Popularity contests turning into bloodsport, to zombie apocalypses unfolding between math tests, who would have thought the school playground could be a battlefield for survival? The claw sheaths come off, calculus is replaced by high stakes strategies on survival, and the most dangerous thing in class isn’t a pop quiz—it’s the person sitting next to you.
Whether you’re craving psychological warfare, mystery, or alien-fighting seniors, here’s your ultimate binge list of seven K-dramas where the classroom turns into a battleground for revenge and complicated mind games.
“Pyramid Game”
At Baekyeon Girls’ High, Class 2-5 lives by the “Pyramid Game”—a ruthless popularity vote held every month, where the lowest-ranked student becomes an open target for bullying.
Enter transfer student Sung Su Ji (Kim Ji Yeon), a principled girl with nerves of steel. Instead of avoiding the spotlight, she deliberately lands at the bottom and vows to dismantle the cruel system from within. Her biggest challenge? Baek Ha Rin (Jang Da A), the school’s merciless queen bee.
A psychological thriller at its core, “Pyramid Game” is a razor-sharp blend of tension, teen politics, and power plays. It delivers an unflinching look at school bullying, peer pressure, and the dangerous comfort of groupthink.
Kim Ji Yeon’s transformation from victim to master strategist is the drama’s most compelling arc.
“BITCH X RICH”
Kim Hye In (Lee Eun Saem) witnesses a murder attempt at elite Cheongdam International High. She’s offered a transfer in exchange for her silence, which she willingly takes. Soon after, she witnesses yet another student fall to her death in school, but Hye In seems to have learned her way around. She coolly enters a cat-and-mouse game with prime suspect Baek Jena (Kim Ye Rim) and even manipulates her into getting entry into the school’s elite Diamond 6. But, as they say, there are no free lunches, and Hye In soon finds herself in a precarious position. Does she compromise on her conscience as she has always done or does she stand up for the right things?
“BITCH X RICH” showcases the toxic dangerous rivalries and the constant shifting alliances in school. The world of these teenagers is far more complicated as they spare no one, not even their own families or friends.
Start watching “BITCH X RICH”:
“Friendly Rivalry”
Woo Seul Gi (Chung Su Bin) transfers to the elite Chaehwa Girl’s High School to secretly investigate her father’s death. She forges a fraught friendship with the school’s most popular and influential student, Yoo Jae Yi (Hyeri). Yoo Jae Yi is revered by classmates who all want to be on her good side as well as the teachers who are in awe of her. Jae Yi is an extremely competitive and calculating young girl who takes Seul Gi under her wing. It is not a case of like likes like, but a delicate balance of charm and menace that soon spirals into a psychological battle, with academic pressure and buried secrets fueling their dangerous alliance. Every look carries a hidden meaning, and every gesture is a move in their power play, as the line between friendship and sabotage blurs beyond recognition.
“Friendly Rivalry” peels back the glittering facade of elite school life, exposing how ambition, secrets, and betrayal can turn even the closest of bonds into a battlefield.
Start watching “Friendly Rivalry”:
“Hierarchy”
Jooshin High School is where the nation’s richest families send their heirs. Money and power determine who rules and who suffers. Into this gilded world enters Kang Ha (Lee Chae Min), a scholarship student with a hidden agenda: to uncover the truth behind his twin brother’s suspicious death. Standing in his way are the school’s elite: Jung Jae Yi (Roh Jeong Eui), the haughty and conflicted heiress of a rival conglomerate, and Kim Ri An (Kim Jae Won), the arrogant heir of Jooshin Group who reigns supreme but whose life goes into a downward spiral with the arrival of Kang Ha. There is also Yoon He Ra (Chi Hae Won), who aims to become the Queen of Jooshin High, and Lee Woo Jin (Lee Won Jung), a politician’s son hiding a scandalous secret.
As secrets unravel, what begins as a tale of revenge spirals into a heady mix of love triangles, betrayals, blackmail, and mystery. “Hierarchy“ delivers binge-worthy teen angst wrapped in the world of high society and elitism.
“Duty After School”
At Sungjin High, students suddenly find themselves on the frontlines of survival when mysterious alien spheres invade Earth. With the military stepping in, Class 3 is conscripted into a special reserve unit, forcing teenagers who were once worried about crushes and college entrances to take up real weapons and fight for their country’s future. Lee Chul Ho (Shin Hyun Soo) is the reliable platoon leader who leads the teen entourage, while Park Eun Young (Im Se Mi) is the homeroom teacher who is a pillar of support for her students. What starts as a desperate battle against terrifying creatures soon becomes a test of loyalty, resilience, and courage as friendships are forged in the trenches and youthful innocence collides with the harsh realities of war.
Gritty and fast-paced, “Duty After School“ combines heart-pounding action with deeply human moments, offering a raw look at what it means for students to grow up overnight when the fate of the world rests in their hands.
Start watching “Duty After School”
“Night Has Come”
At Yooil High School, what begins as a seemingly ordinary class trip turns into a chilling nightmare when the students are forced into a deadly real-life version of the mafia game. Suddenly trapped in a secluded setting with no way out, they must follow mysterious instructions that pit them against one another in a high-stakes battle of trust and betrayal. Friendships fracture, alliances shift, and fear escalates as each round demands sacrifices that cut deeper than anyone imagined. The drama stars Lee Jae In, Kim Woo Seok, Choi Ye Bin, Ahn Ji Ho, Cha Woo Min, and Jeong So Ri.
Combining the tense atmosphere of a psychological thriller with the emotional intensity of a youth drama, “Night Has Come“ grips viewers with its mix of mystery, mind games, and raw emotion, keeping audiences on the edge until the very last revelation.
Start watching “Night Has Come”:
“All of Us Are Dead”
At Hyosan High School, a routine day spirals into horror when a failed science experiment unleashes a zombie outbreak, trapping students inside with no escape. Forced to fight with whatever they can get their hands on, desks, bows, and cell phones, the teens must rely on quick wits, loyalty, and sheer willpower to survive. Nam On Jo (Park Ji Hu) emerges as a natural survivor, her instincts and courage keeping her classmates alive, while Lee Cheong San (Yoon Chan Young), her steadfast childhood friend, proves how far loyalty can go even in the darkest of moments. Alongside them is Lee Su Hyeok (Lomon), a reformed troublemaker whose bravery turns him into an unexpected protector. As friendships are tested and heartbreak looms large, the group confronts not just the ravenous undead but also the painful choices of who gets saved—and who doesn’t.
“All of Us Are Dead” blends relentless action, raw emotion, and a piercing coming-of-age story beneath the blood and chaos.
Hey Soompiers, which of these is your favorite school drama? Let us know in the comments below!
Puja Talwar is a Soompi writer with a strong Yoo Yeon Seok and Lee Junho bias. A long time K-drama fan, she loves devising alternate scenarios to the narratives. She has interviewed Lee Min Ho, Gong Yoo, Cha Eun Woo, and Ji Chang Wook to name a few. You can follow her on @puja_talwar7 on Instagram
