Study Group – There’s Always a Kid Who Wants to Study

“Study Group” is a 2025 Korean drama series with 10 episodes, categorized as Action, Comedy, High School, and Youth, based on a webtoon of the same name and streaming on Viki.

SUMMARY: There once was a kid who studied and studied and studied. But no matter what, he always ranked at the bottom of the students. Was he discouraged? Oh no! He became more and more determined each day to study so that he could go to college, and even came up with the idea of a study group, in case other kids were just like him. He BELIEVED!

But I Want to Study and Go to College

In Study Group”, Yoon Ga-Min should get high marks for his perseverance. He has set a goal for himself and some might think he set the bar too high. He studies so hard and takes detailed copious notes that he can restudy. But no matter how hard he tries he still ends up ranked at the bottom of the students. He had a teacher, Lee Han-Kyung, who did her best to teach and encourage him. But one day she vanished. Yoon Ga-Min was the one teacher he trusted and admired.

Finally, it happened! Yoon Ga-Min was admitted to the Yuseong Technical High School. He was certain that this was where he belonged until he opened the door to the classroom. It a absolute chaos! Those kids were not there to study and learn. What was even worse was there was a ranking app that ranked which student was the best bully! (O.o)

But Yoon Ga-Min was ever the optimist. Not only did he want to study, he looked around to see if any other students wanted to study. He wanted to create a Study Group because his grades were so low at other schools that nobody would let him join their group. On the first day, he followed Kim Se-Hyun into the library. The school had a library? It took a lot of convincing but he eventually persuaded him to join his Study Group.

Things were looking up! The atmosphere at the school got ever brighter because … Ta da! … his favorite teacher showed up! Ms. Lee??? You’re here???

Lee Han-Kyung accepted a job as a substitute teacher and she was happy to see Yoon Ga-Min was a student. She had better enjoy the brief happy moments because no sooner than she had arrived, a group of students tried to attack her. They came to her apartment! Not sure why but she had a “target on her back”. It was ordered by Pi Han-Wool, a student that everyone was afraid of; even the teachers and school administrators.

But Lee Han-Kyung is very much like her student, Yoon Ga-Min. SHE BELIEVES!

Main Characters:

Where to Watch

Viewership and Rating:

My personal rating is the same as the same as the Viki viewers.

There are great fight scenes. You have to root for this kid!

It’s R-rated. I’m guessing because there is violence.

I held off on watching “Study Group” because I thought it would be corny. But after the first episode, I was all in. The storyline is very relatable. Some kids come to school to study and learn and it’s a shame that sometimes they have to fight to do it! And there’s always that one teacher … sometimes there may be more than one … but there is at least one teacher in a school WHO CARES.

(Per Kdrama For Non-KoreansStudy Group is actually adapted from the webtoon of the same name, written by Shin Hyung Wook and illustrated by Ryu Seung Yeon. … The webtoon is part of YLAB’s Blue String Universe, which basically means it’s made for anyone who loves seeing high school students fight for their lives in between study sessions.” 

LINKS OF INTEREST:

“Study Group” is gaining popularity not only in Korea but also abroad. The sparkling enthusiasm of t.. | MK (Maeil Business NewspaperKorea’s No. 1 Economic Media)

Success of Tving’s ‘Study Group’: A Top Korean Drama – Discover Latest K-Pop News, K-Drama Updates, Profiles & More | Kpopmap

An Unassuming Hero Takes On Bullies In The K-Drama ‘Study Group’ | Forbes

TVING’s original drama ‘Study Group’: Rises to TOP 5 in 143 Countries: The R-Rated K-Drama Making Waves with Its Fresh Concept! | Wikitree

Study Group” Drama: Squashing Past Controversy with FLAWLESS Adaptation | KPOPPOST

TRAILER/TEASER:

CJ ENM Global. “Study Group.” YouTube, Video, 1 Feb. 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx0piV_Uf4E.

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Avatar of Mulan_Rouge
Mulan_Rouge

Member

161 messages 5 likes

I love stories about underdogs who fight for what they believe in. The fact that it's based on a webtoon makes it even better! I'm definitely going to check it out on Viki. Minhyun is amazing, so I have high hopes for this one. I hope it inspires me to study harder, too!

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Avatar of Marilyn Slothroe
Marilyn Slothroe

New Member

39 messages 3 likes

It's heartening to see a drama that focuses on the importance of education, even in a chaotic setting. While the fighting aspect seems a bit exaggerated, I understand it's likely a metaphor for the battles students face in real life. I appreciate that the story highlights the dedication of teachers like Ms. Lee. I might check it out if it gets good reviews.

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Avatar of Saccharine24
Saccharine24

New Member

31 messages 1 like

I'm intrigued by the premise of "Study Group." It sounds like it explores the pressures and anxieties that students face, especially in competitive environments. The ranking app concept is interesting and probably reflects some of the toxic aspects of social media culture. I'm curious to see how the characters navigate these challenges.

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Avatar of DramasOverKimchi
DramasOverKimchi

Well-Known Member

1,163 messages 42 likes

I've read the webtoon, and I'm excited to see how they adapted it for the screen! The story is really compelling, and the characters are well-developed. I'm especially interested in seeing how Minhyun portrays Yoon Ga-Min.

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Avatar of Victoria
Victoria

Start a fire

58 messages 1 like

"Study Group" seems to be generating a lot of buzz. I'm interested in analyzing the social commentary it offers about the education system and the challenges young people face. The webtoon's popularity suggests that it taps into some relevant issues. I'll definitely be watching this one and writing a review about it.

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Avatar of cmoneyspinner
cmoneyspinner

What does the Fox say?

1,561 messages 36 likes

It's heartening to see a drama that focuses on the importance of education, even in a chaotic setting. While the fighting aspect seems a bit exaggerated, I understand it's likely a metaphor for the battles students face in real life. I appreciate that the story highlights the dedication of teachers like Ms. Lee. I might check it out if it gets good reviews.

When I was younger I watched a movie about an American high school titled "Halls of Anger". Some school environments can be very hellish. Yet there were kids who wanted to learn.

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