Undercover High School (2025)

Seo Kang Joon Carries This Drama (And We Let Him)

You know those dramas that make zero sense if you think too hard, but somehow, you’re still entertained? Yeah, Undercover High School is exactly that. It throws logic out the window, packs in a little bit of everything—action, mystery, comedy, school drama, romance—and hopes you just roll with it. And honestly? For the most part, I did.

The biggest reason this drama works (or at least stays watchable) is Seo Kang Joon. He completely steals the show, bringing so much charisma and depth to a character that could have easily been just another over-the-top "cool undercover agent" trope.
The biggest reason this drama works (or at least stays watchable) is Seo Kang Joon. He completely steals the show, bringing so much charisma and depth to a character that could have easily been just another over-the-top "cool undercover agent" trope.

Now, about the plot... Well, let’s just say realism was not invited to this party. It feels like the writers grabbed a bunch of random drama clichés—childhood connection, undercover operation, high school bullying, a missing treasure (??), and a cartoonishly obsessed villain—and mashed them all together. There were moments where I was genuinely invested, but also moments where I just had to sigh and accept the nonsense.

The romance? It was sweet but definitely felt secondary. Jin Ki Joo was cute in it, and her chemistry with Seo Kang Joon felt natural, but her character was underdeveloped. She had her own motivations and backstory, yet they didn’t explore them enough. Instead, the drama focused more on the school setting, which—while important—took up too much time, leaving other elements underdeveloped.

Kim Shin Rok’s acting was great in this—she brought intensity to every scene.
Speaking of which, the central conflict… sigh. They started off promising, but by the end, their actions were so ridiculous that it was hard to take them seriously.

That said, I did love the dynamic between the ML and his team. Their friendship and teamwork brought some of the most enjoyable moments. The action-comedy balance was a hit-or-miss, but when it hit, it was really fun.

Final Thoughts:
If you’re watching this for a strong, well-structured plot—this is not the one. But if you want something light, entertaining, and filled with Seo Kang Joon moments, then go for it. It’s the kind of drama where you don’t think too much, just sit back and enjoy the ride. It’s a fun, chaotic watch—flaws and all.

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You watch this for ML's charisma and entertainment, not when you are looking for a profound plot!

This drama definitely had those classic Wattpad vibes, you know, where anything can happen and logic is more of a suggestion than a rule.
The plot felt like it was just stringing along a series of random events, all tied together by the ML's performance. It was almost like the drama existed solely to showcase his acting skills and without him, the whole thing would have been a lot harder to sit through.

One moment, a character’s making life-altering decisions, and the next, they are  casually falling into some completely unrealistic situation, yet somehow it all just kind of works in that “anything-can-happen” kind of way, we often get in those fanfiction stories where the rules of reality seem to bend.

The show had its fun moments, offering a mix of mystery and comedy, but that was pretty much all it had going for it.

The romance, in particular felt forced and unnecessary. While I don't dislike the FL's acting, I honestly believe her character could have been removed entirely without impacting the overall story. Her presence didn’t seem to add much to the plot and the romance felt more like an obligatory element than a meaningful part of the drama.
That said, I did enjoy their interactions and I am glad they didn't let the romance trope overpower the other.

The antagonists were another issue. Despite committing numerous crimes, they came off as quite foolish. They started off as mysterious, but then they just acted stupid. Their actions became predictable towards the end and their schemes were far too transparent. The stakes lowered as we progressed further.

What kept me going were the interactions between the ML and his "teddy team." Their chemistry was fun and added a bit of lightheartedness to an otherwise mediocre show. Those moments were the only real source of entertainment and kept my interest from completely waning.

Acting wise, I do not have any specific complaints. Seo Kang Joon was/ is an excellent actor and it showed throughout. He literally carried this whole drama on his shoulders.

Overall, I would recommend this to people who are fans of the Seo Kang Joon or anyone who is just looking for something light and easy to watch. It has a high entertaining value. If you don’t mind overlooking some weird plot choices and logic gaps for the sake of entertainment, then it’s worth a try.

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Watch - Laugh - Enjoy, Nothing More | Comedy Track Standouts in Gold Hunt !

Before going to start the review I would like to present 2 points from my side.
1) I'm a big fan of undercover dramas, and a big fan of NIS dramas. Vagabond drama introduced NIS dramas to me in kdrama. From then on I became a fan of NIS, Undercover, Secret Agents, Spy dramas because of the Writing and Execution of the story- tight plots, layered characters, is simply best with a lot of intense and well cinematographed action scenes, suspenseful mind games, strategic battles,
deep conspiracies make every episode unpredictable and thrilling.
2) But not every drama/story sticks to a serious, high intensity narrative sometimes the makers jump into a different story telling approach like with mix of comedy, mild romance or selected character driven subplots aligning with the core story. The drama's success results depend on the Execution.

