Park Hyung Sik, Cha Seung Won, Ra Mi Ran cast in new action comedy
School leaves unforgettable memories — from gaining friends for a lifetime and teenage rebellion to innocent dreams. But in Korean entertainment, school often comes with a little — or a lot — more drama, and stories turn the warm and animated halls of school into the backdrop for exciting adventures. Here are some K-dramas that might make you nostalgic for your school days — without the exams and homework.
1. Who Are You: School 2015
After enduring relentless bullying, orphan Lee Eun Bi (Kim So Hyun) reaches a breaking point and decides to end it all. But as she prepares to jump into a river, she is rescued by Go Eun Byul (Kim So Hyun), her identical twin sister whom she never knew existed. Soon after, Eun Bi wakes up in the hospital with no memory of what happened, only to discover that Eun Byul has mysteriously disappeared.
Mistaken for her missing sister, Eun Bi finds herself living Eun Byul's life and attending her high school. As she settles into her new identity, she begins to uncover unsettling truths about the life her sister had led. With the help of Han Yi An (Nam Joo Hyuk) and rebellious Gong Tae Kwang (Yook Sung Jae), Eun Bi sets out to find out what happened to Eun Byul while facing her own past. Along the way, she must navigate the pressures of adolescence, protect the secret surrounding her identity, and face the painful experiences she once tried to leave behind.
Stream Who Are You: School 2015 on Apple TV, Netflix, Viki, iQIYI, and Kocowa.
2. Extraordinary You
High schooler Eun Dan Oh (Kim Hye Yoon) begins dealing with unexplained gaps in her memory, only to discover that her condition has a far more unusual explanation: she is a character in a webtoon. To make matters worse, Dan Oh realizes that the writer has destined her for a miserable fate, including a cold-hearted fiancé and a serious heart condition that could eventually take her life.
Unwilling to accept the story written for her, Dan Oh decides to break free from the predetermined path and make her own choices. Her determination grows stronger after she encounters an unnamed student known only as Number 13 (Ro Woon), a minor character who has no lines or control over his own role. Together, they set out to defy the storyline and discover whether they can create a future of their own.
Stream Extraordinary You on WeTV, Viki, Prime Video, and Kocowa.
3. School 2017
Ra Eun Ho (Kim Se Jeong) is a bright and warmhearted high school student who dreams of becoming a webtoon artist. Unlike her classmates, however, she has little interest in competing for top grades and simply wants to make it through school while pursuing her passion for art. Her life takes an unexpected turn when a mysterious troublemaker known as "Student X" begins disrupting school life, and Eun Ho is wrongly accused of being behind the incidents.
With her hopes of attending an art school suddenly at risk, Eun Ho sets out to clear her name and uncover the real identity of Student X. Along the way, she becomes entangled with Hyun Tae Woon (Kim Jung Hyun), the rebellious son of the school chairman, and Song Dae Hwi (Jang Dong Yoon), the seemingly perfect student council president. As Eun Ho digs deeper, she and others team up to challenge the corrupt school system and fight for change.
Stream School 2017 on Apple TV, Netflix, Viki, iQIYI, and Kocowa.
4. Twinkling Watermelon
In 2023, high school student and aspiring musician Ha Eun Gyeol (Ryeo Un) discovers a mysterious music store that transports him back to 1995. There, he unexpectedly meets his father, Ha Lee Chan (Choi Hyun Wook), as a teenager. But Eun Gyeol soon realizes that Lee Chan is smitten with Se Kyeong (Seol In Ah), a seemingly aloof cellist, rather than Eun Gyeol's mother, Cheong Ah (Shin Eun Soo).
Determined to set his parents' love story back on track, Eun Gyeol joins the band led by his teenage father. As he tries to bring Lee Chan and Cheong Ah together, he also has to figure out how to return to the future he knows. Will Eun Gyeol succeed in changing his parents' story without disrupting his own?
Stream Twinkling Watermelon on Viki and Netflix.
