“Oh, another school violence drama?” This is probably what many people thought when they first encountered the Wave Original drama “One High School Heroes.” In the Korean drama market, the keywords “male high school students” and ‘school’ have largely been associated with the “school action” genre. Regardless of the real-life issue of school violence, this genre has become a cliché, often leading to fatigue. Perhaps this is because while adult violence is perceived as a serious social issue, conflicts among high school students are viewed through a fantastical lens as rites of passage and opportunities for reform and improvement.
However, the first episode of “One High School Heroes,” which I watched with these preconceptions, pleasantly defied my expectations and provided an intense sense of immersion. What is the appeal of this work, which walks a fine line between cliché and genre-specific pleasure? Behind its success lies the popular webtoon “ONE,” which boasts 65 million cumulative views. The narrative and characters, already validated by the public, served as a solid foundation for the drama, demonstrating its strength by ranking first in attracting paid subscribers to Wave without any major promotional efforts.
A notable shift is emerging in the school action genre. While past protagonists followed the archetype of rebellious, rough-and-tumble yet loyal “fighters,” a new trend is emerging where “model students who excel academically also excel in combat.” Kim Eui-gyeom (played by Lee Jung-ha) from “One High School Heroes” stands at the forefront of this change.
He is not just academically gifted; he possesses such a brilliant mind that he immediately secures the top spot in the school upon transferring. This sharp intellect is exceptionally utilized to observe, analyze, and master fighting techniques. This setting may evoke feelings of deprivation or dissatisfaction among some viewers. Even considering that a person with exceptional talent in one field can excel in other fields through effort, the “perfect son” character, who seems to have it all, appears detached from reality. Moreover, this character implies a duality: if such exceptional talent is misused, it could make him a more formidable presence than anyone else.
Kim Eui-gyeom is by no means a happy model student. His life was nothing more than a tool to fulfill his father's twisted desires and inferiority complex. His father, who grew up hearing his grandfather call him a “good-for-nothing,” projected his own wounds onto his son and imposed the shackles of college entrance education. This harsh pressure drove his older brother to suicide and left Kim Eui-gyeom with deep trauma that tormented him with nightmares every night. For him, studying was not a source of joy but a suffocating shackle.
After transferring to a new school, he tries to live quietly, focusing solely on his studies. Just as ordinary bullies implicitly respect each other's territory, it was an unwritten rule not to mess with the top-ranked students like the school's number one. However, fate would not leave him alone, and eventually, he finds himself confronting the bullies who torment him.
At this point, the person who saw his hidden potential was Kang Yoon-gi (played by Kim Do-wan). Kim Eui-gyeom, who was an average student, was helplessly beaten, but surprisingly, he showed a strong resilience that prevented him from falling. Furthermore, even while being beaten, he demonstrated an amazing ability to analyze his opponent's movements and absorb their techniques like a sponge. From boxing to kendo to jiu-jitsu, any technique he sees is immediately internalized as his own.
The drama provides a clear answer to this setting, which may seem somewhat unrealistic. Watching him, Kang Yoon-gi exclaims, “Fighting is a talent!” This single sentence declares that Kim Eui-gyeom's ability is not the result of simple learning but innate genius, serving as a powerful spell that convinces the audience.
The fighting he began to protect himself gradually takes on a different meaning. It was the only act he could perform solely through his own will and strength, not because of his father's coercion. Kim Eui-gyeom experiences the thrill of control and liberation for the first time, and goes on to become a vigilante, or “High School Hero,” seeking out and punishing those who bully powerless students.
Produced over a relatively long period from 2022 to 2023, “One High School Heroes” successfully packed intense action and fast-paced development into a short eight-episode series. It added a unique narrative of “a wounded genius's journey to becoming a hero” to the potentially clichéd genre of school action, and maximized genre-specific thrills through fantasy-like settings. The story of a young boy who lived a suppressed life, discovers his talent, overcomes his trauma, and grows into a true protagonist leaves viewers with a thrilling catharsis and a deep aftertaste. “One High School Heroes” will be remembered as a well-made drama that offers fresh entertainment to those tired of conventional school dramas and a more evolved enjoyment to genre fans.
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