Undercover High School

PERFECT FOR A BINGE WATCH!

Undercover High School is an entertaining drama that, while enjoyable in the moment, might not leave a lasting impression. It’s a great series to binge-watch, providing a fun escape, but I doubt it will linger in my mind for long. For me, the show has more pros than cons; in fact, I struggled to find any drawbacks. While the undercover spy concept feels familiar, reminiscent of American series, it has a unique soul that sets it apart as a K-drama.

The story follows an NIS agent who returns to high school undercover to uncover rumored lost gold believed to belong to the government, hidden within one of South Korea’s most prestigious schools. Along the way, he encounters the show’s villain, rekindles a first love, and forms new friendships. This journey also serves as a healing process for him, as he had previously dropped out of high school due to accusations and bullying. I won’t delve too much into the details to avoid spoilers, but that premise lays a solid foundation for the narrative.

The pros of Undercover High School are numerous. First and foremost, the storytelling is both entertaining and engaging. I love the perfect blend of action, suspense, thrill, and comedy, with just a hint of romance that doesn’t overshadow the main plot. Often, shows like this struggle to balance romance with the storyline, but this series successfully weaves in romantic moments between the leads while keeping the primary narrative moving forward.

Secondly, the cast and their performances truly stand out. This is my first time seeing Seo Kang Joon, and I’m thoroughly impressed. Not only is he strikingly handsome with captivating eyes, but he also delivers a compelling performance. His character feels refreshingly complex; he embodies the tough persona required for his undercover work while also showcasing a chaotic, humorous side at school. He’s simply a joy to watch. Jung Ki-joo also shines in her role. This is already my fourth K-drama featuring her, and I admire how she excels in witty roles. Her comedic timing is impeccable, and I appreciate that she never falls into the damsel-in-distress trope. Instead, she portrays a character who stands up for herself, often in the most unexpected ways.

The dynamic between these two characters begins with a misunderstanding—the student-teacher relationship where she mistakes him for a bully, and he is perplexed by her cluelessness regarding her students. However, as the story progresses, these misunderstandings are resolved, adding depth to their interactions.


As the story unfolds, we discover a childhood connection between the two leads, a trope I typically find overdone. Surprisingly, it didn’t bother me here. Their dynamics improve significantly after this revelation, especially when she realizes they are the same age and that he isn’t actually a student. This blurs the lines between their relationship, allowing us to witness their incredible chemistry and camaraderie as they team up to accomplish his mission. Their chemistry rivals that of other non-romantic shows, and I find it hard to believe that some viewers didn’t feel it—though I understand that chemistry can be subjective.

Additionally, the supporting characters, particularly the team the male lead works with and the students he encounters at school, including his supposed sister, add depth to the narrative. Each character is interesting and contributes meaningfully to the overall story. The humor in the show deserves special mention; the comedic aspects shine brightly. The humor is so well executed that it often catches me off guard. The characters’ impeccable comedic timing perfectly balances the seriousness of the plot, providing lighthearted moments that enhance the viewing experience.

Lastly, I appreciate the show's concise format. With only 12 episodes, it avoids dragging on unnecessarily, covering all necessary plot points without feeling stretched.

Overall, Undercover High School offers a delightful mix of action, humor, and emotional depth, making it a worthwhile watch. While it may not be a groundbreaking series, its charm and engaging characters make it a memorable experience for viewers looking for a lighthearted drama.

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Seo Kang Joon's action spy has some laughs but lacks the gritty edge

After three years, Seo Kang Joon finally returns to the small screen. Honestly, I'm just as mesmerized like everybody else by Kang Joon's piercing brown eyes ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶

Undercover High School is an action romcom following Jung Hae Seong, a demoted NIS agent whose new mission is to go undercover in a school to find missing gold bars. Joining him in the hunt is high school teacher O Su A (played by Jin Kin Joo) and together they uncover not only the school's scary stories, but also the bullying and social injustice within its walls.

Incorporating themes of hierarchy and injustices in school in an action k-drama makes me wonder whether the writers may have bitten off more than they can chew. The rigged education system feels like a weak subplot and an excess narrative at times. The show suffers with weak writing and its portrayal of injustice comes across as shallow and superficial.

