“Study Group,” a Korean drama that premiered on TVING, captured viewers’ attention despite challenges like lead actor Hwang Minhyun‘s enlistment and limited promotional activities. The series topped paid subscriptions for four consecutive weeks and ranked highly in various popularity metrics, including WatchaPedia and Good Data Corporation’s FUNdex analysis. It also earned a 9.8 rating on Rakuten Viki, reaching the top 5 in 143 countries globally.
What is “Study Group”?
Released on January 23, “Study Group” is a high school action comedy drama about the protagonist, Yoon Ga-min (played by Hwang Min-hyun), who is good at fighting but struggles with academics. He forms a study group as he enters the cutthroat world of exams in one of the worst schools. Despite being an academic drama, the series includes several violent scenes, earning it a rating of “not suitable for teens.” Other main cast members include Han Ji-eun, Cha Woo-min, Lee Jong-hyun, and Shin Soo-hyun. The drama is based on the NAVER webtoon of the same name, which began serialization in January 2019 and has gained popularity for its fresh mix of academic and action genres. The webtoon is currently in its third season and has a steady readership internationally, with publications in countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan, China, and Japan.
The drama added new elements like the “Ranking App,” which weren’t part of the original story. Despite being adapted from the webtoon, the drama presented fresh twists, including changes in character dynamics and plot.
Key Moments in the Final Episode
In the final episode, the study group unites to protect Lee Han-kyung (Han Ji-eun) from a dangerous situation involving Pi Han-wool (Cha Woo-min). The group fights the Yeon-baek faction, and Yoon Ga-min’s special fighting technique leads to a dramatic showdown. Afterward, the students of Yuseong High School delete the ranking app, restoring order. The study group members return to their regular student lives, supporting each other’s dreams.
Viewer Reactions
Following the finale, fans voiced a strong desire for a second season, praising the acting, direction, story, action, and music. Comments included: “One of my favorite dramas. The acting, directing, story, action, and music are all perfect,” and “Please bring us season 2! It was so good.” Han Ji-eun, who played the teacher in charge of the study group, reflected, “After watching the rough cut, I thought it would do well, but I didn’t expect it to be this successful. I’m glad to see it being so well received. We also talked among ourselves about wanting a second season.”
