Actor’s First Drama in 3 Years Soars to No. 1, Surpassing 600 Billion Won Netflix Series

In just two episodes, MBC’s ‘Undercover High School’ has skyrocketed to the top of both TV ratings and drama buzz rankings, leaving its high-budget competitors behind.

Premiering on February 21, the drama debuted with a 5.8% viewership rating, climbing to 6.6% by Episode 2, showing a rapid upward trend. Most notably, in the highly coveted 20-49 demographic, it recorded 2.8%, making it the top-rated drama in its timeslot.

No. 1 in Drama & Actor Popularity Rankings

According to Good Data Corporation’s FUNdex, Undercover High School ranked No. 1 in TV-OTT drama buzz for the third week of February. Additionally, lead actor Seo Kang-joon topped the actor popularity rankings, proving his return from military service is making waves.

As of February 24, the drama also secured the No. 1 spot on TVING, further solidifying its OTT dominance.

Not only did Undercover High School outperform SBS’s ‘Buried Hearts’ (starring Park Hyung-sik), but it also surpassed tvN’s ‘My Dearest Nemesis’ (No. 6) and even overtook Netflix’s 600-billion-won epic ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ (starring IU and Park Bo-gum), which ranked 7 places lower.

Good Data Corporation’s data analyst Won Sun-woo noted, “Among the three trending male-led dramas (‘Buried Hearts,’ ‘Undercover High School,’ and ‘ My Dearest Nemesis’), Seo Kang-joon was consistently chosen as the most well-cast lead actor. His visuals and character portrayal have strongly resonated with viewers.”

Fans have been raving about Seo Kang-joon’s performance, with comments such as:

💬 “His face alone is entertaining.”

💬 “He’s ridiculously handsome, and his acting is solid.”

💬 “His tone and emotional delivery are perfect.”

💬 “I started this for the plot, but now I’m obsessed with Seo Kang-joon.”

Lead actress Jin Ki-joo has also received praise:

💬 “Her strong presence suits this genre perfectly.”

💬 “Her chemistry with Seo Kang-joon is insane!”

💬 “Her character is so compelling, and she’s nailing the role.”

What is ‘Undercover High School’ About?

The drama follows a National Intelligence Service (NIS) agent who goes undercover as a high school student to track down missing gold from the Joseon dynasty. Packed with action, comedy, and intrigue, the series blends multiple genres into an exciting, fast-paced ride.

Directed by Choi Jung-in (‘On the Verge of Insanity’) and written by Im Young-bin (‘Bad Prosecutor’), the series is produced by Neo Entertainment and Slingshot Studio.

At the February 20 press conference, Seo Kang-joon reflected on his return to acting:

💬 “My time in the military felt endless. I had a lot of time to reflect on my career and what kind of actor I want to be.”

💬 “I may not be satisfied with everything I’ve done, but I have no regrets. I want to give this drama my all and have no regrets regardless of the outcome.”

Regarding playing a 31-year-old NIS agent disguised as a high school student, he joked:

💬 “Honestly, seeing actors play high schoolers, I always thought, ‘Wow, they look so young.’”

💬 “I didn’t do any anti-aging treatments—I just made sure to apply my lotion properly.”

Beyond traditional TV, the drama is also performing exceptionally well on streaming platforms, outpacing:

📌 Netflix’s ‘The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call’ (#3)

📌 Netflix’s ‘Melo Movie’ (#4)

📌 Netflix’s ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ (#8)

📌 U+Mobile TV’s ‘Friendly Rivalry’ (#5)

📌 TVING’s ‘Study Group’ (#9)

As MBC’s flagship Friday-Saturday drama, Undercover High School is expected to continue its strong viewership growth, with fans eagerly anticipating whether it can hit 12% ratings—a milestone that Seo Kang-joon promised to celebrate by treating the entire crew to a vacation.

The drama airs every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 PM KST on MBC.

📊 Latest FUNdex TV-OTT Drama Buzz Rankings (3rd Week of February):

1️⃣ Undercover High School (MBC)

2️⃣ Buried Hearts (SBS)

3️⃣ The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call (Netflix)

4️⃣ Melo Movie (Netflix)

5️⃣ Friendly Rivalry (U+Mobile TV)

6️⃣ My Dearest Nemesis (tvN)

7️⃣ When The Stars Gossip (tvN)

8️⃣ When Life Gives You Tangerines (Netflix)

9️⃣ Study Group (TVING)

🔟 The Witch (Channel A)

With soaring ratings, critical acclaim, and social media buzz, Undercover High School is proving to be the unexpected breakout hit of 2024.