Despite the seriousness of his character's job, Seo Kang Joon is such a delight to watch. For an NIS agent, he’s far less broody than expected – more a being of goofy yet very agile and combative undercover. Kang Joon seamlessly injects humor even while in the middle of a risky operation. His comedic timings also hit the spot and are praise worthy. I would really love to see him next in an office romcom because suits definitely looks good on him >ᴗ<

On the other hand, Jin Kin Joo's character seems to be one-dimensional. She plays the character of a contract teacher who aspires to be a full-time faculty member as she once promised to one of her students. There is only so much a versatile actress can do with a poor character writing. The same goes with the rest of the cast - they are as tropey and typical as K-drama characters come, but in a way that’s also their job, to sprinkle in laugh-out-loud moments in this top-secret operation.

Poor character writing is also evident on the story's antagonist. At first, the school's chairwoman, Seo Myeong Ju (played by Kim Shin Rok), appears to be too powerful and cunning to be defeated, only to have questionable cards up her sleeves. The way she effortlessly bounces back from defeat is unconvincing. If only they had shared some backstory about Myeong Ju, it might have been easier to understand and relate to her obsession with gold bars and elite school. However, kudos to Shin Rok for portraying her with such steely grace and eerie aura. Her choice of clothes is also an eye-turner and a highlight every episode.

The pacing of this show is also an issue for me. This would have worked better as a movie rather than a TV series. Even though this series only has 12 episodes, it somehow feels like it stretches on forever mainly due to filler scenes and characters constantly getting sidetracked along the way. The conflict itself also feels less gritty and intense as the story progresses.

To sum up, Undercover High School is your subpar action k-drama. It's such a letdown that a series with a promising gist and talented main cast gets bogged down by generic and uninspired writing. Anyways, I'm still thankful this cured my kdrama slump. There is nothing a charming and swoon-worthy oppa can't cure after all.

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An Epic Mix of Thriller, Mystery, and Comedy

After the end of Study Group, I wasn't expecting much from Undercover High School, given that I didn't recognize any of the casts. Anyway, I still gave it a go because undercover's term always had me intrigued. Let's see how's my take on it.

The plot follows the journey of an NIS agent named Jeong Hae-seong, who is tasked to search for Emperor Gojong's gold bar at Byeongmun Highschool after botching a mission when he attempted to save an ancient artifact. This new mission requires him to go undercover as a highschool student. At first, he has had a hard time trying to adapting to his newly fabricated life as he kept getting into trouble with his homeroom teacher, Oh Su-a. Meanwhile, he also befriends several classmates including Lee Dong-min, An Yu-jeong (his cousin), Lee Ye-na, and many more. Not only that, his presence also attracts the attention of the school's chairwoman, Seo Myeong-ju, who happens to be Seo Byeong-mun's descendant. Also, Hae-seong needs to search for his long-lost father, who disappeared when he took the very same mission. As Hae-seong, Su-a, his NIS team, and newly-made friends work together to solve the crisis, problems and unwanted obstacles also arise repeatedly to thwart their plans. Will they eventually break the mystery of Byeongmun High School, find the gold bars and his father, and have a happily-ever-after ending?

I won't be blabbing about the script's quality as it also utilizes the art of plot twist in a very good way and even I'm getting more and more intrigued after every episode. Yes, it's a tightly-woven yet intricate story and unpredictable as well, with numerous multi-layered characters, you'll be truly engaged in this show. However, I'm sorry to say that I always skip the chair woman's part because her being a villain is quite obvious, there's no need to second guess.

Acting is pleasantly good especially the leads Seo Kang-joon and Jin Ki-joo. This is my first drama of them and I must appreciate their dedication to bring their characters to life. The NIS team is also quite funny with their endless bickering and antics. And another surprise is the Bloody Chicken Gang run by Su-a's mother (can't imagine her as a gangster lol. She's such a doting mother).

