Yakhanyeongung - Season 1

Yakhanyeongung (Weak Hero) is a powerful coming-of-age drama series based on a webtoon by Kim Jin-seok. There are quite a few lesser-known series I've heard might be worth checking out. Yakhanyeongung is one of them. I didn't know much about it, but because I absolutely love discovering lesser-known titles among the endless pile of released series, I wanted to give this one a try. Yakhanyeongung is based on a Korean webtoon, a digital comic published on an online platform, and was adapted into a live-action series shortly after.

Yakhanyeongung tells the story of Sieun (Park Ji-hoon), an introverted but brilliant student in a class targeted by a group of bullies. To everyone's surprise, the quiet and not very physically strong Sieun proves to be adept at defending himself in a confrontation. He even manages to give the gang leader a severe and, above all, humiliating slap.

This is a perfect example of how you can make a compelling drama without needing a big Hollywood budget.

Just when the situation threatens to spiral out of control, An Su Ho (Choi Hyun Wook), one of Sieun's classmates, intervenes. He manages to put an end to the incident by stopping Sieun in his blind rage. Everything seems to return to normal, and the day continues as a normal school day.

However, it doesn't take long for the humiliated bullies to seek revenge. Fortunately, Sieun now has the support of An Su Ho, who also proves to be a talented and experienced fighter. Their group is further supplemented by Beom-seok (Hong Kyung), a somewhat lanky nerd with a dark past. Together, they grow into good friends and try to avoid falling into the hands of their rival classmates. But after a series of complications, their friendship is severely strained, and they become entangled in a dangerous spiral of revenge, violence, and betrayal.

I'm very pleasantly surprised. It's not the first time a Korean production has touched me, but this is truly one of the best series I've seen so far. The story is simply fantastic. The actors are very convincing, partly because their characters are portrayed realistically and down to earth. With the harsh reality of high school life as the backdrop, a gripping world is revealed where everything revolves around popularity and prestige.

Set against the backdrop of the tough high school life, the film depicts a deeply moving world where everything revolves around popularity and prestige.

Every episode grips you, and the tension builds as the season progresses. Our main characters are slowly drawn into a web of intrigue, where their friendship is tested time and again.

Don't expect a bombastic Hollywood spectacle, but a sincere and compelling look at the tough life of high school. The series captivates you, with occasional touches of humor, but above all, it shows the harsh reality of the endless cycle of violence and revenge among young people.

The ending of this season will certainly not leave you unmoved. I can't really add much: this is a perfect example of how to create a compelling drama without a big Hollywood budget. It's astonishing how intense this first season was, and all the more surprising that the series is still so little known in our country.

I therefore confidently give this series a solid 9 out of 10.

Plus, there's already a second season, so you definitely won't have to wait long for the accompanying review!