10 High School K-Dramas To Watch For The Start Of The School Year
Going back to school has certain feelings of anticipation, nervousness, excitement, and even a bit of dread. It’s a mixed bag of emotions, and especially with all the stuff going on in the world right now, it can be more daunting than ever. If you’re looking for some K-dramas to watch that will help you escape the nerves and overall stress of school, here’s a look at 10 K-dramas set in high school. Also, if you don’t see your favorite on this list, make sure to check out our previous high school feature here!
List is in no particular order!
1. “Extraordinary You”
Eun Dan Oh (Kim Hye Yoon) thinks she’s a normal high school girl with a large group of friends. Everything seems to be going smoothly for her until she realizes that she’s living in a comic book and is nothing but a minor character. What makes this situation worse is that she ends up falling in love with Ha Roo (Rowoon), who is an extra in the comic book. Because he’s an extra, he’s barely in the comic book, which makes it difficult for Dan Oh to ever see him. The two agonize over how they should be with each other despite the odds being against them.
You will absolutely fall in love with the cast of this series. Kim Hye Yoon was coming off of the success she garnered from being in the hit drama “SKY Castle,” and it was a good change in pace for her. In this series, she plays a sweet and innocent girl who falls head over heels in love with the very unpopular Ha Roo. Seeing her work so hard to change the fate of their tragic destiny makes the series so exhilarating to watch. It also helps that there is lots of eye candy to go around for the entire series!
You can start watching “Extraordinary You” here:
2. “Angry Mom”
Jo Gang Ja (Kim Hee Sun) has a daughter named Oh Ah Ran (Kim Yoo Jung). She discovers that Ah Ran is getting bullied at school, which makes her furious. She decides to disguise herself as a high school student in order to figure out who is bullying her daughter. Gang Ja had been notoriously known in high school for being a fighter, so she feels confident that she can get to the source of her daughter’s bullying.
“Angry Mom” is a high school K-drama that anyone from any age group would enjoy. It not only shows the harmful repercussions of bullying, but it also shows the undying and unconditional love that a mother has for her daughter. Gang Ja goes to great lengths to protect her daughter, and it’s so touching to see. There are also other side stories of various students that will tug at your heartstrings and put you on an emotional ride!
Watch “Angry Mom” here:
3. “Love Alarm”
A mobile application is created to indicate if someone within 10 meters of you likes you. When someone likes you, the alarm gives off an alarm, but it doesn’t reveal the exact person who likes you. Kim Jo Jo (Kim So Hyun) gets caught in a situation with two boys and decides whether or not it’s a good idea to download the app.
If you love some messy love triangles and a lot of emotional high school drama, “Love Alarm” will surely put you a rollercoaster of feelings throughout the series. It’s got angst, heartbreak, and major feels. Not to mention, Kim So Hyun is an absolute queen at playing high school characters, and she definitely delivers as the headstrong and confident Kim Jo Jo.
These two are so good together!
4. “Reply 1997”
Seo In Guk stars as a high school student named Yoon Yoon Jae who has been in love with his childhood friend and neighbor Sung Shi Won (Jung Eun Ji) since they were kids. Despite the two having a sibling-like relationship, Yoon Jae’s feelings grow deeper as they get into high school, and he realizes that he wants nothing more than to be with her.
This was the first of the “Reply” series and one that is definitely a classic. The series is set in high school with the two main leads being friends as children to lovers as adults. The series deals with family, loss of loved ones, and romance, so it’s relatable for everyone. If you love a drama that has a bit of a retro vibe and revolves around some old school K-pop, this series does not disappoint!
Catch the first episode of “Reply 1997” here:
5. “Moments of 18”
Choi Joon Woo (Ong Seong Wu) gets kicked out of school, which brings him to a new school. It’s at this new school where he meets Yoo Soo Bin (Kim Hyang Gi) who becomes intrigued by the new student with a mysterious past. Despite her instincts, she finds ways to spend time with Joon Woo and realizes that there is more to him than meets the eye. The two start to develop some strong feelings for each other.
There’s something about this series that is romantically sweet and nostalgic. The characters are all going through hardships of being a teenager, and they all struggle to get through their issues. Despite the stress, they are able to find a friend or loved one that they can lean on for strength. This is also Ong Seong Wu’s first major K-drama role, and he did such a good job portraying the innocent and naive Joon Woo that if you weren’t a fan of him before, you will be after watching this series!