Overall, a ten out of ten, as usual. For fans of thriller, mystery, and even slapstick comedy, just go ahead, watch it, and see if it's to your liking. Okay, that's everything I've got to say. Good luck and happy watching!!!

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The Best Action-Comedy K-Drama Ever!

If I didn’t write a review for this drama, it would be a crime!

Let’s start with the cast. I began watching Undercover High School with zero expectations. In fact, I wasn’t even sure if I would finish one episode. But in the end, I watched the entire drama, and now, it’s my favorite K-drama ever!

I originally started this drama because of Kim Minju, my favorite 4th-gen K-pop idol. Other than her, I wasn’t familiar with the rest of the cast, including the main leads. But now? I’m a huge fan of all of them! The director did an amazing job casting the perfect actors for this drama.

Now, let’s talk about the storyline. I had no idea about NIS agents before watching this, but now I’m genuinely interested in them. The mix of action, comedy, suspense, and even romance was executed perfectly. I honestly have no words to describe how incredible the plot was!

Not to mention, the OST, cast, and cinematography—everything was on another level! If you’re still hesitating, just start watching it. You won’t regret it!

And am I the only one who thinks the ending hinted at a Season 2? Hae Seong becoming a homeroom teacher… could this mean another undercover mission? I don’t know, but I really need another season! I’m already missing this drama so much!

💥 Undercover High School is, without a doubt, the best action-comedy K-drama ever! 🎬🔥

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A Drama Meant To Enjoy, Not To Analyze

There are some dramas that you watch to analyze, dissect, and critique every little flaw. And then there are dramas like Undercover High School—where you just watch to watch and enjoy every second of the ride. Was it filled to the brim with clichés? Absolutely. Did it embrace them in the best way possible? 100%. And that’s exactly what made it so fun.

It was fast, fun, and never felt like it was dragging. Sure, I might have fallen asleep in the first episode, but that was a me problem (I was just tired). Once I was in, I was in. The blend of action, mystery, comedy, and romance was so well-balanced. And the humor? I don’t laugh out loud often when watching shows, but this one actually got me. It wasn’t rolling-on-the-floor levels of funny, but it had me smiling and genuinely enjoying the comedic moments.

The romance was so good. I would have died for more scenes between them especially a better ending kiss scene(girl.. really an actual kiss scene and its zoomed out??) Seo Kang Joon and Jin Ki Joo’s chemistry? Perfection. Their love story felt natural, and their interactions made them one of my favorite K-drama couples. I really liked the childhood connection and the reveal, it was not dragged out or overexagerrated, just a cute little reveal. I genuinely felt like I was watching them fall for each other with every passing episode. Their acting was so convincing that I was fully invested in their relationship. Like please, announce that SKJ AND JKJ are dating in real life too.

A lot of people seem to dislike O Su A’s character, but honestly? I loved her. She was determined, cute, and such a nice addition to the story.

Now, let’s talk about the clichés. This drama stacked every single K-drama cliché into one story, and yet? It worked. Normally, I’m not the biggest fan of clichés, but something about the way Undercover High School handled them just made them so enjoyable. You knew what was coming, you could predict certain moments, and yet, you still loved every second of it. That’s a hard thing to pull off, but they nailed it.

The whole thing with the wanted posters for Hae Seong and him being a runaway? Yeah, probably unnecessary. I couldn't tell you why I found it unnecessary, but when I looked back at the show, it felt that, that was not needed. But did it affect my enjoyment? Not at all. And that’s the thing—I feel like some people get too caught up in pointing out flaws in a drama, even when those flaws didn’t actually bother them while watching. If something genuinely disrupts your experience, sure, that’s fair to critique. But if you only realize something was a flaw after finishing the drama because someone else pointed it out, did it really matter? For me, the enjoyment outweighed any little nitpicks.

The last episodes were some of my absolute favorites. While a lot of people didn’t love the finale, I did. The ending tied up everything so nicely. I love when dramas show us what happens to every character and wrap up side plots in a satisfying way. And this one did that so well. It was such a wholesome and feel-good way to end the story.

