'Study Group' director talks about Season 2 possibility

By KTimes

A model student, once focused only on studying, now conquers his school with his fists. Despite this, his goal remains solely to get into college. This storyline, combined with upbeat and rhythmic action, quickly gained word-of-mouth popularity and made "Study Group" a hit on Tving, despite its "not suitable for teenagers" rating.

Director Lee Jang-hoon, who helmed the project, recently shared his thoughts on the success and potential for a second season with Hankook Ilbo at Tving's headquarters in Mapo District, Seoul.

"Study Group," which premiered on Jan. 23, is based on the popular webtoon of the same name. It follows Yoon Ga-min (Hwang Min-hyun), a student with a talent for fighting rather than studying, as he forms a study group to survive the brutal entrance exams at the worst school imaginable. The series follows the growth of Ga-min and his fellow students, each with their own reasons for being part of the group.

Viewers have praised the series for the relationships between the characters and the spectacular school-action scenes, all of which contributed to the show's success. It topped the charts in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia on Viu, Asia’s largest regional streaming service. Additionally, it ranked third in Hong Kong, fifth in Singapore and eighth in the Philippines, demonstrating the global appeal of K-school dramas. Hwang, who had already proved his popularity overseas with the 2023 drama "My Lovely Liar," has added "Study Group" to his list of works.

For Lee, who has previously directed films such as "Miracle: Letters to the President" (2021) and "Be With You" (2018), "Study Group" holds a special place. The success came not only in the form of ratings but also in providing opportunities for the actors.

"I’m so happy that many viewers enjoyed the show. These past five weeks have been a dream," he said. "It was amazing to see viewers not only love the show but also develop affection for the actors. In the past, I’d only read novels on release days, but this time I got to watch reactions on online communities. It was a lot of fun."

However, "Study Group" wasn’t initially a highly anticipated project. Although it was based on a popular webtoon, it didn’t receive much promotional support due to other hit shows like the Netflix hit "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call" dominating the spotlight.

Moreover, Hwang was serving in the military at the time, making it difficult for him to gain attention. "No one knew when 'Study Group' was going to be released. Many people said they didn’t have high expectations," Lee said.

"I was also debuting in the streaming series and action genres, with a lead actor who hadn’t yet proven himself in acting. The series was only available on Tving and had a 'not suitable for teenagers' rating, which made it challenging. I felt like a parent in a situation full of limitations, but after a week, we could feel that people were starting to pay attention."

Regarding Hwang's role, Lee shared that the actor was disappointed he couldn’t promote the show while in the military. Hwang expressed his desire to bulk up and prepare for a potential second season, saying he would continue training despite his service.

"Min-hyun is really eager to work. He’s never lived a routine, repetitive life, so he said he couldn't stand living a life where every day was the same," Lee said. "He's been preparing for the future and refuses to waste time."

The series has also been praised for how well the actors embody their characters, which is often challenging for adaptations. "Rather than fitting an actor to the character, I try to adjust the character based on the actor’s personality," Lee said. "I pay attention to their speech patterns, voices, facial expressions and habits to bring the character to life." The original webtoon’s creator also expressed support for the adaptation.

"Study Group" sets itself apart from other K-school dramas, such as the 2022 series "All of Us Are Dead" and "Weak Hero Class 1," by breaking away from traditional narratives. While many school dramas focus on the protagonist overcoming personal trauma, "Study Group" focuses on the growth of characters around Ga-min. Each episode centers on how the supporting characters, after meeting Ga-min, move past their own pains and wounds, offering a fresh twist.

The series is also getting praise for its handling of school violence, where it avoids graphic depictions or glorifying the perpetrators. "I intentionally heightened the unrealistic tone to avoid making it too distressing for viewers, which amplified the thrill of resolving the issues," Lee said. The show’s visual aesthetics, set design and scoring were all crafted to maintain an otherworldly, almost surreal feel.

The female characters were also well-received, as the director was careful not to portray them as disposable, instead giving them unique roles that resonated with female viewers. "We didn’t want to glorify violence, and we were very careful in portraying the female characters. It was rewarding to see them receive praise for their roles, like Hee-won, Ji-woo and Han-gyeong," Lee said.

Although fans had questions about the absence of Ga-min’s uncle, the director clarified, "In another series, 'Hanlim Gym,' Ga-min's uncle, is the main character. I didn’t want to cast an actor and distract from the storyline, so I decided to keep him hidden for now. We’ll reveal him in Season 2."

As praise continues to pour in, many are curious about the potential for a second season. "Honestly, until the moment of release, I wasn’t planning to do a Season 2. I wanted to explore new things after working on this for two-and-a-half years. But over the past five weeks, I’ve started to wonder if I should do it," Lee said.

"I’ve developed a deep affection for the actors, including Hwang Min-hyun, and I’m now open to the idea if we can make it even more enjoyable than Season 1. The most important thing is the script."

A Tving representative added, "Season 2 has not been confirmed yet."

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.