A high school life, with all its ups and downs: studying for exams that feel like they could determine your whole future (been there, done that), standing up to bullies, or forming friendships that feel like they'll last a lifetime.
Here are 12 somewhat old-ish, but still enjoyable K-dramas set in school, with characters who deal with homework, teachers who range from inspiring to downright scary, and those unforgettable first loves that seem to define so much of our teenage years.
1. "Sassy Go Go" (2015) Where to stream it: Viki, Kocowa+
At Sevit High School, competitive cheerleading becomes the unlikely bridge between the academically top-performing students and those in the lowest ranks, including spirited Kang Yeon-doo and perfectionist Kim Yeol, who find love and common ground amid the pressures of adolescence and high school politics.
2. "Our Beloved Summer" (2021) Where to stream it: Netflix
Years after vowing never to see each other again, ex-lovers Choi Woong and Kook Yeon-soo are thrown back together when a documentary they filmed in high school goes viral, prompting them to confront their past feelings and misunderstandings while navigating their current lives and relationships.
3. "School 2013" (2012) Where to stream it: Viki
Seungri High School's class 2-2 is fraught with bullying, academic pressure, and student-teacher conflicts until teachers Jung In-jae and Kang Sae-chan work to address these issues, while students Go Nam-soon and Park Heung-soo, former friends turned enemies, reconcile and face their difficult pasts.
4. "Shut Up Flower Boy Band" (2012)
After the death of their leader, the members of a high school rock band "Eye Candy" struggle with grief, friendship, and dreams of music success, clashing with the privileged students of a new elite school they are forced to attend.
5. "Angry Mom" (2015) Where to stream it: Viki, Kocowa+
To protect her bullied daughter, Ah-ran, Jo Kang-ja, a former teen delinquent, disguises herself as a high school student and uncovers a web of corruption and violence that extends beyond the schoolyard and into the city's power structures.
6. "Heartstrings" (2011) Where to stream it: Viki, Kocowa+
At a performing arts university, traditional Korean music major Lee Shin, who is also the vocalist and guitarist of a band, and bright and outgoing dance major Lee Gyu-won clash and then come together over their shared love for music, facing personal challenges and family pressures along the way.
7. "My ID Is Gangnam Beauty" (2018) Where to stream it: Viki, Netflix
After undergoing plastic surgery to escape bullying, Kang Mi-rae starts her university life with a new face but struggles with self-esteem and societal perceptions of beauty, finding genuine friendships and romance that challenge her beliefs about herself and others.
8. "Moment at Eighteen" (2019) Where to stream it: Viki, Netflix
At a pivotal age of 18, Choi Jun-woo transfers to a new high school where he forms significant relationships, including with model student Yoo Soo-bin, as they and their classmates confront the realities of growing up, first loves, and the challenges of youth.
9. "The Heirs" (2013) Where to stream it: Viki, Netflix, Kocowa+
Kim Tan, heir to a large Korean conglomerate, forms a complex love triangle with chaebol heiress Cha Eun-sang and his ambitious half-brother Choi Young-do, against a backdrop of rivalry, wealth, and the struggle for power within their elite high school and families.
10. "Extraordinary You" (2019) Where to stream it: Viki, Kocowa+
High school student Eun Dan-oh discovers she is a character in a comic book and sets out to change her predetermined fate, including finding true love, with the help of a nameless background character, challenging the creator's storyline and embracing unexpected twists in her scripted life.
11. "Blue Birthday" (2021) Where to stream it: Hulu, Viki
Ha Rin, mourning the death of her first love Ji Seo-jun who died on her birthday 10 years ago, discovers mysterious photos that allow her to travel back in time, where she attempts to unravel the truth behind his death and save him, facing the consequences of altering the past.
12. "True Beauty" (2020) Where to stream it: Viki
Lim Ju-kyung, after mastering the art of makeup to overcome her insecurities about her appearance, navigates life at a new school where she gets caught in a love triangle with the enigmatic Lee Su-ho and the vivacious Han Seo-jun, while learning about self-esteem and genuine friendship amidst teenage drama.
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