Study Group

“I create opportunities even in hellish situations”

An emotional sucker punch. First they disarm you with mesmerizing action choreography and quick witted humor, then they hit you with the most gutwrenching reminder of all of the people who poured into you when you were a student, all of the teachers who sparked hope in you and paid for it with their time and money and heart.

This is such a beautifully woven drama that hit every single nail on the head. Casting? Flawless. Camera work? Engaging. Action? Listen I don’t even like fight scenes like that but I was EXCITED to see Ga Min in action every week. I wish there was more but I don’t even want the episodes to be longer because the shorter time limits kept everything fast and fresh- I just need another season and I need to know what happens next.

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Best Feb 2025 Drama

I am so glad Hwang Min Hyun decided to do an action drama. I have been waiting for it since it's announcement. I enjoyed the story and the acting. Everyone is great. Even the villains/anti-heroes. Cha Woo Min did a fantastic job and managed to stand out. I am looking forward to seeing him in a variety of roles now. The ladies were also wonderful. I love strong women of all kinds. I liked that the bunch all have their strengths and weaknesses. The support character of Kim Sun Cheol was also a good one.

Initially, I struggled to see bullying being depicted. Though it is considerably better than some other shows, it still impacted me and stressed me out. It gets a better later since the show is doesn't try to let things get too dark and is interspersed with light moments and growth and bonding. Just thought to mention it in case you are also sensitive to those things.

The cinematography and OST are really great. I have 2 new favourites songs - Backpacker and Hood.

The only weak aspects (for me) were the fight scenes. I love a well choreographed action scene. But the main lead has been given superhero-like abilities which take away the realism. The show is based on a webtoon so I started to read it to see if the fights are similar in that and they aren't really (full disclosure: have read about 8 chapters). They are much more believable. The action sequences between the other characters aren't like that in the series. Maybe the exaggeration is to give it a webtoon feel. In any case, for this reason I wouldn't compare it to Weak Hero Class 1. They have some similarities but WHC1 is darker than Study Group and perhaps slower at times but the action was far superior in my opinion which is why I gave Study Group a 9.

Obviously I love both shows so I hope Study Group is also loved by audiences.

There is an end credit scene at the end of episode 10.

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"Study Group" – A High-Energy Blend of Action, Friendship, and School Rivalries

*"Study Group" is an electrifying mix of high school drama and intense action, making it an absolute thrill ride from start to finish. What I loved most was how the main lead, Hwang Min Hyun, remained unfazed by all the power struggles and egotistical clashes that typically define adolescence. Unlike his peers, who were caught up in hierarchy and dominance, he was simply focused on studying. But through this, he inevitably got entangled in the chaos of his school, facing challenges alongside his friends and uncovering deeper conflicts.

The series is well-structured, with each episode offering insight into the backgrounds of key characters, making their struggles feel real and engaging. The character development is commendable, and I particularly enjoyed how the study group stood by each other through thick and thin, proving the strength of their friendship. The mix of high-energy fight sequences and moments of camaraderie made the story all the more gripping.

The young actors delivered outstanding performances, making the plot feel believable and immersive. The action choreography was top-notch, with well-executed fight scenes that kept the adrenaline pumping. The background scores, opening theme, and OSTs were perfectly in sync with the rebellious and fiery spirit of the characters, adding to the overall intensity of the show.

That said, one thing I felt was missing was a deeper sense of meaning. Many K-dramas used to have a strong didactic element, but this one leans more into the action and thrill, sacrificing a bit of depth in the process. While it’s undeniably entertaining, it doesn’t leave much food for thought.

Overall, "Study Group" is an exciting and high-energy watch that keeps you hooked with its action-packed narrative, strong friendships, and well-directed sequences. It may not be deeply thought-provoking, but it delivers everything needed for a hit drama. Highly enjoyable and definitely worth watching!*

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Super fun ride from start to finish!

I've been caught fully off guard by this show...to think that I'd completely overlooked this drama when it first started airing because the summary on MDL didn't sound interesting. But then I randomly decided to give it a go and oh my god, what a FUN watch. Best example of execution >> concept.

So engaging right from the first episode, fantastic OST, the perfect length of episodes, not too long, not too short, GREAT casting, each of the new faces I'm seeing are so good at their individual roles. They all have such natural chemistry between themselves. And I totally overlooked Minhyun this whole time since Alchemy of Souls...he was made to do this role. Brings a natural innocence to his character but his stunts are equally convincing. The screenplay holds up to the last episode and keeps delivering twists and comedic moments and there's not a slow moment throughout.

I don't think I've enjoyed an action/comedy as much as I enjoyed this one since Bad and Crazy. I'd been looking for something along the same vein, combining light hearted moments, crazy humor and wonderfully choreographed fight scenes with a solid cast and chemistry.

I think the best shows are ones that make you feel like they ended too soon and should've had more episodes, and this one checks it all.

(But if there's a season 2 👀, I'll be here first!)

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Study Group Being The Best And The Main Character Of 2025 Kdramas!