5. The Heirs
Kim Tan (Lee Min Ho), the privileged heir to the Empire Group, has spent his life being prepared to one day take over his family's vast business empire. However, his path is complicated by his older half-brother Kim Won (Choi Jin Hyuk), a successful executive who sees Tan as a rival. Tan is also promised to Rachel Ryu (Kim Ji Won), the daughter of a wealthy family.
While studying in the United States, Tan crosses paths with Cha Eun Sang (Park Shin Hye), the daughter of his family's housekeeper. Despite coming from vastly different backgrounds, the two gradually fall for each other. Their relationship faces challenges as their powerful families try to dictate their futures.
Stream The Heirs on Apple TV, Netflix, Viki, Prime Video, and Tubi.
6. Dream High
Go Hye Mi (Bae Suzy) has always dreamed of studying at Juilliard and pursuing a career as a classical singer. But when her wealthy father suddenly goes bankrupt and disappears to escape loan sharks, Hye Mi is left to deal with the fallout. A debt collector offers her a way out: enroll at Kirin Arts High School, train to become a K-pop singer, and use her album earnings to settle her father's debts.
Hye Mi has no interest in becoming a pop star and initially rejects the idea. However, she changes her mind when the debt collector threatens to make her younger sister work instead. After entering Kirin, Hye Mi meets a group of aspiring performers, including ambitious dancer Jin Guk (Ok Taec Yeon) and talented singer Kim Pil Sook (IU). As she navigates the competitive world of music and performance, her classmates gradually help her discover a new side of herself.
Stream Dream High on Netflix, Viki, Prime Video, Roku, and Kocowa.
7. Boyhood
After transferring to Buyeo Agricultural High School, Jang Byung Tae (Yim Si Wan) hopes his new school will give him a chance to start fresh. At his previous school, his frail appearance made him an easy target for bullies. But things take an unexpected turn when his new classmates mistake him for a notorious fighter known as the "White Tiger of Asan".
Suddenly treated with fear and respect, Byung Tae decides to use his newfound reputation to stand up to bullies and break the cycle of violence that has affected him and others. However, his confidence is put to the ultimate test when the real "White Tiger of Asan" arrives at school. Can Byung Tae keep up the tough-guy image and survive the chaos that follows?
Stream Boyhood on Tubi, Viki, and Prime Video.
8. Study Group
Yun Ga Min (Hwang Min Hyun) may be naturally talented at martial arts, but his biggest goal is to excel in academics. Unfortunately, the school he attends is infamous for its troubled students and a history of violence. Determined to improve his grades, Ga Min puts together a study group with Kim Se Hyun (Lee Jong Hyun) and a few other students who are serious about studying.
Their efforts soon attract unwanted attention from a group of bullies led by Pi Han Ul (Cha Woo Min). When his friends come under attack, Ga Min refuses to stand by and unleashes his impressive fighting abilities to protect them. Meanwhile, Han Kyeong (Han Ji Eun), a caring teacher and Ga Min's former tutor, is determined to help turn the school around.
With violence and hidden problems threatening their efforts, can Ga Min and Han Kyeong make a difference at the school?
Stream Study Group on Viki.
9. Boys over Flowers
Hardworking high school student Geum Jan Di (Gu Hye Seon) comes from a modest background but earns a scholarship to the elite Shin Hwa High School. The prestigious school is dominated by wealthy students, especially the notorious F4, a group of four privileged boys led by Goo Joon Pyo (Lee Min Ho).
Jan Di has no intention of attracting attention, but she finds herself at the center of it when her best friend accidentally gets ice cream on Joon Pyo. When Jan Di steps in to defend her friend, she finds herself on the F4's radar. What begins as a clash between Jan Di and Joon Pyo gradually takes an unexpected turn as she discovers that the seemingly untouchable F4 members have their own struggles beneath the surface.
Stream Boys over Flowers on Apple TV, Netflix, WeTV, Viki, iQIYI, Hulu, iflix, Tubi, Prime Video, and Roku.
Did we miss any school K-dramas that deserve a spot on this list? Drop them in the comments below!
