Korean Drama : Extracurricular

Year Released

2020

Genre

Teen

No. of Episodes 

10 - running time of 60 minutes per episode

Starring

Kim Dong-hee, Park Joo-hyun, Choi Min-soo

Storyline

Oh Ji-soo (Kim Dong-hee) may look like a nerdy student in school. But in actual fact, he works with his partner Lee Wang-cheol (Choi Min-soo) in escorting underage high school female students for special services.

If the ladies' get into trouble, they would ask for help by tapping their wristbands. Ji-soo then informs Wang-cheol to save the girls out of trouble and often ends up in a bad fight. The partners' way of communication is by phone and exchanges of monies via packages stored inside train station's locker.

Bae Gyu-ri (Park Joo-hyun) finds out Ji-soo's real identity and would like to be involved in his business as well.

My View

The first episode was kind of interesting as I thought it was some vigilante plot where a saviour is up to catch this psychopath.

After a while, the plot actually got too artistic for me. I just cannot continue watching and keep on fast forwarding each episode.

Rating

1/5 Stars

 

Korean Drama : Who Are You: School 2015

Year Released

2015

Genre

School, Teen, Mystery

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 60 minutes per episode

Starring

Kim So-hyun, Nam Joo-hyuk, Yook Sung-jae

Storyline

Go Eun-byul and Lee Eun-bi (Kim So-hyun) are identical twins, separated after one is adopted at the age of 5. Eun-bi lives at the Love House, an orphanage in Tongyeong. She is always being bullied at school by a gang of mean girls led by Kang So-young (Cho Soo-hyang), while teachers turn a blind eye.

On the other hand, Go Eun-byul is studying at Sekang High School, the most prestigious private high school in Seoul. Only Eun-byul is aware of the other's existence. Unlike the cheerful Eun-bi, Eun-byul is prickly and secretive. 

One day, Eun-bi decides to end her life due to constant bullying but is saved by Eun-byul. Eun-byul then goes missing and her adoptive mother Song Mi-kyung (Jeon Mi-seon) mistakes Eun-bi as Eun-byul.

Eun-bi starts attending school in Eun-byul's place but So-young transfers to Sekang High shortly after. Their family has to move to Seoul as So-young is being accused of causing Eun-bi's death back in Tongyeong. An astonished So-young meets Eun-bi and she starts to investigate on her real identity.

My View

I guess school bullying is one of the most problematic issues in society these days.

So much so that the media is constantly focusing on this topic and turning it into dramas.

Rating

4/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Class of Lies

Alternative Title

Mr. Temporary

Year Released

2019

Genre

School, Teen, Crime

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 70 minutes per episode

Starring

Yoon Kyun-sang, Keum Sae-rok

Storyline

When Jeong Soo-ah (Jung Daeun), a student at Chunmyung High School is stabbed, her classmate Kim Han-soo (Jang Dong-joo) becomes the suspect. Songha law firm's lawyer Gi Moo-hyeok (Yoon Kyun-sang) is assigned to defend Han-soo. 

Chunmyung High School is more interested for the case to be settled quietly to preserve its public image than discovering the truth. Han-soo refuses to admit he is the murderer. After a mysterious visit from someone, Han-soo attempts suicide and falls into coma. 

At the same time, Soo-ah dies and Han-soo is charged with murder. Moo-hyeok is then fired from Songha and his lawyer's license suspended.

Moo-hyeok decides to work as an undercover teacher at Chunmyung under the name of Gi Kang-jae. He teams up with another teacher Ha So-hyeon (Keum Sae-rok) and they uncover the Veritas Club.

It is a secret society of privileged students who control teachers and fellow students to falsify their school records. 

My View

The story slowly reveal the ugly side of prestigious school with its disgusting treatments to other students.

Rating

3/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Angry Mom

Year Released

2015

Genre

Family, Teen, School

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 70 minutes per episode

Starring

Kim Hee-sun, Kim Yoo-jung, Ji Hyun-woo

Storyline

Jo Kang-ja (Kim Hee-sun) has a daughter Oh Ah-ran (Kim Yoo-jung) in her late teens. When Ah-ran gets bullied in school, Kang-ja disguises herself as a fellow classmate and attends school with her.

There, Kang-ja finds out on the severity of school bullying. Teacher Park No-ah (Ji Hyun-woo) lends a helping hand and together they fight against corruption involved as well.

My View

I'm not sure but I think school bullying is very serious in Korea.

So what the entertainment industry is trying to show is not to encourage this behaviour but for the society to be a better place for children.

Rating

3/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Orange Marmalade

Year Released

2015

Genre

Fantasy, Romance, Teen

No. of Episodes

12 - running time of 50 minutes per episode

Starring

Yeo Jin-goo, Kim Seolhyun, Lee Jong-hyun

Storyline

The story tells about a world where humans and vampires could co-exist as the latter have evolved and no longer rely on human blood to survive. However, vampires are still being feared by the society causing them to hide their true identities. At the same time, there is a vampire association that punishes any vampires for harming humans.

Baek Ma-ri (Kim Seolhyun) is eager to settle down in the new neighbourhood. She enters a new school and gets to know Jung Jae-min (Yeo Jin-goo). Jae-min eventually finds out about her vampire identity.

My View

I like it how the story starts in the modern world then flashes back to ancient times. 

I learn about what orange marmalade means when Ma-ri explains about it in one of the episodes. 

Marmalade is made from citrus fruit, peel and juice etc. Meaning there is a part for everyone and not just always the beautiful side. Ma-ri is secretly hinting about humans and vampires could also be friends.

Rating

4/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Solomon's Perjury

Year Released

2016 - 2017

Genre

Thriller, Teen, Mystery, School

No. of Episodes

12 - running time of 60 minutes per episode

Starring

Kim Hyun-soo, Jang Dong-yoon, Seo Ji-hoon, Cho Jae-hyun, Seo Young-joo

Storyline

The story begins with Lee So-woo (Seo Young-joo) who falls to his death in school. The school's teachers and principal do not wish to alert any media and hope to close this case secretly.

Go Seo-yeon (Kim Hyun-soo), Han Ji-hoon (Jang Dong-yoon) and Bae Joon-young (Seo Ji-hoon) together with a few other classmates decide to hold a school trial to find out So-woo's murderer.

My View

The suspense is there as you wait for every episode to unravel itself.

Rating

4/5 Stars

Korean Drama : The Heirs

Alternative Title

The Inheritors

Year Released

2013

Genre

Romance, Teen

No. of Episodes 

20 - running time of 60 minutes per episode

Starring

Lee Min-ho, Kim Woo-bin, Park Shin-hye

Storyline

The Heirs takes place in a school attended by second generation chaebols. They abuse their authority on other students because of their rich families background.

Cha Eun-sang's (Park Shin-hye) mother works as Kim Tan's (Lee Min-ho) family helper. She stays at his house and also attends the same school as him. As no one knows where Eun-sang comes from, the chaebols are curious of her identity. 

Choi Young-do (Kim Woo-bin) takes an interest in Eun-sang and tries to win her heart over from Kim Tan.

My View

It feels weird to see the A-list stars in this drama playing second and third leads. 

Look at Kim Ji-won, Krystal, Kang Ha-Neul and Park Hyung-sik. 

Once in a while, watching their early dramas makes me want to laugh out loud. I quite like the stars combination.

Rating

4/5 Stars