Concerns Pour In Over Explicit School Dramas: Between Boldness and Discomfort

Despite featuring teenagers as the main characters, the content of this work openly highlights the social hierarchy within the school. Despite being rated for ages 15 and up, there are high levels of violence and sexual content portrayed. The recent popularity of TVING’s “Pyramid Game” has sparked concerns about the potential for imitative behavior, with some worrying about the influence of “Hierarchy.”

Scheduled to debut on June 7th, “Hierarchy” takes place at Jooshin High School, known for its reputation of offering top-notch education in South Korea and attracting the most exceptional 0.01% of students. Within the walls of this esteemed private high school, eighteen young individuals embark on a thrilling journey of love, friendship, vengeance, and empathy.

“Hierarchy” has been likened to “Pyramid Game” even before its release, as they both showcase hierarchical systems revolving around family background, wealth, and social status within the school. Moreover, the introduction of a transfer student leads to disruptions in both narratives.

Director Bae Hyeon-jin noted that while he enjoyed ‘Pyramid Game’, he sees ‘Hierarchy’ as a distinct and contrasting work. While the former explores the challenges of using violence, the latter delves into the emotional journey and development of the characters.

In response to worries about the potential influence of these provocative school dramas on young adults, director Bae clarified, stating that “Hierarchy”tackles issues surrounding social hierarchies and promotes personal growth. The explicit content has been reduced, with a stronger emphasis on the characters’ emotional journeys.

The trailer implies that “Hierarchy” contains elements of a love triangle like “The Heirs” and a mystery similar to “Bitch X Rich” , with an overall vibe reminiscent of the Spanish drama “Elite” . However, the show includes some graphic scenes that warrant a 15+ rating, such as intimate moments between high school students in bed and sharing a hidden camera video in a group chat.

In recent years, school dramas have evolved from portraying innocent romances to showcasing smaller-scale versions of larger societal problems. These dramas now address not only school violence, but also issues of class divisions and even drug trafficking. There is a growing concern that these explicit dramas may have a detrimental impact on teenagers.

Despite being deemed inappropriate for teenagers, the “Pyramid Game”gained popularity among this age group, resulting in cases of group bullying in schools as students imitated the game. As a result, the Jeonbuk State Office of Education sent a cooperative letter for student life guidance to prevent the spread of the game. Additionally, schools encouraged parents to actively guide their children and prevent this play culture from potentially leading to criminal behavior.

In light of the situation, there are legitimate worries about the potential negative impact of “Hierarchy”on adolescents, particularly due to its depictions of violence and sexuality involving high schoolers. Furthermore, there are future plans for a sequel titled “Weak Hero Class 2,”which centers around a top-performing student who must fight against bullying to survive. This implies that the media industry will continue to confront issues regarding emulation and its effects on audience members.