Although Korean drama has existed for a while, it’s steadily gaining more fans. If you are a student and you’ve not seen any kdrama series, then you are seriously missing out. As soon as you start the journey into romance, suspense, crime, horror, thriller, and fantasy in k-drama, sorry, there’s no going back. Your eyes will be open to a world you never want to leave; it’s like being addicted to your favorite food. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or down and need a mood uplift, you can try seeing a kdrama series. By the time you finish watching an episode while feeding your eyes on the handsome/beautiful actors, you will have overcome the negative feelings. You don’t even need to be bothered about the language barrier; there are subtitles right there.
For the kdrama fans, we know you’ve watched almost all the series released so far, and the high school drama is not left out. High school kdramas are full of teen angst, daddy issues, love triangles, heartbreaks, bullying, and, most significantly, fun. It also has relatable characters, as most people tend to meet their first love or crush in high school. We have ranked the top five high school dramas that you should definitely watch and rewatch again:
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10. REPLY 1988
If you’re tired of sad endings in k-drama, download this Reply 1988 and thank us later. Aside from its high ratings and viewership, the suspense and romance are worth your time.
Cast: Lee Hye-Ri, Ryu Jun-yeol, Go Kyung-Pyo, Park Bo-gum, and Lee Dong-hwi.
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Coming of Age
Synopsis: In a neighborhood where five families live, the children of the families are close friends who help and encourage one another. As they grow closer, they develop feelings for each other and eventually get married. The big question in this drama is, who did the female lead end up with? Are you curious? Please don’t waste time asking Google. See it yourself!
9. DREAM HIGH
Dream High is another South Korean high school drama released in 2011 and broadcasted worldwide. It is one of the famous high school dramas known for its Original Sound Tracks and dance scenes. It also had a sequel/season 2 with a different cast.
Cast: Bae Suzy, Kim Soo-Hyun, Ok Taecyeon, Jang Woo-Yung, IU, Ham Eun- Jung
Genre: Romantic Comedy, Teen, Drama
Synopsis: Six high schoolers from different families and backgrounds and different stories come together to fulfill their dream of being musical stars. They pass through many discouragements and challenges but later find their way while learning from each other. Lovers of IU/Bae Suzy, you should not miss this drama; check out the throwback pictures of your favorite idols!
8. EXTRAORDINARY YOU
Extraordinary You is a fantasy-themed high school drama that brings the viewers into a world of impossibilities and fun. The series had some bad reviews at first but was later praised for its well-written storyline and had high ratings.
Cast: Rowoon, Lee Jae Wook, Kim Hye-Yoon, Lee Na-Eun, Kim Young-Dae
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Drama
Synopsis: Eun Dan-oh discovers a big secret; she’s just a character in a webtoon and not the female lead but a supporting character. Dan-oh couldn’t believe that her life was a lie; she begins to investigate the truth and finds out that her fate lies in the hands of the Writer. She discovers the truth and meets other characters with the same future. This high school drama does not disappoint with romance and love triangles, but not to worry, there was a happy ending for everyone. If you want to watch this drama, keep imagining Jang Uk as the innocent guy in Alchemy of Souls because, in Extraordinary You, he was like Goo Jun-Pyo with a tragic past!
7. CLASS OF LIES
Class of Lies or Undercover Teacher is one television series you should not hesitate to watch. The storyline is one you’ve never seen, full of drama and suspense; it creates a thirst for the truth in the viewer.
Cast: Yoon Kyung-sung, Keum Sae-rok, Cha Hyeon-Jeong, Lee Gi-Hun, Ha So-eun
Genre: Crime, Drama
Synopsis: A young girl is involved in a murder attempt after her murderer tried to stab her; however, her self-proclaimed boyfriend is found at the crime scene and sent to jail. The accused and the victim are both students of Chunmyung High School. After the incident, the school tried to hire a lawyer who would close the case quickly and save the school’s image. The lawyer Gin Moo Hyeok in the course of helping out, is trapped in a scandal and loses his job. In a bid for revenge and to seek the truth, he becomes an undercover teacher at Chunmyung High, where he meets Ha So-Hyeon, the school counselor. They both work together to uncover the truth. If romance isn’t your thing, feel free to watch Class of Lies and be shocked by who was the green snake under the green grass!
