Tving original ‘Study Group’ (directed by Lee Jang-hoon and Yoo Beom-sang, written by Eom Seon-ho and Oh Bo-hyun) announces the birth of a high school action film without context.

‘Study Group’ is a comical high school action film about Yoon Ga-min (played by Hwang Min-hyun), who wants to study hard but is only good at fighting, forming a ‘Study Group’ while taking on the bloody college entrance exams at the worst school in the world. The thrilling, impactful action added to the growth period of Yoon Ga-min, a ‘hidden nerd’ who chooses to fight to study, and the students, each with their own stories, trying to protect their study group, are expected to provide catharsis. It is based on a popular webtoon of the same name. The production team pointed out the points to watch a day before the release of the film.


● ‘Found It!

A cathartic explosion with eyes to study! The birth of a refreshing and thrilling high school action movie without context

The meeting of a production team that we can trust to complete a refreshing and thrilling comic high school action movie raises expectations. Director Lee Jang-hoon, who directed the movies ‘Miracle’, ‘I‘m on my way to meet you now’, took the megaphone, and writers Eom Seon-ho and Oh Bo-hyun were in charge of the writing. Director Lee Jang-hoon, who considered ‘fun’ the first thing he did when choosing his next work, emphasized, “The original webtoon had a charm that made the viewer feel refreshed and good with a clear and cheerful taste without any ambiguity or hesitation. I tried to maximize that point.”

Director Lee Jang-hoon also wanted to make the worldview of the work feel like a slightly unrealistic fantasy, and explained, “In order to provide a refreshing feeling, the action was exaggerated and bold, and the art concept, music style, and screen colors were made as cartoonish as possible.”


Director Lee Jang-hoon said, “The most important thing I thought about was the overall ’rhythm‘,” and added, “I decided in advance where to apply and release strength, where to run and where to rest, and focused on composing everything under a calculated rhythm, from the camera movements to the connectivity of cuts and the actors’ acting. Overall, you‘ll feel that it’s quite fast without any unnecessary elements.”

He continued, “Rather than being conscious of something and paying attention, just prepare to enjoy it, open your heart to the characters, and happily surrender yourself to the flow of the story. I think you‘ll feel a pleasant and exhilarating feeling. I hope you cheer on the innocent children who want to dream to their hearts’ content, and have fun while forgetting the stifling reality and finding comfort, even if only for a moment.” He gave some key points to watch.


● The fiery transformation of Hwang Min-hyun, a fighting genius with ‘clear eyes’!

Hwang Min-hyun‘s fiery transformation is the best point to watch. Hwang Min-hyun is a study group leader who focuses all his talents on fighting skills, but he is heralding a new life character renewal as ’Yoon Ga-min‘, who only knows how to study. Hwang Min-hyun practiced martial arts for 8 months to embody the action scenes of ’Hyun Ga-min‘, who slowly unseals his hidden martial arts skills to study and protect his study group and friends. Hwang Min-hyun, who visited the action school even on days when filming was not in progress for Yoon Ga-min’s signature exhilarating and dynamic scenes, said that he made thorough preparations including nunchucks, kicks, and wires. Director Lee Jang-hoon also said, “When I first met actor Hwang Min-hyun, I felt his ‘clear-eyed madman’ temperament. He said, ”Gamin and I had a high synchronization rate,“ and ”I felt that he was a sincere and smart friend as I watched him prepare for the character while doing action training. His understanding of the character and the scene was really outstanding. He is an actor with a great acting sense who can express it if he just sets the direction and tone.“ He did not spare his praise, saying, ”He is an actor with a really pretty ‘line’ to express action. He brought Gamin‘s actions to life very charmingly. You can look forward to it,” he said, raising expectations for Yoon Ga-min that Hwang Min-hyun will complete.



● Hwang Min-hyun, Han Ji-eun, Cha Woo-min → Lee Jong-hyun, Shin Soo-hyun, Yoon Sang-jung, Gong Do-yu, character play

The synergy of ‘comical danjjan’ that the strong-charactered young actors including Hwang Min-hyun, Han Ji-eun, Cha Woo-min, Lee Jong-hyun, Shin Soo-hyun, Yoon Sang-jung, and Gong Do-yu will show is also drawing attention. Hwang Min-hyun transforms into ‘Yoon Ga-min’, who wants to study hard but has all his talents focused on fighting, leading the drama. Han Ji-eun plays ‘Lee Han-kyung’, a temporary teacher at Yuseong Technical High School with a surprising twist. Cha Woo-min takes on the role of ‘Pi Han-ul’, the successor to the Yeonbaekpa YB Group and the pinnacle of power at Yoo Sung High School. The performances of the study group members with various charms are also a point of anticipation that cannot be missed. Yoon Ga-min’s first ‘pick’ and the brain of the study group, ‘Kim Se-hyun’, is played by rookie Lee Jong-hyun. Shin Soo-hyun plays ‘Lee Ji-woo’, a hot-blooded and nosy member who cannot tolerate injustice due to her fiery personality, and displays girl crush performance. ‘Choi Hee-won’, the only non-combat member of the study group who hides her eccentricity behind her shyness, is played by Yoon Sang-jung. Gong Do-yu plays ‘Lee Joon’, who visits the study group after being fascinated by Yoon Ga-min‘s fighting prowess, and shows off a strong presence. The cheerful and heartwarming story of Yoon Ga-min and the study group, as well as the fiery showdown with Pi Han-ul, the top of the Yooseong High School hierarchy, are already drawing curiosity. The production team’s affection for the study group members, who were selected through fierce open auditions, is extraordinary.

Director Lee Jang-hoon said, “I was a bit greedy when casting, so I met with over 1,500 actors, and thanks to that, I was able to find actors I really liked,” raising expectations for the birth of a new rising star. Director Lee Jang-hoon explained that he focused on the actors‘ innate individuality and charm when casting, and said, “Instead of fitting the actors to the characters, I tried to reflect each person’s charm as much as possible into the roles. I completed the characters by bringing out the actors‘ charms without deviating from the original work.”

‘Study Group’ will be exclusively released on Tving on the 23rd.

Reporter Hong Se-young, Donga.com projecthong@donga.com

This article is automatically translated using Google AI. If you notice any inaccuracies, please let us know at allkstar@donga.com.