5 Best Kdramas focusing on Teenage Bullying, from True Beauty to Boys Over Flowers

South Korea is widely established for Kdramas, K-pop idols, and the eminent beauty industry. However, this Asian country is also obsessed with beauty standards, and hence citizens constantly face the urge to be better than others. The yardstick measuring the criteria is often hard and many a time, people face the dilemma of being the best. Even their dramas are inspired by the social issues prevalent in the system.

The world of Kdramas is a vast arena that builds stories based on the grim reality and the social hierarchical order followed in the developed country.

Here are 5 top-most Kdramas that weave intricate storylines, revolving around teenage bullying and beauty obsession.

1. Boys Over Flowers

If we are talking about high-school bullying, this Lee Min-ho and Kyoo Hye-sun drama will be topping the list, no matter how many years passes on. The plot narrates the intriguing story of 4 friends, popularly called F4 (Flower 4 boys), and how their life changes after the group leader Gu Jun-pyo falls for the female lead Geum Jan-di. Several dark issues like suicide and plastic surgery are addressed in the series as a result of grim bullying in the high school

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The series also stars singer Kim Hyung-Joon and Kim Bum in prominent roles.

2. Heirs

Led by Lee Min-ho, Park Shin-Hye Kim Woo-bin, and Kim Ji-won – This romantic, teen drama unfolds the life of a poor teenage girl Cha Eun-sang living with her house-keeper and mute mother. Love blossomed between her and the rich, spoilt son of the business magnate. It portrays beautifully how the thirst for money can turn anyone ugly. We see the poor girl bullied by her school classmates due to the drastic class differences.

3. True Beauty

Starring Hwang In-youp as Han Seo-jun, Moon Ga-young as Lim Joo-kyung, and Cha Eun-woo as Lee Su-ho in the main cast. This drama as the name suggests, follows the crazy obsession with beauty and outer looks.  The female lead was constantly derogated for her appearance. From school bullying to self-consciousness, the fear of hiding out will eventually force Lim Joo-kyung to embrace an alter ego by wearing a lot of makeup.

4. My ID is Gangnam Beauty

Another Cha Eun-woo drama with Im Soo-hyung in the leading cast, Gangnam Beauty revolves around an ordinary-looking girl who wishes to change her identity and destiny before she appears in college.  Kang Mi-rae will be taking up plastic surgery to enhance her beauty. 

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However, her secret past will haunt her throughout her new identity and college life, giving a major insight into what happens when you don’t take a stand and classmates gang up on an individual through intense bullying.

5. School series

The School 2013 and School 2015 series span across the trope of extreme high school bullying and how the reckless students team up to fight the bully's comeuppance. The ensemble cast features, Lee Jong-suk, Kim-Woo-bin,  Nam Joo Hyuk, and Kim So-hyun

All the above dramas are currently streaming on Netflix.