At the end of the day, Undercover High School was just fun. It didn’t try to be groundbreaking or reinvent the genre—it just took everything we love about K-dramas and made it so enjoyable. And honestly? I don’t rewatch dramas. Ever. But this? I would rewatch this. That’s how much I loved it.

Rating? A solid 10/10 for pure entertainment value.

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Started off great, but by the end, not so much

I can’t help this feeling of being underwhelmed. This started out so good, there was a vibrancy and excitement that instantly had me hooked, but the back half of the series just didn’t hold up. The show peaked at Hae Seong getting the bully kicked out of school. Once the story switched from the fun of figuring out the school’s urban legends in search for the gold, to battling the evil school director, it just wasn’t as much fun. Far too much time was spent on the corrupt director. I could barely watch her scenes due to my detest of the character, but then her demise felt too rushed and really not that great of a vindication by the end.

I’m probably feeling this way mostly because the “romance” tag doesn’t really fit this series. Or maybe it’s because the shiny appeal of the story slowly wore off. Not to mention adding in another Quizno’s commercial within the last 10 minutes of the final episode was upsetting, to say the least.

I wanted more from this. It served so well early on, but then gave scraps by the end. And that’s on me, my expectations were probably set too high. I wouldn’t say I disliked Undercover High School, not at all, I just wanted to like it so much more.

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Hunt for a gold... with a twist

I went into this kdrama with minimal expectations, as I wanted to watch something light that would not get me too hooked as I am pretty busy these days, and all I have to say is that this kdrama is really underrated.

The story is pretty fun. Kdramas with NIS agents absolutely never miss the mark. It's a mystery drama with a fairly strong plot line, but it is the comedy that really made it work. There were some plot holes, but whatever, I could not care less for those inconsistencies.

What really made the drama enjoyable for me was the cast. ML and FL CARRIED. Haesung was soooo charming and hot, but sooooo good at his role. Sua was so cute and funny, but so smart. Such a refreshing couple, and while their relationship was not the big focus, their chemistry was soooo fun. And the found family trope?? GET OUT OF HERE IT'S SO FREAKING GOOD. Team 4 ftw! Class 2-1 ftw!! So loyal to each other I was so emotional at times. I did hate the ending of him becoming a professor because it is so clearly not his dreams, but someone said it might allude to season so i am less mad.

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? Undercover High School — Where Espionage Meets Exam Week ??

If Jason Bourne and High School Musical had a baby… and that baby was raised by Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo and Bad Guys—you'd get Undercover High School 💣🎒.
This drama is straight-up delightful chaos wrapped in school uniforms and shady secret ops. Imagine going from dodging bullets to dodging math homework. It's absurd—and it works so well. 😂🔥
Undercover High School is pure chaotic fun packed into school uniforms and secret missions 🎒💣. It’s like your typical high school drama got hijacked by a spy movie—then sprinkled with bromance and LOLs. The action scenes are slick, the comedy hits just right (seriously, I was wheezing 😂), and the romance? Super cute with just the right amount of tension and heart eyes 😍🔥.

The ML’s trio of undercover bros is the real MVP—one’s a nerdy hacker, one’s a lovable muscle-head, and the third is basically flirting his way through danger 💻💪💅. Their friendship is hilarious and heartwarming, like the Avengers but with cafeteria drama and gym shorts. The main couple is adorable too—he’s all mysterious with smoldering stares, and she’s clever and not here for his spy nonsense (at least not at first 👀💘).

It’s action-packed, funny, and just downright fun. You’ll laugh, swoon, and maybe question your school memories (because why didn’t my classmates know martial arts??). Totally recommend if you want something light, exciting, and full of charm 🫶🔥.

⭐️ 9.5/10 — Would 100% fake a school ID just to join the squad 😎

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Watched it for Seo Kang Joon and he did not disappoint!! ❤️

I actually enjoyed the drama and binge watched the whole thing in 1.5 days. Perfect casting, good osts and a decent story.

Seo Kang Joon has my whole heart and I was so happy to know he was doing this drama. And he did Amazing!! All the other actors did great too, especially loved the antagonist, she actually gave that psychotic and obsessive vibes.

