8 Best K-Dramas About School to Watch if You Miss 'Weak Hero Class 2'

The school years are a time of first love, friendship, and rivalry. That's why school dramas are so diverse, ranging from light romantic comedies to stories about bullying and self-discovery.

Here, you will find touching stories about first love, intense tales of friendship and betrayal, and inspiring journeys to achieve a dream.

1. 'Twinkling Watermelon', 2023

Eun-gyeol grew up in a family where both parents were deaf. From an early age, he became the link between his family and the outside world, doing everything he could to make his parents proud. However, in order to do so, he had to give up his dream of becoming a musician.

One day, he wanders into a mysterious music store that transports him back in time 28 years to 1995. There, he meets his young parents, who are still in school, and gets a chance to make his dreams come true.

2. 'Extraordinary You', 2019

High school student Eun Dan-oh suddenly discovers that she is merely a supporting character in a romantic manhwa. Even worse, the author has given her an unhappy love life and a tragic ending.

Dan-oh decides to change her story. She gets that chance when she meets character number 13, who has no name. However, any changes to the plot come at a price.

In each episode, Dan-oh encounters all the clichés typical of romantic manhwa: awkward falls, love triangles, and school gossip.

3. 'At Eighteen', 2019

Choi Joon-woo is an emotionally insensitive teenager who transfers to a new school. There, he meets Yoo Soo-bin, the perfect student, and Ma Hwi-young, the class president.

Their lives seem perfect, but Soo-bin has problems with her overbearing mother and Hwi-young is insecure. When the three of them become close, their lives change.

The main characters face various adolescent challenges: difficulty making friends, prejudices to overcome, and parents pressuring them to get perfect grades.

4. 'Live On', 2020-2021

High school student Baek Ho-rang has thousands of social media followers but few friends in real life. This doesn't bother her much until she receives a strange message on the school radio.

To figure out who is trying to reveal her secrets, she joins the school radio broadcasting club.

The drama's central topic is how anonymity on the internet affects the lives of students. The ability to anonymously send messages to the radio gives bullies free rein and makes life much more difficult for the victim, who is unable to fight back against the offender.

5. 'Class of Lies', 2019

After a failed case involving the murder of a schoolgirl, lawyer Gi Moo-hyeok loses his job. To clear his name and uncover the truth, Moo-hyeok becomes a teacher and launches his own investigation.

The tense detective storyline is reminiscent of the hit Spanish series Elite – the investigation constantly runs into obstacles due to the students' intrigues.

6. 'True Beauty', 2020-2021

Ju-kyung is constantly bullied by her classmates because of her appearance. When she has the opportunity to transfer to a new school, she decides to use makeup to improve that insecurity.

It works – in her new school, Ju-kyung is considered the most beautiful girl. However, a classmate accidentally discovers her secret.

The drama realistically addresses the issue of the cult of appearance in South Korea. Beauty becomes the most important asset for high school girls, and not everyone has the strength to resist public opinion and stay true to themselves. Fortunately, the best solutions to these problems turn out to be friendship, love, and self-confidence – not makeup.

7. 'White Christmas', 2011

Eight students remain at a private school that is deserted for the Christmas break. Each student has received a mysterious letter accusing the author of indifference, betrayal, and lies. Park Mu-yeol decides to find out who sent the letters and what everyone else is hiding.

This slow-paced psychological thriller examines fears, complexes, and teenage cruelty. The accuser's manipulations and the secrets that gradually unfold transform the students into monsters. The central mystery is how and when they will cross the line.

8. 'Moorim School', 2016

Yoon Shi-woo, a deaf idol, and Wang Chi-ang, the illegitimate son of a businessman, enter a martial arts school hidden deep in the forest. The two men can't find common ground, but they are forced to live, study, and hone their fighting skills together.

Over time, they discover that they both have extraordinary abilities, and that the school itself hides many secrets.

The drama is worth watching for the dynamics between the main characters, Shi-woo and Chi-ang – it becomes the driving force of the plot.