6. LOVE ALARM
Love Alarm is another romantic high school drama full of love triangles/rectangles. The series had two whooping seasons released in 2019 and 2021 and is confirmed to have ranked high in Netflix’s rating. Love Alarm has a lot of relatable scenarios, so it’s no surprise that it’s one of the most viewed series worldwide.
Cast: Kim So-Hyun, Jung Ga-ram, Song Kang, Go Min-si, Shin Seung-ho
Genre: Romance, Youth, Comedy, Drama
Synopsis: Kim Jo-Jo, a cheerful and beautiful high schooler, struggles to earn money and fend for herself while battling her tragic past and falls into a love triangle with her best friend and a new guy because of an app, Love Alarm. The app can detect anyone who likes you and is within ten meters; because of this app, Kim Jo-Jo had to make different choices and face many challenges before realizing that loving someone is more than what an app tells you. She later ends up with her childhood friend, Lee Hye-yong. Have you missed Prince Go Won from Alchemy of Souls? He was Kim Jo-Jo’s ex-boyfriend, Jang Il-sik, in Love Alarm. Our prince certainly did not disappoint with his masculinity and sauve voice. If you’re feeling hot and bothered because a guy or girl keeps liking your picture on social media, and you don’t know what to do, it’s time to watch Love Alarm. Get your popcorn!
5. BOYS BEFORE FLOWERS
Boys Before Flowers, or Boys Over Flowers, is one of the most popular Korean drama series. If you ask eighty percent of kdrama fans what their first Korean movie is, it should be this drama. It was released in 2009 and paved the way for other series to be released. This series is the beginning of Nigerian girls’ and Lee Mon-Ho’s love story.
Genre: Romance, Drama, Comedy
Cast: Lee Min-Ho, Kim Bum, Koo Hye-Sun, Kim Hyung-Joong.
Synopsis: In an elite school, Shinwa High School, a poor yet sharp-witted girl meets the most popular and influential students who seem to be leaders of the school, F4. Goo Jun-Pyo(Lee Min-ho) is the heir to Shinwa Group and the son of a famous businessman in South Korea, which caused him always to act spoiled and arrogant. He often bullies other students with his best friends, So Yi-Jung(Kim Bum), Song Woo-bin( Kim Joon), and Yoon Ji-hoo( Kim Hyun Joong). Whenever you receive an F4 card, know that you’re doomed. One day, the daughter of a dry cleaner Geum Jan-di(Koo Hye-sun), is sent on delivery but surprisingly saves a student from committing suicide; this causes her to gain a scholarship into the elite school where she meets the F4. Jan-di was subjected to bullying and scorn, but she never gave up and, in the process, got entangled in a love triangle. This high school drama was rated highly by many viewers and won several awards. It was also the drama that shot Lee Min-ho and other star actors to fame and allowed other dramas to gain recognition. So if you’re still new to Korean drama, try watching this first!
4. TRUE BEAUTY
True Beauty is an award-winning drama based on a webtoon. Most fans were already familiar with the webtoon and anticipated the drama, which came to life and was released in 2020/2021. It has one of the highest ratings via the TVN network.
Cast: Cha Eun-woo, Moon Ga-young, Hwang In-yeop, Park Yoo-Na
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Synopsis: A young girl with low self-esteem from her friends and family always looking down on her because she looks ugly tries to change her outlook by watching makeup tutorials. Lim Jun-Kyung( Moon Ga-young), while growing up, was always ashamed of her face and believed that she looked ugly; she found solace in comic books, which she indulged in at a bookstore. After relocating, she meets a charming yet mysterious guy Lee Su-Ho(Cha Eun-woo), with a dark past. Su-Ho hates being the center of attention and knows Jun-Kyung’s secret but decides not to disclose it. Jun-Kyung could not escape the typical love triangle as Su-Ho’s ex-best friend Seo-Jun falls in love with her. Using makeup made Jun-Kyung look different and confident, and she made new friends who helped her understand that “True beauty is beyond what a person looks like.” There’s also Kang Su-jin, who was always in love with Su-Ho but had to deal with rejection and pressure from her crush and parents, making her a villain. There’s more than the love triangle and romance; the scenes are also quite comical. You will love watching it!