Honestly... I don't even know how to start this off because it was THAT GOOD. I have never been so satisfied and enjoyed and loved every bit of a drama like study group in my life. Study Group is the most perfect epitome of a webtoon remake drama, other dramas should use this as an example. Every scene from the webtoon was so satisfyingly made to life ESPECIALLY the action scenes. I can never get enough of the action scenes, I was always left in awe whenever I saw Gamin fighting but most importantly.. when the study group cutely joined together and fought. They are so wholesome and made the action scenes even more meaningful, the bonds of the study group made it even more special. Every episode was done so well and the comedy aspects were amazing.

I loved the bond of the group especially the dynamic between our Gochuchang boy Jun and our diva Jiwoo. I can watch them all day like they are too funny, cool and cute together. I love their type of dynamics. The casting was just too perfect that I am so relived we had this cast because they made the show what it is today.

I sincerely hope there is a season 2, and I have faith it will. Until then, I will be rewatching this. Thank you, Study Group and the soundtrack, for keeping me going during university. I have the motivation to study, and I will try to have the mindset of Gamin and never give up. I will listen to the soundtrack, take myself back to the show, pretend I'm in the study group,p and work hard.

Also having Hwang Minhyun as the star with Gunwook x Matthew, Yedam, and Haon as the OST was made for me, it made it even more special as a fan of them all ~

DID NOT WANT TO SAY GOODBYE BUT... See you for Season 2 x

Kind regards,
Study Group and Gochuchang N0.1 fan (can't believe it was his first drama)

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Don't let the title fool you this is not any kind of study group you have seen before

My Rating is 10/10

I can't believe I waited so long to watch this.

I'd known about Study Group for a while and had heard plenty of good things, but the relatively short episode format kept putting me off. Now that I've finally watched it, I can honestly say I loved it. It deserves any hype it receives.

One of my favorite things about the series is Yoon Ga-min (main character). He has abilities that are superhuman. He punches people through walls, launches himself through the air, and moves with unbelievable speed and strength. What I love, though, is that the drama never treats him like a superhero. He doesn't have powers from an experiment, another planet, or magic. Instead, everyone simply accepts that he's a human who trained so incredibly hard that he can do things no normal person should be capable of. It gives the action a larger-than-life feel. If a fight erupts and he is not there, you and all the characters are just waiting for him to arrive. He'll fix this nonsense.

At its core, this is a "bullies get served" story—a satisfying battle of good versus evil—and it delivered exactly the kind of justice-filled moments I was hoping for.

If you're looking for romance, though, this isn't that kind of drama. In fact, I'd recommend treating it as a "skip the romance" series. There are a handful of cute moments that make you think certain characters might develop romantic feelings, but the story never fully goes in that direction. That applies to both the student characters and the adults. The focus stays on friendship, loyalty, standing up for what's right, and helping each other become better people.

The fight scenes are exciting, the friendships are genuinely heartwarming, and I loved watching everyone grow stronger—not just physically, but as people. Overall, Study Group was an incredibly fun watch that I enjoyed far more than I expected.

Spoilers

Yoon Ga-min (main character)

I absolutely loved Yoon Ga-min. It was so cute and genuinely amusing how seriously he took protecting anyone who wanted to study. You want to study? Great. He's got your back. If that means fighting an entire army of bullies so you can do your homework in peace, then that's exactly what he'll do.

He had such an innocent personality in the best possible way. He may not have been able to take his incredible brain and translate it into excelling at standard subjects, but he had a brilliance in the way he worked with people. An emotional intelligence that was way beyond what could be measured by standard means. I also loved how his abilities were portrayed. He could do things that seemed almost impossible. But they weren't because he trained others in small pieces of what he knew. So it was achievable. Just like you had the sense that with his absolute determination some day he would figure it out and do well in his studies.

I also loved that he never truly lost. He might get knocked down, exhausted, or overwhelmed, but he was never out. He always got back up. I don't like when the character gets beaten. It is disappointing. And I have seen some where they get beaten time and again and finally get strong. I sometimes like that but I more often like when the hero is just strong. And you can be sure, if they show up things will change for the better.

One of my absolute favorite parts of the action was his uncle's forbidden moves. Every time Ga-min looked like he was finally beaten, you'd think, "Well...this might actually be it." Then he'd be lying on the ground, catch his breath, calm himself down, and suddenly decide this opponent deserved one of his uncle's forbidden techniques. The entire fight would immediately swing back in his favor. It added so much intrigue and excitement because I was always wondering, "Okay...what incredible move is he going to pull out next?" It kept the fights feeling fresh instead of repetitive.

One of my favorite surprises was Lee Mi-kyeong (Ga-min's mother). I wasn't expecting her to be such a badass, but seeing her do a little bully-stomping of her own was incredibly satisfying.

The Study Group

I loved the study group itself and how everyone eventually came together. They made their own family like friend group. The judo girl even said it one time. Let's see how "study group", a team that works together, fairs against those that do not. Each member had their own reason for joining, so it never felt forced, and at the core of the reason was always hope and desire for a better future.

