Love the theme of this drama! It follows Yoon Gamin (Hwang Min Hyun), a student who is determined to improve his low rank at school. He takes studying very seriously, but he can’t do it alone. While he can study at home, he needs friends to study with. However, he is alone. Despite this, he has strength and can fight.
At his vocational school, Gamin encounters students who bully others and have no discipline.
Gamin first meets Kim Se Yoon (Lee Jong Hyun), the top student in school. Somehow, he ends up helping Se Yoon when he gets bullied by some students, and they become friends. Gradually, Gamin gathers more friends to form a study group, including Lee Ji Woo (Shin Soo Hyun) – She is also good at fighting, Choi Hee Won (Yoon Sang Jeon) is cute and kind, and Lee Joon (Gong Do Yu) who wants to be good fighter like Gamin.
The beautiful teacher Miss Lee Han Kyung (Han Ji Min) has a history with the school—she was once a student there. Something happened in the past that made her want to become a good teacher and change the school’s culture of bullying and violence.
Of course, there is a powerful figure behind the school’s troubles. Pi Han Wol (Cha Woo Min) comes from a wealthy family, and his father indirectly supports his bad behavior. Han Wol leads the school’s bullies and even has influence over the school principal.
Bullying is a common theme in K-drama history, but Study Group presents it in a fresh way, blending comedy with unique characters that make the story even more engaging. What I admire about webtoon-to-K-drama adaptations is the effort put into making everything feel real. It’s not just about staying true to the characters- they also put great effort into the visuals, ensuring the characters resemble their webtoon counterparts. The story itself is compelling and relatable.
I’m optimistic about a Season 2 because 10 episodes don’t feel like enough. I also hope they will explore more about some characters who didn’t get enough focus in Season 1. Let’s wait and see – I’m excited!
Pictures: hancinema | Trailer: CJ ENM Global