Now Undercover High School drama results out, Let's see.

Story 8/10
The core story of the drama is tracking down the whereabouts of Emperor Gojong's missing gold bars. The skilled NIS agent goes undercover operation as a highschool student to track those missing gold bars, but eventually finds that his present undercover operation is interconnected with his father's missing case. He has to deal with two different missions 1) Finding gold bars 2) Uncover the truth behind his father's missing case. The story is looking strong on the page like a serious narrative but the narrative is completely different than what we expect. The writer approached a different way of story telling - aligning the comedy part with the serious narrative line. I can say they succeeded with this comedy track. While the majority of the drama runs with the comedy plot in parallel the story follows the mystery plot. To find the missing gold bars they need to crack down the mysteries behind the 4 stories and take the key hints from those stories. Between 1-4 episodes they mixed the horror elements aside from the school violence part I enjoyed the horror elements and stories behind them. Also elements like standing against school bullying, conflict friendships, main leads love track, father-son story, Brother-Sister bonding, School scenes make the drama enjoyable. For the plot twist - watch it.

Drama - A Good Comedy Entertainer 9/10.

I give 9/10 to the drama. Everything is perfect but somewhere I felt unfinished with some parts like -
weak emotional development in Hae Seong and his father's story. This part is very crucial for the Hae Seong emotional development but giving their story in epilogues made the story emotionally weak, to make the audience emotional this is not enough, except for the funeral scene where it was written poorly. Kim Min Ju's character is a typical k-drama high school one but her part of the story is also poorly written or maybe I expected a strong character from her.
One of the dramas strongest points is no forced romance between main leads. Like everyone, I enjoyed their cute cheese chemistry. Whether they used childhood cliché or not is the secondary thing However their funny chemistry is strong and enough to enjoy more scenes of them.

I give 10/10 for NIS Squad, drama's biggest Asset.

K-dramas are famous for creating memorable trios, squads, or team dynamics, whether in action thrillers, high school dramas, or romance series. We know that these groups often bring a mix of loyalty, humour, emotional depth and betrayal making them an essential part of storytelling.
Undercover High School, this drama gave us another memorable squad with Hae Seong, Mi Jeong, Yeong Hun, Seok Ho. I enjoyed this squad every moment & every scene. Especially in episode 04 & episode 08 their comedy went peak level :). I don't care about other aspects as long as the drama keeps me entering.

Acting 10/10
Every kdrama fan knows actor Lee Kwang Soo, once he said about acting in comedy oriented like this " comedy is one of the hardest genres to act in because it requires perfect timing and natural delivery. Great acting from Yoon Ga Yi, Jo Bok Rae, Jeon Bae Soo.
Seo Kang Joon, this good pick for his comeback drama after his military discharge. Not a complex character to portray, but it is an easy one for him. He acted well according to his character. However watching him in school uniform really made him look cool or Is it only me to think like that.
Decent acting from Jin Ki Joo, She is one of the best actors out there in the Korean Industry. Sad- she might not get hyped for what she really deserves, but her acting is consistently good. She brings a natural and emotional depth to her characters.

Crew Departments.
Screen Writer Lim Young Bin, designed the story very well. He took a unique approach to the traditional NIS, Undercover genre. Instead of focusing solely on high intense action and deep conspiracies he crafted a simple yet high entertaining with funny and lovable characters. Director Choi Jung In did an excellent job in presenting the story and bringing it to the small screen with strong execution and engaging Storytelling. He maintained a smooth pace, and well crafted moments that highlighted both comedic and Undercover elements. This Screen Writer & Director duo succeeded in bringing a highly entertaining drama with a well balanced mix of action, humour and emotion. By skillfully handling the characters and their arcs, they delivered Undercover High School drama that was both entertaining and satisfying. Additionally their every character received a satisfying ending, making the drama even more enjoyable and fulfilling.
Good Cinematography DoP by Kim Seong-han and Jo Min-cheol. Well composed shots and effective lighting.
Music by Park Se Jun, every track is awesome and lyrically beautiful.
Art Directors - Shin Seung-jun and Jeon Yeo-kyung, notable art work in designing Byeongmun High School.
Editing by Kim Mi-kyung and Lee Ga-young.

Overall Undercover High School well rounded drama that perfectly balances comedy, action and humour. It is a highly entertaining package with hilarious moments and heartfelt scenes. This drama is for everyone.

Season 2 possible ?
It's a open ending, we can assume that Hae Seong went to another undercover mission this time as Teacher. Not confirmed by the makers but depending on the ending it is possible and we can expect another season.

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Very fun

Overall: I enjoyed it, its engaging and the characters are funny but it can get more serious at times. I would recommend giving this show a watch.


