Top 13 Best Korean School Dramas

Although aired in 2009, Boys Over Flowers remains a timeless classic for the 90s generation, evoking memories of their school days. Starring renowned actors like Lee Min Ho, Kim Bum, Kim Hyun Joong, and Goo Hye Sun, Boys Over Flowers quickly garnered a massive following with skyrocketing ratings. The series premiered on January 5, 2009, on KBS2TV and concluded successfully on March 31, 2009, with 25 episodes, sparking a craze across Asia.

'Boys Over Flowers' is adapted from the Taiwanese drama 'Meteor Garden' (based on the Japanese manga series 'Hana Yori Dango'). This is the fifth adaptation of the manga, following the Taiwanese versions, Japanese adaptations, and the Korean film adaptation.

Jan Di is an ordinary girl whose family runs a dry-cleaning business near the prestigious Shinhwa High School. One day, while delivering laundry to the school, Jan Di encounters the F4, a group of four wealthy and notorious boys. Anyone who opposes them faces dire consequences.

DETAILS:

Director: Jeon Ki Sang

Cast: Goo Hye Sun, Lee Min-ho, Kim Hyun-joong, Kim Bum, Kim Joon, Kim So Eun, Jang Ja Yeon

Release Year: 2009

'Love Story in Sungkyunkwan' is a romantic historical comedy drama aired on KBS in 2010. The script is based on the novel 'The Lives of Sungkyunkwan Confucian Scholars' by Jung Eun Gweol, featuring an idealistic plot and the friendship of the four main characters in the Thuy Dien Tu Nhan Bang group. Despite not achieving impressive ratings, 'Love Story in Sungkyunkwan' still caused a sensation across Asia with its fresh storyline and talented 'Joseon F4' cast, bringing the actors' names closer to both domestic and international audiences.

This is South Korea's first historical school drama. The series is set in the highest educational institution of the Chosun Dynasty, Sungkyunkwan, telling the love and friendship story of four young individuals. Talented women who disguise themselves as men, such as Hua Mulan and Zhu An Dai, are praised by everyone for their filial piety, love, and, most importantly, courage, as they dare to think the unthinkable and do the undoable.

Through the series, audiences will witness a remarkable 'cross-dressing' version of an intelligent, resilient 'scholar' who rises above adversity, determined to change her own destiny in this delightful historical school drama.

DETAILS:

Director: Kim Won-seok, Hwang In-hyuk
Starring: Park Min-young, Park Yoochun, Yoo Ah-in, Song Joong-ki

Release Year: 2010

Released in 2011, Dream High with its perfect blend of music and storyline along with a charming cast of 90s idols from famous groups like Suzy (Miss A), IU,... became a phenomenon during that time.

The plot revolves around the romantic story of the flashy and talented Yoon Eun Mi and Song Sam Dong, a country boy with a gift for music, alongside the couple JackSon-Huyn Bi at a prestigious singer training school. The challenges in their training process, along with the ups and downs, the hilarious situations leading up to the real 'debut' day are moments rich in genuine emotions that the film brings to the audience. Each student faces their own difficulties, but they all overcome them and become more mature and resilient. In the end, they grow up and fulfill their dreams.

DETAILS:

Writer: Park Hye Ryun
Director: Lee Eung Bok

Cast: Bae Yong Joon, Park Jin Young, Kim Soo Hyun, Taecyeon, Suzy, Ham Eun Jung, Wooyoung, IU

Release Year: 2011

This movie is an adaptation from the Japanese manga series called Hanazakari no Kimitachi e (often abbreviated as Hana-Kimi) by Nakajou Hisaya and is a remake from the television series Hanazakari no Kimitachi e Ikemen-Paradise produced by Fuji TV in 2006 in Japan.

To the Beautiful You is a film set in a national sports high school, where only those with exceptional athletic achievements are admitted, and the special thing is that it is only for male students. But with a love for Kang Tea O, a high jump athlete who once won an Olympic gold medal but was unable to continue due to an injury, Sully disguises herself as a male student, determined to meet Tea O to lift his spirits.

