If you’ve watched even one high school drama, then you know that they’re almost always so chaotic.

That’s to say, the best ones have messy teens moving through life at their own pace, while making questionable decisions and generally trying to beat the tide.

In this article, I’m listing some of my all-time fave high school Korean dramas that you absolutely need to check out.

Here are some amazing high school Korean dramas that are perfect if you want to feel youthful:

1. Just Dance (2018)

Just Dance is based on a documentary of the same name and follows the journey of six best friends at Geoje Girls’ Vocational High School who dream of winning a dance sports competition.

They’re ready to sacrifice anything – including sacrificing their grades – to become better dancers, and in time, the group finds grow to find joy in their shared passion. 

This is coming-of-age at its finest, and trust me when I say Just Dance is one of those must-watch Korean drama starring teens that will leave you feeling inspired and moved.

2. Twenty-Five Twenty-One (2022)

Twenty-Five Twenty-One is a heart-wrenching K-drama that follows Na Hee Do, a teenage fencer who pursues her dreams despite the many obstacles in her path, including the South Korean financial crisis and the disbandment of her school’s fencing team. 

While she’s still a high-schooler, she meets Baek Yi Jin, a hardworking young man who is forced to rebuild his life after his family’s business went bankrupt due to the crisis.

This youth, coming of age, sports Korean drama is available to watch right now on Netflix and if the thousands of people who watched it are correct (and as a proud member of this group I have to say yes, they are), this drama is so effortlessly fantabulous.

3. Extraordinary You (2019)

Eun Dan Oh is a charming young high school student from a wealthy family who has lived with a heart condition since she was born.

One day, Dan Oh realizes that she is a supporting character in a Korean webtoon, and her every move is determined by the author’s storyline, which explains the many gaps in her memories.

Determined not to accept her fate and bent on finding her one true love, she decides to change the pre-determined course of her life by using the flashes of the storyboard she can see to manipulate several events. 

Needless to say, Extraordinary You is spectacular on every front – casting, storyline, sequence, etc. – and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.

This is one romantic high-school Korean drama that you definitely do not want to miss.

4. Blue Birthday (2021)

Ten years after the tragic death of her first love, Ji Seo Jun, on her birthday, Oh Ha Rin is still haunted by the memories of that fateful day.

But, everything changes when she discovers Seo Jun’s camera which allows her to travel back in time to the eight moments captured in the photos. 

Ha Rin decides to use this chance to prevent Seo Jun’s death and change the course of their tragic love story.

This drama made me shed a tear or two (more like buckets), and I recommend you have your tissues nearby.

If you want a high-school Kdrama that blends romance, melodrama, and the attendant heartache of time travel, you’re going to love this. 

5. To The Beautiful You (2012) 

To The Beautiful You is one classic Kdrama of the 2010s that garnered millions of viewers when it aired and still manages to have devout fans.

In this drama, Kang Tae Joon, a high jump gold medalist, retires after an injury and becomes emotionally closed off.

Jae Hee, a huge fan of Tae Joon, then decides to disguise herself as her brother to attend Tae Joon’s high school in order to help him recover and restart his high jump career. 

Through her efforts, Tae Joon opens up, while Eun Gyul – a member of their friend group – grapples with his feelings for Jae Hee, who he believes to be a boy.

If you’re in the mood for some nostalgic content, then To The Beautiful You will be a perfect watch.

This Kdrama features the most popular tropes of the early 2010s – refer to Boys Before Flowers, You Are Beautiful, and Cool Guys; Hot Ramen Shop – and an endearing cast that will leave you thinking for days. 

6. Sassy Go Go (2015)

After a set of peculiar events, the Real King street-dance club, an unpopular group in a high school of over-achievers, and the highly successful students of an elite club of top students are forced to merge into a cheerleading club for a competition. 

Yeon Doo and Kim Yeol’s teams – the dance and top students’ clubs, respectively – butt heads repeatedly, and their rivalry reaches a boiling point when an incriminating photo between the two leaders could mean the end of Real King. 

Set in a competitive school that prioritizes achievement and scores, this high school Kdrama sheds light on the absurdities and hypocrisies of the education system while showcasing the students’ growth stories as they strive to move forward, one step at a time.

7. All of Us Are Dead (2022)

After a botched science experiment, a high school is hit by a deadly zombie virus that spreads like wildfire.

Trapped inside the school, students are forced to fight for survival against the infected while trying to find a way to escape. 

With limited resources and no communication with the outside world due to government intervention, they must use anything they can find to defend themselves on this deadly battlefield or risk joining the ranks of the bloodthirsty undead.

All of Us Are dead is a fast-paced high school Kdrama with high stakes and a sublime plot.

If you’re in the mood for a Kdrama that’s sure to leave you hanging on the edge of your seat, then All of Us are dead is just the show for you. 

And, the second season of this interesting show is currently on Netflix, so if you watched this one and you loved it, you definitely want to check out the second season (Yes, Song Kang is even wayyyyyy hotttterrrr).

8. Where Your Eyes Linger (2020)

Han Tae Joo is an 18-year-old high school student and the successor to TB Group.

He has a wealthy family, natural good looks and popularity, and, as expected, has (very) few worries. 

