15 School Thriller Dramas with Zombie Stories, Mysteries, and Revenge

Kapanlagi.com - Korean dramas thriller set in schools present stories that not only focus on teenage life but also various dark conflicts behind the educational environment. From bullying cases, academic competition, murder mysteries, to survival struggles, this genre offers a plot full of tension.

Recommendations for school thriller dramas that feature a variety of story backgrounds, from schools turning into disaster locations to elite educational institutions with hidden secrets. Some titles are also adapted from popular webtoons and present psychological conflicts among characters.

Here is a list of school thriller Korean dramas that can be a choice for viewing with stories full of mystery and tension.

1. The Survival Story of Students in a Threatening Situation

1.ALL OF US ARE DEAD (2022)

Synopsis:
This series tells the story of students trapped inside a school when a zombie virus outbreak occurs due to a failed science experiment. The school environment, which was once a place of learning, transforms into a dangerous location that threatens lives.

The students must survive by utilizing various objects around them as protective tools. In this emergency situation, they face difficult choices that test their courage and friendships.

This drama stars Park Ji-hu, Yoon Chan-young, Cho Yi-hyun, Lomon, Yoo In-soo, Lee Yoo-mi, Kim Byung-chul, Lee Kyu-hyung, and Jeon Bae-soo.

2.DUTY AFTER SCHOOL (2023)

Synopsis:
This drama narrates the life changes of third-year high school students in South Korea who must leave their study routines to undergo military training.

This situation arises after mysterious ball-shaped alien creatures appear from the sky and threaten the safety of the earth. The students then join the reserve military forces and must confront threats they never imagined.

The cast of this drama includes Shin Hyun-soo, Lee Soon-won, Im Se-mi, Kwon Eun-bin, Kim Ki-hae, Kim Min-chul, Kim So-hee, Kim Su-gyeom, Kim Jung-lan, Moon Sang-min, Shin Myung-sung, Shin Su-hyun, Shin Hye-ji, Ahn Da-eun, Ahn Do-gyu, Yeo Joo-ha, Oh Se-eun, Woo Min-gyu, Yoon Jong-bin, Lee Yeon, Ji Min-hyuk, Choi Moon-hee, Hong Sa-bin, and Hwang Se-in.

3.NIGHT HAS COME (2023)

Synopsis:
A group of high school students must face terrifying situations while participating in a retreat in the mountains. They are forced to play the game "Mafia" in real life, but the consequence is losing their lives for the participants who lose.

Tension arises as the students begin to figure out who the mafia figure is among them. Trust among friends slowly changes as everyone tries to survive.

This drama stars Lee Jae-in, Kim Woo Seok, Choi Ye-bin, Cha Woo-min, Ahn Ji-ho, and Jung So-ri.

2. Elite School with a Cruel System and Hidden Secrets

4.PYRAMID GAME (2024)

Synopsis:
The story centers around Sung Su-ji, a transfer student at Baekyeon Girls' High School who discovers a secret voting system called the Pyramid Game.

The system divides students based on grades from A to F. Those who are in the F rank automatically become targets of bullying and violence from other students.

Sung Su-ji then tries to stop the system by strategizing to fight against the rules that are deemed unfair.

This drama stars Kim Ji-yeon, Jang Da-ah, Ryu Da-in, Shin Seul-ki, and Kang Na-eon.

5.CLASS OF LIES (2019)

Synopsis:
A talented lawyer experiences a reputation collapse after being embroiled in a case. To uncover the truth and restore his name, he goes undercover as a guidance counselor at an elite high school.

At the school, he investigates a mysterious murder case involving students from wealthy families. The investigation leads him to discover various secrets that have been covered up by the school and the students' parents.

This drama features Yoon Kyun-sang, Keum Sae-rok, and Choi Yu-hwa.

6.HIERARCHY (2024)

Synopsis:
Jooshin High School is known as a prestigious school dominated by 0.01% of conglomerate children. In that place, social status becomes the determinant of students' positions.

The presence of a scholarship student with a mysterious past begins to change the state of the school. He slowly uncovers secrets related to competition, social conflict, and hidden bullying.

The cast of this drama includes Roh Jeong-eui, Lee Chae-min, Kim Jae-won, Ji Hye-won, and Lee Won-jung.

3. Conflict in Education, Discipline, and Competition Among Students

7. TEACH YOU A LESSON (2026)

Synopsis:
This drama follows Na Hwa-jin and the team from the Educational Rights Protection Bureau who are assigned to handle problematic schools. They are sent to enforce discipline with a strict approach without limits of authority.

The presence of this team triggers conflicts between those in authority at the school and students who previously felt untouched by the rules. This situation opens up various social issues related to the education world.

