A Series of Korean Dramas with a School Survival Theme, Exciting and Full of Tension

Korean Dramas with a school survival theme always offer extraordinary tension. With a school setting that should be a place of learning, students are faced with life-and-death situations. Not only do they fight against unexpected threats, but they also must survive with all the limitations they have.

Some dramas with this theme come with various challenges, ranging from zombie attacks, alien creatures, deadly games, to cruel bullying systems. The conflicts presented feel even more thrilling as they involve young characters who must struggle to preserve their lives.

If you enjoy adrenaline-filled stories, the following dramas are a must-watch on your list. From zombie invasions to elimination games, all these stories present thrilling and emotional action.

1. ALL OF US ARE DEAD (2022)

ALL OF US ARE DEAD (credit: mydramalist)

The Korean survival drama for school children, ALL OF US ARE DEAD tells the story of high school students who suddenly find themselves trapped in a zombie outbreak at their school. The initially normal situation turns into a nightmare when a student begins to show strange symptoms that turn out to be the effects of a mysterious virus.

In a short time, the virus spreads throughout the school and turns the students into the undead. Meanwhile, the authorities do not immediately address the situation, forcing the students to survive on their own. They try various ways to fight the zombies, from building barricades to using objects around them as weapons.

Amid the panic and struggle, the students also have to face emotional dilemmas. They lose friends and family, while trying to maintain hope in the midst of worsening conditions. Their struggle becomes even more difficult as the virus begins to spread to the city, making the situation increasingly uncontrollable.

2. DUTY AFTER SCHOOL (2023)

DUTY AFTER SCHOOL (credit: mydramalist)

Unlike the zombie attack in ALL OF US ARE DEAD, in DUTY AFTER SCHOOL, students are forced to fight against alien creatures that come to Earth. The government, running out of troops, ultimately recruits high school students as reserve forces to combat this threat.

Students who were initially only preparing for university entrance exams now have to undergo intensive military training. They learn to use weapons, survive on the battlefield, and face the reality that they could lose their lives at any moment. Amidst the fear-filled situation, they also begin to form strong bonds of friendship.

Tension escalates as the students start to confront the alien creatures directly. With makeshift weaponry, they must protect themselves and the remaining civilians. Their struggle involves not only physical challenges but also mental ones, as they have to confront loss and the uncertainty that haunts them at every turn.

3. NIGHT HAS COME (2023)

NIGHT HAS COME (credit: mydramalist)

In this drama, a group of high school students attending a school retreat is suddenly forced to play a mafia game that ends in death. They receive mysterious messages on their phones, instructing them to choose who will be "eliminated" each day.

The game causes the students to suspect one another. If they make the wrong choice, the real mafia will remain free and continue to kill them one by one. The situation becomes increasingly dire when they realize that there is no way out of the place and they truly have to play to survive.

In this situation, some students try to figure out who is behind the game. However, fear and pressure make it increasingly difficult for them to distinguish friends from foes. This drama presents extraordinary psychological tension, keeping the audience guessing about what is really happening.

4. PYRAMID GAME (2024)

PYRAMID GAME (credit: mydramalist)

If survival usually relates to physical threats, in PYRAMID GAME, the threat comes in the form of a cruel bullying system. This drama tells the story of life at Baekyeon Girls High School, where every month students must participate in the Pyramid Game, a voting process to determine who is the least popular.

The student with the lowest score will receive an F grade and become the target of bullying from the entire school. Sung Soo Ji, a new student at the school, is shocked to discover that the seemingly calm class actually harbors such a cruel social system. She is forced to participate in the game to avoid becoming a victim.

This school survival drama illustrates how social pressure and injustice can turn into something terrifying. In her struggle to survive, Soo Ji faces various intrigues and manipulations from her peers. With a plot full of surprises and psychological tension, PYRAMID GAME becomes an exciting and emotionally stirring watch.

Those are some recommendations for exciting and tense Korean school survival dramas. Happy watching!

Find more interesting Korean drama recommendations at kapanlagi.com. If not now, when?

(kpl/psp)