More Real Than Reality—R-Rated School K-Dramas Making Waves with Bold Storylines

OTT platforms are seeing a surge in teen dramas that explore social hierarchy, power struggles, and intense rivalries, captivating both young audiences and adults alike.

According to K-content analysis platform Fundex, in the first week of February, TVING’s original series 'Study Group' and U+ Mobile TV’s 'Friendly Rivalry' ranked in the Top 10 for TV & OTT drama buzz.

While these dramas are praised for their “hyper-realistic storytelling,” concerns have also been raised about the potential for copycat crimes among teenagers.

'Study Group': A Brutal Survival Story in a Failing School

Released on January 23 via TVING, Study Group follows Yoon Ga-min (played by Hwang Min-hyun), a student who dreams of excelling academically but is only gifted in fighting. Struggling in a failing school, he gathers a group of students to create a study group that will battle their way through an unforgiving education system.

In the latest episodes (Ep. 7-8), the group infiltrates YB Talent Development Center to clear the name of Kim Soon-chul (Jo Yeon-woo), who is falsely accused of murder. However, things take a dark turn when Ga-min hears shocking news—the real culprit behind the fatal stabbing is believed to be Soon-chul himself.

Despite pressure from Detective Na Tae-man (Shim Woo-sung), Ga-min refuses to believe his friend is guilty. Determined to uncover the truth, he and his study group sneak into YB Group’s training center, leading to a tense standoff with authorities. In the end, the team successfully escapes and achieves their goal of improving their class rankings by at least 10 places, while also securing a disciplinary committee hearing for corrupt school leaders.

'Friendly Rivalry': Elite High School, Hidden Agendas

Premiering on February 10 on U+ Mobile TV, Friendly Rivalry is a high-teen drama set in an ultra-competitive elite school, Chaehwa High, where only the top 1% of students can survive.

Woo Seul-gi (played by Chung Su-bin) transfers to the school and soon finds herself entangled in a web of jealousy, ambition, and secrets.

In the latest episodes (Ep. 5-6, released on February 17), Seul-gi confronts Yoo Jae-yi (Lee Hye-ri), demanding to know how she obtained personal information about her. Jae-yi’s refusal to answer only deepens the mystery, leaving viewers eager for answers.

Meanwhile, the storyline of Choi Kyung (Oh Woo-ri) adds another layer of drama. Always ranked No. 2, Kyung has never been able to surpass Jae-yi, the beautiful and intelligent perennial top student. Flashbacks reveal her frustration, as she once believed the No. 1 spot was hers after her childhood rival transferred out—only for Jae-yi to take over. The betrayal deepens when Kyung realizes the boy who once showed interest in her was actually attracted to Jae-yi all along.

With Seul-gi uncovering secrets and Kyung growing increasingly resentful, the unfolding drama keeps viewers on edge.

'Weak Hero Class 1': A Fan-Favorite Returns for Season 2

Originally released as a Wavve original in 2022, 'Weak Hero Class 1' tells the story of Yeon Si-eun (played by Park Ji-hoon), a top student and lone fighter who takes on school violence in his own way.

At the time of its release, the series set records by taking up 45.5% of Wavve’s total viewership, marking it as one of the most successful original series on the platform. Following its immense success, the production team confirmed a sequel, 'Weak Hero Class 2', is in the works.

The series also gained critical acclaim, winning Best OTT Original at the 2023 Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards held at the Busan International Film Festival. At the ceremony, producer Kim Myung-jin expressed gratitude, saying, “Meeting audiences at BIFF last year gave us incredible energy. Thanks to that, we’re here today, ready to create the next chapter. Please look forward to the next installment of the real ‘Weak Hero.’”

Weak Hero Class 2 is set to premiere in Q2 2025 on Netflix.

With OTT teen dramas gaining momentum, will these intense high school battle stories continue their dominance? Only time will tell.