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3. SCHOOL 2017
Have you seen Business Proposal? If you have, then you should know that the female lead and the supporting actress in Business Proposal also starred in this high school drama, and also our favorite king from the fantasy-themed drama, Mr. Queen is also there!
Cast: Kim Jung-Hyun, Kim Se-Jeong, Jang Dong-Yoon, Han Sun-Hwa, Han Joon-Wan
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Teen
Synopsis: The plot is similar to True Beauty’s, except our female lead is beautiful, and she knows it. Ra Eun-ho wanted nothing else in the world but to be a webtoon artist and attends the same college as her crush despite her family background. Asides from her dreams, the reality was a bit against her because she consistently ranked low in her academics in a school where ranking was considered as the meter to gauge how your peers would treat you. She unexpectedly falls into a dilemma as she’s accused of being Student X, a notorious troublemaker famous for pranking teachers in the school. Eun-ho must find a way to redeem herself and uncover the mystery behind the pranks; this does not stop her from falling in love with the school director Hyun Tae-Woon who has an ill-fated relationship with the school’s student president Song Dae-wi. Song Dae-wi is an A-rank student and is respected for it; he has a mysterious past, too, and a girlfriend, Hong Nam-Joo. If you love mysteries with a tinge of romance, you should not think twice about checking this drama out!
2. THE HEIRS/ THE INHERITORS
Not only did Lee Min-ho act like a spoilt brat in Boys Before Flowers, but he also repeated it in The Heirs. This drama contains bitterness, love triangles, revenge, and romance. It also featured many famous Korean Actors like Krystal Jung, Kim Woo Bin, etc.
Cast: Lee Min-Ho, Park Shin-Hye, Kim Woo-Bin, Park Hyung-Sik, Kim Ji-Won, Choi Jin-Hyuk
Genre: Teen, Romance, Drama
Synopsis: Kim Tan, a mistress son, born to the owner of the Jeguk Group, is banned from South Korea by his elder brother, who is wary of him. Kim Tan spends time abroad enjoying himself and never plans to return home until he meets Cha Eun-sang, the daughter of a maid who works in Kim Tan’s house in Korea. They both meet abroad when Eun-sang gets into trouble while looking for her sister, but she is helped by Tan, who falls in love with her and causes him to go back to Korea and start attending the same high school as Eun-sang. Kim Tan was already engaged to Rachel, another rich girl but wasn’t in love with her. He began to pursue Eun-sang, which caused things to be difficult for her in school; however, their love conquered every challenge they faced. If Lee Min-Ho is your spec/favorite actor and you enjoy the rich brats vibes, watch the Heirs ASAP.
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1. ALL OF US ARE DEAD
Finally on this list is the unique thriller, All of Us Dead. If you don’t like high school romance or you’re not a mushy person, you should see this movie. The TVN South Korean series was released this year.
Cast: Park Ji-hu, Yoon Cha-young, Yoo In-soo, Kim Byung-Chul, Limon
Genre: Horror
Synopsis: A crazed teacher, in a bid to save his son from bullies, comes up with a deadly idea to make his son strong, mistakenly turning him into a zombie. When he notices that his secret is about to be discovered, he kidnaps a student who accidentally got infected with the virus, which started spreading all over the school with nowhere to escape. In a bid to survive, the students must make use of every idea and weapon they have so they don’t lose themselves. If you loved Park Dang-gu in Alchemy of Souls, you’d hate him in this drama, but he acted reasonably. Are you a fan of zombie/the end of the world? Check number one out!
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There are lots of high school drama series that you can check out, and be assured that once you watch one and fall in love, you might find it hard to stop watching them; that’s the thrill of k-drama. Which one is your favorite out of the list? You can also recommend the others you’ve watched in the comments section.
