The ensemble of Hierarchy showcases a blend of experienced actors and up-and-coming talents in Netflix’s latest K-drama. This series intertwines classic revenge K-drama elements with a high school narrative, in which a single student must confront an entire establishment.
Netflix continues to deliver captivating K-dramas, and the latest addition is Hierarchy, an original web series available exclusively on the streaming platform. While the prospect of a second season remains unclear, the show was initially announced as a limited series.
The conclusion of episode 7 in Hierarchy leaves viewers with a significant cliffhanger that may be further explored in a potential second season.
Regardless, Hierarchy is a standalone series in which the individual stories of Jung-Jae, Ha-ie, and Ri-an eventually intertwine after a scholarship student tragically dies due to prolonged bullying. The majority of the cast members in Hierarchy are up-and-coming young actors who have landed their first major roles.
| Hierarchy’s Main Cast | Characters |
| Spirit of Jeong-eui | Jung Jae-i |
| Lee Chae-min | Kang Ha |
| Kim Jae-won | Kim Ri-an |
| Ji Hye-won | Yoon He-ra |
| Lee Won-jung | Lee Woo-jin |
1. Roh Jeong-eui as Jung Jae-i
My date of birth is July 31, 2001.
Roh Jeong-Rui is an actress hailing from South Korea and was born in Bundang District, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. She made her debut on both the big and small screens in 2011 with the film I Am a Dad and the television series Bachelor’s Vegetable Store.
Prior to her starring role in Hierarchy, Ron Jeong-Rui gained recognition for her performances in shows such as 18 Again (2020), Our Beloved Summer (2021–2022), and Dear. M.
Character: Jung Jae-i is a key protagonist in Hierarchy. She is the offspring of Jung Ki-young, the leader of the Jaeyul Group, and was brought up with the expectation of one day taking over the family business.
Upon the commencement of Hierarchy, Jae-I had recently arrived back from her trip to the United States. To the surprise of many, she abruptly ends her nine-year-long relationship with her boyfriend Ri-an, leaving everyone wondering about the mystery behind her sudden decision.
She quickly became friends with Kang Ha, whose brother was acquainted with Jae-in. However, she also became acquainted with several school bullies, but soon realized that the school’s treatment of its top students was unfair and unacceptable.
Lee Chae-min as Kang Ha
Birth Date: September 15, 2000
Actor: Lee Chae-min, a South Korean actor born in Goyang, takes on his first leading role in Hierarchy. However, he has already made appearances in series such as Love All Play (2022) and Crash Course in Romance (2023).
In 2021, Lee Chae-min made his television debut in the series High Class. Four years later, in 2024, he took on the role of hosting the KBS music show, Music Bank.
Character: Kang Ha is a transfer student who joined Jooshin through a scholarship program. As with all scholarship students at Jooshin, Kang Ha is mistreated by the wealthy students. However, Kang Ha was anticipating this treatment.
3. Actor Profile: Kim Jae-won
Birth Date: 9th February 2001
Kim Jae-won, a South Korean actor born in Seoul, rose to fame with his breakout role in 2021’s Love From Home, despite having worked as a model since 2018. Before Hierarchy, he had already taken on major roles in Our Blues (2022), Stealer: The Treasure Keeper (2023), and King the Land (2023).
Character: Ri-an is the heir of the Jooshin Group, which is owned by his family and includes the school he attends. As a result, Ri-an is the most affluent and renowned student at Jooshin.
As the central figure in the school’s ecosystem, Ri-an becomes the prime suspect in Kang Ha’s investigation into his brother’s murder.
Ri-an had been in a long-term relationship with Jae-i, whom he had known since the age of six. However, when Jae-i returned to South Korea and ended things between them, Ri-an was left feeling uncertain about what he may have done wrong and what exactly had transpired.
4. Cast: Ji Hye-won as Yoon He-ra
My date of birth is March 30, 1998.
Ji Hye-won is a South Korean actress, born in Seoul. While she first appeared on screen in a supporting role in Justice, she has gained recognition for her performances in popular dramas such as It’s Okay Not To Be Okay, The Sound Of Magic, and My Perfect Stranger.
It is worth noting that Lee Won-jung, who portrays Woo-jin in Hierarchy, also made an appearance in My Perfect Stranger.
He-ra, who is well-known at Jooshin High School, has been best friends with Jae-i since they were kids.
Despite their breakup, He-ra’s love for Ri-an remains unwavering. In fact, he sees their split as a chance to pursue her again, resulting in a typical K-drama love triangle. He-ra notices that Ri-an’s insatiable desire for wealth and status continues to drive her actions.
After a falling out with Jae-i, He-ra becomes one of the show’s antagonists. However, she remains close with Woo-jin and maintains a positive relationship with her family, especially her father.
5. Actor Playing Lee Woo-jin
Birthdate: February 14, 2001
Lee Won-jung, a South Korean actor born in San Francisco, California, gained recognition for his performances in popular dramas including New Normal Zine, Live On, Real-Time, and My Perfect Stranger. However, his initial on-screen appearance was in 2019’s Class of Lies.
In 2023, Lee Won-jung was awarded the KBS Drama Awards for Best New Actor for his outstanding performance in My Perfect Stranger.
Woo-jin is Ri-an’s closest friend in Hierarchy. He is a talented artist who resides in his studio. However, Woo-jin keeps a significant secret that jeopardizes not only himself but also the people he cares about – he is in a secret relationship with Ji-soon, one of Jooshin’s teachers.
Woo-jin and Ji-soon are determined to go to any lengths to conceal their secret, which becomes increasingly intertwined with the events unfolding between Jae-i and Kang Ha.
As the son of a congressman who is about to run for the presidency, Woo-jin understands the importance of avoiding the spotlight as much as possible.
Hierarchy Supporting Cast & Characters
Playing the role of Jung Ki-young is Choi Won-young, a powerful figure and the father of Jung Jae-i. He is the head of a prominent company, known for its fierce competition with the Jooshin Group. Despite being her father, he treats Jung Jae-i with disdain and views her solely as a valuable asset for both the family and the company.
Kim Tae-jung plays the role of Choi Yun-seok, who is known as one of the school’s most notorious bullies. He is often seen as a right-hand man to Ri-an, and later becomes a prime target for Kang Ha as he sets his plan for revenge in motion.
Kwon Eun-bin portrays Ye-ji, one of the esteemed students at Jooshin. Similar to her affluent peers, she strongly believes in maintaining a social hierarchy and separating herself from the scholarship students.
Yoon Seok-ho, playing the role of Tae-ho, is Kang Ha’s long-time friend from their high school days. He is able to attend Jooshin, thanks to his father’s wealth.
Kang In-han, portrayed by Kim Min-chul, was a scholarship student at Jooshin whose untimely death sparks the events of Hierarchy. In-han’s brother, Kang Ha, spends most of the K-drama searching for the truth behind his brother’s murder.
About Hierarchy
In Jooshin High School, known for its exceptional education services in South Korea and where the most elite 0.01% of students are enrolled, the film was globally released on Netflix on June 7, 2024.
Jooshin High School, established by South Korea’s leading conglomerate, the Jooshin Group, is known for its selective admissions process. This esteemed private high school is the setting for a captivating tale of love, friendship, revenge, and compassion, as eighteen young individuals navigate their way through life.
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