9 Best High School K-dramas That Will Help You Survive the New School Year

Ready for a new school year? It’s time to face new challenges, make new memories, and get closer to your goals. But before you dive into the academic world, why not enjoy some K-dramas that will get you in the mood for school and more? Here are the best high school Korean drama choices that you should watch to start the new school year.

“Extraordinary You” (2019)

• IMDb: 7.8/10

How would you feel if you discovered that you're just a character in a comic book and that your fate is controlled by the writer? That’s what happens to Dan Oh (Kim Hye Yoon), a normal high school girl. She realizes that she's living in a comic book world and that she's only a minor character. To make things worse, she falls in love with Ha Roo (Rowoon), but he's an extra who barely appears in the comic book. Can they overcome the obstacles and be together?

“Extraordinary You” is one of the funniest and most original high school K-dramas that put a new spin on the school romance genre. It explores the themes of choice and free will, and the sweet chemistry between the main couple is charming. The drama also cleverly mixes fantasy and reality, making it a captivating story.

“Moments of 18” (2019)

• IMDb: 7.5/10
• Viki: 9.4/10

Being a teenager isn't easy, and it comes with many challenges and difficulties. Choi Joon Woo (Ong Seong Wu) is a new student who was kicked out of his old school. He meets Yoo Soo Bin (Kim Hyang Gi), a curious girl who is drawn to him. Joon Woo has a lot of secrets and a troubled past. As they face their own problems, they start to develop strong feelings for each other.

"Moments of 18" is a sweet and nostalgic drama that shows how important it is to have a friend or a support system when you are going through hard times. It also captures the emotions and struggles of being a teenager. Ong Seong Wu does a relatively good job of playing the vulnerable and sensitive Joon Woo.

"Twenty-Five Twenty-One" (2022)

•  IMDb: 8.6/10 

“Twenty-Five, Twenty-One” is a romantic drama about Na Hee-Do (Kim Tae-Ri) and Back Yi-Jin (Nam Joo-Hyuk). Hee-Do is a high school fencer who dreams of becoming a national champion. But her dream is shattered when the South Korean financial crisis forces her school to disband the fencing team. She doesn’t give up and overcomes many hardships to join the sabre-fencing national team. Meanwhile, Yi-Jin is a rich kid who loses everything when his father’s business goes bankrupt because of the same crisis. He has to adjust to a new life of poverty and struggle. He works hard to study and deliver newspapers and eventually becomes a sports reporter for a broadcasting network. Their paths cross in 2025 when they are both 25 years old, and they fall in love. But their pasts and their futures will test their relationship. 

This drama is amazing because it shows how different personalities interact and how they learn from each other. It teaches us how to accept our failures or limitations and how to cope with difficulties. It also shows us the best and the worst of human nature, the balance of Yin and Yang. The characters are realistic and relatable. The actors did a great job in portraying them.

"Reply 1997" (2012)

• IMDb: 7.9/10
• Viki: 9.2/10

This is a story about Yoon Yoon Jae (Seo In Guk), a high school student who has been secretly in love with his childhood friend and neighbor Sung Shi Won (Jung Eun Ji) since they were kids. They have a close bond like siblings, but Yoon Jae’s feelings change as they enter high school. He realizes that he wants to be more than friends with her.

"Reply 1997" is the first of the “Reply” series and one of the most loved ones. The series takes place in high school and follows the two main leads from childhood to adulthood. It touches on family, loss, and romance, making it easy to connect with. If you enjoy a drama that has a nostalgic feel and features some old-school K-pop, this series will make you happy!

“True Beauty” (2020)

• IMDb: 8/10 

Moon Ga Young plays Lim Ju Gyeong, a girl who has suffered from bullying and low self-esteem because of her appearance. But when she moves to a new neighborhood, she decides to change her image with the help of makeup tutorials. She becomes a “goddess” at her new school, attracting the attention of many boys, especially the handsome and mysterious Lee Su Ho (Cha Eun Woo) and the rebellious and charismatic Han Seo Jun (Hwang In Yeop), who used to be friends but now hate each other.

“True Beauty” is a light-hearted comedy that teaches us to love ourselves for who we are, not for how we look. The chemistry between the three leads is good enough, and you may find yourself rooting for all of them. Beware of the second lead syndrome, though! :)

"Shadow Beauty" (2021)

• IMDb: 7.4/10
• Viki: 9.2/10

Ae-Jin (Shim Dal-Gi) is a high school student who suffers from bullying and insults because of her appearance. She feels lonely and misunderstood, except for her only friend Jin-Sung (Yang Hong-Seok). But Ae-Jin has a secret life that no one knows about. She's Genie, a famous and popular social media influencer with more than 770,000 followers. She transforms her selfies into beautiful pictures by using Photoshop and then shares them online as Genie. One day, Ae-Jin’s secret is threatened by a mysterious text message and an unedited photo of herself. Someone knows that Ae-Jin is Genie and wants to expose her.

This show is a bit over the top and dramatic, but it’s still enjoyable. I like how it has some artistic touches with the hairstyles, uniform, and cinematography. It’s a short web drama, so don’t expect too much from the budget or quality and just watch it for fun. You’ll like it.

"Cheer Up!" (2015)

• IMDb: 7.3/10

Jung Eun Ji plays Yeon Doo, the leader of the street dance club at her school. But when her club has to join forces with the club of the school's elite students, things get messy. Lee Won Guen plays Kim Yeol, the president of the other club, and he is not happy about the change. They have to work together as a new cheerleading team, but they don't get along at first. They fight and argue, but eventually become friends and more. The romance between Yeon Doo and Kim Yeol is adorable until someone tries to break them up.

"Cheer Up" is one of the most cheerful and comforting high school K-dramas that show how to overcome challenges and never give up. It has a lively story and a good cast of actors who make you smile.

“Who Are You: School 2015” (2015)

• IMDb: 7.6/10
• iQIYI: 9.3/10

Kim So Hyun plays Lee Eun Bi and Lee Eun Byul, twins who were separated when they were young. When Eun Byul vanishes without a trace, Eun Bi pretends to be her. She meets Han Yi Ahn (Nam Joo Hyuk), the school's best swimmer, who has a crush on Eun Byul and thinks Eun Bi is her. She also meets Gong Tae Kwang (Yook Sungjae), a charming boy who likes Eun Bi, creating a sweet love triangle.

"Who Are You: School 2015" shows the reality of school life and the problems that students face. So Hyun does an amazing job of playing two different roles, and both Nam Joo Hyuk and Yook Sungjae may make you fall in love with them (Sungjae's character is my bias in this series~~).

"BITCH X RICH" (2023)

• IMDb: 6.9/10

Kim Hye-In (Lee Eun-Saem) is a poor high school student who witnesses the brutal murder of another girl. This makes her the key witness in the case. Because of this, she's transferred to Chungdam International High School, a prestigious school for the elite. There she meets Baek Je-Na (Yeri), the main suspect in the murder and the queen bee of the school. Kim Hye-In and Baek Je-Na clash in a fierce battle of wits and wills (and become friends?!).

I’m waiting for season two as well (when will it be released?). I didn’t have high expectations when I started watching this drama, just something to pass the time. But I was hooked! I loved the mystery and the plot twist at the end. I would rate this drama 3.8 out of 5. If you like high school K-dramas with mystery and friendship (fake~), you should give this a try.

Which one is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below! Also, what else do you think should be here? I’d love to hear from you!😊