What Were Some of the Most Popular High School Romance Kdramas?

Have you noticed that some of the more popular hallyu dramas are the ones that take place in a high school setting? High school, whether it’s a Korean or American high school, is full of drama – friends, girlfriends, boyfriends, cliques, enemies, love, jealousy, you name it, you got it. As such, it’s one of the most ideal settings for a drama and/or movie. Producers know exactly what strings to pull to make you remember what high school was like, be it good or bad memories.

SBS premiered a new high school romance drama, “To the Beautiful You,” last night, and it has led us to look back at some of past dramas that took place in high school!

Scroll through the gallery by clicking on the arrows at the bottom right hand corner of the black box!

Boys over Flowers

One of the highly anticipated remake of famous Japanese sereis “Hana Yori Dango,” “Boys over Flower” takes place at the elite Shinhwa High School, an ultra-exclusive private school for the children of Korea’s elite families. Geum Jandi, a poor but bright and righteous girl, ends up attending Shinhwa High School when she saves a boy from jumping off the roof. In order to quiet down the negative publicity the incident caused, the school ends up giving her a scholarship. She realizes that the entire school, as well as the country, worship a group of four good-looking boys who are known as the F4, short for Flower 4. The group consists of Goo Joon Pyo, the heir of global conglomerate Shinhwa Group, along with his close friends Yoon Ji Hoo, Soh Yi Jung, and Song Woo Bin. Unable to stand and watch the F4’s notorious bullying games, Geum Jandi begins to call them out, which lands her as their next target. As the story develops, Goo Jun Pyo starts falling for Jandi, who’s unlike any other girl he met.

Goong (aka Princess Hours)

Set in a fictional Korea that is still ruled by monarchy, the drama revolves around the lives of Crown Prince Lee Shin and his new bride Shin Chae Kyung. The two are betrothed by their grandfathers in an old agreement, and despite being high school students, the two are wed when the King’s health takes a turn for the worse. Pained by his first love’s rejection at his marriage proposal, Shin agrees to marry Chae Kyung in order to fulfill the royal family’s wishes. The two initially detest each other, cutting at each other’s throats, when love eventually blossoms. Their relationship takes a turn when Shin’s first love, the ambitious and beautiful Min Hyo Rin, and his cousin, Prince Yul, come into the picture, forming a love quadrangle.

God of Study

Kang Suk Ho is an ordinary lawyer who is put in charge of liquidating Byun Moon High School. When he visits the school, he sees his own troubled past in the school’s students who live their lives without dreams or hope. He decides to shape up the students and school, creating a special class with the goal of sending the school’s five laziest students to the prestigious Chun Ha Dae Univesrity.

Dream High 1

“Dream High” follows the lives of six students who attend a renowned performing arts school in hopes of becoming stars in the Korean music industry. During their time at Kirin Arts High School, they learn how to develop their singing, songwriting, and dancing skills while also undergoing personal growth. The students start developing feelings – both romantic and friendly – with one another. Each has his or her own strengths and weaknesses and with the support of each other, they strive to debut.

Playful Kiss

Based on a Japanese manga, “Playful Kiss” tells the story about Oh Ha Ni, a clumsy, average girl who is at the bottom of her class. She also has a mad crush on the most popular and smartest guy in school, Baek Seung Jo. She musters up enough courage to confess her affections in a love letter but is shot down by the indifferent Seung Jo, who tells her that he detests stupid girls. As fate would have it, an earthquake ruins Ha Ni’s house, and Ha Ni and her father are forced to stay at her Dad’s childhood friend’s home. Lucky for her, her friend’s father happens to be Seung Jo’s father. Ha Ni continues her quest to capture Seung Jo’s heart.

Dream High 2

“Dream High 2″ is the sequel to  “Dream High” and stars a new cast and new plot. Park Jin Young reprises his role as one of the teachers at Kirin Arts High School, which is in dire financial situation and in danger of shutting down. The second season showcases the fierce music/dance battles between the top idol stars, who are about to have nervous breakdowns, and the school’s “hopeless” students, who have nowhere else to go.

To the Beautiful You – currently airing

“To the Beautiful You” is a Korean adaptation of the popular Japanese drama “Hana Kimi.” Sulli’s Goo Jae Hee is an extreme fan girl of champion high jumper Kang Tae Joon, played by Minho, who tries to make a comeback from a career-threatening injury. To help revive his career, Jae Hee impersonates a guy to attend Tae Joon’s all boys high school. For its pilot episode, “To the Beautiful You” recorded a respectable 7.3% (AGB Nielsen).