Finally…
After such a long time, I’ve finally found a drama — specifically, a romance drama — that I truly look forward to every week with huge enthusiasm. Undercover High School is actually a mix-genre drama with mystery, thriller, comedy, and a bit of romance. Why do I say “a bit” of romance? Because the drama only gives it a small portion. Yes, there is romance, but only in small doses, which makes viewers even more excited.
Undercover High School tells the story of NIS agent Jeong Haeseong (Seo Kang Joon) and his team, who are assigned to find hidden gold bars. Based on information from the NIS, the gold is believed to be hidden in Byeongmun high school. Haeseong, who has a youthful face (well, it is Seo Kang Joon after all), is the only one suitable to go undercover as a student to carry out the mission.
Haeseong’s team is full of funny and slightly foolish members, there’s An Seok Ho (Jeon Bae Su), Go Young Hoon (Jo Bok Rae), and Park Mi Jung (Yoon Ga I). Despite their quirks, the team is very supportive in helping Haeseong blend in as a student. Before the mission officially begins, Haeseong meets Oh Su A (Jin Kijoo) at her restaurant, and she falls for him at first sight. Little does she know, he’s about to become her student at the high school.
A lot happens at school, including Haeseong quickly becoming the handsome and popular student. Although he’s not supposed to get involved in student issues, he can’t help but step in, like when he has to help his friend who was being bullied. I especially love how Haeseong and Su A work together to deal with this issue. One of the victims is Dongmin (Shin Joon Han), a student who eventually becomes Haeseong’s friend.
With the clumsy NIS team around, there’s no way Su A wouldn’t figure out who Haeseong really is. She’s a smart and intuitive teacher. Eventually, she finds out his identity and even joins the mission as an additional agent, forming the strongest team to complete it. But this isn’t just about the gold. Haeseong also has to face the painful truth about his missing father, who was also an NIS agent and disappeared during a mission at the same school. That personal connection is what drives Haeseong even more, to solve the case and uncover what happened to his father. The school chairwoman, Seo Myung Joo (Kim Sin Rok), seems highly suspicious and may be the one behind the gold bars and possibly involved in the disappearance of Haeseong’s father.
So aside from the mystery and thriller elements, yes, there’s romance, too. It’s probably the chemistry between Haeseong and Su A that makes viewers (including me!) fall in love with the couple. Even though the romance only takes up a small portion of the story, it really adds warmth and color to the drama. And guess what, they’re childhood frenemies! Spoiler alert at the end, Haeseong proposes to Su A, but viewers still wished they had more screen time. Such wasted chemistry!
But overall… I absolutely love this drama. Not just because of the exciting missions and comedy, but also because the NIS team is so lovable. The students at the school where Haeseong studies are so sweet and heartwarming. As someone who was bullied as a child, Haeseong gets to experience real friendship through this mission. Su A, as a teacher, handles serious school issues like bullying and discrimination based on rank or family background with great care and that’s one of the reasons Haeseong falls for her.
With only 12 episodes, this is the first time I feel like a drama needed more. Sixteen episodes would’ve been perfect, especially if they gave us more romance for Haeseong and Su A, hahahaha. Anyway, this is Seo Kang Joon’s first drama after completing his military service, and he looks sooo good. I mean, so manly and heart-fluttering even in the promotional content!
Ugh, I already miss the Undercover High School squad…
Picture: hancinema | Teaser: viu singapore