How will life in the male dormitory be, when Sully once again encounters difficulties when although staying with her idol, he is extremely difficult, but because of her immense love, Sully manages to do what she expects, and how will their love blossom? All the details will be revealed throughout the film's progression.

DETAILS:

Writer: Lee Young-cheol

Director: Jeon Ki-sang
Cast: Choi Min-ho, Sulli Choi, Lee Hyeon-woo, Kim Ji-won, Seo Joon-young

Release Year: 2012

With a strong impact on the community and the highest ratings in 2012, The Heirs always stood out in the Korean film industry at that time. Featuring the main actors Lee Min Ho - Park Shin Hye, The Heirs once again gained great popularity among audiences for its clever choice of the hottest actors in the Korean entertainment industry. With an intense and thrilling storyline about the romance between a prince and a commoner in high school, the movie truly brought a wide range of emotions to the audience.

In addition to its compelling storyline and its cast of 'more beautiful than flowers,' the movie's soundtrack was also one of the key factors contributing to its success. For several months, The Heirs ost consistently topped music charts in both South Korea and Vietnam with songs like Love is, The moment,...

DETAILS:

Director: Kang Shin Hyo
Cast: Park Shin-hye, Kim Woo Bin, Lee Min Ho, Choi Jin Hyuk, Kim Sung Ryung

Release Year: 2012

'Puppy Love' tells the story of an angelic girl, Lee Seul Bi, with a cute and lovely appearance whose task is to guide the deceased back to heaven. However, one day, she accidentally saves a fellow male student of her age. Due to this mistake, she becomes a mortal with special superpowers. Ironically, the person she saves turns out to be her destiny, a handsome young man who devotes himself wholeheartedly to his grandmother.

As a famous boy in school for his looks, singing voice, and humor, Shin Woo Hyun (Woo Hyun) carries the pain of being abandoned by his parents. He is rescued by the angelic girl Lee Seul Bi (Kim Sae Ron) in a dangerous situation. From then on, Woohyun starts to have feelings for Seul Bi. The current stepmother of Hwang Sung Yeol (Sung Yeol) is actually Woohyun's biological mother. However, he cannot live in the love of his parents because his other mother loves herself more than her own children. Coincidentally meeting Seul Bi, Sung Yeol also develops affection for her.

DETAILS:

Director: Sung Joon Hae

Cast: Nam Woo Hyun, Lee Sung Yeol, Kim Sae Ron

Release Year: 2014

Following the success of Reply 1997 in 2012, the production team continued with Nostalgia 1994 using a similar motif but with a new storyline featuring actors Go Ara, Jung Woo, Yoo Yeon-Seok. The story revolves around close friends attending a housewarming party, watching a videotape of the host's wedding, and reminiscing about their lives in their twenties: In 1994, six boys and girls from different provinces of South Korea come to Seoul for the first time to begin their college life.

Reply 1994 is a film filled with hilarious and heartwarming moments, recounting the lives of a group of high school students in 1994. The mischievous pranks of high school days, the intense but unresolved romances, or simply the tricks and antics to tease the teachers of fearless students will surely make you feel extremely refreshed after hours of studying and stressful work.

DETAILS:

Screenwriter: Lee Woo-jeong

Director: Sin Won-ho
Cast: Go A-ra, Jung Woo, Yu Yeon-seok, Kim Seong-gyun, Min Do-hui

Release Year: 2013

Set in a high school environment with the presence of twin sisters, the drama Academia 2015 quickly attracted the attention of a large teenage audience with its deeply engaging storyline, full of dramatic and suspenseful elements. During its airing, the drama achieved an average rating of 6.3%. It garnered significant attention both within and outside of South Korea, amassing a large following and increasing support for the cast.

The story revolves around twin sisters living in an orphanage, where one sister is adopted by a wealthy family while the other grows up in an orphanage. After many years, both girls grow up to become beautiful young women. The adopted sister finds herself entangled in a childhood romance with a handsome swimming prodigy, while the other sister gets involved with the son of the school director. After 15 years of separation, when they reunite, how will the relationships between the sisters and these two young men unfold?