I think the drama had the perfect amount of comedy and they didn't overdo it. Loved the school setting and the mc posing as a high schooler, making friends and good memories which he initially couldn't do in his high school days. Was satisfied with most of it though at the end of the day its a drama and some scenes make you go 'lmao what.'

Near the end I was convinced there was no gold but the end scene actually made me laugh out loud. Overall it was a fun watch.✨️

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Action, Comedy, Romance and Horrror (?) Altogether

Another good show about spy, and the better thing is they put action, comedy and romance altogether in one plate. Overally, it works quite amazing, even though at some points it becomes too much. The storyline is quite great. The first episode is boring but it turns better afterwards... until at least episode 9. For me it is going downfall after Myeong-Ju released from the prison, more makjangs come up from there. While we are looking at a quite realistic bullying case at the beginning, the premises near the end of the show seem too impossible to believe (but sadly it's all predictable). Like suddenly Su-A mother is a gangster?? The premises are quite complicated while the number of episodes is short, resulting in a fast pace and sometimes plain resolution of conflitcs. There is slight romance, but not minimum. Moreover, we get more comedy than romance, to the point that it's unnecessary at some events. However, the comedy keeps this show lightweight instead of having a complicated spy drama.

The acting from the casts are good, or even carrying the show. Seo Kang-Joon does an excellent job to celebrate his comeback to the television, and he gets a great support from Jin Ki-Joo. But the star of this show for me is Kim Shin-Rok as the pyscho-narcisstic villain. So far, she surely could be villain of the year. Jo Bok-Rae is doing a pretty good job, but I feel sometimes he put incorrect expression that doesn't match with the situation at that time.

Again, the childhood connection part annoys me a lot, but thankfully it doesn't really unecessary here. Because that's probably the only 'quick' way to bring up the feelings between the main characters. Another annoying part is this intelligence team doesn't seem very intelligent. They don't look very prepared while carrying out their mission. They rarely check for someone tailing them. Also they only care for the surveillance cameras during the Byeongmunities event, and forgets that surveillance cameras also exist at the school. Then during the final episode, it takes like 7 business days for the team to catch up with Hae-Seong in the school stand-off incident. Lastly, the writer also forgot to clarify why the school guard has the notebook.

In conclusion, this is a drama with a good balance of action, comedy, romance and horror(?). I can even recommend this drama for a rewatch.

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Undercover Deez Nüts

Undercover High School is a nonsensical mess that provides just enough entertainment to justify its existence.

The plot? Hilariously convoluted and borderline criminal.

The characters? Forgettable and bland.

The villains? So unserious it's also criminal.

The progression? Stilted and almost non-existent.

The comedy? funny in an ironic way? Like I'm laughing AT you rather than WITH you?

The romance? Laughable.

buuut Seo Kang Joon is REALLY good looking… man that face.


I wanna give special attention to the main villain who must have tripped on her way to auditioning for The Glory or The Veil maybe even Come and Hug Me or When the Camelia Blooms and accidentally landed a role here.

Miss Mama BOB (I finished this show an hour ago and can't remember her name) was putting her heart and and soul into being the most menacing educator I have ever seen. She goes from “I wanna build a city for rich students!” to “I will burn every child alive cuz I can!” in just 12 easy episodes. Crazy work but I must applaud her.

FL Soo-ah (whose name I DO remember, give me head pats) has this whole backstory about wanting to be a better teacher cuz of bad happenings in her past but somehow its also pretty underdeveloped.

This story puts a grown man in the position of a student because that was so much easier than writing him to be a teacher? janitor? pe instructor??? So it gets weird when we see the FL crushing on him… I get that WE know he's an adult but she doesn't… It's weird. Also a teenage girl also declares her love for him and makes an open decision to pursue the adult man romantically… Bruh you ain't have to do all that.

I feel like criticizing this show too much is like bullying a baby.

I feel like if you're in a kdrama slump and you need something to fill time, this will do.

Ah man that face tho. It should be illegal to look that damn good. Despite them looks I gotta say this is a tad worse than From now on Showtime! So I'll score it accordingly.

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