Lee Chae-min dismantles Noh Jung-eui’s Hierarchy
by solstices
“A school where a perfect order exists. Either one envies it, or disdains it.” So goes the tagline for Netflix’s upcoming revenge mystery Hierarchy, where students are ranked on more than just their grades. Reputation forms the spiral staircase of this ivory tower, and nepotism crafts its gilded windows — until a transfer student steps in to burst its bubble.
Noh Jung-eui (Our Beloved Summer) stars as Jung Jae-yi, the queen at the apex of Jooshin High. The epitome of refined sophistication, she’s matched only by Kim Jae-won (King the Land) as Kim Ri-ahn, the heir of Jooshin Group and the school’s indisputable king. The elite elegance — or elegant elitism, perhaps — of Jooshin High has been perfectly tailor-made for their ilk, serving only the top 0.01% of privileged youth. Between classes, the students partake in extracurricular activities such as ballet, football, and fencing, padding out their résumés with credentials sponsored by their parents’ wealth.
Enter Lee Chae-min (See You in My 19th Life) as Kang Ha, a transfer student hiding a secret. Alas, Jooshin High doesn’t look kindly upon outsiders, and the students don’t hesitate to make that clear. “Crazy scholarship bastard, how dare you lay your hands on me?” snaps musical actor Yoon Seok-ho (Bare: The Musical), who roughly shrugs Ha’s hand off his arm.
Already, the picture-perfect facade of Jooshin High is beginning to crack, revealing the scandalous gossip of illicit affairs. Lee Won-jung (My Perfect Stranger) plays Lee Woo-jin, the charming flower boy who attracts no shortage of attention. From the looks of it, he’s been sleeping around, and someone appears to have photographed him in the act. Yoon He-ra — played by Ji Hye-won (My Perfect Stranger) — may be interested in Woo-jin, given the way she cups his face and leans in seductively, but how long will that last? On paper, the son of a politician family and the daughter of a top trading company may seem like a match made in heaven, but they could just as well bring each other to ruin.
Threatened by Ha’s presence, Ri-ahn winds up grabbing him by the lapels and slamming him against the lockers, warning him to watch his step. Still, Ha is no pushover. At a fancy event that seems to be celebrating Jae-yi’s birthday, Ha heads straight for her, pulling her into a kiss that she reciprocates. As the daughter of Jaeyul Group, the rival conglomerate to Jooshin Group, will Jae-yi defect from the hierarchy and topple it with Ha? After all, there’s the matter of that body the teaser opened on, and his bloodied student ID card that shows he shares the same surname as Ha — I don’t doubt that Jooshin High has covered up the incident, and presumably, Ha’s about to bring it to light.
Helmed by PD Bae Hyun-jin (Alchemy of Souls 2) with scripts written by Chu Hye-mi (About Time), Hierarchy is slated for a June 7 premiere.
Via Yonhap News
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Tags: Hierarchy, Kim Jae-won (2), Lee Chae-min, Noh Jung-eui
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1 kay4625
May 18, 2024 at 10:21 AM
So, Elite meets Pyramid Game, or something along those lines? Because I am totally here for that. Looks like this could be a lot of fun.
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2 sal
May 18, 2024 at 10:33 AM
Hard pass from me... they promoted this with having explicit scenes that make me gives them side eyes. even koran comment that this is more like western teen drama than korean and this is far from Korean culture.
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DancingEmma
May 18, 2024 at 10:45 AM
But it is problematic to believe in the existence of only one “Korean culture“ as the norm and it is reductive to believe that what some Korean online commenters state is the epitome of the “Korean Culture”. There are many cultures within a country and cultures are not immutable. SK has been changing like any other country both for the better in some areas and for worse in others so it is beneficial to think more critically and in more nuance.
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mindy
May 18, 2024 at 10:57 AM
Well said. Also, I think people tend to forget that Korean dramas are... made by Koreans!
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DancingEmma
May 18, 2024 at 11:12 AM
You said it Mindy!
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Yellow
May 19, 2024 at 10:16 PM
But Netflix dramas are made by and for Netflix audiences. That’s why there is more nudity and explicit scenes in their dramas specifically. Koreans have also raised issues with this.
