Nobody Expected This OST Lineup From Kim Taeri's Variety Show

When actress Kim Taeri stepped into a classroom for tvN's After School Teacher Taeri (방과후 태리쌤), most viewers expected a warm, feel-good variety show about an actor learning to teach. What they did not expect was a full OST that doubles as a showcase for some of K-pop and K-indie's most beloved voices. Featured on Stone Music Entertainment's official YouTube channel, the complete 'After School Teacher Taeri' OST playlist has arrived — and its five-track lineup is turning heads well beyond the show's regular audience.

The playlist runs for one hour on loop and features five tracks, each reflecting the series' central themes of innocence, growth, and the beauty of finding connection in unexpected places. The contributing artists range from a veteran indie singer-songwriter to active idols from two of the most popular groups in the current K-pop scene — making this one of the more unexpectedly star-studded variety show soundtracks in recent memory.

Kim Taeri Herself Sings — and Code Kunst Produced It

Perhaps the most surprising element of the OST is its very first track. Kim Taeri, who is first and foremost known as one of South Korea's most acclaimed dramatic actresses — celebrated for her work in Mr. Sunshine, Twenty-Five Twenty-One, and the award-winning 2024 drama Jeongyeoni — contributes a full vocal performance with the song "apple scent."

The track was produced by Code Kunst, one of the most respected names in Korean hip-hop and contemporary R&B production, whose credits span collaborations with major artists across the industry. The pairing of Kim Taeri's delicate, untrained warmth with Code Kunst's signature atmospheric production creates something quietly disarming — a track that captures the gentle emotional texture of the show itself.

For fans who have watched Kim Taeri pour herself into each role — including the reported three years she spent training in Korean traditional singing (pansori) for Jeongyeoni — hearing her sing again, in a more intimate context, feels like a natural extension of her artistic commitment rather than a novelty. She has described her participation in After School Teacher Taeri as like filming a drama, part of her filmography, and the care evident in "apple scent" supports that framing.

ZB1 Members and SEVENTEEN's Dokyeom Add Star Power

The OST's remaining tracks confirm that the music behind After School Teacher Taeri is anything but an afterthought. Three members of ZEROBASEONE (ZB1) — Seok Matthew, Kim Taerae, and Park Gunwook — appear together on "오늘은 그냥 GO!" (Today, Let's Just Go!), bringing the group's signature blend of bright vocals and youthful energy to a song that mirrors the spirit of the children featured in the series.

Their contribution is particularly notable because it presents the three as an independent vocal unit rather than as the full nine-member group, giving each member space to distinguish their individual tone. For ZB1 fans, it represents a rare, low-key look at the members in a stripped-back context — something that variety show tie-in projects often do well.

The playlist closes with a track from Dokyeom (도겸) of SEVENTEEN, titled "명장면" (The Best Scene). Dokyeom, widely recognized as one of the strongest vocalists in fourth-generation K-pop, brings his characteristic warmth and emotional depth to the track — a song whose title alone invites listeners to think about which moment in their own lives qualifies as their best scene.

Rounding out the OST are Mingginyu (밍기뉴) with "Young & Naive" and Hong Isaac (홍이삭) with "Happened" — both established names in the Korean indie and ballad scenes whose gentle, introspective styles complement the show's emotional register.

What 'After School Teacher Taeri' Is Actually About

For those unfamiliar with the series: After School Teacher Taeri is a tvN reality variety show airing every Sunday that follows Kim Taeri, actor Choi Hyun-wook, and entertainer Kang Nam as they become teachers at Yongheung Elementary School, a rural school with a total enrollment of just 18 students. Their mission is to guide the children — most of whom have never experienced theater — through rehearsals and ultimately onto a live theatrical stage.

Kim Taeri serves as Teacher Taeri (태리쌤), the lead instructor who brings both creative vision and an unexpectedly intense commitment to the project. Co-teacher Choi Hyun-wook, nicknamed Gamja-ssaem (감자쌤 — Potato Teacher), has emerged as a surprise comedic and emotional highlight of the show, demonstrating an innate variety sensibility that has earned him a new wave of fans. Kang Nam rounds out the trio as Bukgeuk-ssaem (북극쌤 — Arctic Teacher), providing comedic energy and enthusiasm.

While the show's TV ratings have hovered around the 1% range — modest by broadcast standards — it has generated substantial online conversation and emotional resonance. Key moments from each episode have circulated widely on social media, particularly scenes of genuine connection between the teacher-cast and the children. Guest appearances by Code Kunst and celebrity chef Ahn Sung-jae have added further variety to the mix.

Four Episodes Remain — the Final Stage Is Ahead

With After School Teacher Taeri entering its final stretch — approximately four episodes remaining as of mid-April 2026 — the stakes are rising for the theatrical production at the heart of the series. Whether the children's play comes together, and how Kim Taeri and her co-teachers navigate the final weeks of rehearsal, is now the central dramatic thread pulling viewers forward.

The release of the full OST playlist at this stage feels deliberate: a musical companion for viewers who have become emotionally invested in Yongheung Elementary's journey. Each track on the soundtrack mirrors the arcs playing out on screen — the nervousness of trying something new, the joy of simple connection, the tenderness of a moment that catches you off guard.

That the playlist brings together voices as different as Kim Taeri, SEVENTEEN's Dokyeom, ZB1 members, Hong Isaac, and Mingginyu under one conceptual roof is, in its own way, a reflection of what the show itself has managed to do: gather people of very different backgrounds and personalities into a shared experience that becomes something unexpectedly beautiful.

The full After School Teacher Taeri OST playlist is available now on Stone Music Entertainment's official YouTube channel. The show continues every Sunday on tvN.