I looked forward to this drama weekly. The acting was good the plot was fun and engaging. I do have a few complaints specifically about the real lack of character growth for the ML he seemed to stay the same the whole time and never fully trusted anyone which I would've loved to see. I'm really glad they didn't do a redemption arc with Seo Myeong Ju she really didn't deserve one. I didn't have an issue with the relationships between Jung Hae Seong and the kids I felt like they didn't ever cross the line of being creepy or anything.

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The high ratings are solely for Seo Kangjoon's face.

I'm so disappointed! I was so excited for a Seo Kangjoon comeback and got this mess!

I'm all in for silly plots, Bodys swaps, time travel, cross dressing a grown as man passing of as a highschooler it's always a yes for me.

more often than not these silly plots are pretty bad I know it and I take the risk every time. Undercover Highscholl started off so well, just the right amount of stupid, very funny great cast it had it all for the first four episodes but as the story progressed it got so boring and unfortunately has one of my biggest pet peeves , a horrible antagonist the acting was to exaggerated felt forced and one dimensional just not engaging enough.

The romance plot was simply not existing I could even go as far as saying that you could remove O Su A entirely and it wouldn't make much of a difference which is sad because Jin kijoo is hilarious and gorgeous but this character although funny, just didn't work for me at all.

I skipped through most of the last two episodes they were really, really bad so I would not watch this drama again and wouldn't recommend it either. It's fine to pass the time if you're bored and want to stare at a hunky dude for a couple hours.

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Great Cast + Good Action but Lacks the Spark

"Undercover High School" seemed promising with its talented lead cast and intriguing premise, and it does deliver in several ways—but not without its quirks. While it's a light, entertaining watch, there are aspects that might leave viewers wishing for more finesse.

Pros:
1. Seo Kang Joon’s Charisma: If you’re a fan, you’ll be thrilled. His performance and striking screen presence make him the undeniable star of the show. He owns every scene he’s in!
2. Kim Shin Rok’s Deranged Villainy: Her portrayal of the antagonist is chilling and unforgettable. She’s brilliant, embodying chaos with ease.
3. Heartfelt Moments: From touching scenes of school friendships to poignant family dynamics that go beyond blood ties, the show has its share of moments that tug at your heartstrings.
4. Treasure Hunt Mystery: The underlying plot of unraveling the treasure adds a sprinkle of intrigue, keeping viewers hooked just enough.

Cons:
1. Comedy Timing: The humor feels forced and cringey at times. Watching it just after clever comedy like "Trauma Code" or "Study Group", this disappointed me. While not outright bad, it struggles with timing and ends up feeling gimmicky—more snicker-worthy than laugh-out-loud funny.

2. Romance Without the Sparks: The love story between the leads lacks depth and excitement. Their childhood sweetheart trope feels predictable, ticking boxes instead of delivering the emotional highs that one expects from a rom-com. Despite the leads’ proven chemistry in other dramas, the script doesn’t quite capitalize on their potential here.

Overall:
Despite its flaws, the drama retains a certain charm. It’s short, sweet, and perfect for days when you want a light watch without investing too much emotional energy. While not a masterpiece or something you’d rush to rewatch, it’s worth trying at least once—especially if you’re in the mood to binge!

Watch it for Seo Kang Joon’s star power, Kim Shin Rok’s magnetic performance, and those heartwarming moments sprinkled throughout. Who knows? It might just surprise you.

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Undercover High School is a well scripted drama with top notch comedy.. Though it did lean on some familiar tropes and cliches, it still stands out thanks to its hilarious characters and the chemistry between them and also the fact that its so well done.. It's not a thriller by any sense.. Just good, lighthearted fun.. The school setting felt fresh, even though we have seen it in plenty of dramas before.. There is something about these hallways and classrooms that still pulls you in.. The middle of the story drags a little, looses momentum so to say.. But the cast and their humor carried it through.. Episode 4 was my favorite.. Peak comedy..

Seo Kang Joon chose the right script for his comeback.. It felt like the story was right up his element.. Jin Ki Joo was so good in her character.. But that was expected, both because the role suited her perfectly and because well she is talented.. She is such an underrated actress..
Special shoutout to Kim Shin Rok.. She was crazy and her performance was so disturbingly good..

Then came the ending and honestly it felt rushed.. So much happens in the last five minutes and that’s not the kind of conclusion I want from a drama.. A drama’s ending should feel as cared for as the rest of the story,.. But this didnt feel that way... Also, why did he become a teacher?? Nothing in the story hinted that..

I wasn’t bothered by the lack of romance.. It didn’t need it.. But the insanse chemistry they had should have been explored more atleast in the finale to give it some heart..

" If you think about it, treasures aren't that far away..
My treasure are these people.. "

Overall.. This is a fun drama that’s worth the time.. The comedy shines, the action’s decent and the riddles are fun enough to keep you curious.. Most importantly I had fun watching it.. And that’s what matters for me.. It’s a drama that made me laugh and I can’t ask for much more than that..

