Study Group Review: When Books and Fists Collide

Title: Study Group

Episodes: 10

Genre: Action, Comedy, Teen

Main Cast: Hwang Min-hyun, Cha Woo-min, Han Ji-eun, Shin Su-hyun, Lee Jong-hyun, Yoon Sang-jeong, Gong Do-yu

Streaming Platform: Viki

Image Credit: Wikipedia

What happens when a quiet student with a love for studying finds himself surrounded by violence and chaos? Study Group is an adrenaline-pumping K-drama that redefines school life with powerful action scenes and unexpected friendships. 

“Study Group” is a South Korean action series that aired on TVING from January 23, 2025, to February 20, 2025. It is adapted from the webtoon of the same name and was written by Um Sun-ho and Oh Bo-hyun, with direction by Lee Jang-hun and Yoo Beom-sang. You can watch all 10 episodes of the series on Viki.

Plot Summary 

Yoon Ga-min is a high school student who has transferred to the notorious Yusung Technical High School, where students tend to fight more than they study. Although Ga-min is skilled in fighting, he struggles academically and has a goal of entering university. To achieve this, he decides to form a study group and recruits members with the help of his teacher, Lee Han-kyung.

Soon, Se-hyun, Ji-woo, Hee-won, and Lee Jun join the study group. However, they face opposition from Pi Han-wool, who presents himself as a model student but is actually the mastermind behind the school's violence. Using his father's power and influence, he eliminates anyone who challenges him or opposes the rules he has established.

Han-wool begins to threaten the members of the study group and teacher Han-kyung in an attempt to shut down their efforts. In response, Ms. Lee decides to take action and, with Ga-min's fighting skills and the support of the other study group members, they work together to confront Han-wool and put an end to his reign of intimidation.

My Thoughts 

Inspired by a webtoon, this story is engaging and action-packed. The actors portray their characters very well, but I would particularly like to commend Hwang Min-hyun and Cha Woo-min for their outstanding acting skills. The high school setting of the drama, filled with action sequences and themes of school violence, also includes a touch of comedy, making it a perfect adaptation of the webtoon.

I especially enjoyed Hwang Min-hyun’s impressive action scenes and Cha Woo-min’s portrayal of the villain, who exudes a calm demeanor and cold vibes. The bond between the study group members and their teacher is heartwarming, leading to a satisfying triumph of good over evil. The series was packed with cool action scenes, at the same time accompanied by witty humor.

The scene where Ga-min's mother visits the school and his friends try to help him is absolutely hilarious! That is one of my favorite scenes from this series. Also, the last scene of the drama, where all the students put their lives on the line to protect their beloved teacher from villains, was worth watching.

The drama ended very quickly with an unsolved mystery of who killed Se-hyun's mother, which might hint toward the second season of the series being developed. Overall, the drama is short and crisp, with an excellent blend of action and comedy. 

The series is a fantastic mix of action, comedy, and drama that will keep you engaged until the very end. I thoroughly enjoyed binge-watching this drama, and if you’re a fan of fast-paced action series, I highly recommend checking it out.

What do you think about this series? Share your favorite scenes and characters from Study Group in the comments below.

If you like action series, read my review of Weak Hero Class 1.

My Rating: 7/10