Teens, Bullying & Mystery: 7 Gritty School K-Dramas You Can't Miss

Thriller makers and horror fans have always been fascinated by the unique, often twisted, and sometimes violent dynamics of teenage communities. It's a time when emotions run high and the line between light and dark is blurred.

During these formative years, wounds – both seen and unseen – cut to the core and leave lasting impressions. It's a phase where every corner holds a mystery waiting to be unraveled. And all that makes school grounds the perfect backdrop for crime dramas and psychological thrillers.

If you are a fan of such stories, let's embark on a journey through seven K-dramas that illuminate the enigmatic, perilous, and utterly captivating school life.

Revenge Of Others (2022)

IMDb rating: 7.6/10

Where to stream: Disney+, Hulu

Ok Chan-mi is a shooting champion with a bold personality. When her brother dies tragically and the police declare it a suicide, she doesn't believe a word and decides to transfer to his school to find out the truth about the incident. The investigation leads to a mission of revenge.

Blue Birthday (2021)

IMDb rating: 7.6/10

Where to stream: Viki, Hulu, WeTV

Oh Ha-Rin is no schoolgirl – she turns 28 in the pilot – but the drama's main mystery happened ten years ago, when she was 18. Then, Ha-Rin's childhood friend and first love committed suicide, and now she gets a chance to find out why by traveling back in time through old pictures.

Class of Lies (2019)

IMDb rating: 7.8/10

Where to stream: Viki

Gi Kang-jae is a former top lawyer whose career was ruined by a twisted high school murder case. To regain his tarnished reputation and find the truth, Kang-jae disguises himself as a substitute teacher in the same class where the murder happened. There he discovers that the reality is much darker than he thought.

Beautiful World (2019)

IMDb rating: 8.0/10

Where to stream: Disney+, Viki

Contrary to the title of this K-drama, an average family's life is turned upside down when their teenage son is left almost dead after a violent incident at school. The parents and sister go on separate quests to find out who attacked the boy and to punish the culprits.

Law School (2021)

IMDb rating: 8.0/10

Where to stream: Netflix

A law school teacher is found dead on campus, setting off a chain of events. His colleague, a tough but honest criminal law professor, is accused of murder, and a group of students set out to investigate the case and clear his name.

The Glory (2022-2023)

IMDb rating: 8.1/10

Where to stream: Netflix

Moon Dong-eun's life was ruined by violent bullying when she was a schoolgirl. Now she is an adult and an elementary school teacher. When the child of one of her abusers becomes her student, Dong-eun begins to carry out the revenge plan that has been in her mind for years.

Weak Hero Class 1 (2022)

IMDb rating: 8.5/10

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

There's no central mystery in this K-drama, but the atmosphere of a gruesome school community full of violence and struggle for survival is off the charts. Yeon Si-eun is a genius student who uses his brain to fend off school bullies, but it seems that brain power alone is not enough. Sometimes you need loyal allies to survive.