DETAILS:

Screenwriters: Kim Hyun-jung, Kim Min-jung

Directors: Baek Sang-hoon, Kim Sung-yoon

Cast: Kim So-hyun, Yook Sung-jae, Nam Joo-hyuk

Release Year: 2015

Orange Marmalade tells the touching love story between a vampire girl and a boy from a previous life, set in the backdrop of a special talent high school in Seoul city. Despite being a vampire, the girl is gentle, obedient, and has an incredible singing voice. However, being shunned by the human world, which does not accept benevolent vampires, forces the good-natured vampires to conceal their true identities and pretend to be human to coexist.

But the truth always finds a way to surface. How will Beck Ma Ri cope when everyone discovers she is a vampire? Life is sure to become tough and challenging for her, but love once again shines through. Will it be enough to break down all barriers between humans and vampires in life?

DETAILS:

Director: Kim Hyung Joon
Cast: Seol Hyun, Song Jong Ho, Yeo Jin Goo, Yoon Ye Hee

Release Year: 2015

Moorim School is a South Korean action-packed high school drama. The series revolves around four main characters - students at the Moorim martial arts school. Upon its release, the show was highly praised by audiences as a blockbuster of high school drama with thrilling action sequences and romantic moments.

Unlike typical schools, this is a place where students harbor sinister intentions in martial arts, plot evil schemes, and seek to harm their friends after years of shared education. They are willing to risk everything, even their lives, and defy all odds to achieve their own goals.

DETAILS:

Writers: Kim Hyun-hee, Yang Jin-ah

Director: Lee So-yon

Cast: Lee Hyun-woo, Lee Hong-bin, Seo Yea-ji, Jung Yoo-jin

Release Year: 2016

Adapted from this dynamic comic, this story follows a poor high school girl striving for her dream university and inadvertently captivating a wealthy but shadowy young man. Cheese in The Trap is a school drama depicting the romantic relationship between college student Hong-Seol (portrayed by Kim Go-Eun) and Yoo-Jung (played by Park Hae Jin).

Due to her family's difficult circumstances, Hong-Seol must work part-time to cover living expenses and tuition fees. Meanwhile, Yoo-Jung is the epitome of a handsome, educated young man with a prestigious background and a kind-hearted nature. However, behind this perfection lies many hidden secrets.

The series concludes with an open ending that has sparked controversy among viewers, yet it remains an engaging school drama worth watching. It also conveys meaningful messages to today's youth.

DETAILS:

Writers: Kim Nam-hee, Go Sun-hee

Director: Lee Yoon-jung
Cast: Park Hae-jin, Kim Go-eun

Release Year: 2016

Extracurricular is one of the Korean dramas introduced to audiences through the online streaming platform Netflix. The series is set in a Korean high school, but instead of portraying the romanticized youthful atmosphere, it reveals its darker side and conveys profound messages. These dark aspects include violence, cheating, exam pressure, prostitution, and more.

The drama is filled with dramatic and unexpected twists, maintaining a smooth pace to unravel each issue, so viewers don't feel overwhelmed. Most of the actors in the series are young, yet they demonstrate excellent acting skills, making this drama truly worth watching.

DETAILS:

Director: Gin Han Sai

Cast: Jung Da Bin, Kim Dong Hee, Park Ju Hyun

Release Year: 2020

There and Back tells the story of Kim Huyn Ji, who has been in a coma for five years after an accident, and a first-year university student majoring in economics. After the mysteries surrounding her accident and her becoming a wandering ghost with no memory of what happened before, she roams around and meets Park Bong Bang, a supernaturally gifted young man who can see ghosts, and she seems to encounter her destiny when only he can see and help her.

A young man who can see and communicate with ghosts. He works as an exorcist to make money and always listens to the stories of ghosts to help them pass gently to the other world. From there, the two embark on exorcisms together, and between them, a very special bond begins to form. And how will their battle with ghosts unfold, and how will they help the restless souls move on? And will they uncover the identity of the evil spirit always following and wanting to kill them? What will happen to their love when the girl, after being freed from her coma, wakes up and loses her memory of the young man? All details will gradually be revealed as you explore this film.

DETAILS:

Screenwriter: Lee Dae-il

Director: Park Joon-hwa

Cast: Ok Taecyeon, Kim So-hyun, Kwon Yul

Release Year: 2016