Kang Gook, his thoughtful childhood friend, is physically strong and trained in different martial arts disciplines.

For the somewhat bashful Kang Gook, Tae Joo is his only friend, and as such, he is only comfortable with him.  

But the status quo between them both starts shifting when a new female student at their high school shows interest in Kang Gook, and Tae Joo is left to confront his long- suppressed feelings about his best friend. 

BL Kdramas always deliver on the slow-burn, so rest assured the pining in this high school Kdrama is top-tier.

I absolutely love romantic relationships that evolve from deep-set friendships, so I really enjoyed this one, and I know you will too.

9. Orange Marmalade (2015)

Orange Marmalade is set in a world where humans and evolved vampires who no longer need to feed on human blood live together.

The vampires are still discriminated against and they fear society, so many are forced to hide their identity and live as ordinary people.

Baek Ma Ri, the female lead, is a vampire in hiding, and her family is constantly forced to relocate due to her true identity.

When she enrolls in a new high school, she hopes to live a peaceful life, but everything changes when she falls in love with Jung Jae Min, a popular human boy, which puts her identity at risk.

A high school Kdrama with a supernatural bent, Orange Marmalade delivers on the swoons, feels, and drama – This is one drama you definitely do not want to miss. 

10. Moment at Eighteen (2019)

Choi Joon-Woo, an 18-year-old boy, is used to being lonely because of his difficulty in expressing emotions, but he has a softer side that’s hidden.

Then, he enrolls in a new school and meets Yoo Soo-Bin, a brilliant student whose life is controlled by her mother. 

Soo-Bin dreams of gaining independence after her meeting with Joon-Woo changes her perspective on life.

On the face of it, Ma Whi-Young, the second male lead, appears to be a perfect and gentle student, but he has a complex and is actually a timid boy.

When Joon-Woo transfers to his school, Whi-Young’s life also starts to transform, and I know I say this often, but this is hands down one of my favorite high school Korean dramas.

Moment at Eighteen is beautiful in every way that counts, and if you want a high school Kdrama that tackles sensitive issues that cut across the teen demographic, you’re going to absolutely love this.  

11. A Love So Beautiful (2020)

Cha Heon is a student at Chun Ji High School who is admired for his handsome looks and intelligence.

And while he seems standoffish, he has a kind heart but struggles to communicate his emotions. 

On the other hand, Shin Sol Yi is a cheerful and affectionate 17-year-old who has a crush on Cha Heon and I’m not kidding when I say she isn’t afraid to express her love for him.

Woo Dae Sung, the second male lead, is a skilled swimmer who transfers to Chun Ji High School and starts developing feelings for Shin Sol Yi, but he knows where her heart lies so he keeps his affection a secret and supports her from a distance.

From the very catchy opening theme song (trust me, you’ll be humming by the fifth episode) to the fantastic characters that carried the story from beginning to finish, you’re going to absolutely love this super romantic high school K-drama!

12. High School King of Savvy (2014) 

High School King of Savvy follows Lee Min Seok, a high school hockey player who impersonates his older brother at his new job.

As he balances these two very different identities, he also tries to handle a love triangle with Jung Yoo Ah and her sister, Jung Soo Young, while also clashing with the company director. 

I think you can already tell from the unique premise that this Kdrama is amazing (read as: the drama is drama-ing at every level), and you’ll be right.

If you loved Seo In Guk in Doom At Your Service or you’re keen to watch him in Death’s Game, then you’re going to love this one. 

13. Cherry Blossoms After Winter (2022)

Seo Hae Bom and Jo Tae Song were best friends growing up, but as they got older, they went their separate ways.

Then, everything changes when they end up in the same high school class and start to feel something more than friendship.

Hae Bom, an orphan, lives with his single mother and Tae Song, so they’re practically family, and this living arrangement adds some complication to their budding relationship. 

What did I say earlier about slow-burn? This BL high school Korean series delivered much more than I expected, so it’s sage to say that you’ll enjoy it.

14. A-Teen (2018)

Six Seoyeon High School students –  Ha Na, Ha Na, Bo Ram, Min, Si Woo, and Gi Hyun – are on the cusp of adulthood, so they must navigate the challenges of high school and prepare for what lies ahead.

Through ups and downs, first loves, and heartbreaks, each student has a unique story to tell as they discover what it means to be eighteen. 

This high school Kdrama is an unflinching and honest portrayal of growing pains, and I believe you would appreciate how it tackles several issues.

15. The Temperature of Language: Our Nineteen (2020)

Woo Jin Ah is a high school senior who is tired of always trying to fit in.

To express herself freely, she starts a secret social media account that quickly gains popularity among her classmates. 

Meanwhile, her childhood friend Chan Sol and the perfect student Han Yu Ri are also navigating their final stages of high school, and they each have their own hidden stories and romantic interests.

The drama was one of my favorite watches last year, and I have a good feeling you’ll enjoy it as well.

If you want a drama about an unusual group with peculiar characters and a friendship created by uncanny circumstances, then you might really enjoy this one.

How were your high school days? Have you watched any of the dramas on this list? Do you think you’ll give any of these a try? They’re so good, I promise.

Don’t forget to let me know if you have any other recommendations in the comments below.

And there are so many others recommendations for dramas you need to check out in the related posts below.

Happy watching!