TEACH YOU A LESSON (2026) is an adaptation of the webtoon by Chae Yong-Taek and Han Ga-Ram. This drama stars Kim Mu-yeol, Lee Sung-min, Jin Ki-joo, and Pyo Ji-hoon.

8. FRIENDLY RIVALRY (2025)

Synopsis:
This drama tells the story of Woo Seul Gi, an orphan from a small town who moves to Seoul and must adapt to a new environment.

She then enrolls in Chaehwa High School, an elite school known for its high academic competition. There, she meets Yoo Je I, the smartest and most influential student at the school.

The relationship between Woo Seul Gi and Yoo Je I develops into a complex relationship, blending friendship, curiosity, and obsession. This drama is an adaptation of the webtoon by Song Chae-yoon.

The main cast includes Lee Hye-ri and other players who present a story of psychological rivalry in a school environment.

9.STUDY GROUP (2025)

Synopsis:
This drama centers on Yun Ga-min, a student at Yusung Technical High School known for his fighting skills, but still has a strong desire to continue his education at a university.

To pursue his dreams, he forms a study group. This group also becomes a way for him to protect his friends from bullies at school.

The presence of a temporary teacher named Lee Han-gyeong, who harbors a secret past, brings changes to the group's journey.

STUDY GROUP (2025) is an adaptation of the webtoon by Shin Hyung Wook. This drama stars Hwang Min-hyun, Han Ji-eun, Cha Woo-min, Lee Jong-hyun, Shin Soo-hyun, Yoon Sang-jeong, and Gong Do-yu.

10.WEAK HERO CLASS 2 (2025)

Synopsis:
Yeon Si-eun continues her life at Eunjang High School after experiencing various traumatic events at her previous school.

Although she still carries wounds from the past, she tries to protect her new friends. However, their relationship soon attracts the attention of the ruthless Alliance gang.

Si-eun must face a major conflict that pushes her beyond her limits in a survival fight.

This drama is a continuation of WEAK HERO CLASS 1 and is adapted from the webtoon by SeoPass. The cast includes Park Ji-Hoon, Ryeoun, Choi Min-Young, Yoo Su-bin, Bae Na-ra, Lee Min-Jae, and Lee Jun-young.

4. The Dark Side of Elite Schools and Secrets Behind Teen Life

11.BITCH X RICH (2023)

Synopsis:
Baek Je-na is the third-generation heir of a conglomerate who has a significant influence at Cheongdam International High School.

The school life dominated by wealthy groups begins to change after Kim Hye-in, a student from a poor family, enters through a dark deal.

The presence of Kim Hye-in triggers a conflict full of intrigue, including a murder mystery involving influential people at the school.

This drama stars Lee Eun-saem, Kim Ye-rim, Lee Jong-hyuk, and Yoo Jung-hoo.

12.EXTRACURRICULAR (2020)

Synopsis:
This drama follows a high school student known as an exemplary student but harbors a dangerous secret life.

Due to the pressures of life and the need to finance his education, he gets involved in illegal business that eventually drags him and his friends into criminal trouble.

The mistakes made lead them to face various dangerous situations that threaten their future.

The cast of this drama includes Kim Dong-hee, Park Ju-hyun, Jung Da-bin, Nam Yoon-su, Choi Min-soo, Park Hyuk-kwon, and Kim Yeo-jin.

13.SKY CASTLE (2018-2019)

Synopsis:
This drama depicts the lives of mothers in an elite neighborhood who have great ambitions for their children's education.

They go to great lengths to ensure their children can enter the best universities in South Korea. However, this competition brings immense pressure to the teenagers.

SKY CASTLE (2018-2019) stars Yum Jung-ah, Lee Tae-ran, Yoon Se-ah, Oh Na-ra, and Kim Seo-hyung.

5. Revenge and the Unveiling of Truth from School Days

14. THE GLORY (2022-2023)

Synopsis:
This drama tells the story of Moon Dong-eun, a woman who carries deep trauma from the brutal bullying she experienced during her school days.

The bullying was perpetrated by her classmates and was exacerbated by the lack of protection from those who were supposed to help. After years of planning, Moon Dong-eun returns to confront her tormentors.

She executes a revenge strategy that has been meticulously prepared to make the perpetrators feel the suffering she once endured.

This drama stars Song Hye-kyo and presents a story about the impact of school bullying that continues into adulthood.

15. REVENGE OF OTHERS (2022)

Synopsis:
This drama follows the story of a transfer student who must face the bitter reality after her twin brother is found dead under mysterious circumstances at her new school.

Doubting that the death was an accident, she begins to investigate what really happened. In the course of her investigation, she uncovers various secrets and hidden conflicts within the school environment.

Her search leads her into dangerous situations as she begins to suspect those around her.

This drama stars Shin Ye-eun and Lomon, featuring a mystery story centered on uncovering the truth behind a student's death.

(kpl/mda)