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a lot of missed opportunities...

okay so, à la 21 jump street style, an agent goes undercover as a high schooler...

and I loved this concept! and the first few episodes do a good job in drawing in with the mysteries and questions. But I was bothered by the tone shifts. It's sometimes serious and other times funny, which is difficult to do well together. There needs to be a healthy balance of the two for it to work, but the drama felt too comical and ridiculous at times. There were so many easy plot armor that could've been handled better. The plot lines dragged towards the second half and felt too slow, which is kinda surprising for a 12 episode drama.

and the villian. The actress does a great job so creepy. But she has insane plot armor and is so one-dimensional. Conflicts that are not personal must be engaging in some other way, and this sadly did not deliver.

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An undercover Agent in school, battling Corruption and Nepotism

The drama is mostly light and an easy watch. It didn't try hard to become extra complex and that works very well for it. I like the simplicity of this mystery.

All the actors have good chemistry with each other and the lead couple is cute together.

The drama has the following -
1) undercover agent unraveling school mysteries
2) a cute love story
3) School relationships and teenage troubles
4) Very strong villains
5) Theme revolving around classism in Korea

Its basically the battle of righteous people against THE CORRUPT AND THE PRIVILEGED.
It was such an easy watch. Very clean and simple. Definitely a little unrealistic but it was a light comedy afterall. Loved it ❣️

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High School Never Looked This Wild or Action Packed

What’s not to love about a hilariously awkward yet badass NIS agent who can throw a punch one second and stroll through a high school hallway in slow motion the next? Undercover High School kicks off with a bang, serving up action, comedy, romance, and mystery in a fast-paced ride that grabs you from the start.

The first half is pure binge-worthy gold—packed with intrigue, sharp humor, and adrenaline-fueled action sequences. By episode five, the tone takes a serious turn, diving into weightier themes like missing fathers, hidden gold, and institutional corruption. While the slower pace might catch some off guard, it’s a necessary pivot to flesh out the central mystery. Still, the show never forgets its chaotic, tongue-in-cheek heart, keeping the drama fun rather than overbearing.

For the romantics out there, the slow-burn relationship between Jung Haeseong and Oh Su A might feel understated, but it’s refreshing in its authenticity. Their connection adds a subtle emotional layer without overtaking the main plot, which is more about unraveling mysteries than kissing in the rain.

The cast is the real highlight. Seo Kang Joon shines as Jung Haeseong, seamlessly blending action hero swagger with awkward son charm. His fight scenes are gripping, and his emotional moments hit hard. Opposite him, Jin Ki Joo’s Oh Su A is a standout—determined, clever, and deeply engaged in the mystery. Together, they’re a team worth rooting for.

Kim Shin Rok’s Chairwoman Seo starts as an electric antagonist, but her character takes an extreme turn in later episodes, which might divide viewers. Thankfully, the last episode ties everything up beautifully. It doesn’t just resolve the main plot but also makes a point to include the high school students, whose friendships and rivalries are a cornerstone of the show’s charm.

The supporting cast deserves a round of applause too. From the NIS Team 4 trio’s laugh-out-loud antics to Su A’s mom’s sharp wit, every character brings something unique. Even the high schoolers—often overlooked in similar dramas—feel integral to the story, adding depth and chaos in equal measure.

While some subplots, like the ghost stories, feel like missed opportunities to be more deeply woven into the narrative, the loose ends still manage to add a touch of intrigue. However, one can’t help but wish they were more integral to the overall story.

Ultimately, Undercover High School is a wild, chaotic rollercoaster that knows exactly what it wants to be: entertaining, heartfelt, and just a little ridiculous. The final episode delivers a satisfying conclusion, tying up the mystery and bringing the cast together for a memorable send-off. Whether you’re here for the action, the laughs, or the twists, this drama delivers on all fronts. It’s pure fun—and absolutely worth the ride.

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entertaining to watch...

This review is going to be a pretty short one, considering I don't have a lot to say about it.

#PLUSPOINTS

=> The music is pretty good, not exactly memorable but pretty decent.
=> The comedy in this series is absolutely hilarious and damn good.
=> The actors did a good job, especially Jo Bok Rae (Ko Yeong Hun) and Yoon Ga Yi (Park Mi Jeong).
=> The drama doesn't take itself very seriously, so you can just take a step back, relax, and enjoy it on a weekend or something.

#NEGATIVEPOINTS

=> The drama does involve a lot of cringy and cheesy scenes, but in my opinion, they can be pretty subjective, and you might not feel the same way.
=> This drama is enjoyable but not exactly memorable or anything. In my opinion, this is just a one-time watch and forget kind of drama.

#Verdict

=> I wouldn't recommend it to go out of your way and watch it, but if you've decided to watch it, the only thing I can say is that it's pretty good and you'll enjoy your time watching it.

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