School 2017 (2017) 학교 2017
Directed by Park Jin-suk and Song Min-yeob, starring Kim Jung-hyun, Kim Se-jeong, Jang Dong-yoon, Han Sun-hwa, Han Joo-wan and Seol In-ah.
Watched 12 - 16 October 2025 — 16 episodes (VIKI PASS)
*Not having watched any of the other instalments of the KBS School franchise, this one specifically drew my attention because of the appealing leads, Kim Jung-hyun as Hyun Tae-woon and Kim Se-jeong as Ra Eun-ho. I've seen Kim Jung-hyun before in Crash Landing on You and Welcome to Waikiki but I'm not familiar with Kim Se-jeong. I thoroughly enjoyed the series and binged it in a couple of days.
*The series deals with the usual high school stuff, bullying, rich students versus poor students, their opportunities in life determined by money, the horrible mothers of the rich kids, and also an added mystery element in the form of Student X. He/she condemns the malpractices committed by the school and plays pranks with his/her identity hidden. I have to admit that the whole mystery thing was not the most exciting plot element but it moves the story steadily forward and adds friction between the characters.
*The highlight of this show is the romance between Tae-woon and Eun-ho. They are classmates and friends (he's the rebellious son of the school's chairman) and it's great to see their relationship develop into something beyond friendship. The actors have a wonderful chemistry, and their teasing and playfulness seem very natural. I love how Tae-woon is the first one to realise his feelings for Eun-ho have changed. He admits these feelings first to himself, faces his insecurity and is brave enough to confess to Eun-ho. Incidentally, I really like Tae-woon. He's cocky but soft-hearted and also looks good. I love the way he moves, he's just very cool. And boo! I was waiting for him and Eun-ho to finally kiss but that never happened. Sob!
*I also really like Eun-ho and her passion for drawing and wanting to be a webtoon artist. She comes from a working-class family, and I love her relationship with her parents (especially her father) and her brother and how she buys her brother new shoes. Her love for Tae-woon comes later than his (or at least the realisation of her feelings) and I love the scene where she is watching Tae-woon at the motorbike place. You see her fall for him, there and then, while he's being passionate about motorbikes and designing them. I like how he can also draw well.
*I was glad there was no love triangle with Jang Dong-yoon (from Like Flowers in Sand) as Song Dae-hwi, the school's student president. He ended up with Seol In-ah as Hong Nam-joo. Some of the storylines were not properly developed, like Nam-joo coming from a financially struggling family. I would have liked to see more of her. Also the fallout between Tae-woon and Dae-hwi, after their friend's death, could have received more attention but I was happy when they reconciled. I also liked how Eun-ho recognised that Tae-woon and Dae-hwi were both in pain but were still looking out for the other.
*I liked Han Joo-wan as Shim Kang-myung, the dedicated teacher. He defends and supports his students no matter what, and fights for justice. I love the fact that they gave him a romantic subplot with Han Sun-hwa as Han Soo-ji, a police detective who gets an assignment as the school police officer after mishandling a case. Han Soo-ji was kicking ass in episode 2 when she was fighting the school bullies.
*I had wished for a romance between the guitar man Yoon Kyung-woo (played by Seo Ji-hoon) and Eun-ho's bestie Oh Sa-rang (Park Se-wan). It's obvious he has a crush on her and he's so sweet in comforting her when she has a difficult time (also when it concerns her mother, the school's cleaner). Since Sa-rang was preoccupied with Issue (a role by Rowoon), she probably didn't even notice Kyung-woo's affection. He should have spoken out. So no romance! Sob again!
*Some other characters: the school's principal is a total idiot, but I liked the teacher wearing a tracksuit all the time and infatuated with the police officer. Also the grumpy teacher with the stick was okay. Small part for Kim Min-ha (Pachinko and Way Back Love) as one of the school bullies.
*Overall very entertaining series with a great romance at its heart.