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sal
May 18, 2024 at 11:21 AM
I really see your point about the culture part. But I guess when the production company selling point is that this drama have explicit scenes and nudity, most people wonder if they even belive in the core story for this drama.
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DancingEmma
May 18, 2024 at 1:01 PM
Hopefully, it will not overwhelm the story.
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Diana Hansen
May 19, 2024 at 11:41 AM
Leave it to Netflix and that is standard fare, even in Kdramas.
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3 Kurama
May 18, 2024 at 10:55 AM
I will try it for Kim Jae-won, he made a strong impression in Our Blues and Like Otters. Lle Chae-Min was cute in Crash Course Romance.
I have more issues with Noh Jung-Eui, she's way too thin. The fact she said her weight was only 39kg like it was a good thing makes me wishing producers won't cast her until she gains weight. This drama is for youth people and I don't think it's a good message for young girls.
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4 mk
May 18, 2024 at 11:07 AM
I don't care how rich they are, teenagers do not dress like this lmao
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5 kellie
May 18, 2024 at 12:27 PM
Netflix up to no good again. It's an easy pass.
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6 Seon-ha
May 18, 2024 at 1:05 PM
While this looks amusing in its own way, the two male leads are already slotted into my mind's eye as men from their previous roles--yes, even THAT Sun-jae (CCiR) because of his later role in 19th Life--and seeing them in that trailer acting as boys is disconsonant. I hope that this finds its audience so that both Lee Chae-min and Prince Flight Attendant can find their next roles PRONTO.
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Kathryn51
May 19, 2024 at 2:27 PM
Haha, Prince Flight Attendant. Definitely not a reason for me watch, but Lee Chae-min - who stole the early scenes in AoS 2. And Sun-jae was the only character I cared about in Crash Course. It releases all at once, so it should be easy to figure out how watchable it is quickly.
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7 jillian
May 18, 2024 at 3:14 PM
I have seen too many shows with similar storyline that I can skip this. I hope thia drama does well since I like the main cast.
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🌸 Seeker 🌸
May 21, 2024 at 2:03 PM
^^ 💯 yes please, exactly that. 😊
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8 Procrasti-NationFirstCitizen
May 18, 2024 at 11:41 PM
Kdramas sometimes give me whiplash. On the one hand are shows like this where teenagers in school seem to be in on all the action, and on the other, are shows like Dr. Slump (like most others) wherein 30+ adults-doctors with full knowledge of human anatomy- behave like clueless teens. Even QoT showed a previously married couple mostly behaving as if they'd never held each other before.
Both extremes irritate me, because why can't they show normal people in relationships doing what happens naturally, not necessarily explicit, but a realistic depiction of dating and physicality, even if it's just holding hands or hugging each other without cringe behaviour. The build-up to the romance is often so good, but after the first kiss or hand-hold, it's back to square one...
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zindigo
May 19, 2024 at 6:36 AM
Tbh, this is a huge reason why I've been enjoying c-drama this year. Relationships are so much more realistically presented, but still without being explicit. It's incredibly appealing after watching years of k-drama fish-eye kisses, awkward intimacy, and general lack of affection in romantic relationships. It's so rare that when I see it, I'm instantly more drawn to the story.
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Procrasti-NationFirstCitizen
May 19, 2024 at 9:14 AM
Yess I've found a love for Cdramas that do it right too!
I thought Will Love in Spring to be so good in portraying a relationship beautifully, not just in an Asian context, but in any. I have rewatched it so many times already. Same with Fake It... Some interactions are poignant and heartwarming, some are heartbreaking, but so true to life, and all are so effortlessly natural. Just a couple of normal, flawed humans making mistakes and finding their way like we all do. And whoa what off-the-charts chemistry, that they actually did something with lol.
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zindigo
May 19, 2024 at 12:38 PM
Effortlessly natural is a great description!
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9 candilane
May 20, 2024 at 10:34 AM
I get that sexy high school thrillers are in and the concept is interesting but not of of them in that poster above look like they are high school students 😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣... These are adults... College students at best.. ..
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10 🌸 Seeker 🌸
May 21, 2024 at 2:13 PM
Just so long as Kim Jae-won's character doesn't follow in the footsteps of Lee Jun-young's impossible character.
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