High school Korean dramas often highlight intense themes like bullying, social hierarchy, and betrayal, making them both gripping and emotional. These dramas explore the struggles of students caught in power games, facing harsh realities, and dealing with unexpected betrayals from friends they once trusted. Some characters fight back against injustice, while others fall deeper into the dark side of school politics.
From elite academies filled with secrets to classrooms where students must survive under cruel pressure, these dramas offer suspense, drama, and heartbreak. If you enjoy watching stories that expose the dark side of school life, this list will keep you hooked!
Study Group (2025)
Aired: Jan 23, 2025 - Feb 20, 2025
No. of Episodes: 10
Cast: Hwang Min Hyun, Han Ji Eun, Cha Woo Min
Streaming Platform: Viki
Yun Ga Min, a student at Yusung Technical High School, struggles academically but excels in fighting. Determined to go to college, he forms a study group at one of the worst schools, hoping to improve. However, when his friends become targets of bullies, he steps in to protect them. Meanwhile, Lee Han Gyeong, a temporary teacher, aims to change the school’s toxic environment.
Class of Lies (2019)
Aired: Jul 17, 2019 - Sep 5, 2019
No. of Episodes: 16
Cast: Yoon Kyun Sang, Keum Sae Rok, Choi Yoo Hwa
Streaming Platform: Viki
A successful lawyer’s career crumbles due to a high school case, leading him to take a teaching position at the same school to restore his reputation. However, he soon uncovers disturbing crimes committed by students who escape punishment due to their age. As he gets involved, he starts fighting for the victims while exposing the dark realities of school violence.
Bitch X Rich (2023)
Aired: May 31, 2023 - Jun 28, 2023
No. of Episodes: 10
Cast: Lee Eun Saem, Yeri, Yoo Jung Hoo
Streaming Platform: Netflix
Cheongdam International High School is an elite institution where wealth determines power. Baek Je Na, a privileged heiress, clashes with Kim Hye In, a transfer student who enters the school under mysterious circumstances. As their rivalry unfolds, secrets unravel, and dangerous power struggles take center stage.
Extracurricular (2020)
Aired: Apr 29, 2020
No. of Episodes: 10
Cast: Kim Dong Hee, Park Joo Hyun, Jung Da Bin
Streaming Platform: Netflix
Ji Soo, an exemplary student, secretly runs an illegal business to secure his future. However, his double life is threatened when his classmates, including a school bully and a reckless partner, get entangled in his dark world. As they dive deeper into crime, they face unforeseen dangers that spiral out of control.
Shadow Beauty (2021)
Aired: Nov 20, 2021 - Dec 29, 2021
No. of Episodes: 13
Cast: Shim Dal Gi, Choi Bo Min, Heo Jung Hee
Streaming Platform: Viki
Koo Ae Jin is constantly bullied for her appearance, but online, she lives a different life as "Genie", a social media influencer with hundreds of thousands of followers. However, her secret identity is at risk when a classmate discovers the truth, leading to a complex web of deception and emotional struggles.
Pyramid Game (2024)
Aired: Feb 29, 2024 - Mar 21, 2024
No. of Episodes: 10
Cast: Bona, Ryu Da In, Jang Da Ah
Streaming Platform: TVING
At Baekyeon Girls’ High School, students vote monthly to rank each other, creating a ruthless hierarchy. When new student Seong Su Ji scores zero, she becomes the lowest-ranked and a target of bullying. Determined to survive, she strategizes to climb the ranks, but she may have a plan to change the system altogether.
Weak Hero Class 1 (2022)
Aired: Nov 18, 2022
No. of Episodes: 8
Cast: Park Ji Hoon, Choi Hyun Wook, Hong Kyung
Streaming Platform: Wavve
Yeon Shi Eun is a top-ranking student who appears physically weak but uses intelligence and strategy to fight back against school bullies. As he navigates a violent school environment, he forms alliances while facing dangerous enemies determined to break him.
Revenge of Others (2022)
Aired: Nov 9, 2022 - Dec 14, 2022
No. of Episodes: 12
Cast: Shin Ye Eun, Lomon, Seo Ji Hoon
Streaming Platform: Disney+
Ok Chan Mi transfers to Yongtan High after the mysterious death of her twin brother, Park Won Seok. As she investigates, she learns about an unknown figure who takes revenge on school bullies. Determined to uncover the truth, she gets caught in a dangerous web of secrets, justice, and hidden identities.
Boyhood (2023)
Aired: Nov 24, 2023 - Dec 22, 2023
No. of Episodes: 10
Cast: Lim Si Wan, Lee Sun Bin, Kang Hye Won
Streaming Platform: Viu
Set in the 1980s, this drama follows Jang Byung Tae, a timid student at the bottom of his school’s social hierarchy. Hoping for a fresh start, he transfers to Buyeo Agricultural High School but faces an unexpected event that changes his life and pushes him to fight back against oppression.
Night Has Come (2023)
Aired: Dec 4, 2023 - Dec 21, 2023
No. of Episodes: 12
Cast: Lee Jae In, Kim Woo Seok, Choi Ye Bin
Streaming Platform: TVING
A class of high school students on a field trip is suddenly forced to play a real-life mafia game, where eliminations mean death. As paranoia spreads, alliances form, and betrayals emerge. Lee Yoon Seo, known for her sharp reasoning, and Kim Jun Hee, the class president, must find a way to survive the deadly game.
The Mysterious Class (2021)
Aired: 2021
No. of Episodes: 8
Cast: TREASURE (All Members)
Streaming Platform: YouTube
Class 4 of Treasure High is an ordinary group of students — until they realize something is off. A chilling mystery unfolds when they suspect one of them isn’t human. As friendships are tested, they must work together to uncover the truth behind the ghost in their class.
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Which One is Your Favorite?
High school isn’t just about friendships and romance in K-dramas — it can also be a battlefield where power, revenge, and survival take center stage. The dramas on this list don’t just entertain; they also reflect real struggles many students face. Whether it’s a tale of standing up against bullies or dealing with shocking betrayals, these stories leave a lasting impact.
These are must-watch picks if you love intense school dramas with powerful storytelling and unforgettable characters. Which of these dramas is your favorite? Let us know!
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