The sweet girl of the group wasn't much of a fighter, but that never stopped her. If one of her friends—or even a complete stranger—needed help, she would throw herself into danger anyway. She had so much heart, and that made her easy to root for.

The smartest member of the group joined very reluctantly, but becoming part of the study group ended up being almost therapeutic for him. Watching him slowly open up and learn to trust other people was one of my favorite character arcs.

The boy with the strawberry-colored hair originally cared much more about becoming a great fighter than becoming a great student. He wanted to climb the ranks, but Yoon Ga-min completely changed his outlook. Seeing him gradually decide that studying actually mattered was such a satisfying journey. His unwavering loyalty to Ga-min became one of the best bromances in the entire drama.

I also thought he had a little bit of chemistry with the girl who worked because her brother was in prison. Whether that was intentional or not, I enjoyed their interactions.

That girl ended up being one of my favorite characters too. She was such a tsundere. She never acted particularly excited about anything, but underneath it all she cared deeply about the people around her. I especially loved when the sweet girl came to bring her back. She acted like it wasn't a big deal, but you could tell how much it meant to her.

Okay I will admit it. They were all my favorite characters. Every member of the study group was amazing in their way. Including their teacher. And the police officer. It takes a special level of courage to go up against people that enjoy seeing others suffer.

Winning People Over

One of my favorite things about this drama was how Yoon Ga-min changed people simply by believing in them.

The blond former gang member started out as one of the enemy's soldiers, but Ga-min saw something better in him. He cared about him, cared about his grandfather, and recognized that—even if it was buried very deep—he genuinely wanted to study and have a better future. Ga-min managed to bring that part of him to the surface, and I loved watching that transformation.

I also loved the blond boy's grandfather. Even while he was dying, he still wanted to keep learning. He recognized what kind of person Ga-min was and entrusted him with helping his grandson find the right path. Honestly, he couldn't have picked a better person for that job.

The Finale

One of my favorite moments in the finale was when the sweet girl gathered all of the former bullies and troublemakers that Yoon Ga-min had helped throughout the series. Watching them all come together to protect the teacher was incredibly satisfying because it showed just how many lives Ga-min had changed without even realizing it.

I was also really happy that the true mastermind—the chaebol student who controlled everything through his family's construction company—actually faced consequences. Too often villains like that get away with everything, so seeing him finally disciplined was very satisfying.

I also loved that everyone continued improving throughout the series. One moment that especially stood out was when Ga-min coached his friend through a fight instead of simply winning it himself. He helped build his friend's confidence and let him experience victory on his own. He also taught him how to protect himself. That perfectly summed up who Ga-min was as a character.

Ending

The ending was definitely on the softer, more open-ended side. It was obviously written with the possibility of a second season in mind, which is normally one of my biggest pet peeves. One of the things I love most about Korean dramas is that they're usually complete stories with a planned ending, so I don't like feeling as though I'm waiting for another season that may never happen.

Normally that would have bothered me a lot more, but I loved Study Group enough that I could forgive it this time. The ending still felt satisfying while leaving the door open for more, and if we do get a second season, I'll absolutely be watching.

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10/10! From beginning to end!

One of the best action shows I’ve seen in a long time, or maybe ever. I love an action show or flick, but there’s a certain point where if it gets more violent than action-packed, it can become less enjoyable to watch. For sure Study Group has violence throughout, these kids are always fighting, whether literally or figuratively, for their place and their beliefs. It’s a testament to how great of a show this is that it balanced the line perfectly between action versus over the top violence. The fight scenes were all that more incredible because of the fantastical aspect added to them. The entertainment factor of the skillful choreographed fight scenes is addictive, you can’t not watch, and anytime someone flys in the air or crashes through a wall from a punch or a kick, it doesn’t matter if it’s unrealistic, it’s so easy to just go with it and enjoy seeing the villains that deserve a comic book style beat down get served. I wish I would have watched this even sooner, but either then or now, I’ll be just as bummed when it’s over and done. I already know this is going to be one of those shows that sticks in my mind for a long time. And I’m looking forward to watching it again someday, which I’m positive I will, but even then, I’ll be sad that it has to end.

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Underrated Gem Alert: Study Group (2025) Deserves More Hype!

I accidentally stumbled upon *Study Group (2025)* and ended up binge-watching the entire series—it’s *that* good! I had no idea it was released in January; I only found it in April, and now I’m wondering why it’s not as popular as other school dramas. Honestly, it deserves way more attention!

The acting is solid, the story is gripping, and the fight scenes? Absolutely amazing. Each fight is choreographed so well—it never feels boring or dragged out. One thing I really loved was the background *rap music* during fights or intense moments—it adds so much energy and hype! It honestly made every scene feel 10x cooler.

It has the perfect blend of action, comedy, and emotional moments. If you loved *Weak Hero Class 1*, this one will totally be your vibe. I enjoyed every second and now I’m really hoping for a Season 2 because this story deserves to continue.

In short, *Study Group* is a hidden gem that every action-school drama fan needs to watch. Don’t miss it!

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