7 Heart-Pumping K-Thrillers Set On School Campuses

When you think of K-dramas, the first thing that comes to mind is romance. South Korean television seems to have a love story for every age and taste. In recent years, however, Korean producers have begun to churn out shows in other genres. And they are doing it with a bang. Take Squid Game, for example - a global sensation that redefined the survival game trope.

This anti-romance trend has given rise to a unique type of show - dark coming-of-age thrillers set in a school setting. Nothing hits harder than a story about teenagers in life-or-death situations. Here are seven K-dramas to prove it.

Duty After School (2023)

IMDb rating: 6.8/10

Where to stream: Viki

Final exams are already nerve-wracking for high schoolers, but the students in Duty After School face an even bigger challenge. In the midst of their cramming sessions, a sudden alien invasion turns their world upside down. Now, they have to balance hitting the books with training to combat insect-like extraterrestrials determined to conquer Earth.

Night Has Come (2023)

IMDb rating: 7.2/10

Where to stream: Netflix, Viki

A high school class trip takes a horrifying turn when the students find themselves in a deadly game of mafia. As they scramble to survive, friendships are tested and true colors are revealed. In this brutal game, no one is safe.

Solomon's Perjury (2016)

IMDb rating: 7.4/10

Where to stream: Netflix, Viki, Disney+

When one student mysteriously falls from the school's roof and another who claims it was murder is killed in a car accident, the adults dismiss these events as mere coincidences and close the case. However, the murdered students' classmates refuse to accept this and take matters into their own hands. To uncover the truth, they hold their own mock trial, acting as counselors, judges, and jurors.

All of Us Are Dead (2022)

IMDb rating: 7.5/10

Where to stream: Netflix

A school science experiment goes horribly wrong, turning the lab into the epicenter of a zombie outbreak. As the virus quickly spreads, a group of students find themselves in a fight for survival, struggling to fend off the undead and stay alive until rescue comes.

Revenge of Others (2022)

IMDb rating: 7.6/10

Where to stream: Disney+, Hulu

Ok Chan-mi, a determined and courageous shooting champion, loses her brother in a mysterious tragedy on school grounds. Refusing to accept the police's ruling that his death was a suicide, Chan-mi transfers to the brother's school to investigate and, if possible, bring justice.

Class of Lies (2019)

IMDb rating: 7.8/10

Where to stream: Viki

Gi Kang-jae, once a star lawyer, had his career shattered by a high school murder case. Determined to restore his reputation, Kang-jae takes on the guise of a teacher and infiltrates the very class the victim in the case belonged to. Once inside, he uncovers a reality far more sinister than he ever imagined.

Weak Hero Class 1 (2022)

IMDb rating: 8.5/10

Where to stream: Prime Video, Viki, Kocowa, Wavve, iQIYI

This fan-adored drama delves into the dark world of school bullying. Yeon Si-eun, a brilliant student who seems vulnerable at first glance, uses his expertise in physics, logic and psychology to combat the rampant violence both inside and outside the school walls. Two unlikely allies join him in the fight.