassed easily and bicker often.
Soonkki, Promotional Art, After School Lessons For Unripe Apples, Naver, Webtoon.
The author does a great job at keeping things interesting in this story. After School Lessons for Unripe Apples became one of the few stories I religiously read every week and even paid extra to read more chapters faster. It’s so good!
There are so many crazy, funny moments that had me cracking up even among other chapters that made me root for the bond between Cheol and Mi-Ae. It’s the perfect setting for a middle/high school love story, with lots of silly and energetic scenes while the characters navigate school, sports, studies, and friendships.
There are lots of funny moments that are so relatable to being young and in school. This story perfectly captures all the difficult or embarrassing parts of growing up; taking tests, finding your personal style, making friends (or enemies)…they’re all portrayed so well in After School Lessons for Unripe Apples.
The characters are so real, and you see all of the less gorgeous sides of their lives. We get a peek at their at-home situations, personal struggles, pieces of their past, and more.
The best part of this story is that it captures the awkwardness of the middle school and early high school age. I think most can agree this time period in your life can be emotional, embarrassing, weird, and awkward. After School Lessons for Unripe Apples captures this unique part of life in the best way possible.
Instead of a fluffy, bubbly, gorgeous shoujo, this story is a more realistic representation of younger school life and first loves: super awkward (although there are some really funny cliche shoujo references, too)! Even the characters reflect this; having their own struggles and desires other than just a sole focus on romance.
It helps keep the story interesting, realistic, and well-rounded. While there are a lot of laughable parts to this story, it also highlights the realness of the characters’ struggles very well. And because of this, the story is absolutely hilarious.
Overall, even with a lot of funny moments and expressions (and seriousness at times), After School Lessons for Unripe Apples also comes across very wholesome and sweet. Cheol and Mi-Ae knew each other at a young age, and it’s so sweet to see their friendship grow once they’re older. There are a lot of sweet moments, especially since they really have to work to build their relationship.
The romantic aspects are in a slow-burn style and are very innocent. The two build their friendship before starting any romantic feelings, and even the romantic aspects are realistic for their age. It’s so sweet, and makes the story very enjoyable!
More In-Depth Review (Warning: Spoilers!)
After School Lessons for Unripe Apples is such a great work. Every character in the story has such a unique personality, and the story is told well even with panels that don’t have dialogue.
There are times where the characters just show their emotions in their face, and it makes the story so interesting. I think Soonkki has done a really great job with this one! So, I wanted to just talk more about these characters.
It’s pretty obvious throughout the story that Cheol is just a frustrated, tired soul. He’s been accused of being a bully, a monster, and so on for much of his life simply due to his appearance.
It seems as though he simply wants to finish school and go off to the countryside for some peace and quiet. He gets frustrated quickly, but with how often he gets misunderstood or misjudged, I don’t blame him.
He doesn’t have ill intentions, and you can see he’s actually a kind person in different parts of the webtoon. For one, he rescues Mi-Ae from injury (due to her clumsiness) more than once. He tries his best to stay out of trouble and doesn’t want to cause his family any issues, either.
His complex character is portrayed and written so well in After School Lessons for Unripe Apples. I love that every time he thinks of going back to the countryside, he remembers the memories he made there with Mi-Ae. So cute!
Mi-Ae is also really well written. She may want to just play around and read comics, but outside of her clumsiness and lack of dedication to her studies, she knows what’s right and doesn’t believe the rumors about Cheol.
She’s got a good heart, but is just a bit clumsy. She knows her family doesn’t have a ton of money, and tries to avoid going to cram school so her family won’t have to cover the cost. Although this didn’t work out the way she planned, you can tell she’s a good kid.
Mi-Ae is a very realistic character who is adorably naive. She has tons of curiosity, and hilariously keeps Cheol on his toes. She is a little mischievous, and I think she is the perfect burst of energy and positivity that Cheol needs.
She brings more excitement into his life, while Cheol protects and tries to sort of rein in Mi-Ae and her big personality. Cute!
Overall, their long list of differences somehow makes you want to root for them even more! They are so cute and solve their challenges or quarrels in interesting ways. We get to see see perspectives from both sides, and it’s so fun to watch them become friends and fall for each other slowly.
So sweet! I highly, highly recommend reading After School Lessons for Unripe Apples!
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for an excellent story with a lot of laughs and really cute wholesome moments, I’d definitely recommend After School Lessons for Unripe Apples.
It’ll hook you in and keep you interested throughout every chapter, wondering what crazy reaction or event will happen next! How will Mi-Ae become closer with the cold, misunderstood Cheol? How will they survive each crazy situation they get themselves into? It’s definitely a must-read Webtoon!
Disclaimer: Any images used for this blog are for illustrative purposes only, are not owned by me, and are under ownership of the artist, author, or Webtoon.
Images Credit: Soonkki. After School Lessons for Unripe Apples. Webtoon, 2021.