Watch the first episode here:
6. “School 2013”
Go Nam Soon (Lee Jong Suk) and Park Heung Soo (Kim Woo Bin) are two teenage boys who have to go through the wrath of high school drama. They deal with the stresses of getting good grades, bullying, maintaining a good reputation, and the peer pressure of falling into the bad crowd. Nam Soon is elected class president but finds himself dealing with a lot of stress from particular students in the school.
“School 2013” is the fifth installment in the series and is one to be remembered. This particular series deals with so many realistic issues that teenagers go through today, especially in South Korea. Because this particular high school is ranked as the worst in Seoul, the students must figure out what issues are getting in the way of their future. You’ll be rooting for them until the end!
Watch “School 2013” now:
7. “School 2017”
Kim Sejeong stars as Ra Eun Ho alongside Kim Jung Hyun who stars as Hyun Tae Woon (or should we say, Hyun Tae Swoon). It’s pretty much what you would expect out of a high school romance storyline. Tae Woon and Eun Ho start off as friends who like to poke fun at each other, but Tae Woon slowly starts to realize his feelings for Eun Ho and ends up confessing his love to her.
The best part about “School 2017” is the adorable chemistry between Kim Sejeong and Kim Jung Hyun. The two are totally natural as viewers are able to see the journey these two go on from being friends to first loves. Out of all the “School” series, this particular one is not too heavy, and you’ll appreciate the bubbly personality of Ra Eun Ho. She isn’t the brightest student, but she’s there for her friends and has the warmest of hearts. She lights up the screen!
Start watching “School 2017” here:
8. “Hi! School – Love On”
Kim Sae Ron plays Lee Seul Bi, an angel from heaven who helps protect people. After a car accident, she wakes up to realize that Woo Hyun (Nam Woo Hyun) can see her and that she has turned into a human. She moves in with Woo Hyun and ends up going to school with him, where she learns first hand about the pangs of being human. She also finds herself caught in the middle of a love triangle.
If you’re looking for a bit of a fantasy element to your high school drama, “Hi! School – Love On” is the perfect watch. Kim Sae Ron as the angel Lee Seul Bi is so endearingly innocent and adorable that you’ll totally get sucked into her story. It’s also got the added element of a love triangle, which a high school K-drama can never be without.
Start watching here:
9. “Best Mistake”
“Best Mistake” is a web drama starring Kang Yool as Ji Hyun Ho and Lee Eun Jae as Kim Yeon Doo. The story starts with Yeon Doo accidentally posting a photo of Hyun Ho on her social media account to warn off a stalker. When Hyun Ho finds out, he confronts Eun Jae, and this marks the beginning of their love/hate relationship.
There’s a reason why there was so much buzz around Kang Yool after this web series was released! Kang Yool as Ji Hyun Ho is total boyfriend goals. If you love the bad boy becoming a total romantic theme, then this series has got that all covered. Seeing Ji Hyun Ho wanting to study hard so that he could go to the same university as Yeon Doo is just about the sweetest thing ever. You’ll have to watch it to understand!
Check out “Best Mistake” here:
10. “Cheer Up!”
Jung Eun Ji plays Kang Yeon Doo, a passionate girl who is the head of the street dance club at her school. Lee Won Geun plays Kim Yeol, the president of a club that has the top students in the school. The two clubs are forced to merge into a cheerleading group. The members find that they clash at first, but then they eventually learn more about each other, bringing them closer together and some even developing strong feelings for each other.
Seeing Jung Eun Ji in any role is truly a blessing. Her sass and attitude are so refreshing to see in a female lead, and you’ll often find yourself chuckling at various parts. One of the things that makes this series so good is the love triangle Kang Yeon Doo is caught in. Seeing the two boys pine after Yeon Doo is so romantic and sweet! It’s a light-hearted and cute series that will totally have you hooked.
Catch the drama below:
Hey Soompiers, which of these high-school K-dramas is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!
binahearts is a Soompi writer whose ultimate biases are Song Joong Ki and BIGBANG. She is also the author of “K-POP A To Z: The Definitive K-Pop Encyclopedia.” Make sure you follow binahearts on Instagram as she journeys through her latest Korean crazes!
Currently watching: “How Do You Play?,” “When I Was The Most Beautiful” and “Was It Love?”
All-time favorite dramas: “Secret Garden,” “Goblin,” “Because This Is My First Life,” “Star In My Heart”
Looking forward to: Won Bin‘s return to the small screen
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