Interest in TVING’s original series “Study Group” has been gradually growing ever since it was released on January 23rd. Two weeks after its release, the drama has reached the top spot in TVING's paid subscriber ranking. Through continuous word-of-mouth, it has gained recognition among a wider audience both in Korea and abroad. Despite this success, we believe that 'Study Group' deserves even more attention.

Based on the webtoon of the same name, “Study Group” (directed by Lee Jang-hun and Yoo Beom-sang, written by Um Sun-ho and Oh Bo-hyun) is a comedic high school action drama about Yoon Ga-min who desperately wants to do well in his studies but who is not at all talented at it. His goal is to be accepted into university, but with his bad grades and his ranking at the bottom of his class, it’s almost impossible.

That is why when he is transferred to Yuseong Technical High School, in order to get prepared for the college entrance exam he decides to form a study group. But it is not so easy, as the class and its ranking at his new school is controlled by the school bullies. And being afraid of them, no one wants to join Ga-min’s study group.

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But what is interesting about Yoon Ga-min is that even though he has the looks of a typical weak nerd, he is quite the opposite. In fact, instead of studying well he works out every day and is very talented in fighting. Yoon Ga-min’s character could be described as an OP in the body of a nerd. As a typical OP in gaming, he is unexpectedly overpowered and excessively strong in comparison to others, even the thugs of Yuseong Technical High School.

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Yoon Ga-min starts to stand up for other students and defend them from bullies. Constantly showing off his impressive fighting skills, he gains more trust and new members for his study group.

Despite Yoon Ga-min’s desire to study being an important topic in the drama, “Study Group” is primarily an action drama. This webtoon adaptation faithfully transforms the exciting action sequences from the original webtoon to the screen, and it almost feels like watching a comic. While it is definitely not the most realistic action, it captures the light atmosphere typical for school-themed dramas and delivers catharsis with every action scene.

Hwang Min-hyun, who plays Yoon Ga-min, leads the show with his great acting. Min-hyun is a former member of the K-pop groups NU'EST and Wanna One and he previously appeared in the projects like “My Lovely Liar” and “Alchemy of Souls”. In this drama, Hwang Min-hyun effortlessly performs action scenes, whether it’s one-on-one or multiple opponents, delivering exceptional action performances. The actor had to train in martial arts for eight months for this role. As a result of his efforts, he demonstrates impressive skills in scenes involving the use of twin blade weapons and wire action, comparable to that of a professional.

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Other actors like Han Ji-eun (Lee Han-kyung), Cha Woo-min (Pi Han-wool), and Lee Jong-hyun (Kim Se-hyun) also give impressive performances. Even the minor characters who appear briefly in the drama leave a strong impact and enrich the story.

Unfortunately, the promotion was done quite poorly for the drama. Hwang Min-hyun enlisted in the military last March and is currently serving as a public service worker. That is why due to the absence of the lead actor, the creators of the drama were unable to hold a press conference and other promotional activities. However, this only makes it even more impressive that the drama has become rather popular among the viewers.

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One of the reasons for its popularity is that “Study Group” does not simply pursue entertainment. It sharply points out various issues in our society, such as school violence, the flaws in the entrance exam system, and the aspects of a class-based society. In particular, through the environment of Yuseong Technical High School, the drama in a way portrays a micro version of our society, effectively highlighting the problems we face in reality.

For example, the culture of "connections" and the hierarchy within the school is merely a portrayal of the unfair structures of our real society. Additionally, Yoon Ga-min’s experience with stress about the entrance exam and pressure to perform well in grades clearly reveals the issues within the current Korean education system. By incorporating these social issues into the drama, “Study Group” serves as a mirror, urging us to reflect on our society, going beyond just a form of entertainment.

“Study Group” can also be seen as pioneering in adding action and fantasy elements to the traditional school drama. Yuseong Technical High School is a place that could easily exist in the real world, but the events that unfold there sometimes take on an exaggerated, almost fantastical quality. This is a deliberate decision by director Lee Jang-hun, that is supposed to make viewers’ experience feel almost like watching a comic.

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To some viewers, the excessive violence and unrealistic action sequences may possibly become a drawback. Additionally, since the drama deals with both academics and violence at the same time, it sometime feels like the focus is blurred.

Nevertheless, if you are okay with these aspects of the story, “Study Group” can be an extremely entertaining drama that focuses on personal growth and friendship of youth while sharply pointing out problems in our society. It addresses heavy topics, yet at the same time delivers entertainment to viewers through its comedic elements and flashy action scenes. “Study Group” has been gaining love from a wide age range of viewers, and it has undoubtedly become a hot topic that represents the first half of 2025.